Sunday, 08 April 2018 18:26
A Tony Award classic returns - "The Diary of Anne Frank" at Playhouse Theatre at College of DuPage
Written by Ron Reis
“The Diary of Anne Frank” is a familiar story to many people. While two Jewish families are hiding out from the Nazis in Holland during World War II, the story centers around the diary of a young girl, Anne Frank, belonging to one of one of those families. Such circumstances…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 09 April 2018 00:59
Hell in a Handbag's "L'imitation of Life" a laughing matter
Written by Ken Payne
In 1959 director Douglas Sirk left his mark on Hollywood in the making of his final film, Imitation of Life, which was based on the Fannie Hurst novel of the same name. The film starred Lana Turner in the lead role and dealt with several topics that still loom large…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 05 April 2018 22:38
Smashing Writing is Why Really Smart People Will Want Tickets for This Play
Written by Bill Esler
Lydia R. Diamond deserves most of the credit for the many wondrous theatrical moments in her play, Smart People. But without the spectacularly able cast and the razor’s edge pacing set by director Hallie Gordon, you would not be able to enjoy her excellent script. Smart People covers all the…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 04 April 2018 18:20
Review: The Rosenkranz Mysteries: Physician Magician at The Royal George Theatre Cabaret
Written by Earl Cochran
Seated in the venue before the show, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. With a title like, The Rosenkranz Mysteries: Physician Magician, my first thought was of a murder mystery. The set, designed to mimic a well-appointed study or office, didn’t give any real clues. Enter our host for…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 04 April 2018 21:17
Review: 'The Gentleman Caller' at Raven Theatre
Written by John Accrocco
They say you should never meet your heroes. That may be the case in Philip Dawkins' new play 'The Gentleman Caller' at Raven Theatre. Dawkins', a popular local playwright, was commissioned to write this play about the strange friendship between Tennessee Williams and William Inge. This is Cody Estle's first…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 02 April 2018 22:44
Review: How I Learned to Drive at The Artistic Home
Written by John Accrocco
Never has there been a more relevant time for Paula Vogel’s 1998 Pulitzer Prize winner ‘How I Learned to Drive’. By now, it’s considered a modern classic and has certainly made Vogel a hot playwright ever since. The fact that this play is now twenty years old and is arguably…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Friday, 30 March 2018 14:35
Factory Theater Show Has Charm, Though It’s Probably Not The Next Big Thing
Written by Bill Esler
It’s 1997, and Beth Peterson, an aspiring 19-year-old musician, has journeyed from her home town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to Chicago. She is bearing a guitar, and a business card of a gentleman who heard her at an open mic near her home in Escanaba. He invited her to come…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Monday, 26 March 2018 19:04
“Bad Girls: The Stylists” an ode to today's hairstylist
Written by Ken Payne
Akvavit Theatre’s latest presentation brings Astrid Saalbach’s Danish comedy “Bad Girls: The Stylists” to the U.S. for the first time where it is being performed at Strawdog Theatre Company. Taking place in a beauty salon, the story follows four hair stylists through their daily endeavors in the workplace, getting all…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 25 March 2018 19:05
Review: Court Theatre's 'Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner'
Written by John Accrocco
By now we all know who’s coming to dinner. Based on the 1967 film starring Sidney Poitier and Katharine Hepburn, Court Theatre presents a new stage adaptation of ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.’ Written in 2013 by Todd Kreidler, this fresh look points at the progress America has made regarding…
Published in
Theatre in Review
More...
Saturday, 24 March 2018 18:31
Point Taken - Red Tape's “Round Heads and Pointed Heads”
Written by Ron Reis
At The Ready, a small theatre on Chicago’s Northside is currently hosting the classic parable play “Round Heads and Pointed Heads”. Penned by Bertolt Brecht in 1936, its current Chicago run is being brought to you by Red Tape Theatre - a fine theatre company I would urge one to…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- Round Heads and Pointed Heads
- Red Tape Theatre
- Bertolt Brecht
- Max Truax
- Maryam Abdi
- Ambrose Cappucio
- Ben Chang
- Casey Chapman
- Nora King
- Peter Laughlin
- Diana Lee
- Felix Mayes
- Emily Nichelson
- Brandon Rivera
- Caleb Roitz
- Kelsey Shipley
- Stephanie Shum
- Ann Sonneville
- chicago theatre
- Ron Reis
- Buzz Center Stage
Sunday, 25 March 2018 23:48
On Your Feet! Great Songs, Dance, and a Story Make It So Much More Than a Juke Box Musical
Written by Bill Esler
On Your Feet! is the compelling rags to riches tale of Emilio Estefan and Gloria Fajardo Estefan’s odyssey - from dreaming Cuban immigrants, to stars who brought a fresh Latin flavor to the American song book. It’s also a love story, and a musical journey. It wasn’t painless, either. And…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Women Laughing Alone with Salad from Theater Wit is a funny mess. Based on the popular meme of stock photos of women who always seem to be having the time of their lives while eating a bowl of tasteless raw vegetables, the play tries to satirize this concept. The concept being…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 19 March 2018 05:20
"The Brink or Nobody's Ever Kissed Me like That" A Stunning work of Surrealism Overflowing with Sensual and Romantic Images of Modern Love
Written by Kimberly Katz
Each week as I sort through the invitations to theater and concert events taking place in Chicago, it’s rare that I find a title as intriguing and inviting as this one - "The Brink or Nobody's Ever Kissed Me like That". Walkabout Theater Company described this show in their press…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Register
Login
Latest Articles
-
Red Theatre's 'Hamlet' at The Edge Off Broadway - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are… hilarious!
Written by Sarz MaxwellI think my favorite thing – well, one of my favorite things – about Wyatt Kent’s take on HAMLET is imagining just how much fun everyone must have been having with it! everyone except Hamlet, of course, but the entire… -
Review: Joffrey Ballet's 'Midsummer Night’s Dream' at Lyric Opera House
Written by John AccroccoFrolicking season is upon us once again and Joffrey Ballet welcomes summer with the return of Alexander Ekman’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream”. This production was last seen in Chicago in 2018. Told through a mix of ballet and modern dance, this… -
Review: Joe Turner's Come and Gone at Goodman Theatre
Written by John AccroccoDirector Chuck Smith returns to Goodman with another major August Wilson revival–“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”. This is the second play in Wilson’s 10-play “American Century Cycle”. Goodman produced the first play in the series, “Gem of the Ocean” in…
-
Eerie, Human Mystery In Captivating ‘Jump’ by Shattered Globe Theatre
Written by Bill EslerAs the audience takes its seats we are greeted by an atmosphere of foreboding, a trestle bridge girder to the left, and in the evening air, foggy wisps drift about the stage. Already something is up, but we don’t know…
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.