Displaying items by tag: Berlin

Court Theatre’s world premiere of Berlin, adapted by Mickle Maher from Jason Lutes’ monumental graphic novel, is a breathtaking achievement. Directed with precision and deep sensitivity by Charles Newell, Berlin brings the chaos and beauty of Weimar-era Germany to stunning life on stage, rendered in an unforgettable 1930s noir style.

Lutes spent two decades crafting his sprawling graphic epic, and it’s clear Maher and Newell approached this adaptation with profound respect. The production’s black, white, and grey palette—designed by scenic designer John Culbert, lighting designer Keith Parham, and costume designer Jacqueline Firkins—immerses the audience in a city teetering on the edge of catastrophe. Every shadow and seam speak volumes, creating a world that feels both immediate and mythic.

Raven Whitley leads the ensemble as Marthe Muller, capturing a young woman’s vulnerability and fierce independence with magnetic grace. Tim Decker’s Kurt Severing carries the weary idealism of a journalist witnessing democracy’s slow death, while Ellie Duffey delivers a moving performance as the idealistic Silvia Braun. Elizabeth Laidlaw is harrowing as both Gudrun Braun and Adolf Hitler, offering a brutal glimpse into rising fascism.

Special mention must be made of Julia Rhoads’ fluid, expressive movement direction, which underscores the sense of a city swirling with ideas, danger, and desire. Sammi Grant’s expert vocal and dialect coaching ensures every character’s voice feels authentic—from Joseph Goebbels’ oily charisma (a chilling performance by Terry Bell) to the many Berliners struggling to survive an unraveling world.

Kate Collins, Mo Shipley, Jack Doherty, Guy Van Swearingen, Christopher Meister, Molly Hernandez, and Brandon Ruiter round out the exceptional ensemble, each carving out vivid portraits of citizens caught in history’s gears.

Watching Berlin today mirrors America’s turbulent political landscape with haunting clarity. From surging extremism to collapsing civil discourse, from journalism under siege to widening economic divides—these echoes ring too close to home. Berlin is more than historical; it is an urgent warning, a desperate plea, and a piercing call for vigilance.

Newell’s production reminds us that civilizations don’t collapse with a bang—they decay slowly, invisibly. Each small compromise, each overlooked lie, each quiet injustice piles up until the ground gives way beneath us. By then, we’ve sealed our fate, having watched our undoing unfold in slow motion.

Court Theatre hasn’t merely adapted a graphic novel—they’ve unleashed a theatrical thunderbolt. Under Newell’s visionary direction, Berlin transforms into something rare and electric: a defining moment of Chicago theatre that will be talked about for years to come. In a time when we desperately need art that matters, Berlin delivers with a punch that leaves you breathless.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED                                                                                                                                                              

When: Extended through MAY 18TH

Where: Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.

Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes 15-minute intermission

*This review is also featured on https://www.theatreinchicago.com/!

Under the continuing leadership of Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, with interim artistic leadership from Senior Artistic Producer Gabrielle Randle-Bent and Senior Managing Producer Heidi Thompson Saunders, Court Theatre is thrilled to present the world premiere of Berlin, Mickle Maher's exhilarating adaptation of Jason Lutes's celebrated graphic novel, directed by Charles Newell. This production will run April 19 – May 11, 2025 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. The press opening is Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 7:30pm.

The cast of Berlin includes Terry Bell (Kid Hogan/Ensemble); Kate Collins (Margarethe von Falkensee/Ensemble); Tim Decker (Kurt Severing); Jack Doherty (David Schwartz/Ensemble); Ellie Duffey (Silvia Braun/Ensemble); Molly Hernández (Pola Mosse/Ensemble); Elizabeth Laidlaw (Gudrun Braun/Adolf Hitler/Ensemble); Brandon Ruiter (Theo Müller/Ensemble); Mo Shipley (Anna Lenke/Ensemble); Guy Van Swearingen (Otto Schmidt/Ensemble); HB Ward (Otto Braun/Ensemble); and Raven Whitley (Marthe Müller).

