Chicago Critic Must See recommendations.
By Terrence McNally Directed by Steve Scott Produced by Eclipse Theatre Company Playing at the Athenaeum Theatre, Chicago Moderation the Key to a Healthy Relationship with Opera Eclipse Theatre’s season dedicated to Terrence McNally has included plays from only a four-year span of his half-century long career. But in doing so, they’ve maintained a unity … Read more
Based on the 1954 Paramount Picture by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama, and Melvin Frank Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin Book by David Ives & Paul Blake Directed by William Osetek Musical Director Roberta Duchak Choreographer Matt Crowley Produced by Drury Lane Theatre Combination Christmas show and backstage musical soars through song, dance, and comedy … Read more
By Neil Simon Directed by Jessica Thebus Produced by the Windy City Playhouse “Listen, George, next to Christmas, loneliness is the biggest business in America.” Romantic Banter from a Master Neil Simon fans have had a good autumn at Chicago theatres. Last month, Spartan Theatre Company performed his late career drama Jake’s Women in the … Read more
Music and Libretto by Alban Berg Based on the Play by Georg Büchner Directed by Sir David McVicar Conducted by Sir Andrew Davis In a new production at the Lyric Opera of Chicago Brass-Infused Madness Georg Büchner’s Woyzeck is a fascinating object of study for students of drama. An early neurologist, communist, and political exile, … Read more
Written and directed by Leigh Fondakowski based on interviews by Leigh Fondakowski & Reeva Wortal Produced by TimeLine Theatre At Stage 773, Chicago Riveting docudrama about the explosion of the BP oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico near Louisiana Spill, now in a manic, yet powerful, staging by TimeLine Theatre at Stage 773, is … Read more
By Meg Miroshnik Directed by Nicole Wiesner Produced by Trap Door Theatre, Chicago Fairytale Heroines Take on the Russian Free Market Twenty-four years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the children of the emigrants are coming of age. This prompts Russian-Americans to ask the questions every immigrant group faces eventually: how much of the … Read more
Adapted by Dwayne Hartford Based on the book by Kate DiCamillo Directed by Stuart Carden Produced by Chicago Children’s Theatre At the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, Chicago “If you have no intention of loving or being loved, then the whole journey is pointless.” Fabulous children’s play extremely adult friendly In a Chicago premiere … Read more
The World Premiere By Philip Dawkins Directed by BJ Jones Produced by Northlight Theatre At the Steppenwolf Garage Theatre, Chicago Funny yet heartbreaking World Premiere about transgender folks is an important play for everyone to see Kudos to playwright Philip Dawkins and the folks at Northlight Theatre for bringing Charm to Steppenwolf Garage Theatre on … Read more
Adapted and Directed by Mary Zimmerman From the Novel by Robert Louis Stevenson Produced by Lookingglass Theatre Company, Chicago A Co-Production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre No Need for Digging with This Treasure Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1881 adventure novel, has long been cheered by educators as one of the best means of convincing children, … Read more
A World Premiere Sherlock Holmes Adaptation Being a Reprint from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D. By Nicholas Meyer Adapted by Terry McCabe Directed by Warner Crocker At City Lit Theater, Chicago Wonderful Sherlock Homes-type play rings like an Arthur Conan Doyle short story Novelist and screenplay author Nicholas Meyer wrote The Seven-Per-Cent Solution … Read more