Tuesday, 21 February 2017 16:37
High-flying Dance Routines and Excitement Aplenty in Black Ensemble's Touching "My Brother's Keeper: The Story of the Nicholas Brothers
Written by Ken Payne
Black Ensemble Theater CEO/Artistic Director Jackie Taylor has yet again brought a story to the forefront that is as entertaining as it is remarkable, this one written by Associate Director Rueben Echoles. Their current production, “My Brother’s Keeper: The Story of the Nicholas Brothers”, is just the latest at Black…
Published in
Theatre in Review
With a title like "Straight White Men" there's a lot to unpack. Asian American playwright Young Jean Lee directs her 2014 play at The Steppenwolf. "Straight White Men" ran Off-Broadway at the Public Theater to critical acclaim. It helped establish the career of up-and-comer Young Jean Lee. This production is…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 16 February 2017 20:42
You Can Dance, You Can Jive! Marriott Theatre's "Mamma Mia!"
Written by Ken Payne
As stories go, Mamma Mia! is a light, simple love story injected with plenty of humor and song – nothing heavy in the least, rather an evening island getaway where the sounds of ABBA reign supreme. It is the story of Sophie Sheridan and her mother Donna, who have made…
Published in
Theatre in Review
The heart wants what the heart wants and the fiery, rebellious Carmen, in the self-titled opera now playing at Lyric Opera of Chicago, follows that truism all the way to a tragic end. Set against the backdrop of Seville, Spain, during the Spanish Civil War of the 1900's, we see…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 12 February 2017 10:28
Y'all Should Catch "Deep in the Heart of Tuna" Right Quick
Written by Kimberly Katz
Wow! Get ready to be entertained and blown away by two men, with eighteen, yes eighteen, costume changes in a 105-minute play with lead mother figure Bertha Bumiller played by Anthony Whitaker in drag and Grant Drager playing most of the younger male and female characters (Arles, Didi, Stanley, Charlene,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 13 February 2017 13:48
Theater at the Center’s “My Way” A Delicious Homage to the Great Frank Sinatra
Written by Ken Payne
Tribute shows are generally as good as the performers that star. I probably just stated the most obvious fact on the planet. Yet it’s so very true. No matter how good the song selection, the costumes, the set, it is the vocal performance that we bring home with us. In…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 12 February 2017 15:54
Porchlight's "The Scottsboro Boys" Serves As A Powerful Reminder
Written by Ken Payne
In 1931 nine African American teenagers were wrongly accused of raping two white women while aboard a freight train in Alabama. Worried they might get imprisoned for prostitution while traveling aboard the same train, Victoria Price and Ruby Bates quickly cried rape, diverting the attention rather to the handful of…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 11 February 2017 11:00
New Changes Make Blue Man Group Even More Enticing
Written by Mariah Sulaiman
There’s something new going on at Briar Street Theater! The Blue Man Group has made some new and exciting additions to their already beloved and ever-changing show. The fixture of Blue Man Group in Chicago entertainment has built a twenty-plus-year tradition that has grown to include generations of families, international…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Question: Is Shakespeare really that sexual? Answer: Yes, as it turns out. Fifty Shades of Shakespeare not only proves that the plays of William Shakespeare carry some very heavy sexual undertones, which is fantastic, but also provides an insight towards gender fluidity and sexuality. This is all done by using…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Tuesday, 07 February 2017 11:18
Review: Death of A Salesman at Redtwist Theatre
Written by John Accrocco
"Attention must be paid," Arthur Miller pleads in his Pulitzer Prize winning play "Death of a Salesman." What is now required reading, "Death of a Salesman" asks its audience to consider the worth of one pathetic old man. The play debuted in 1949, at a time when America was coming…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 07 February 2017 23:29
Full Throttle Chills Lurk in Wolf at End of the Block
Written by Bill Esler
The lights come up as a dark-haired young, Latino - bloodied, bruised, battered - launches into an adrenaline-fueled monolog. Facing the audience, Abe (Gabe Ruiz) is talking a mile a minute to an unseen clerk in the wee hours at a convenience store. From the torrent we piece together clues…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Friday, 03 February 2017 11:53
"The Bodyguard" An Exciting, Sexy Tribute to Whitney Houston's Amazing Voice
Written by Kimberly Katz
The Bodyguard, The Musical begins with a bang! Literally, the unexpected sound of gunshots combined with great strobe lighting effects made me (along with most of the audience) scream with delight and jump out of our seats! I enjoyed this show from beginning to end with a strong starring lead…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Bootycandy is about Sutter, an African American gay man’s experience from adolescence to adulthood. The play touches on many different aspects and felt like several puzzle pieces coming together throughout its duration, each falling perfectly into place to create a path whereas the production is able to end on a…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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