By Shane Sakhrani Directed by Lavina Jadhwani Produced by Rasaka Theatre Company At Victory Gardens’ Richard Christiansen Theater, Chicago A Play of No Great Romance The mission of Rasaka Theatre Company – the first South Asian theatre company in the Midwest, one of the oldest South Asian theatres in the country, and a current member … Read more
Book and Lyrics by Steven Sater Music by Duncan Sheik Based on the Play by Frank Wedekind Directed and Choreographed by Aaron Thielen Produced by The Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire Marriott Proves It’s a Home for Art Spring Awakening is a play that should only be done in places where it will receive pushback. I’ve seen … Read more
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