By Joshua Harmon Directed by Jeremy Wechsler Produced by Theater Wit, Chicago Future of Judaism Dramatized with Wit Joshua Harmon’s play Bad Jews, which debuted in New York in 2012, has been causing such a stir that despite its newness I was a little surprised to see it is only now being produced in Chicago. … Read more
Written and Directed by Carla Stillwell Produced by Ma’at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre, Chicago MPAACT Find Beauty in Growing Pains I hope everybody enjoyed Mother’s Day, because MPAACT has a show that will remind everyone of how upsetting losing a mother is. The Divine Order of Becoming, written by MPAACT playwright-in-residence Carla Stillwell, … Read more
By John Marans Directed by Timothy Gregory At Provision Theater, Chicago “Art consists of knowing the basic rules and realizing when it is time to deviate from them.” “Life is not clear cut.” “The combination of joy and sadness – this is the core of truly beautiful music. Just as it is the core of … Read more
By Beth Graham, Charlie Tomlinson, and Daniela Vlaskalic Directed by Melanie Keller Produced by Signal Ensemble Theatre, Chicago How to Have Fun with Murder Respectfully One hundred years ago, the English serial killer George Joseph Smith was captured, convicted, and executed for the murders of three of his wives. Bessie Munday Williams, Alice Burnham Smith, … Read more
In Remembrance of the Oklahoma City Bombing By Isaiah Werner Directed by Aaron Hannrickson Produced by adapt theatre productions in association with Redtwist Theatre At Redtwist Theatre, Chicago Haunting remembrance of an American Tragedy mostly works Adapt Theatre Productions and playwright Isaiah Werner’s world premiere: Scissortail: In Remembrance of the Oklahoma City Bombing presents its … Read more
By P J Paparelli & Joshua Jaeger Conceived and directed by P J Paparelli Choreographed and music composition by Jakari Sherman At ATC -American Theatre Company, Chicago Oral history chronicles the Chicago social experiment of stacking large numbers of poor folks into high rise building. P J Paparelli and Joshua Jaeger utilized the Studs Terkel … Read more
By John Patrick Shanley Directed by William Brown Produced by Writers Theatre, Glencoe Strong Performances Rise to Shanley’s Work “They’re Children, They Can Talk to Each Other.” By now, it is likely that most theatre-goers are aware of Doubt: a Parable, John Patrick Shanley’s Pulitzer and Tony Award winning 2004 drama. For the uninitiated, Doubt … Read more
By Karen Tarjan Directed by Robert Kauzlaric Produced by Irish Theatre of Chicago At The Den Chicago Amazing adventure of 2oth century explorers highlights endurance, tenacity and the power of the human spirit. If there ever was a ‘director’s show.’ it is director Robert Kauzlaric’s world premiere of Karen Tarjan’s The White Road. This ambitious … Read more
By Sarah Ruhl Music by Todd Almond Directed by Polly Noonan Produced by Piven Theatre Workshop, Evanston Chamber Music Was Just What Sarah Ruhl Needed Chicago playwright Sarah Ruhl has worked with Piven Theatre Workshop ever since she was a child. The Evanston-based training center produced many of Ruhl’s early plays before she became a … Read more
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Paul Gordon Directed by Barbara Gaines Based on the Novel by Jane Austen Produced by Chicago Shakespeare Theater Fun, Amusing New Adaptation Works for Fans and Newcomers Alike Barbara Gaines’s leadership at Chicago Shakespeare has brought worldwide recognition, and now, she triumphs as the director of a world premiere musical, … Read more