Latest from Chicago Critic

Premiere of With Blood, With Ink

Third Eye Theatre Ensemble Announces Chicago Premiere of Daniel Crozier’s With Blood, With Ink. October 20th – November 5th Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, Sundays at 3PM Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston, Chicago Chicago–Third Eye Theatre Ensemble presents the Regional Premiere of composer Daniel Crozier’s With Blood With Ink at Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston, … Read more

Screw It: Doin’ Time on the Line at The McKaw Theater

ENCORE PERFORMANCE OF SCREW IT: DOIN’ TIME ON THE LINE AT THE MCKAW THEATER Chicago, IL, August 14 – Local actor and playwright Tim Campos returns to perform his current one-person show Screw It: Doin’ Time on the Line at The McKaw Theater, Sunday October 15, 2017. Tickets are on sale now at the McKaw … Read more

Love Affairs And Wedding Bells

Suburban West Actors’ Guild presents an original, new musical set in Chicago during the 1893 World’s Fair. CHICAGO, IL – S.W.A.G. Theater Company presents the first full stage production of the multi award-winning new romantic-comedy musical, LOVE AFFAIRS AND WEDDING BELLS, directed by stage veteran Judy Rossignuolo-Rice and premiering Sept. 22, 2017 at Theater Wit, … Read more

Macbeth at The Convervatory

Odd’s Bodkins and Corn Productions are proud to present their First Annual production of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Directed by Susie Matthews, this production is set in 1920s Baton Rouge. In a Southern Gothic world of fading plantation aristocracy and voodoo magic, the Macbeths seek an answer to the timeless question of how freetheir free will … Read more

Oil Lamp Theater Announces Par for the Corpse

Oil Lamp Theater Announces Upcoming Production of Par for the Corpse by Jack Sharkey Directed by Keith Gerth October 12 through November 19, 2017 Glenview, IL – Executive and Artistic Director Keith Gerth and Associate Artistic Director Stephen Smith of the Oil Lamp Theater in Glenview announce their next production, the exciting “whodunit” Par for … Read more

Sunday in the Park with George Set for Release

Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford led cast recording of Sunday in the Park with George is set for release which includes the entire Broadway cast of highly acclaimed sold-out revival of the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine masterpiece. “Starring Mr. Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford, with a supporting cast that glows with top-drawer, Broadway-honed talent, this is one … Read more

The Audience

The Audience is terrific theatre. Two hours of riveting acting with many telling scenes told with wit, humor and stinging retorts. Nick Bowling’s staging in-the-round with an all-white set give an intimacy to those meetings. We become a ‘fly-on-the wall.’

The Audience makes history and powerful historical figures come to life, foibles and all. We see that Elizabeth II is more than a smiling lady with a handbag. Brooks is wonderful here. This is a gem!

Jeff Awards Equity nominations for 2016-17

During the 2016-17 season, Jeff Awards judges attended opening nights of 159 Equity productions offered by 42 producing organizations, and from these openings, 123 productions were “Jeff Recommended” and eligible for award nominations.

The 49th Annual Equity Jeff Awards ceremony honoring excellence in professional theatre produced within the immediate Chicago area will be held on Monday, November 6th, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace.

The Veil

I could probably state what the story was from the many press notes but I approach a new show as if I was an audience member. By the way, I asked an audience member both at the intermission and after the show if he had trouble understanding some of the characters? The young man said he could not understand the woman and the estate manager (Ross Frawley) because they slurred their words and spoke too fast to be understood. He was most dissatisfied with the play. He Asked me why they speak so fast? I told him to ask the director.

Gypsy at Music Theater Works

The ambitious, driven ultimate stage mother, Mama Rose is one of the great characters in all of American Broadway musicals. Any production of Gypsy depends on who plays Mama Rose. Mary Robin Roth’s booming voice channeled Ethel Merman takes over as the determined stage mother. Her voice grated on me after a time but Roth’s be