The creative team includes John Culbert (Scenic Designer); Jacqueline Firkins (Costume Designer); Keith Parham (Lighting Designer); Mark Messing (Sound Designer and Composer), with Associate Sound Designer Josh McCammon; David Levin (Production Dramaturg and Development); Julia Rhoads (Movement Director); Becca McCracken, CSA (Director of Casting and Artist Cultivation), with Associate Casting Director Celeste M. Cooper; Kate Ocker (Production Stage Manager); and Katie Moshier (Assistant Stage Manager).

Berlin is an unforgettable mosaic of intersecting narratives set amidst the decline of Weimar Germany. This original commission brings Jason Lutes's exhilarating and acclaimed graphic novel to life. Fascism is taking hold; revolutionaries are organizing; creatives are trying to capture the ineffable nature of their changing city; and – as everything falls apart – everyone is faced with a choice: abandon Berlin or fight to survive.

Charles Newell (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead) directs Mickle Maher's propulsive adaptation, an ever-shifting kaleidoscope of everyday people trying to survive one of the most remarkable moments in history. Set almost one hundred years ago, Berlin speaks to our current moment, and our future, with undeniable urgency.

Accompanying this production of Berlin is a suite of public programs, including:

• A Curated Tour of Potential Energy: Chicago Puppets Up Closeand BUDDY at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 East Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602), in partnership with the Public Media Institute.
• An Agora conversation at Co-Prosperity (3219 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60608), presented in partnership with Co-Prosperity and the Public Media Institute.
• A Communal Activation at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum (800 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60607), presented in partnership with the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum.
• A screening of Cabaretat the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts (915 E 60th St, Chicago, IL 60637), presented in partnership with the University of Chicago's Film Studies Center.

Tickets to Berlin are available now and can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (773) 753-4472 or online at CourtTheatre.org. Information about the public programming offerings will be available online at CourtTheatre.org.

Berlin is sponsored by Lorna Ferguson and the Morey Family.

Fact Sheet / Berlin (World Premiere)

Title:                Berlin

Adapted by:     Mickle Maher, based on the graphic novel by Jason Lutes

Directed by:     Charles Newell

Featuring: Terry Bell (Kid Hogan/Ensemble); Kate Collins (Margarethe von Falkensee/Ensemble); Tim Decker (Kurt Severing); Jack Doherty (David Schwartz/Ensemble); Ellie Duffey (Silvia Braun/Ensemble); Molly Hernández (Pola Mosse/Ensemble); Elizabeth Laidlaw (Gudrun Braun/Adolf Hitler/Ensemble); Brandon Ruiter (Theo Müller/Ensemble); Mo Shipley (Anna Lenke/Ensemble); Guy Van Swearingen (Otto Schmidt/Ensemble); HB Ward (Otto Braun/Ensemble); and Raven Whitley (Marthe Müller).

Creatives: John Culbert (Scenic Designer); Jacqueline Firkins (Costume Designer); Keith Parham (Lighting Designer); Mark Messing (Sound Designer and Composer), with Associate Sound Designer Josh McCammon; David Levin (Production Dramaturg and Development); Julia Rhoads (Movement Director); Becca McCracken, CSA (Director of Casting and Artist Cultivation), with Associate Casting Director Celeste M. Cooper; Kate Ocker (Production Stage Manager); and Katie Moshier (Assistant Stage Manager).

Dates:             

Previews:                   April 19 – April 25, 2025

Press Opening:          April 26, 2025 at 7:30pm

Regular Run:              April 27 – May 11, 2025

Schedule:        

Wed/Thurs/Fri:           7:30 p.m.

Sat/Sun:                     2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Accessible Performances:      

Touch Tour on May 10, 2025 at 12:30pm

ASL Interpretation and Audio Description on May 10, 2025 at 2:00pm

Open Captioning on May 11, 2025 at 2:00pm

Location:         Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.

Tickets:           

$42.00 – $72.00 Previews

$58.00 – $90.00 Regular Run

Student, group, and military discounts available

Box Office:      Located at 5535 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago; (773) 753-4472 or www.CourtTheatre.org.

Court Theatre reimagines classic theatre to illuminate our current times. In residence at the University of Chicago and on Chicago's historic South Side, we engage our audiences with intimate and provocative experiences that inspire deeper exploration of the enduring questions that confront humanity and connect us as people.