Displaying items by tag: Sean Grennan
The Tin Woman, A Moving Play About the Value of Having a Heart
Playwright Sean Grennan’s latest work is based on a true story about a successful heart transplant that occurs between two very different people who meet briefly and then go on to complete each other's lives without meeting in this world again.
Joy, played realistically and with dry humor by the playwright's sister, Erin Noel Grennan, has just received a heart transplant and is struggling with depression about why she is still alive and what happiness she can find by continuing to work, make money, spend money and work some more. Joy is a cynical loner, abandoned by her parents with one great friend named Dara, played with great humor by Jeri Marshall.
Joy finds out from her nurse, also played by Marshall (who is great at character studies), that she can write a thank you note to the donors family and does so with wonderful but challenging emotional consequences.
It turns out her donor, Jack, played with sensitivity by Doogan Brown, a 36-year-old aspiring photographer that she once met in a coffee shop and flirted with, still has a family of three that miss him very much and are devastated by his sudden death caused by a car accident.
Jacks' mother, father and sister - Hank (Steve Pickering), Alice (Annabel Armouray) and Sammy (Kayla Kennedy) are all characters brought to life with precision and care. Outside of a reluctant Hank, the family welcomes Joy into their home, hoping to find some answers or comfort for their loss in this stranger who is carrying the heart of their child in her chest.
One of the most touching and poignant moments in the play is when each family member listens to Joy's chest and realize that there is their son and brother, his heart still beating out his particular rhythm into this world.
Jack is shown in flashbacks and as a spirit who is sticking around in this world to oversee the healing process begun by the family meeting and bonding with his donor.
The Tin Woman is directed with great ease into a thoughtful yet quickly moving pace by Linda Fortunato and is complimented with an all-female tech crew including a great set by Sarah Ross. The play includes set lighting by Shelley Strasser-Holland, sound by Victorio Deiorio (who also composed the original music) and costumes by Brenda Winstead, along with props by Brittney O’Keefe. The Tin Woman is a fabulous example of the success that comes with employing women at every level of theater and allowing them free reign to do their jobs.
Although I have come to expect the fun and excitement of the large, musical theater type productions from Theatre at the Center, this serious, yet darkly funny play was a refreshing offering.
The simplicity and universality of the story regarding surviving life after the death of a loved one fell on the audience like a soft, summer rain.
Grennan's writing combined with his own sister's excellent portrayal of a cynical single woman at a crossroads in her life, cleanses the mind and soul with both tears and laughter so that the hope of emotional healing comes shining through the rain.
The Tin Woman is being performed at Theatre at the Center in Munster, IN through August 13th. For more show information or to purchase tickets, visit www.theatreatthecenter.com.
PrideArts to present newly expanded version of Kayla Boye's CALL ME ELIZABETH May 8-10
01 May 2026 in Upcoming TheatreCALL ME ELIZABETH, a one-woman show about the life of Elizabeth Taylor, will be presented May 8-10 by PrideArts at the Hoover-Leppen Theatre…
safronia soars at Lyric Opera
22 April 2026 in Theatre in Reviewsafronia at Lyric Opera of Chicago emerges as a deeply personal story of the Great Migration - one that resists…
At Steppenwolf, Windfall Doesn’t Cash In on Its Promise
21 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewSteppenwolf Theatre Company’s, Windfall arrives with all the promise its pedigree suggests. Written by Academy Award–winning ensemble member Tarell Alvin…
Redtwist’s Sobering ‘night Mother Asks Us to Look for the Unseen
21 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewMother-daughter relationships are somehow deemed different. More seminal than the bond between a father and son. More instinctive than between…
THE GREAT GATSBY is Now Playing at Cadillac Palace
21 April 2026 in Now PlayingBroadway In Chicago is excited to announce that the smash hit Broadway musical and global sensation, THE GREAT GATSBY, based on the beloved…
AstonRep Productions to stage US Premiere of Liisa Repo-Martell's new adaptation of Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA, June 18 – July 5 at the Edge Off-Broadway Theatre
21 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreAstonRep Productions, the theatre and film production company that has produced over 30 stage productions in Chicago, has announced it…
Premiere of OUT HERE at Court Theatre a Charming Deconstruction of Marriage and Musical
20 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewEveryone encounters many crossroads in their lives, where they make a choice that determines the future…and many people live to…
Steep Theatre Celebrates May the 4th with Reading of THE MAKING
20 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreOn Monday, May the 4th, Steep Theatre will present the first public staged reading of playwright Dan Aibel's new work The…
Porchlight Music Theatre Announces its 2026 - 2027 Season
20 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatrePorchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce its 32nd season launching in September at The Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., with the…
JACKALOPE THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF ANDY WARHOL PRESENTS: THE COCAINE PLAY, MAY 28 - JULY 6
20 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreJackalope Theatre Company is proud to present the world premiere of Andy Warhol Presents: The Cocaine Play, written and directed by Terry Guest, May 28…
Chicago Opera Theater presents concert world premiere of seventh Vanguard Initiative developed opera Trusted
20 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreChicago Opera Theater (COT) closes its 2025/26 season with the concert premiere of a new opera Trusted - the seventh full-length opera developed through…
Teatro Vista and Steppenwolf’s BOTH Twists Family Truths Into a Slow‑Burn Thriller
18 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewFrom the moment BOTH starts, the play demands attention. Flashing lights, sirens, and the sounds of heavy breathing build as…
Northlight’s Angel Offers Charm, Even Without Full Lift‑Off
