Thursday, 14 November 2024 09:46
Moving, Engaging 'Every Brilliant Thing' Shines at Writers Theatre
Written by Bill Esler
“Every Brilliant Thing,” places unusual demands on its lead character, Narrator. Jessie Fisher delivers a carefully calibrated performance from a comedic script that is deceivingly simple, but deeply emotional and upon reading it afterward, I saw that it is beautifully structured, as well. Fisher is the center of our attention…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Friday, 08 November 2024 23:14
Irving Berlin's Magnificent White Christmas at Marriott Theatre: A Joyous and Heartfelt Celebration for Everyone
Written by Kimberly Katz
I've always had a deep fondness for the two timeless films Holiday Inn and White Christmas. These movies feature outstanding soundtracks composed by the legendary Jewish American immigrant Irving Berlin. With a repertoire of 1,500 remarkable songs, including the iconic 'God Bless America', Berlin also sparked a Christmas revolution with…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 11 November 2024 20:01
A Humorous Homage to History: The Marriage of Figaro Dazzles at The Lyric Opera
Written by Kendall Royzen
Sometimes history has a way of repeating itself and it’s not always for the better. Try as we might to learn from history, some of us are simply doomed to repeat it. But not everything that is repeated is necessarily bad. Historical music, art, and opera transcend history, where repetition…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 09 November 2024 11:13
Do You Want To See Some Magic: Frozen The Broadway Musical at Paramount
Written by Kendall Royzen
Throughout our busy lives we often seek out the new. It is easy to see the allure. Beginnings offer a bit of magic, a clean slate, a chance to start anew. The opportunity brings with it a sense of hope and optimism that maybe this time we’ll be lucky, maybe…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 07 November 2024 13:04
Blood and Brilliance: Invictus Theatre’s ‘Macbeth’ Stands Tall in Chicago Theatre
Written by Wesley David
Invictus Theatre Company’s latest production of The Tragedy of Macbeth, adapted and directed by Sarafina Vecchio, delivers a potent, intense experience that brings Shakespeare’s tale of ambition vividly to life. This production leans into the raw and brutal aspects of the play, creating an atmosphere thick with dread and foreboding.…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 05 November 2024 17:21
A Spell-Binding Reinvention: "Leroy and Lucy" at Steppenwolf
Written by Wesley David
Ngozi Anyanwu’s Leroy and Lucy, in its electrifying world premiere at Steppenwolf Theatre, takes the legendary tale of Robert Johnson’s fateful night at crossroads and infuses it with the powerful mysticism of Yoruba spirituality. Forget the familiar Christian devil—instead, Anyanwu conjures Eshu, a complex Orisha (god) from Yoruba mythology who…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 30 October 2024 15:18
The Babes with Blades are a DREAM! A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Sarz Maxwell
I’ve delighted in Babes with Blades since they began in 1997, and they are never more delightful than when slashing and sauntering their gender-flouting way through Shakespeare. Apt, that: MAGA really should condemn all the Bard’s works as rooted in cross-dressing! The Babes would thumb their noses at that, though!…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 29 October 2024 14:29
Botanical Bedlam: Music Theatre Works' Little Shop of Horrors Thrills with Campy Delight!
Written by Kimberly Katz
Music Theatre Works’ Little Shop of Horrors, featuring music by Howard Ashman and a book and lyrics by Alan Menken, is the ultimate Halloween and fall musical for cult hit fans. This spooky, yet fun production captures the essence of the beloved story, making it a must-see for the season.…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 29 October 2024 14:41
'Into the Woods' an Exciting Musical Fairytale Mashup at Chopin Theater
Written by Bill Esler
I’ll admit it: I knew little about “Into the Woods” before seeing the new production at Chicago’s Chopin Theatre. I’m not particularly fond of the composer, Stephen Sondheim. I’d bailed early watching the 2014 film with Meryl Streep. So I challenged myself to find out why it is so popular.…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Sunday, 27 October 2024 13:12
Pericles: Royal Shakespeare Company refreshes an obscure tale at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Written by Susan Lieberman
They do abuse the king that flatter him For flattery is the bellows that blows up sin These days, fireplace bellows tend to be a specialty item. But most of us know that blowing the hot air of flattery into leaders comes to no good. With the presidential election just…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 24 October 2024 11:51
Some Like It Hot sizzles at Cadillac Palace Theatre
Written by CJ Burroughs
In the midst of the bustle and busyness of several stunning song-and-dance routines in Some Like It Hot, beautifully directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, we witness a transformation. Of course, transformation is what this show—and the classic Billy Wilder film on which it’s based—is all about. You know the…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 23 October 2024 10:11
Review: Remy Bumppo's 'Dear Elizabeth' at Theater Wit
Written by John Accrocco
What a treat to have two of Evanston-native Sarah Ruhl’s plays running concurrently at Theatre Wit. Alongside the Shattered Globe Theatre’s Midwest premier of Ruhl’s Becky Nurse of Salem is Remy Bumppo’s production of Dear Elizabeth. Directed by Christina Casano, this epistolary play has all the elements that make Ruhl’s…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 21 October 2024 17:14
Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' at Brightside Theatre is the ultimate Halloween treat with just the right amount of bite!
Written by Kimberly Katz
Brightside Theatre’s rendition of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, adapted by Stephen Dietz, captivates from the opening scene to its climactic finale. Ever since the 1992 Francis Ford Coppola film with Gary Oldman, Bram Stoker’s Dracula has fascinated me. It was a delight to see Brightside Theatre’s cast and crew brilliantly capture…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Gusto Performances in ‘Spring Awakening,’ Vibrant Staging of 1906 Basis of Broadway Musical
Written by Bill Esler“Spring Awakenings,” now playing at Chicago’s Greenhouse Theater Center, is not the Tony-winning 2006 Broadway musical “Spring Awakening,” but an adaptation of its original basis, an 1891 German play by Frank Wedekind that was first performed in 1906. Translated by… -
BrightSide Theatre announces cast and production team for season finale PIPPIN, June 13-29
Written by Buzz Center StageBrightSide Theatre, Naperville’s professional theatre company, has announced the cast for the final show of its 13th season – the Stephen Schwartz/Roger O. Hirson musical PIPPIN. This tale of a prince who learns the true meaning of glory, love, and… -
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A Half-Century in Harmony: Ryan Opera Center Shines in ‘Rising Stars in Concert’
Written by Bree SamaniIt was a night of celebration, reflection, and breathtaking talent at the Civic Opera House. Fifty years of song echoed through the hall, but it was the future of opera that took center stage. On Friday, April 25, Ryan Opera…
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