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Kimberly Katz

Kimberly Katz

Thursday, 09 August 2007 01:00

It's time to RAGTIME again!

Ragtime!The epic sweep of Ragtime is captured in its opening prologue, a nine-minute kaleidoscope of fictional characters mingling with historical figures from the early 20th century as originally captured in E.L. Doctorow’s novel. As the story continues, we meet pianist Coalhouse Walker Jr. and his child's mother, Sarah who has been taken in by a respectable family...

Thursday, 10 May 2007 01:00

The Fleshtones Burlesque

Fleshtones BurlesqueI was both intrigued and a little bit hesitant to check out The Fleshtones Burlesque featuring a classic burlesque dancer “Satan’s Angel” the Devil’s own mistress! I am against any form of stripping or performance that women have to do that demeans them just to make money. I was very pleasantly surprised however by the artistry and imaginative performances I saw in this show.

 

Marijuana-loguesPurple Haze, Sticky-Icky-icky, Santa Maria, Sweet Malaysian Skunk Weed, Maui Waui, Muffman Delight, 7 Seconds, Purple Power, no matter what you call it this show makes marvelous sense out of the wonderful and wacky world of pot smoking. If you were unsure if an entire show about pot smoking could be funny, think no more because the Marijuana-Logues is hysterically funny...

Escanaba in da MoonlightLights...curtain...get ready to laugh! What’s better than a family on a hunting trip in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan? The Soady family on a hunting trip in Northern Michigan...well maybe not better, but definitely funnier. In Theatre on the Hill’s latest production “Escanaba In Da Moonlight”, directed by Craig J. Engel, the Soady family, dad Albert and sons Rueben and Remnar are brilliantly...

Thursday, 25 January 2007 00:00

4-ISH is Del-ISH-ious

4-ISHThe 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.

Thursday, 28 December 2006 00:00

The Snow Queen

The Snow QueenThe Snow Queen is a lovely Holiday production that tells the story of two childhood sweethearts- Gerda and Kai, who grow up in love together but are separated for a time as they grow into adulthood by the lonely and powerful Snow Queen. This production really reminds me of the old Chicago theatre days with its minimalist, modern and sparing production but which packs a lot of punch. The entire ensemble cast sings beautifully with many of the characters playing their own instruments as well.

Thursday, 24 July 2008 01:00

Wicked’ Strong Girl Power!

Wicked ThumbnailAs I was thoroughly enjoying the many wonderful themes in this show I couldn’t help but feel a tiny pang of jealousy for all the little girls who are growing up with this musical as part of their psychological repertoire. I really wanted to be a witch when I was little. I wanted to be a good witch who casts spells to bring baby birds back to life when they fell from their nests. I wanted a magic spell to put the lizard’s tails back on when my brothers pulled them off,

Colin QuinnColin Quinn packed 'em in and delivered a fantastic hour plus set at the Lakeshore Theater last weekend. Colin talks fast and delivers joke after joke with such rapidity that I couldn't hear everything he said over the laughter. I loved his stuff about Brad Pitt traveling the world in designer duds, with a tired, stunned look on his face, and so...

Wednesday, 12 March 2008 01:00

Jamie Kilstein Kills ‘em

Jamie KilsteinThere is a certain kind of poise I look for in a seasoned comic, the kind of relaxed rhythm that professional musicians also have that lets you know right from the start, this guy is going to be funny and this guy is going to control the audience with ease. Jamie Kilstein definitely has this rhythm and poise. It is a pleasure to watch as Jamie riffs...

Janeane Garofalo

"I guess I just prefer to see the dark side of things. The glass is always half empty. And cracked. And I just cut my lip on it. And chipped a tooth." Janeane Garofalo

In a world that seems increasingly full of giggly, cooing blonds and pantyless, camera hungry, dyed blonds - Janeane Garofalo’s black hair, tattooed arms, funky eyeglasses and whip smart humor are as refreshing to me as a cool breeze on a 110 degree summer day.

PrideArts to present newly expanded version of Kayla Boye's CALL ME ELIZABETH May 8-10

01 May 2026 in Upcoming Theatre

CALL 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 Review

safronia 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 Review

Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s, Windfall arrives with all the promise its pedigree suggests. Written by Academy Award–winning ensemble member Tarell Alvin…

THE GREAT GATSBY is Now Playing at Cadillac Palace

21 April 2026 in Now Playing

Broadway 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 Theatre

AstonRep 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 Review

Everyone 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 Theatre

On 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 Theatre

Porchlight 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 Theatre

Jackalope 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 Theatre

Chicago 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 Review

From 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 Review

Screwball 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 Buzz

Steppenwolf 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 Theatre

Broadway 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 Review

Marriott 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 Spotlight

Sustaining 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 Theatre

The 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 Theatre

Promethean 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 Theatre

Writers 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 Theatre

The 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 Theatre

Fleetwood-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 Theatre

Writer 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 Buzz

Drury 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 Theatre

Definition 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 Review

Broadway 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 Review

The 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 Review

It’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 Review

Theresa 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 Review

Shakespeare’s comedies share a familiar architecture: mistaken identity, disguises, intersecting plotlines, a generous helping of prose, and language that delights…

BrightSide's Private Lives Bring Public Laughs

11 April 2026 in Theatre in Review

You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone and married someone else – that’s how Noel Coward’s Private Lives…

 

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