By Caryl Churchill Directed by Shawn Douglass Produced by Remy Bumppo Playing at the Greenhouse Theater, Chicago Life is Full of Feelings and Stuff If you have formal artistic training, at some point, you were probably in a class in which you were instructed to write a scene in a minute. Then, to make sure … Read more
By Neil Simon Directed by Skye Robinson Hillis Produced by Spartan Theatre Company At Royal George Theatre, Chicago Neil Simon’s Journey Inside the Mind Choosing plays wisely is crucial to any theatre, and particularly ones just starting out. Therefore, I’ve been thrilled by the choices of Spartan Theatre Company, a young itinerant group, which came … Read more
By Charise Castro Smith Directed by Henry Godinez Produced by Goodman Theatre An Elaborate Dark Comedy Thriller of Camp and Circumstance Goodman Theatre opens its 2015/2016 Season in its Owen Theatre this week with Charise Castro Smith’s Feathers and Teeth, a campy dark comedy thriller about a grieving daughter, her father’s bubbly new fiancé, and … Read more
By Ayad Akhtar Directed by Kimberly Senior Produced by Goodman Theatre, Chicago Co-Produced by Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre A Multicultural Doll’s House Although the Goodman’s production of Ayad Akhtar’s Disgraced is something of a homecoming, the play having debuted only three years ago at American Theatre Company, the enthusiasm of the audience … Read more
(Le Nozze Di Figaro) New Production Opera buffa in four acts in Italian Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte Conductor: Henrik Nanasi Stage Director: Barbara Gaines At the Lyric Opera of Chicago Opulent, hilarious romp about sex, trust and honesty becomes a joyous bedroom farce Director Barbara Gaines and the creatives … Read more
By Roy Williams Directed by Dexter Bullard At Victory Gardens Theater, Chicago Authentic depiction of boxing as a storytelling vehicle punches up an engaging play Set in 1981-88 in Thatcher England, Sucker Punch depicts the relationship of a young black native Brit boxer, Leon (Maurice Demus) and his mentor, Charlie (John Judd), an aging white … Read more
By Bruce Graham Directed by BJ Jones Produced by Northlight Theatre, Skokie The Lives of Absurdists and Vaudevillians Meet Earlier this year, Northlight debuted Bruce Graham’s White Guy on a Bus, a story about revenge, race, and political correctness, which starred Francis Guinan. Less than a year later, the company, managed by Graham’s frequent collaborator … Read more
(An Evening of Vaudeville and sorrow) By Mark Stein Music direction & Lyrics by Harley White, Jr Directed by Michael Menendian At Raven Theatre, Chicago Theatrically endearing play with music and dance ripe as a satirical retelling of a tragic true story. Kudos to Raven Theatre for producing such an adventurous theatrical piece! Mark Stein’s … Read more
By Christina Calvit Adapted from D.E. Stevenson Directed by Dorothy Milne Produced by Lifeline Theatre, Chicago A Satire with a Lot of Heart A feel-good story works best when it’s smart. And Lifeline Theatre has a story that’s both smart and light-hearted in Miss Buncle’s Book, a new play adapted from a 1934 novel by … Read more
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Libretto by Giovanni de Gamerra Stage Director Andreas Mitsek Conductor Francesco Milioto Produced by chicago opera theater At the Harris Theater, Chicago Stunning, melodic and wonderful voices fuel rarely staged Mozart opera. First produced in Milan in 1772, Mozart’s Lucio Silla was an early glimpse into the genius of the … Read more