Three well-introduced half siblings are brought together after that father’s deteriorating illness. Renee (Lynda Newton) is the oldest sibling married with kids. The middle sibling is Gary (Michael Patrick Thornton), a stoner who works in a comic book store that he is satisfied doing so. The youngest is Cassie (Brittany Burch) who is struggling with committing herself to anything. The three embark on a present day, family, comedy/drama.
Read MoreTeenage Alex is learning both about his gay father and the small town family dynamic since he has joined his father on this emergency trip to Indiana. Once Brady shows up, old family wounds emerge as we see the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s on the entire family. Shaun is trying to put his life together while also trying to look after mother. Brady tries to instill into his son Alex toleration and morals while shielding him from old family secrets. Alex is keen to know about his father’s past in Indiana…
Read MoreWhat makes Peter and the Starcatcher possibly worth seeing are the work from the young Chicago talents. Harter Clingman (Alf), Nathan Hosner (Lord Aster), John Sanders (a hoot as Black Stache) – these actors anchored the show… While Megan Stern, as Molly, lead the way for the boys, it was the charming, often charismatic, and fully heartfelt honest turn by Chicagoan Joey deBettencourt that made the otherwise tedious show palatable. Debettencourt, in his first Equity role, commands the stage ias a cute yet plausible boy who eventually emerges as Peter Pan
Read MoreObviously, the play begins with a most imaginative script, derivative of Wagner’s Opera, “Tristan and Isolde… well sort of… but you can be quite sure that even Wagner is laughing somewhere.
Read MoreBut, the key to Cats is always the cast and the choreography. In this thrilling production, under Marc Robin’s flawless direction and meticulous attention to details, Cats has never charmed and danced better. Robin has his energetic cast sauntering through the theatre and mixing throughout the audience spreading cat-charm in abundance.
Read MoreThis production never gets the atmosphere at the Hill House eerie enough to get us to believe that poltergeists are inhabiting the place. Dr. Montague (Edward Kuffert) is a scientist bent on writing about “the greatest haunted house ever” so he invites folks who profess past experiences with paranormal events. He rents Hill House for the summer (circa 1950’s) to experience ghosts
Read MoreSandalwood is an allegory that begs the question of the effects of genetic inheritance of sin and violence. Sandalwood creates an eerie atmosphere with a strong performances by Sean Thomas and Anthony Stamillo. This world premiere work is tightly written and demonstrates the craft from Dan Caffrey as a playwright
Read MoreFirst Folio Theatre presented a very refreshing evening of theatre on opening night with the world premiere of “Salvage.” With only two characters, and a set that never changes, Zettelmaier structures an appealing play on many levels. On the surface, a collectibles shop owner in financial trouble meets a new customer, and sparks seem to fly almost instantly. But on other levels, the play directly and indirectly touches on the psychology of collecting things…the nostalgia…the value.
Read MoreCube Ensemble’s first full music production is a bold 90 minute scaled down adaptation of Georges Bizet’s 1875 La Tragedie de Carmen is an efficient affair featuring music from a stand-up piano that produced a unique sound for an opera. This intimate opera is staged in a minute studio space at the Den in Bucktown. Sung in French without super titles, best to read the “director’s Notes’ in the program to get a feel for the story. I must say that the staging does allow for us to understand both the action and the motivation of the opera.
Read MoreBased on the premise: “Ever wonder what people are really thinking,?” the cast of skilled comic Equity performers have designed a fast-paced, laugh-a-minute comedy revue that easily grabs us from the start and keeps us belly laughing through. Chelsea Devantez, John Hartman, Mike Kosinski, Tawny Newsome, Emily Walker and Steve Waltien use everything they have, their vocal chops, their physical appearance, or their cute smiles including their ability to play animals to garner laughs.
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