By Marco Ramirez Directed by Jaime Castaneda At American Theatre Co. (ATC) Theatrically pleasing tale of glory, bravery, and determination through boxing is a winner Loosely based on Jack Johnson’s being the first African-American to defeat a white man for the professional heavy-weight championship, playwright Marco Ramirez has penned a strong 75 minute profile of … Read more
By Steven Dietz Directed by Joanie Schultz Produced by American Blues Theater 9-11 Conspiracies Fuel Drama The complexity of conspiracy theories are naturally fascinating to a storyteller. Not that they’re necessarily well-told or sensible stories, but their believers and repeaters grant them an importance many artists wish their own stories could gain. In his 2009 … Read more
Opera in two acts By Mieczyslaw Weinberg Libretto by Alexander Medvedev based on the novel of the same name by Zofia Posmysz Conducted by sir Andrew Davis Stage Direction by David Pountney At the Lyric Opera of Chicago Stunningly powerful Holocaust opera is a tasteful testimony to the courage and heroism of the human spirit. … Read more
Adapted by Jessica Wright Buha From the novel by Amy Timberlake Directed by Elise Kauzlaric Produced by Lifeline Theatre Murder Mystery Appeals to All Ages As a theatre committed to adaptations, mostly of literature, Lifeline’s company should be experts on storytelling. Now in their thirty-second year, the company does shows for both children and older … Read more
By William Shakespeare Directed by Scott Westerman At The Artistic Home, Chicago “Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee; I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? or art thou … Read more
By Sharr White Directed by Joe Jahraus Produced by Profiles Theatre Lia D. Mortensen Dives into Disintegrating Mind The Other Place is a hard play to describe without misrepresenting or giving away some key plot points. What I can say about it is that it is divided into two parts, the first of which is … Read more
Music & Lyrics by Adam Gwon Directed by Jason A. Fleece Music Direction & Accompaniment by Ilana Atkins At BoHo Theatre, Chicago Broadway pop chamber song cycle’s style is irritatingly repetitious with predictable rhythms I understand the potential appeal of Adam Gwon’s Ordinary Days after works like The Last Five Years became hits. The unusual … Read more
By Daniel Pearle Directed by Keira Fromm Produced by About Face Theatre Parental Insecurity at Center of Drama With so much pop psychology floating around on how to best raise children, it’s easy for parents who value keeping current with the latest advice to get confused. Concerns about bullying and creating a nurturing environment free … Read more
By Sam Holcroft Directed by Brad Akin Produced by The Poor Theatre Acting to Survive in a Cruel World What happens to the opposition when a country’s democratic institutions are so eroded they lose any ability to compete fairly? In many places it’s not a hypothetical, and the extent of government and corporate surveillance today … Read more
By Ervin Gardner Produced and Directed by Jackie Taylor At Black Ensemble Theater, Chicago History lives in realistic courtroom drama In their ever-expanding theatrical experiences, Black Ensemble Theater has now mounted their first new drama in many years. Playwright Ervin Gardner has penned a non-singing musical drama: The Trial of Moses “Fleetwood” Walker. This touching … Read more