Written and Directed by Anthony Moseley Co-written by Adam Seidel Produced by Collaboraction, Chicago Theatre Shares Stories of Activism Since the debut of Crime Scene in 2013, Collaboraction, a theatre company dedicated to social activism, has made the “docu-drama” the centerpiece of their youth and neighborhood outreach programs. Now, they have produced a sequel, which … Read more
By Jaki McCarrick Directed by Julie Proudfoot Produced by Artemisia, Chicago On the Way to Australia, it’s the Journey that Counts It’s an interesting coincidence that at the time the Republic of Ireland became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage through popular referendum, Artemisia would be doing the American premiere of a play about … Read more
from the novel by Choderlos de Laclos adapted by Christopher Hampton Directed by Charlie Marie McGrath Produced by AstonRep Theatre Company At Raven Theatre’s West Stage Curious timeline confuses French 18th Century novel adaptation Why director Charlie Marie McGrath chose to put de Laclos’ 1782 epistolary novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, in 20th Century Russia in … Read more
By Colleen Murphy Directed by Patrick New Produced by Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. At Angel Island, Chicago “It’s not your fault.” -Kathleen Lingering effects of a massacre are vividly depicted With so many school and work place shootings in America (and Canada) over the last twenty or so years, we shake our heads, then put them … Read more
By Roland Schimmelpfennig Translated by David Tushingham Directed by Elly Green Produced by Trap Door Theatre, Chicago Trap Door’s Strong Production Helps Compensate for Script German writer Roland Schimmelpfennig’s 2004 play The Woman Before is a dark fantasy about the worst possible results of jealousy and clinging to the past. It’s a universal theme, and … Read more
By Steve Martin Directed by Josh Anderson Produced b y Organic Theater Company At the Greenhouse Theatre Smart, funny absurdist play reflects on the nature of genius and creativity. Famed comedian, actor, banjo player and playwright, Steve Martin’s 1993 PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE, now in a spirited ensemble production by Organic Theater Company at … Read more
By Moliere Translated by Ranjit Bolt Directed by Alexander Gelman Produced by Organic Theater Company, Chicago Tartuffe Struggles to Find Its Style Tartuffe, Moliere’s classic tale of hypocrisy and duplicity, is perennially popular, but hard to get right. The rhyming couplets, absurd behavior, and infamous deus ex machina ending all suggest a high-energy unreality, but … Read more
By Jeffrey Hatcher Directed by Charles Riffenburg Associate Directed by Cassy Schillo Produced by BoHo Theatre, Chicago Bizarre Mystery Play Keeps Its Secrets Since starting his career in the late 1980s, Jeffrey Hatcher has become famous as an adaptor, writing the screenplays of Tuesdays with Morrie and Stage Beauty, from his own play, Compleat Female … Read more
Book and Lyrics by Jessica Thebus Music by Andre Pluess and Amanda Dehnert Directed by Jessica Thebus Based on the Play These Shining Lives by Melanie Marnich Produced by Northlight Theatre, Skokie New Musical is Radium-Yum-Yum-Yum-Yum Have you ever had a job that made you want to drink paint? The women at the Radium Dial … Read more
By Rob Drummond Directed by Max Truax At Strawdog Theatre Company Weird quiz show parody morphs into inner thoughts I ended up with conflicting thoughts about Strawdog Theatre’s production of British playwright Rob Drummond’s Quiz Show. Maybe if the early Quiz Show scenes were more like an authentic quiz show instead of getting those scenes … Read more