When it comes to an engaging mystery thriller, the need for finely-written, well-executed twists, turns and the unexpected are imperative. Afterall, a good suspense story on stage that has the ability to genuinely captivate its audience members can be one of the most enjoyable theatrical experiences we can have. In…
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Theatre in Review
When I say the name Ben Hecht most of you will look at me with confusion not knowing who I am talking about. That is understandable, given that most people don’t seem to care about anything before 1990. I myself did not have the strongest handle of who the man…
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Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 15 June 2016 10:21
Bat Boy: The Musical – A Unique Tabloid Musical
Written by Michelle Reidy
In the early 90’s, the now defunct supermarket tabloid Weekly World News, published a story about a creature - half boy half bat - found in a West Virginia cave. That story became the inspiration for Bat Boy: The Musical written by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming with music and…
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Theatre in Review
Charles Busch, creator of the camp classics, Die, Mommie, Die!, Psycho Beach Party and Vampire Lesbians of Sodom seems to have written The Divine Sister just for David Cerda and his fabulous cast of rotating members in Hell in a Handbag Productions. Affectionately making fun of films like The Song…
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Theatre in Review
Sunday, 12 June 2016 10:14
The Art of Falling: An Amazing Collaboration of Dance and Comedy
Written by Michelle Reidy
Some things were just meant to go together, even if they do sound a little odd at first. Like peanut butter and bananas, apple pie and cheddar cheese, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennet; The Art of Falling is amazing collaboration between Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and The Second City. The…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Mediocrity, is usually the best word most people try and avoid when they aspire to make and or do something great. The idea is that if a person is part of something truly great that idea, performance, or invention will be remembered throughout history. Look at the radio and how…
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Theatre in Review
Chicago is alive with the sound of music, thanks to the return of Rogers and Hammerstein’s classic musical now playing at Cadillac Palace that comes with a delightfully vibrant cast and an orchestra that is able to capture the uttermost essence of the original score. Directed by three-time Tony Award…
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Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 08 June 2016 17:16
American Theater Company's Xanadu is a Triumph of Comedy and Love!
Written by Kimberly Katz
"A place where nobody dared to go The love that we came to know They call it Xanadu And now, open your eyes and see What we have made is real We are in Xanadu A million lights are dancing And there you are, a shooting star An everlasting world…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Last year the Chicago theatre community lost a major piece of its landscape. Longtime American Theater Company artistic director PJ Paparelli died abruptly before solidifying the company's thirty-first season. It's almost ironic that a man responsible for bringing so many uncomfortably topical dramas to the Chicago stage had such a…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 04 June 2016 23:23
Each scene played five ways in Steppenwolf’s challenging Constellations
Written by Bill Esler
Watching one scene acted four or five ways is intrinsically interesting. It’s regularly played to comic effect at Second City. But what about an entire play strung together from a series of such scenes? This structure, used in Constellations at Steppenwolf Theatre, may put your interest to the test. But…
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Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 28 May 2016 22:19
Deirdre Kinahan’s Spinning: A Too Sad Tale, Very Well Told
Written by Bill Esler
If you can stand witnessing 90 minutes of emotional misery, then I can recommend Spinning at Den Theatre, where Irish Theatre of Chicago is giving the Dublin-based Deirdre Kinihan’s work its U.S. premiere. The four actors turn in powerful performances– a fifth character, never seen, was almost equally present throughout,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 26 May 2016 11:08
A Celebration of Space, The Arts, and Life Come to Sinfonietta
Written by Adam Jewell
I am sitting here, at nearly midnight, trying to figure out how to describe the relationship between space and the symphony. I remember jokingly putting on my Instagram how the two made the perfect combination. Alas, here I am struggling with how to put the beauty of space combined with…
Published in
Theatre in Review
With foreboding I took my seat in Court Theatre’s One Man, Two Guvnors, knowing the actors had devised some parts of the play on their own. As the company frolicked and sang the opening number, the jollity on stage was leaving me stone cold. But enter Francis Henshall (Timothy Edward…
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Theatre in Review
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'Poor People! The Parody Musical' is rich in laughs
Written by Kimberly KatzI’m amazed that it’s been 18 years or so since I first saw a Hell in a Handbag production. Though it seems like yesterday, my first experience with Handbag was taking in their production of The Poseidon Adventure at the… -
Bramble Theatre Company presents Festival of Unfinished Work June 26 - June 30
Written by Buzz Center StageBramble Theatre Company, is proud to announce the third annual Festival of Unfinished Work at the new Bramble Arts Loft located on the second floor of the historic Capital Garage building at 5545 N. Clark St, June 26 - 30. The Festival's performance schedule… -
Porchlight Shares Dates and Parks for its Free, Summer Concert Series: BROADWAY IN YOUR BACKYARD, June 6 - August 6
Written by Buzz Center StagePorchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce the return of its free summer concert series Broadway in your Backyard, now in its fourth year, June 6 - August 6, as part of Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, supported by the Mayor’s…
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Dance and Sing to the Beat of Life with ‘Last Stop on Market Street’
Written by Bree SamaniDespite the fact that I have never read the Newberry Award-Winning children’s book called Last Stop on Market Street, I chose to see the musical adaptation on a sunny Saturday afternoon. And I have to say, I am impressed with…
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