Now in their 25th season, Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre, has grabbed the first regional production of Curtains preceding even the first National Tour! Credit Kyle and Drew DeSantis for their initative. Once this fabulous show woos their West Suburban audiences with its smart wit, humor and musical chops—I hope they will remount Curtains at their Drury Lane Water Tower Place.
After two successful years on Broadway, the first national tour of Mary Poppins flies into Chicago for a four month stay at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. Co-produced by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, Mary Poppins is a fresh hybrid musical that co-creator/producer Mackintosh stated; “What I was searching for was a show that was both familiar and surprising, which would merge the best of the books and the film into something new.” Did he ever succeed!
Private Lives is a fine production combining outstanding work from the five actors with Noel Coward’s sophisticated wit, fluid language and smart, quirky plot. It amounts to an intelligent, hilarious night at the theatre. You’ll laugh as you acknowledge the complete honesty of Coward’s words.
By Regina Taylor Directed by Anna D. Shapiro At the Goodman Theatre Regina Taylor’s Magnolia unfolds as an American ode to The Cherry Orchid. Regina Taylor’s world premiere, Magnolia, deftly deals with change during one of the most pivotal years of the 20th Century—1963. Set in Atlanta at Black Pearl’s Restaurant and Kerry’s Restaurant, we … Read more
By Frank Mahon & Milissa Pacelli Directed by Susan Felder Produced by Libby Adler Mages, Tony D’Angelo And Smock Alley Theater Company Tales of rural Irish life filled with humor and heart Based on Green Rushes by Maurice Walsh with a wink at the 1952 film by John Ford and staring John Wayne and Maureen … Read more
Walter Stearns’ decision to cast Pacific Overtures with all Asians was bold making it the first Chicago production to do so. It worked effectively, to say the least! The atmosphere was created with Kurt Sharp’s sliding door set on John Horn’s fine lighting. The players are dressed in gorgeous Japanese kimonos (designed by Carol Blanchard) with authentic wigs and they move with Kabuki movements with Noh theatre elements. The show features terrific musical direction by Eugene Dizon and his orchestra that flawlessly plays Sondheim’s strongly Oriental influenced score. The show is Japan meet Broadway.
Mozart’s 1782 comic opera, The Abduction from the Seraglio, highlights his genius with his fresh spirited score that contains local color from Turkish music containing cymbals, bass drums and the like.From beautiful arias to up-tempo marches and stirring anthems, Mozart’s opera moves from comic delight to deep emotions.
This romantic adventure deals with Konstanze (Erin Wall) a beautiful and spirited Spanish noble woman captured by Turkish pirates. Together with her feisty maid, Blonde (a last minute triumph debut by Angela Mannino), they end up in the harem of Pasha Selim (David Steiger) overseen by Osmin (Andrea Silvestrelli). Of course, the ladies’ trueloves—Belmonte (Matthew Polenzani) and Pedrillo (Steve Davislim) launch a plan to rescue their loves.
Leave it to director Fred Anzevino and the creative staff at Theo Ubique for boldly mounting Evita on their miniscule stage in the No Exit Café. They have perfected their trademark “cabaret theatre” style taking storefront musical theatre up a notch or two. They have successfully mounted a most articulate and musically sound version of Webber & Rice’s pop opera, Evita. I heard and understood every word and I enjoyed Brenda Didier’s smartly stylish choreography.
Bartleby the Scrivener Adapted from Herman Melville By R. L. Lane Directed by Richard Cotovsky Produced by Mary-Arrchie Theatre Kudos to Mary-ArrchieTheatre and director Richard Cotovsky for producing Bartleby the Scrivener. This simple allegorical drama is deep in meaning as we struggle to discover who the enigmatic Bartleby is and why he reacts as he … Read more
Art, written my a French female, Yasmina Reza, deals with the reaction of three supposed friends to a painting purchased by one of them for a large sum. Art, of course, tests the depth and validity of the friendship between the three men. Serge (John Procaccino) is a self-proclaimed expert in modern art.