The new National Touring production of the 1981 landmark Broadway Musical–Dreamgirls–owes much to original director-choreographer Michael Bennett’s breathtaking cinematic-style staging that keeps the action flowing most effectively.
Leapin’ Lizards! America’s most beloved musical, ANNIE, is back, playing at the Auditorium through January 24, 2010 giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up.
Mary’s Wedding is a non-linear style dream-scape memory romantic tale that is a lovely and wonderfully touchingly gem!
This wonderful tearjerker nicely blends Mary’s dream related memories of her first love that haunts her as she struggles to come to grips with her first love on the eve of her marriage in 1920
These stories are emotional and stir the debate over the ethics of the death penalty. That is my problem with The Exonerated, that it is pure propaganda, not a theatre piece.
Playwright Jesse Weaver has a strong foundation, but lacks the play lacks necessary focus. Weaver is not sure if he wants an absurdist dark comedy, or a character drama. They writing would shift from manic yelling to quiet introspective moments.
This is a violent, gun-shooting show with loads of nudity, sexual situations in a compelling show for lovers of raw Chicago-style theatre. It is a ‘must see’ drama that has realistic and flawed characters seemingly right out of the Jerry Springer show.
Private Lives, the 1930 so-called escapist “well-made” play, was deemed light entertainment then but it sure is world class fare in the hands of Gary Griffin and the designers at Chicago Shakespeare Theater…Griffin’s witty, smart and stirringly humorous comedy of manners is an elegant verbal treat. Coward would appreciate this production.
Now in their 24th year, Pegasus Players has nurtured hundreds of high school playwrights culminating with productions of the best plays. The 2010 finalists feature rich, complex and mature works all written by young women. These teen writers have found subject other than teen angst that has dominated the YPF for many years.
Funny Girl, the seldom mounted 1964 classic Broadway musical about the life of Fanny Brice, is so associated with Barbra Streisand that most playhouses shy away from the piece. Not the talented artists at Drury Lane Oakbrook who, under the collective talents of Gary Griffin, William Ostetek and David New, have found a most talented actress to play Fanny Brice–Sara Shepard.
Lifeline Theatre has a strong reputation for mounting an effective assortment of kids theatre. My first encounter with their children’s fare was The Last of the Dragons adapted by David Bareford from Edith Nesbit’s fantasy story. This 55 minute cute little musical is charming with a worthy moral and it sure plays well with children 5 years and up.