By David Lindsay-Abaire Directed by Matt Hawkins At Redtwist Theatre, Chicago Funny look at how the other-half lives turns poignant as it re-defines what ‘good people’ actually are. Redtwist Theatre boldly mounts storefront productions of plays that major regional theatres have recently produced, giving them an up-close intimate feel that usually makes the play stronger. … Read more
Adapted and Directed by David Catlin From the Novel by Herman Melville Produced by Lookingglass Theatre Company Death to Moby Dick! Lookingglass has a well-earned reputation for providing classic stories with imaginative, beautiful, and evocative living images. What more can I add to what has already be written in praise of everything from the work … Read more
By Ayad Akhtar Directed by Ron OJ Parson Produced by Victory Gardens Theater What’s a Moderate? After Ayad Akhtar’s first play, Disgraced, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2013, he must have been feeling the pressure to create an equal work. However, he says in an interview in the Playbill program note, his new … Read more
By John Kolvenbach Directed by Damon Kiely Produced by Route 66 Theatre Company At the Greenhouse Theatre, Chicago Role reversal in child-parent dynamic vividly depicted Playwright John Kolvenback (On An Average Day) likes to write about family dynamics. In his Chicago premiere of Goldfish, now in a wonderful acted production by Route 66 Theatre Company, … Read more
Adapted by Christopher Sergel From the Novel by Harper Lee Directed by Vaun Monroe Produced by Oak Park Festival Theatre Struggle for Justice Even Greater Under the Sky News that Harper Lee is publishing a sequel to her 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird should stoke even greater interest in the perennially popular stage adaptation. … Read more
Score by David Zippel and Cy Coleman Book by Larry Gelbart Directed by Nick Bowling Produced by The Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire Film Noir and Hollywood Studios Make a World of Song and Sleaze Since the original Broadway run of City of Angels won Tony Awards for best musical and best book in 1990, it would … Read more
A World Premiere Musical Book by Alexander Dinelaris. Featuring music produced and recorded by Emilio & Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine. Directed by Jerry Mitchell. With Ana Villafañe, Josh Segarra, Andréa Burns, Alma Cuervo. At the Oriental Theatre, Chicago The beat goes on…”On Your Feet!” I think my mother may have had a Gloria … Read more
By William Nedved Directed by Marti Lyons Produced by The Gift Theatre, Chicago A Family Loses Faith in God and Their Brother This year, The Gift Theatre is dedicating itself to the admirable, but risky enterprise of producing new works. The current offering, Body + Blood, was written by ensemble member Bill Nedved, who artistic … Read more
By Conor McPherson Adapted from the short story by Daphne du Maurier Directed by Kevin Kingston Produced by Griffin Theatre Company At Theater Wit, Chicago Lack of tension and low expectation dulls apocalyptic story McPherson’s adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s short story, “The Birds”, isn’t like Hitchcock’s film nor is it the recent campy Hell … Read more
By Suzan-Lori Parks Directed by Vanessa Stalling Produced by Oracle Theatre, Chicago “Everyone who has ever walked the earth has a shape around which their entire lives and their posterity shapes itself.”—The Foundling Father Oracle Plunges Into a Great Hole James Baldwin’s metaphorical description of writing as archaeology had a big impact on Suzan-Lori Parks … Read more