Displaying items by tag: Simon Slater
Simon Slater Thoroughly Engrossing in "Bloodshot"
From the moment British television star Simon Slater appeared in the lighting to the side of the stage and began to describe in gritty detail the three most common ways to commit suicide, it became apparent this one-man murder mystery thriller was going to be one helluva ride. Gripping from the get go this high-charged play only became more and more engaging as the story progressed thanks to Slater’s airtight delivery and fantastic ability to convincingly take on a series of characters.
As part of the Solo Celebration, a series of twelve one-person act shows at Greenhouse Theater Center spanning over eight months, “Bloodshot” makes its U.S. premiere after making its mark as a successful hit in London. Written by Douglas Post and directed by Patrick Sanford, Slater flawlessly weaves together a peculiar string of events, producing a smart, witty and spellbinding mystery that has traces of film noir and leaves one guessing all the way through.
“Bloodshot” takes place in 1957 London when an ex-detective now freelance photographer finds himself smack dab in the middle of a murder mystery. Known for his capturing “blood shots” from grisly crime scenes, he takes on a different type of assignment when he is hired – and paid handsomely – by an unknown employer to secretly take photos of a beautiful young woman. He is soon thrust in the middle of a murder mystery that takes on many unexpected turns the deeper he investigates.
While taking the audience along on this thrilling tale of murder, Slater’s skill in becoming the handful of characters sprinkled into the story is nothing short of remarkable, and the dialogue exchanges just as impressive. As an American jazz club musician, Slater demonstrates his talent as a saxophonist and he adeptly plugs away at the ukulele while immersing into a slew of vaudeville-esque jokes as a comic. Slater also performs a jaw-dropping magic trick as a club owner who entertains his patrons as a magician, swallowing several razor blades in the process.
Slater is a force to be reckoned with as he takes a well-written story and single-handedly creates an illusion of a large scale production and does so seamlessly. “Bloodshot” has everything a theatre goer desires from a fetching storyline abundant in intrigue, brilliant acting, humor and a display of musical talent. Simon Slater is someone you cannot help but enjoy watching perform.
Highly recommended, “Bloodshot” is being performed at Greenhouse Theater Center through September 10th. For tickets and/or more show information, visit www.GreenhouseTheater.org.
Asgard Amplified: Loki’s Rock Revolution at Lifeline
04 May 2026 in Theatre in ReviewGet ready for a cosmic comedy of gods, monsters, and mayhem that refuses to play by the old rules. That’s…
Rom‑Com Spark and ’80s Verve Light Up Metropolis’ Wedding Singer
03 May 2026 in Theatre in ReviewThe Wedding Singer is currently onstage at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights, offering a faithful and upbeat interpretation…
E. Faye Butler directs stellar Chicago cast in comedy Nunsense this summer at Drury Lane
01 May 2026 in Upcoming TheatreDrury Lane Theatre continues its 2026/2027 season with the divine extravaganza Nunsense, featuring book, music and lyrics by David Goggin, directed by E. Faye…
Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces North American Premiere production of Brokeback Mountain
01 May 2026 in Theatre in ReviewChicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the cast and creative team for Brokeback Mountain, the North American premiere production of Ashley Robinson's adaptation of the…
THE NOTEBOOK WILL PLAY BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S JAMES M. NEDERLANDER THEATRE AUGUST 4 - 16
30 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreProducers Kevin McCollum and Kurt Deutsch, along with Broadway In Chicago are thrilled to announce that single tickets for THE NOTEBOOK,…
YI Love Jewish and Arts Judaica Announce Chicago Premiere of A PEOPLE at Theater Wit June 18 – July 5
30 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreThe South Florida based YI Love Jewish and Chicago-based Arts Judaica proudly join forces to present a limited engagement of the Chicago…
BTE marks 40 years with new season: 'Little Women," "Dial M for Murder" and “One Man, Two Guvnors”
30 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreBuffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE), the professional Equity theater company in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), announced it will…
Eclectic Full Contact Theatre's The Red Lion - Bramble Arts Loft - Through May 16th
29 April 2026 in Now PlayingEclectic Full Contact Theatre is proud to announce the cast and crew for their final show of season 14, THE…
Free Metra rides for all Broadway In Chicago Shows all summer
29 April 2026 in Theatre BuzzBroadway In Chicago and Metra are pleased to announce a new promotion featuring nine shows coming to Chicago this summer: CHICAGO THE MUSICAL, LES MISÉRABLES, SPAMALOT, KINKY…
Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater 50th Anniversary Celebration
29 April 2026 in Upcoming DanceThe world‑renowned Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, in residence at Northeastern Illinois University, brings the passionate, expressive rhythms of Spain…
Alone Together: Three Guys Fishing for Love in Stellar 'Eelpout!'
