By Marcus Gardley Directed by Chay Yew Produced by Victory Gardens Theater, Chicago New Play Packed With Plot Victory Gardens playwright Marcus Gardley put his new drama A Wonder in My Soul on hold to write this play, An Issue of Blood, in the wake of nationwide protests against police misconduct. With a conscientious attitude … Read more
Music by Richard Rogers Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Based on Ferenc Molnair’s play Liliam Conductor David Chase Directed and Choreographed by Bob Ashford At the Lyric Opera of Chicago Stunning, world class production of Carousel is a near perfect artistic success Carousel is based on Ferenc Molnair’s play Liliam, which Molnair turned down Puccini’s … Read more
By Henrik Ibsen Directed and Adapted by Michael Halberstam Produced by Definition Theatre Company, Chicago Lean Doll’s House Zeroes in on Conflict Michael Halberstam’s adaptation of A Doll’s House, now being performed by the young Definition Theatre Company, is a rapid-fire abridged version of Ibsen’s classic 1879 drama. The good news about the piece, which … Read more
A musical play about Las Vegas’ Most Celebrated Onstage Lovers, Louis Prima and Keely Smith By Vanessa Claire Stewart, Taylor Hackford & Jake Broder Directed by Taylor Hackford Music standards as performed by Louis Prima & Keely Smith At the Royal George Theatre, Chicago Fun, tuneful and toe-tapping storytelling with loads of terrific music with … Read more
By Kristoffer Diaz Directed by KJ Sanchez Produced by Goodman Theatre, Chicago It Isn’t Funny. The Upstairs Concierge would have delighted a nine-year-old Joe Orton. This world-premiere is the product of Teatro Vista writer Kristoffer Diaz and director KJ Sanchez’s fruitless, more than two-years-long development process at the Goodman Theatre. Though the play lacks any … Read more
By Todd Bauer Directed by Jonathan Wilson At Raven Theatre, Chicago Abusive aging parents fight their son’s help as they face old age Blind Playwright Todd Bauer has penned a world premiere family drama, The Bird Feeder Doesn’t Know, that realistically depicts the slow trauma facing many American families. Yes, as couples born in the … Read more
Adapted and Directed by Matt Foss From the Novel by Upton Sinclair Music by Nicholas Tonozzi Score by Sam Allyn Produced by Oracle Theatre, Chicago Jungle a Potent Message for Today Oracle has revived their hit The Jungle from last summer, and it’s easy to see why. This piece, directed and adapted by Matt Foss, … Read more
By Jean Giraudoux Translated by Christopher Fry Directed by John Arthur Lewis Produced by Promethean Theatre Ensemble, Chicago Artists Show Promise with Challenging Piece Jean Giraudoux’s 1935 play The Trojan War Will Not take Place, which was retitled Tiger at the Gates when it was translated into English by Christopher Fry, is a dense neo-classical … Read more
By John Kolvenbach Directed by Ray Frewen Produced by Spartan Theatre At the Flat Iron Building, Chicago Edgy well written and superbly acted two-handed worth seeing There is a energetic dynamic working from Spartan Theatre at the Flat Iron Building at North Ave., Milwaukee and Damen. Take a smart, edgy drama about two siblings with … Read more
By Tom Stoppard Directed by Nick Sandys Produced by Remy Bumppo At the Greenhouse Theatre, Chicago Drama Packed With Modernist Themes Remy Bumppo’s funhouse themed season culminates in a genre-bending meta-theatrical romp that demands an audience’s full intellectual engagement. Tom Stoppard’s 1974 play Travesties is an adaptation of The Importance of Being Earnest set in … Read more