Chicago Critic Must See recommendations.
Lyrics by Gertrude Stein, Adapted by Frank Galati Music by Stephen Flaherty Directed by Allison Hendrix Produced by Kokandy Productions At Theater Wit, Chicago “Rose is a rose is a rose…” “Very fine is my valentine, very fine and very mine. Very mine is my valentine very mine and very fine. Very fine is my … Read more
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
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
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
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
By Alistair McDowall Directed by Robin Witt At Steep Theatre, Chicago “Brilliant” is sure an appropriate title word to describe an outstanding USA premiere of a British play. Over the last few years, Steep Theatre has found several terrific new British plays, mostly from young up-and-coming writers. Their latest discovery, Brilliant Adventures by Alistar Mcdowall, … Read more
By Martin Sherman Directed by Keira Fromm Produced by Other Theatre Company At Strawdog Theatre, Chicago The Other Theatre Company is a new Equity company that specializes in people who have been “othered” by society. After starting their inaugural season, which is dedicated to using the stories of the past to illuminate the present, with … Read more
Adapted and Directed by Sean Graney Produced by The Hypocrites, Chicago Tribute to the Ancient World Earns Its “Epic” The Hypocrites artistic director Sean Graney’s attempt to replicate an ancient Dionysia festival attracted lots of positive attention last fall. In case you missed it, or want to go again, now is your chance, because The … Read more
By David Lindsay-Abaire Directed by Matt Hawkins At Redtwist Theatre, Chicago Funny look at how the other-half lives turns poignant as it re-defines what ‘good people’ actually are. Redtwist Theatre boldly mounts storefront productions of plays that major regional theatres have recently produced, giving them an up-close intimate feel that usually makes the play stronger. … Read more
Produced by Theater Wit North Shore Center for the Performing Arts By Joshua Harmon Directed by Jeremy Wechsler Bad Jews Makes Good Theater For the first time in its 11-year history, Theater WIT has transferred a play to a larger venue to continue its outstanding run. Bad Jews, a brilliant, scathing comedy, opened its Chicago … Read more