Saturday, 20 November 2021 11:41
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins Welcome Back Live Storytelling
Kerstin Broockmann
In 2020, the Ovals of Ostropol, the fictional troupe of travelling players that bring the story of Hershel and the goblins who menace him to life in Strawdog Theatre Company’s holiday tradition, were forced to spread Hanukkah cheer and occasional chills online. This year, the Ovals are back in a…
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Theatre in Review
Thursday, 25 November 2021 01:14
Beautifully Gift Wrapped, Special Delivery: 'Cinderella' at the Paramount Aurora
Written by Bill Esler
‘Cinderella’ is a sumptuous visual feast, and a musical delight. Running through January 9, 2022 at Aurora’s beautifully restored Paramount theater, this timeless classic tale has been given a Broadway caliber treatment under the direction of Brenda Didier. With gorgeous costumes (Theresa Ham) and wonderful original choreography (Tiffany Krause), the show…
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Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 20 November 2021 13:31
Happiness Is...'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" at Citadel Theatre
Written by Ron Reis
Yes, Happiness Is… The Peanuts! No doubt. As a kid, I read every Peanuts comic I could. I learned at a very early age that there is a little bit of all the classic characters in every one of us. This musical is fairly early in the history of character…
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Theatre in Review
Friday, 19 November 2021 22:49
Show Interrupted: Tracy Letts’ Powerful “Bug” Tells Us Steppenwolf Is Back
Written by Bill Esler
Tracy Letts’ “Bug” beckons audiences back to Steppenwolf live and in-person. This gripping psychological drama tells the story of Agnes (Carry Coon), a drug-addicted, alcoholic waitress marooned in an Oklahoma motel room, consoling herself by staying high, and hanging out with her best friend, R.C. (Jennifer Engstrom), a hard-boiled woman…
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Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 22:06
CHICAGO DANZTHEATRE PRESENTS THE YELLOW WALLPAPER
Written by Anne Rakowiecki
Dancing normally isn't my thing, but literature is. And "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is, surprisingly, a better candidate than most short stories for a dance interpretation. It starts as something quaint, recognizable, and spirals its way into madness: something dance and music can convey potently. Gilman's feminist…
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Theatre in Review
Monday, 08 November 2021 21:31
Pump Boys & Dinettes Gets Spiced Up Revival at Porchlight Theatre
Written by Wesley David
It was 1982 in America, and premiering on Broadway was "Pump Boys & Dinettes," a show recalling the "good ole days" of the South (for some). While it doesn' have much of a plot, if you enjoy escapist theatre with a country and western feel, this is the show for…
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Theatre in Review
Sunday, 07 November 2021 22:46
Porchlight Theatre Spices Up “Pump Boys and Dinettes”
Written by Wesley David
It was 1982 in America when “Pump Boys and Dinettes” first premiered on Broadway. Developed by a band whose members worked at the nearby Cattleman Restaurant, the show is based on their experiences working there, but trasposed to a setting recalling the "good ole days" of the South (for some),…
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Theatre in Review
Thursday, 04 November 2021 21:20
Moments of Glory in 'Paradise Square' at Nederlander Chicago
Written by Bill Esler
It’s hard to cheer and yell with a mask on. But that I did right along with the entire crowd at “Paradise Square,” as Joaquina Kalukango delivered a shatteringly powerful show-stopper, “Let It Burn,” holding the audience in her thrall for every second. This was the best but not the…
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Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 30 October 2021 17:27
Hurt People, Hurt People: Invictus Theatre's Hamlet is Stunning
Written by Wesley David
Before entering Invictus Theatre's storefront on Thorndale Avenue, you are asked for your vaccination card. But they may just as well have asked for your passport. Once you pass through the curtains on your way to your seat, you know quickly “something is rotten in the state of Denmark." There’s…
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Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 30 October 2021 22:12
The Rocks Are Star Performers in Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice
Written by Bill Esler
The Artistic Home chose a sure-fire winner for its return to in-person productions, with a creative staging and knock-out cast in Eurydice by celebrated playwright Sarah Ruhl. The "press night" show October 28 at the Den Theatre found a well-oiled machine delivering flawless performances. The joy of sitting in a sold-out…
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Sunday, 12 September 2021 21:25
An Electrifying Surprise: Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play
Written by Bill Esler
Theater Wit has mounted an unexpectedly spellbinding show for its return to live productions: Anne Washburn’s “Mr. Burns, a post-electric play.” What an amazing fever-dream has flowed from Washburn’s imaginative pen, brought to life at Theater Wit. Originally mounted in 2015, it is clear why this was one of the…
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Theatre in Review
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Friday, 23 July 2021 11:51
The Tempest Taps Magical Realism of Marvel and DC Comics
Written by Bill Esler
Live, in-person theater performances have returned! And on Saturday, July 17, the Oak Park Festival Theater players took to the stage at their Austin Gardens home, mounting an inventive and engaging production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest - the Equity company’s first post-pandemic production, and among the first live professional…
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Theatre in Review
Thursday, 18 March 2021 15:02
Are You Happy: Duchess! Duchess! Duchess! at Steppenwolf NOW evokes Sci-Fi Themes
Written by Kendall Royzen
The royal family is all over media channels these days. From endless documentaries and exposes of the late Princess Diana, to Netflix’s The Crown, to the recent scandalous Meghan Markle interview. Like them or not, the royal family continues to inspire intrigue and satire. Playwright Vivian J.O. Barnes became inspired…
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Theatre in Review
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