By Heidi Schreck Directed by Yasen Peyankov Produced by Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago What’s Forgiveness For? Grand Concourse, a Midwestern premiere at Steppenwolf, is another one of the plays currently running in Chicago that examines the question: what do we mean by calling someone a “good person?” Playwright Heidi Schreck’s angle is to interrogate the … Read more
By Emily Schwend Directed by Will Crouse Produced by The Poor Theatre, Chicago A Well-Acted Slice of Very Troubled Lives Reassuring somebody that they’re a “good person” is one of the most common platitudes, but what does it really mean? There are several plays currently in production around Chicago that ask that question, and don’t … Read more
By William Shakespeare Co-Directed by Alison C. Vesely and Hayley Rice Produced by First Folio Theatre, Oak Brook A Captivating Winter Story this July Outdoor theatre in the Midwest is always tense, because you never know if rain or thunder might prevent you from hearing the end of the story. That’s especially true with The … Read more
with A Tribute to Bill Withers Written and directed by Daryl Brooks At Black Ensemble Theater, Chicago Fantastic nostalgic revue of men of soul-both black and white-is a thrilling show! Black Ensemble Theater presents one of their finest shows ever with the world premiere of Men Of Soul! Writer/director Daryl D. Brooks, with the aid … Read more
Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater Book by Doug Wright Directed by Rachel Rockwell Produced by Chicago Shakespeare Theater Disney Fun Contains Design to Dazzle Children As part of Chicago Shakespeare’s mission of increasing the public’s comfort in theatre, each summer, they perform a short musical that appeals to children … Read more
Taslitz/Reichenbach Productions Skokie Theater Book and Music by Lauren Taslitz and Leigh Anna Reichenbach Music by Will Buck, Becky Menzie, Mike O’Mara and Leigh Anna Reichenbach Directed by Heather Townsend Saccharine Musical Needs More Seasoning Join the Club!, a rather pleasant debut by a new production company now showing in downtown Skokie, presents all the … Read more
A Shakespearean translation by Ben Tallen, Aaron Greer, Brian Watson-Jones, and the members of the Pulp Bard Wiki. Directed by Christopher Kidder-Mostrom Produced by Commedia Beauregard At City Lit Theater, Chicago Horrible enunciation together with fake accents marred spoof of cult film and Shakespeare I must remember to read a press release more closely. upon … Read more
By Alistair McDowall Directed by Robin Witt At Steep Theatre, Chicago “Brilliant” is sure an appropriate title word to describe an outstanding USA premiere of a British play. Over the last few years, Steep Theatre has found several terrific new British plays, mostly from young up-and-coming writers. Their latest discovery, Brilliant Adventures by Alistar Mcdowall, … Read more
Book by Harvey Fierstein Music by Cindi Lauper Directed and Choreographed by Jerry Mitchell Produced by Broadway in Chicago Light Fun from a Strong Production When Kinky Boots debuted at Broadway in Chicago in 2012, many reviewers were of the opinion that it was competently staged and sung, but derivative. Now that it has returned … Read more
The Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, now in its second year, is a new-works festival produced by Underscore Theatre company. We created CMTF for one reason: there’s a wealth of musical theatre creators and performers in Chicago, but the high risks of producing new musicals means that few companies are willing to take a chance, especially … Read more