Latest from Chicago Critic

Whatever

By Robert Tenges Directed by Adam Webster Produced by The Side Project, Chicago Everything’s Terrible, and Everybody Sucks Naming his newest play Whatever was a bold move on Robert Tenges’s part. The author, who has a longstanding relationship with The Side Project, specializes in drama about teenage struggles, and in the past, has been praised … Read more

Madame Pompadour

Music by Leo Fall German libretto by Rudolf Schanzer & Ernst Wellisch English Translation by Gerald Frantzen & Hersh Glagov Stage Director Amy Hutchison Choreographer Sara Stewart Schumann Conductor Anthony Barres Produced by Chicago Folks Operetta At Vittum Theater, Chicago Risque bedroom farce Viennese operetta is hilarious, well sung with wonderful melodious music making it … Read more

Seagulls-Chicago Musical Theatre Festival

The Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, now in its second year, is a new-works festival produced by Underscore Theatre company. We created CMTF for one reason: there’s a wealth of musical theatre creators and performers in Chicago, but the high risks of producing new musicals means that few companies are willing to take a chance, especially … Read more

Marble, GA-Chicago Musical Theatre Festival

The Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, now in its second year, is a new-works festival produced by Underscore Theatre company. We created CMTF for one reason: there’s a wealth of musical theatre creators and performers in Chicago, but the high risks of producing new musicals means that few companies are willing to take a chance, especially … Read more

Grand Concourse

By Heidi Schreck Directed by Yasen Peyankov Produced by Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago What’s Forgiveness For? Grand Concourse, a Midwestern premiere at Steppenwolf, is another one of the plays currently running in Chicago that examines the question: what do we mean by calling someone a “good person?” Playwright Heidi Schreck’s angle is to interrogate the … Read more

Take Me Back

By Emily Schwend Directed by Will Crouse Produced by The Poor Theatre, Chicago A Well-Acted Slice of Very Troubled Lives Reassuring somebody that they’re a “good person” is one of the most common platitudes, but what does it really mean? There are several plays currently in production around Chicago that ask that question, and don’t … Read more

The Winter’s Tale

By William Shakespeare Co-Directed by Alison C. Vesely and Hayley Rice Produced by First Folio Theatre, Oak Brook A Captivating Winter Story this July Outdoor theatre in the Midwest is always tense, because you never know if rain or thunder might prevent you from hearing the end of the story. That’s especially true with The … Read more

Men of Soul

with A Tribute to Bill Withers Written and directed by Daryl Brooks At Black Ensemble Theater, Chicago  Fantastic nostalgic revue of men of soul-both black and white-is a thrilling show! Black Ensemble Theater presents one of their finest shows ever with the world premiere of Men Of Soul! Writer/director Daryl D. Brooks, with the aid … Read more

The Little Mermaid

Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater Book by Doug Wright Directed by Rachel Rockwell Produced by Chicago Shakespeare Theater Disney Fun Contains Design to Dazzle Children As part of Chicago Shakespeare’s mission of increasing the public’s comfort in theatre, each summer, they perform a short musical that appeals to children … Read more

Join the Club!

Taslitz/Reichenbach Productions Skokie Theater Book and Music by Lauren Taslitz and Leigh Anna Reichenbach Music by Will Buck, Becky Menzie, Mike O’Mara and Leigh Anna Reichenbach Directed by Heather Townsend Saccharine Musical Needs More Seasoning Join the Club!, a rather pleasant debut by a new production company now showing in downtown Skokie, presents all the … Read more