Must See American Plays
Watch theatre related videos covering list of top and “Must See” Broadway shows:
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Tom Williams
A Nativity Story: More Than a Miracle
A Nativity Story: More Than a Miracle is a Black Ensemble style show that contains enough intense emotions, frantic music and dance including terrific ballet sequences by Kathleen Turner and Anthony Williams making the stage elements interesting. Congo Square Theatre reminds us that African-American concept of The Nativity is unique, emotional, and honestly depicted through gospel music and movement.
Read MoreCinderella -The National Tour
Cinderella is, by far, the finest National Touring Equity musical to grace a Chicago stage in years! It is a wonderful, beautifully staged and a gorgeously presented musical. It has all the elements of a fabulous family experience: a marvelous, lush score by Richard Rodgers with the smart lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It has eye-popping sets and costumes (set design by Anna Louizos, costumes by William Ivey Long). It has a new book by Douglas Carter Beane that updates and adds heart to Hammerstein’s fable.
Read MoreNewsies -National Tour
The story pits the Newsies against the publishers as the poor versus the rich in a classic struggle for survival. Alan Menken has penned a rousing score befitting the exciting choreography deftly designed by Christopher Gattelli (a Tony Winner for his work here) and superbly danced by the tireless cast of 16 talents who are fine actors and singers to boot!
Read MoreTwist Your Dickens or Scrooge You!
The Second City’s twist on Dickens has sprinkles of accuracy with a few comic zingers added with appearances by George Bailey, Charlie Brown, and hecklers from the audience to add to the fun. The audience also has their say in several skits as well as pre-show written comments from the audience on the worst thing you ever di
Read MoreThe Santaland Diaries 2014
For years The Santaland Diaries has been a staple of holidays shows. it is how Mitchell Fain both commands the stage and how he personalizes the story without making drastic changes to David Sedaris’ script. One only has to witness Fain’s opening to see a master comic and a terrific actor doing his craft. Fain’s skill at engaging and audience with his crude but very human honesty. There may be others who can play “Crumpet, the elf” but no one humanizes the cynical character as does the sharp-tongued Mitchell Fain. He is a major comic talent at the top of his craft.
Read MoreAnna Bolena
Not produced at the Lyric Opera since 1985 when Joan Sutherland soared in Anna Bolena, this new production reaches the heights of the bel canto style (beautiful singing) with matching register and tonal quality of the voice to the emotional content of the words. Led by the powerful and stylistic soprano Sondra Radvanovsky as Ann and the smooth mezzo-soprano from Jamie Barton as Anna’s rival for the affections of King Henry, this melodic production of Donizetti’s Tudor-inspired 1830 opera is a major triumph for the Lyric!
Read MorePanic On Cloud 9 –
From the opening skit with the cast of misfits riding on a Greyhound bus to the barber shop routine to the Russian girl blachelorette party to the little girl slumber party, this revue has each of the six comics grinding out laughs at a manic pace. The physical gestures and timing of these talented performers makes a night out at Second City a fun event. Written and performed by the cast allows each to contribute and set up their special contribution to the seamless evening of comedy.
Read MoreMary Poppins at Paramount Theatre
Mary Poppins has all the elements of a GREAT musical: excellent book based on P.L Travers’ children’s Mary Poppins books. Terrific catchy tunes—“Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Feed the Birds,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “Anything Can Happen” with music in the style of early 20th Century British music halls, melodic marches and anthems; fantastic staging with vivid lighting on terrific sets; spectacular show-stopping dances and thrilling flying scenes that include Matt Crowle (as Bert) tap dancing and spinning around in the showstopping “Step In Time”.
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