Following is a complete list of the 2015 Equity Jeff Award recipients: + PRODUCTION, PLAY (LARGE): “Moby Dick” – Lookingglass Theatre Company in association with The Actors Gymnasium + PRODUCTION, PLAY (MIDSIZE): “All Our Tragic” – The Hypocrites + PRODUCTION, MUSICAL (LARGE): “Les Misérables” – Paramount Theatre + PRODUCTION, MUSICAL (MIDSIZE): “The Addams Family” – … Read more
By Hamish Linklater Directed by Joanie Schultz Produced by Steep Theatre Company, Chicago The Full Devastation of Ordinary Betrayals Exposed A year ago, Hamish Linklater’s first play, The Vandal, enjoyed its Midwestern debut at Steep Theatre Company, and was widely praised by critics, including me, as a bewitching examination of loneliness and loss. The artists … Read more
Book, Music & Lyrics by Willy Russell Directed by Fred Fred Anzevino Music Direction by Jeremy Ramey Choreography by Maggie Portman Produced by Theo Ubique At No Exit Cafe, Chicago “Did you ever hear the story of the Johnstone twins / As like each other as two new pins?” -The Narrator from Blood Brothers Blood … Read more
Zoe Kazan’s limited series adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel stars Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames, streaming on Netflix. One of the more substantial stage versions was Frank Galati’s adaptation for Steppenwolf Theatre Company (2015), directed by Terry Kinney. Below is a comparison highlighting key differences between that production and the series; the original Chicago Critic … Read more
Music Direction & Conductor Linda Madonia Directed by Rudy Hogenmiller produced by Light Opera Works At Nichols Concert Hall, Evanston Nostalgic revue of Hollywood’s Greatest Hits features four terrific female voices It is unusual to have an all-female cast for a song revue, but director Rudy Hogenmiller’s choices made it work musically. The four performers … Read more
Book & Lyrics by Robert L. Freedman Music & Lyrics by Steven Lutvak Choreographed by Peggy Hickey Directed by Darko Tresnjak Produced by Broadway In Chicago At The Bank of America Theatre, Chicago Satire: the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of … Read more
By Caryl Churchill Directed by Shawn Douglass Produced by Remy Bumppo Playing at the Greenhouse Theater, Chicago Life is Full of Feelings and Stuff If you have formal artistic training, at some point, you were probably in a class in which you were instructed to write a scene in a minute. Then, to make sure … Read more
By Neil Simon Directed by Skye Robinson Hillis Produced by Spartan Theatre Company At Royal George Theatre, Chicago Neil Simon’s Journey Inside the Mind Choosing plays wisely is crucial to any theatre, and particularly ones just starting out. Therefore, I’ve been thrilled by the choices of Spartan Theatre Company, a young itinerant group, which came … Read more
By Charise Castro Smith Directed by Henry Godinez Produced by Goodman Theatre An Elaborate Dark Comedy Thriller of Camp and Circumstance Goodman Theatre opens its 2015/2016 Season in its Owen Theatre this week with Charise Castro Smith’s Feathers and Teeth, a campy dark comedy thriller about a grieving daughter, her father’s bubbly new fiancé, and … Read more
By Ayad Akhtar Directed by Kimberly Senior Produced by Goodman Theatre, Chicago Co-Produced by Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre A Multicultural Doll’s House Although the Goodman’s production of Ayad Akhtar’s Disgraced is something of a homecoming, the play having debuted only three years ago at American Theatre Company, the enthusiasm of the audience … Read more