By Neil Simon Directed by Jessica Thebus Produced by the Windy City Playhouse “Listen, George, next to Christmas, loneliness is the biggest business in America.” Romantic Banter from a Master Neil Simon fans have had a good autumn at Chicago theatres. Last month, Spartan Theatre Company performed his late career drama Jake’s Women in the … Read more
Music and Libretto by Alban Berg Based on the Play by Georg Büchner Directed by Sir David McVicar Conducted by Sir Andrew Davis In a new production at the Lyric Opera of Chicago Brass-Infused Madness Georg Büchner’s Woyzeck is a fascinating object of study for students of drama. An early neurologist, communist, and political exile, … Read more
Written and directed by Leigh Fondakowski based on interviews by Leigh Fondakowski & Reeva Wortal Produced by TimeLine Theatre At Stage 773, Chicago Riveting docudrama about the explosion of the BP oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico near Louisiana Spill, now in a manic, yet powerful, staging by TimeLine Theatre at Stage 773, is … Read more
By Jordan Harrison Directed by Kimberly Senior Produced by Writers Theatre, Glencoe A Futuristic Take on Living Vicariously Marjorie Prime, now at Writers Theatre, is the latest of several plays in the Chicago area that explores the relationship between memory, intelligence, and possibly artificial intelligence. There’s Love and Information, at Remy Bumppo, The (curious case … Read more
By Heidi Schreck Directed by Bec Willett Produced by Dandelion Theatre Playing at The Side Project Theatre, Chicago A Mystifying Vision, Sans the Revelation Margery Kempe (1373 – c. 1438) was an English, orthodox Catholic laywoman who, after the birth of her first child, was tormented and tempted in her faith by visions of devils … Read more
By Noël Coward Directed by Derek Bertelsen Produced by Pride Films and Plays At Rivendell Theater, Chicago Wit is Ornamental in this Old-Fashioned Comedy Pride Films and Plays artistic director David Zak has expressed an interest in showcasing the many eras of LGBT-related art. The company’s last show, The Boy from Oz, was a revue … Read more
Book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin. Music & Lyrics by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin Directed & Choreographed by Marc Robin Music Direction by Ryan T. Nelson. At The Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire Charming Christmas Musical Sings in the Holiday Season As one of my co-workers declared earlier this week: We need to get some … Read more
Adapted by Janette Bauer and Aaron Sawyer From William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet Directed by Aaron Sawyer Produced by Red Theatre Chicago and Oracle Productions A True Blending of Deaf and Hearing Cultures Playing around with a story to find new meaning in it works best when it is one the audience is already familiar … Read more
By Boo Killebrew Directed by Marti Lyons At Raven Theatre’s West Stage “We are going to play with magical realism and time travel and side stories and make the whole thing sort of like a tapestry.” Hurricane Katrina-themed play doesn’t work on all levels I’m amazed that Raven Theatre selected The Play About My Dad, … Read more
By Meg Miroshnik Directed by Nicole Wiesner Produced by Trap Door Theatre, Chicago Fairytale Heroines Take on the Russian Free Market Twenty-four years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the children of the emigrants are coming of age. This prompts Russian-Americans to ask the questions every immigrant group faces eventually: how much of the … Read more