Items filtered by date: November 2007

In the spirit of excellent novels coupled with Lifeline Theatre’s equally inventive stage adaptations, The Piano Tuner, by Daniel Mason, is as brilliantly crafted for the stage as originally written. Tailored for a visual audience by James E. Grote, this exotic adventure concerning a British War Office and an ordinary piano tuner comes alive through the masterful direction of Jonathan Berry.

When I’m bored on a Thursday night, I fret not. Why? Because I always seem to find myself headed to the Ashbury Coffee House in Willow Springs. But not for the coffee, I go to see Sunni Williams host the weekly improv. Along with the event’s co-founder, Chad Feipal, Sunni leads the audience and their teams of faithful regulars through a series of games that test the skills of all the improvisers.

It’s good that Billy Sheehan performed last, because the guy could not be stopped by anyone. I didn’t think that anyone could play the bass with such ferocity, but I was wrong. Billy’s playing was so impressive, in fact, that I don’t even remember their being anyone else on the stage during his set (not to insult the backup...

The House is arguably the best thing to happen to Chicago’s theatre scene. Totally innovative and wildly entertaining, this theatre is practically a lifestyle. The brainchild of a fascinating group of friends, the majority of company members are graduates from Southern Methodist University. Nearly thirty young adults make up this groundbreaking ensemble. They consist of actors, writers, directors, musicians, dancers, producers, graphic designers, and more.

I had a chance to chat with Anna about her band and influences. She explains that music has always been big part of her life—she began taking piano lessons when she was just four-years-old and picked up the violin when she was in the 2nd grade. Anna remembers, “Sitting on our kitchen counter, in the early 70's...

The Chicago Children’s Theatre brings in the New Year with the Chicago premiere of the international sensation 4- ISH. The Amsterdam based performance troupe combines Acrobatic stunts, street and break dancing, dancing on inline skates, video art, a live DJ and more. I was really impressed by their ability to utilize such an amazing array of diverse and unique talents and marry them in a way that eloquently showed off each person’s total uniqueness.

As its name suggests, Dark Star Orchestra is a Grateful Dead tribute band. Organized by engineer/producer Bob Matthews, a longtime associate of the Dead, they recreate a specific show from the over 2,500 concerts that the Dead performed during their 30-year tenure as masters of improvisational rock. They play the same...

When I found out I had the option to cover God Forbid’s concert on January 13th, I was beside myself. I had heard some of their music and I liked it a lot. The only problem was I knew virtually nothing about the band and though I had heard some of their music, I hardly knew the beginning. One thing’s for sure, they let you...

The energy emitting from the stage, and returned in spades from the crowd last Tuesday night, would have been more than enough to power the southern suburb of Mokena where Hatebreed, the Connecticut based metal quintet stormed The Pearl Room. But the show consisted of much more than just energy. It smacked...

The Blue Man Group is innovative and fresh, trendy, yet deservingly so. Therein lies their success. The artistry of color, lights, sounds, visuals, and audience participation is what sets them apart. The show is a completely out of mind and sensory rich experience. Blue Man Group has ventured out extensively beyond New York City’s original Astor Place Theatre. They have opened productions of equal success around the globe.