Chicago Critic Must See recommendations.
Created by Attila Glatz Concert Productions Featuring the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Bernhard Schneider Featuring Patricia Nessy soprano (Vienna) and tenor Adam Luther With the Kiev-Aniko Ballet of Ukraine and International Champion Ballroom Dancers Concert Date: December 27 at ORCHESTRA HALL, SYMPHONY CENTER, Chicago The ageless beauty of Viennese music is a wonderful way … Read more
Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows Based on the Story and Characters of Damon Runyon Directed by Rudy Hogenmiller Choreographed by Clayton Cross Conducted by Shawn Stengel Produced by Light Opera Works, Evanston New Talent Keeps an Old Favorite Vital I’ve seen Light Opera Works do such a … Read more
By Jackie Taylor Directed by Rueben D. Echoles Musical Direction by Robert Reddick Produced by Black Ensemble Theater, Chicago The Divas Walk among Us 2016 will mark the Black Ensemble Theater’s fortieth anniversary, and their upcoming season looks set to be a fantastic retrospective. The Uptown/Ravenswood-based company, which is still led by its founder, Jackie … Read more
By George Frideric Handel Music Director/Conductor Produced by Apollo Chorus of Chicago At the Harris Theater, Chicago Heavenly rendition of Handel’s masterpiece a terrific holiday tradition Handel’s 1741 oratorio Messiah has been presented since 1879 in Chicago by the Apollo Chorus of Chicago! This 136th yearly production is more than a holiday tradition, it is … Read more
Conceived by Marc Kudisch Created by Marc Kudisch with Merwin Foard, Jeff Mattsey and Timothy Splain Directed by David Dower Music Direction by Timothy Splain Produced by Hershey Felder At the Royal George Theatre, Chicago A baritone is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the bass and the tenor … Read more
World Premiere Music by Jimmy Lopez Libretto by Nilo Cruz Opera in two acts in Spanish, English, Japanese, Russian, German, French and Quechua Based on the novel by Ann Patchert Commissioned by the Lyric Opera of Chicago Curated by Renee Fleming Conductor Sir Andrew Davis Stage director Kevin Newbury At the Lyric Opera Chicago Stunning … Read more
Conceived by Todd Olson & David Grapes Book by Todd Olson Directed by Fred Anzevino Music Direction by Jeremy Ramey Choreographed by Maggie Portman Produced by Theo Ubique Cabaret Theater At No Exit Cafe, Chicago Sophistication: Modern definitions include quality of refinement — displaying good taste, wisdom and subtlety rather than crudeness, stupidity and vulgarity. … Read more
Music and Lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice Additional Music and Lyrics by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer Book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi Adapted from the screenplay by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton Directed by Julie Taymor Choreography by Garth Fagan Music Supervision by … Read more
A New Musical Book by John Reeger Music & Lyrics by Julie Shannon Musical Orchestrations by Larry Blank Directed by L. Walter Stearns Musical Direction by Eugene Dizon Schooner’s heart fills the holidays with joy! Now in its fifth year at the Mercury Theater, The Christmas Schooner still packs much good will and holiday cheer … Read more
By GQ, JQ, Jackson Doran, and Postell Pringle Developed with Rick Boynton Music by JQ Directed by GQ and JQ Choreography by Anacron Produced by Chicago Shakespeare Theater “Our final destination is all the same station.” Among the newer Chicago theatre Christmas traditions is the Q Brothers’ hip-hop adaptation of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. … Read more