Chicago Critic Must See recommendations.
Adapted and Directed by David Catlin From the Novel by Herman Melville Produced by Lookingglass Theatre Company Death to Moby Dick! Lookingglass has a well-earned reputation for providing classic stories with imaginative, beautiful, and evocative living images. What more can I add to what has already be written in praise of everything from the work … Read more
By John Kolvenbach Directed by Damon Kiely Produced by Route 66 Theatre Company At the Greenhouse Theatre, Chicago Role reversal in child-parent dynamic vividly depicted Playwright John Kolvenback (On An Average Day) likes to write about family dynamics. In his Chicago premiere of Goldfish, now in a wonderful acted production by Route 66 Theatre Company, … Read more
Adapted by Christopher Sergel From the Novel by Harper Lee Directed by Vaun Monroe Produced by Oak Park Festival Theatre Struggle for Justice Even Greater Under the Sky News that Harper Lee is publishing a sequel to her 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird should stoke even greater interest in the perennially popular stage adaptation. … Read more
Score by David Zippel and Cy Coleman Book by Larry Gelbart Directed by Nick Bowling Produced by The Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire Film Noir and Hollywood Studios Make a World of Song and Sleaze Since the original Broadway run of City of Angels won Tony Awards for best musical and best book in 1990, it would … Read more
The 42nd Annual Jeff Awards honoring non-Equity theatre in Chicago turned out to be a big night Monday for both Bailiwick Theatre’s “The Wild Party” and Griffin Theatre’s “Men Should Weep.” Michael LaChiusa’s “The Wild Party” led the pack in the musical categories with eight awards, including production-musical; ensemble; Brenda Didier, who won both for directing … Read more
Book & Lyrics by Tom Jones Music by Harvey Schmidt Stage Director & Choreographer by Rudy Hogenmiller Conductor Roger L. Bingaman Produced by Light Opera Works At Cahn Auditorium, Evanston Full orchestra and new tune and large staging fuel Jones & Schmidt’s The Fantasticks Rudy Hogenmiller and Jim Harms have a long association with … Read more
A World Premiere Musical Book & Lyrics by L.C. Bernadine Music & Additional Lyrics by Erik Olsen Directed by Alex Higgin-Houser Music Direction by TJ Anderson Choreographed by Jon Martinez Produced by Underscore Theatre Company At Jackalope Frontier Stage, Chicago Refreshingly original new musical captures the foibles of the shadowy alternative country musicals and songwriters … Read more
Music and Lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová Book by Enda Walsh Directed by John Tiffany Produced by Broadway in Chicago Beloved Musical Once Back for Too Short a Time Since Once is about a fleeting moment of love amid a series of departures, it is appropriate that the 2012 musical which swept the … Read more
By Lydia R. Diamond Directed by Chuck Smith At the Windy City Playhouse, Chicago Smart, riveting family drama of an old money New England Black Family Director Chuck Smith (one of the finest craftsman directing in Chicago) has revised Lydia R. Diamond’s 2006 drama Stick Fly. This revival is a well acted and tightly directed … Read more
Book and Lyrics by Marsha Norman Music by Lucy Simon Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett Directed by Charles Newell Music Director Doug Peck Choreographer Katie Spelman At Court Theatre, Chicago Stunningly staged and sung, Newell and Peck’s production of The Secret Garden a major triumph! When director Charles Newell and music director … Read more