28 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewShattered Globe’s world premiere of the delightful comedy “Eelpout!” delivers its punches with deceivingly understated skillfulness. Written by Paul W.…
Steppenwolf Theatre Announces LookOut Series' 10th Anniversary Season
28 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreSteppenwolf's LookOut Series is proud to unveil its lineup for Summer 2026, marking ten years of steadfast dedication to Chicago performing artists…
Marriott Theatre to present LET'S HANG ON: A ROCK 'N SOUL PARTY June 1 and 2
28 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreFour favorite singers of past Marriott Theatre concerts will unite on Monday, June 1 and Tuesday, June 2 for LET'S…
Review: The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt at Steppenwolf Theatre
28 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewA show somewhere between a play, standup act, memoir, and PowerPoint presentation. A show so chaotic you think it could…
GEE'S BEND, playing May 23 – June 7 at Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre in the Noyes Cultural Arts Center
27 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…
BrightSide Theatre presents THE PRODUCERS, June 12 – 28, 2026
27 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreConcluding BrightSide's 14th season will be THE PRODUCERS, the longest running Broadway musical comedy ever and the winner of 12 Tony…
Joffrey Ballet presents Chicago Premiere of Yuri Possokhov's EUGENE ONEGIN, June 4th-14th
27 April 2026 in Upcoming DanceThe Joffrey Ballet concludes its 2025-26 season with the highly anticipated Chicago Premiere of Yuri Possokhov’s Eugene Onegin, a richly layered and deeply human…
A Final Bow: Chicago Theatre Mourns Matt DeCaro
25 April 2026 in Theatre BuzzThe Chicago theater community is grappling with the sudden loss of Matt DeCaro, whose death early Saturday came as a…
Fault Shakes Up Chicago Shakespeare Theater with Fierce, Funny Chaos
25 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewDark comedies built around relationship dynamics have always drawn me in because they reveal conflict with a kind of honesty…
At Writers Theatre, a Tech “Job” Too Toxic Shatters an Employee
24 April 2026 in Theatre in ReviewA psychotherapist is held hostage by a gun-toting patient demanding he certify her as stable enough to return to work.…
Curious Theatre Branch Announces Beau O'Reilly's TALKING ABOUT GODARD, May 29 - June 28
24 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreCurious Theatre Branch, launches its 38th Season, with the revival of Talking About Godard, written by Beau O’Reilly and directed by Beau O’Reilly with Briavael O’Reilly, May…
Announcing the 2026 Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards Nominees and Show Sponsor
24 April 2026 in Theatre BuzzBroadway In Chicago is delighted to announce the 24 student nominees for Best Performer in an Actor and Actress role,…
Midsommer Flight to stage Shakespeare’s comedy AS YOU LIKE IT free in six Chicago parks June 27 – August 2
24 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatreFor its 13th free summer production, Midsommer Flight will present one of Shakespeare's most highly regarded and popular comedies. AS YOU…
Physical Theater Festival Chicago Announces Chicago Talent in this Year's Festival, June 1 - 7
23 April 2026 in Upcoming TheatrePhysical Theater Festival Chicago, the city’s annual celebration of contemporary, movement-based performance, announces a bold lineup spotlighting local creativity. Each…
Intuit’s New Exhibits Spark Verve Through Art
23 April 2026 in BCS SpotlightGatecrashers. That’s the term newspapers nearly 100 years ago called the works of self-taught artists when they began “crashing the…
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…
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…
Latest Articles
-
Asgard Amplified: Loki’s Rock Revolution at Lifeline
Written by Ken PayneGet ready for a cosmic comedy of gods, monsters, and mayhem that refuses to play by the old rules. That’s right - the universe is ending, and apparently it booked a headliner. In Lifeline’s world premiere Loki: The End of… -
Rom‑Com Spark and ’80s Verve Light Up Metropolis’ Wedding Singer
Written by Ken PayneThe Wedding Singer is currently onstage at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights, offering a faithful and upbeat interpretation of the Adam Sandler–Drew Barrymore film. The production leans into the story’s rom‑com roots while making effective use of the…
-
E. Faye Butler directs stellar Chicago cast in comedy Nunsense this summer at Drury Lane
Written by Buzz Center StageDrury Lane Theatre continues its 2026/2027 season with the divine extravaganza Nunsense, featuring book, music and lyrics by David Goggin, directed by E. Faye Butler. Enjoy some holy hilarity with the Little Sisters of Hoboken in Nunsense, running June 10 – August 2, at Drury Lane… -
Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces North American Premiere production of Brokeback Mountain
Written by Buzz Center StageChicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the cast and creative team for Brokeback Mountain, the North American premiere production of Ashley Robinson's adaptation of the captivating novella by Annie Proulx that inspired the Academy Award-winning film. The production is directed by Jonathan Butterell and plays May 28–June 28 in…
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.