17 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewScrewball comedy went the way of the dinosaur after the 1940s, but Northlight Theatre attempts to revive it with The…
Steppenwolf Theatre Presents Gala 2026 - Saturday, May 9, 2026 at Rockwell on the River
16 April 2026 in Theatre BuzzSteppenwolf Theatre Company's acclaimed Ensemble and Board of Trustees are pleased to host Steppenwolf Gala 2026, an unforgettable evening that continues the…
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, A New Musical arrives in Chicago for a limited engagement at the James M. Nederlander Theatre June 23–July 5, 2026
16 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreBroadway In Chicago is pleased to announce that individual tickets for the North American Tour of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS , A New Musical…
Marriott’s Heartbreak Hotel: The Rise, the Rebirth, the Return
16 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewMarriott Theatre’s Heartbreak Hotel takes on the tricky task of charting Elvis Presley’s early ascent, walking the line between the…
New Leadership on Display at Alvin Ailey Dance Theater with Alicia Graf Mack
15 April 2026 in BCS SpotlightSustaining legacy is no simple task, especially when considering the arts. How do you preserve continuity of spirit while simultaneously…
AUDITORIUM PHILMS CONCERT SERIES continues with Rocky In Concert - May 16th
15 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreThe Auditorium (Chicago’s landmark stage at 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive) and The Chicago Philharmonic in association with TCG Entertainment, continue the Auditorium Philms…
Promethean Theatre Ensemble to stage Anouilh's ANTIGONE at The Den, May 31 – June 28
15 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatrePromethean Theatre Ensemble has announced it will perform the Lewis Galantiere adaptation of Jean Anouilh's ANTIGONE, from May 31 through…
Writers Theatre announces the 29-member powerhouse cast for the largest production in its history: Tom Stoppard's Leopoldstadt
14 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreWriters Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Artistic Director Braden Abraham, concludes its 2025/26…
NSYNC SUPERSTAR JOEY FATONE TO JOIN THE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR OF & JULIET AS ‘LANCE’ FOR A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT
14 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreThe producers of & Juliet and Broadway In Chicago announced today that pop music superstar Joey Fatone will join the North American Tour company of the smash…
GEE'S BEND, playing May 23 – June 7 at Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre in the Noyes Cultural Arts Center
14 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreFleetwood-Jourdain Theatre today announced full casting and production team for its season-opening production of GEE'S BEND, the 2008 play by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, to…
Eileen Byrne brings solo play Running with Coffee to Lookingglass Theatre's lobby for 2 performances only May 16 and 17, 2026
14 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreWriter and performer Eileen Byrne brings her acclaimed one-woman play Running with Coffee to Chicago for two performances only, presented at Lookingglass Theatre Company's…
Drury Lane Theatre names Matthew D. Carney as Artistic Director
13 April 2026 in Theatre BuzzDrury Lane Theatre announces the appointment of Matthew D. Carney as its new Artistic Director. A longtime collaborator and key member of…
Definition Theatre Presents the Amplify World Premiere of Keerah
13 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreDefinition Theatre is proud to present the Amplify World Premiere of Keerah, a quick-witted dramedy by playwright Netta Walker and directed by McKenzie Chinn. Keerah will…
WAITRESS & THE BOOK OF MORMON return to Broadway In Chicago by Popular Demand
13 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewBroadway In Chicago is excited to announce two fan-favorite shows are returning to our stages this year: WAITRESS and THE BOOK OF MORMON. Current…
Drury Lane’s Father of the Bride Charms with Effortless Fun
13 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewThe 1950s is easy to idealize. Men styled tailored suits, women dazzled in pleated dresses, and everything glimmered like it…
Giordano’s Ignite the Soul Dance Concert a Study in Topflight Versatility
13 April 2026 in Dance in ReviewIt’s no secret every new dance season is filled with its own undercurrent of anticipation. Regardless of the company, audiences…
Poor Behavior at Oil Lamp Theatre: When Good Company Goes Bad
13 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewTheresa Rebeck’s Poor Behavior at Oil Lamp Theatre, directed by Lauren Katz, opens with the easy warmth of old friends…
Merry Mischief in Windsor: Chicago Shakespeare’s Fast, Funny Triumph
11 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewShakespeare’s comedies share a familiar architecture: mistaken identity, disguises, intersecting plotlines, a generous helping of prose, and language that delights…
Latest Articles
-
Redtwist’s Sobering ‘night Mother Asks Us to Look for the Unseen
Written by Mitchell OldhamMother-daughter relationships are somehow deemed different. More seminal than the bond between a father and son. More instinctive than between sisters. When trust is broken, all bets can certainly be off. But that doesn’t seem to be the case for… -
Premiere of OUT HERE at Court Theatre a Charming Deconstruction of Marriage and Musical
Written by Kerstin BroockmannEveryone encounters many crossroads in their lives, where they make a choice that determines the future…and many people live to regret it. That is where Dawn, the protagonist of Out Here, the new musical receiving its premiere at Court Theatre… -
safronia soars at Lyric Opera
Written by Wesley Davidsafronia at Lyric Opera of Chicago emerges as a deeply personal story of the Great Migration - one that resists grandiosity in favor of something more intimate, more lived-in, and ultimately more affecting. Drawn from the family history of Chicago’s… -
At Steppenwolf, Windfall Doesn’t Cash In on Its Promise
Written by Wesley DavidSteppenwolf Theatre Company’s, Windfall arrives with all the promise its pedigree suggests. Written by Academy Award–winning ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney and directed by Awoye Timpo, the production aspires to be a pulsing, lyrical meditation on grief, justice, and the…
Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.