By John Webster Directed by Christopher Marino Produced by Trap Door Theatre, Chicago “Whether we fall by ambition, blood, or lust, like diamonds, we are cut with our own dust.” With the Shakespeare 400 Festival going on this year, now is a good time to take advantage of an opportunity to see a little of … Read more
By Dan LeFranc Directed by Joannie Schultz At American Theater Co, Chicago Boring drama about loneliness and dysfunctional siblings fizzles for 75 minutes Even after Dan LaFranc re-wrote much of Bruise Easy, his play is not stage worthy. It is slow-moving, with blatant gaps of silence and an unfulfilled plot. We meet the troubled, dysfunctional … Read more
By Christopher Chen Directed by Vanessa Stalling In a co-production with Stage Left and Red Tape At Theater Wit, Chicago Loud, stupid, and witless attempt at political satire is a dud As I watched Christopher Chen’s one-joke satire, Mutt, I was struck by why two terrific Chicago theatre companies (Stage Left and Red Tape) would … Read more
By Evan Linder Directed by Tyrone Phillips Produced by The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company Playing at The Den Theatre, Chicago Strong Foundation for Conversation across the Continent It’s a great sign for the future of theatre when two young companies are able to collaborate on an outstanding world premiere. It’s an even better … Read more
By William Donnelly Directed by Kimberly Senior Produced by Route 66 Theatre Company Playing at the Greenhouse Theater Center An Actor’s Dramedy about Lost Love and a Dead Kid The contemporary naturalistic drama is in some ways a rather cynical form of art. The people who are telling a story will look at a situation … Read more
Chicago Premiere By Pearl Cleage Directed by Daniel Bryant Produced by Congo Square Theatre At Athenaeum Theatre, Chicago Smartly Sophisticated Urban Comedy of Manners Awaits Congo Square Theatre long has been a troupe that mounts terrific plays about the African-American experience. Their latest, What I Learned In Paris, a Chicago premiere, is another fine production … Read more
By Eric Dufault Directed by Carrie Lee Patterson Produced by Red Theater Chicago Playing at the Frontier Theatre An Auspicious Beginning with this Chicken It’s a new year, and with it comes a new model for Red Theatre Chicago, the local branch of a boundary-breaking theatre company founded by rebellious students at the University of … Read more
Produced by Pegasus Theatre Chicago Playing at Chicago Dramatists It’s a new year, and Pegasus Theatre starts it off as usual by nurturing a new generation of playwrights. The Young Playwrights Festival is a year-long citywide event to which high schoolers submit their one-act play scripts. Among 500 entries, a few are selected for development … Read more
Created by Attila Glatz Concert Productions Featuring the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Bernhard Schneider Featuring Patricia Nessy soprano (Vienna) and tenor Adam Luther With the Kiev-Aniko Ballet of Ukraine and International Champion Ballroom Dancers Concert Date: December 27 at ORCHESTRA HALL, SYMPHONY CENTER, Chicago The ageless beauty of Viennese music is a wonderful way … Read more
Book by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin Music by Matthew Sklar Lyrics by Nell Benjamin Additional Music by Marvin Hamlisch Directed and Choreographed by Jerry Mitchell Produced by Broadway in Chicago You’re Never Too Old for a Feel-Good Show People excited for Gotta Dance, the new pre-Broadway try-out playing at the Bank of America Theater, … Read more