Displaying items by tag: Ed Flynn
"Pilgrims" Takes the Universal Story of Falling in Love to Futuristic Heights
As soon as I saw the warm, rich lighting of a luxurious futuristic bedroom on the Space Ship Destiny lit and decorated by designers Heather Gilbert and Christopher Kriz and the set design by Arnel Sancianco, where the entire action of the play takes place, I thought this is going to be an interesting show. To the right of the set was a spaceship departure board with the names and photos of the passengers, along with their assigned room number, as they were headed to a planet three months away from Earth. The other ships had names like Fortune, Kismet, Prospect and Horizon suggesting that the people leaving earth are doing so willingly and must have enough money to do so. Smooch Medina’s spaceship flight calendar and wall projection also counts down the number of days the passengers have spent locked on this room together, which is a great tension builder as well.
There are just three characters in the play. One a soldier who is suffering from PTSD from a previous mission in which he witnessed the killing of civilians that haunts him still in a variety of deep emotional ways. He has requested a private room because he cannot sleep well while struggling with his inner demons but somehow an attractive young woman passenger has been placed in the room with him, much to his disapproval. Ed Flynn portrays this sensitive, journal-writing soldier (previously referred to as “Grant”) who is also prone to violent mood changes and outbursts with great feeling and a sweaty intensity that is frightening at times.
When you consider that he is locked into this “hotel room" for three full months due to a quarantine placed on certain sick members aboard the ship with a petite young female to whom he objects, it’s not difficult to imagine the strain that gradually surmounts. Janelle Villas does a wonderful job of showing the audience her fresh-faced bubbly enthusiasm while hiding a dark past that includes at least one rape, which has also left her in a state of PTSD.
Co-directed by artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton and guest artist Jessica Thebus, the “Pilgrims” moves along quickly yet with subtle changes in the characters that seem very satisfying and real with a lot of emotional suspense and tension. We the audience wonder if these two characters will ever bond, or even reach their destination safely. We also ponder what will become of their edgy, ever-changing relationship once they are finally released from this artificial and close-quartered isolation into the general population of the new planet.
The third character is a robot named Jasmine played with a great sense of humor and also an eerie, smiling menace by Brittany Burch. Jasmine has been programmed not only to answer all their questions and provide all their meals and cleaning services. She is also one of the older forms of “human-like robots” known for their ability to satisfy without any compunction - either member, male or female, with oral sex or intercourse if the human need arises.
The universality of two people meeting for the first time, learning about each other's baggage and foibles and being forced to overcome them in order to at least be friends if not lovers cannot be denied. This is a love story set in outer space plain and simple, even though it is suggested in the play that couples may have been placed together purposely to repopulate the new planet.
I highly recommend this production for its unique retelling of a tale as old as time, when Fate meets Destiny and two very "human" human beings struggle to please each other while being true to their own individual dreams of the future but must in the end reveal the dark, undesirable places of their souls in order to overcome them and move into a deeper union free of mistakes or tragedies of the past.
Excellent performances and an imaginative script make Pilgrims a compelling and often humorous sci-fi love story that resonates. Pilgrims is being performed at Gift Theatre through July 30th. For more show information or to purchase tickets visit www.thegifttheatre.org.
“A Strange Loop” Lets the Intrusive Thoughts Win at Raven Theatre in partnership with About Face Theatre
17 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewA musical, but it’s just the voices in your head. Sounds just crazy enough to win the 2020 Pulitzer for…
Announcing Goodman's 22nd New Stages 2026 Festival Line-Up
15 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreFrom a "Kung Fu rom-com" to a witchy new musical, The Goodman's popular New Stages Festival in its 22nd year continues…
TIMELINE THEATRE’S 100TH PRODUCTION, THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF LAURA WADE’S HOME, I’M DARLING, DIRECTED BY MECHELLE MOE, SATIRIZES THE SEDUCTIVE FANTASY OF A “SIMPLER PAST,” NOVEMBER 11 - DECEMBER 13
14 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreTimeLine Theatre’s 30th Anniversary Season at its new home in Uptown rolls merrily along in November with the company’s 100th…
Court Theatre announces America@250 - Now is the Time: Artists Go to Work
14 October 2026 in Theatre BuzzUnder the leadership of Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director Avery Willis Hoffman and Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, Court Theatre proudly…
Trap Door Theatre Presents the World Premiere of OH, BUDDY, by Hal Cosentino. Opening November 12th, 2026
14 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreTrap Door Theatre is thrilled to continue its 33rd season with a Chicago Premiere of Oh, Buddy, written by Hal…
Announcing the Cast of the 49th A CHRISTMAS CAROL
14 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreTis the season, in spite of today's unseasonable temps, as A Christmas Carol begins rehearsals for The Goodman's 49th annual…
NOVA ENTERTAINMENT CURRENT AND UPCOMING 2026 CIRCA PINTIG UPDATES
14 October 2026 in Now PlayingNova Entertainment is pleased to announce the upcoming performance schedule and updates for CIRCA Pintig, with a visual rebrand and…
Steppenwolf Theatre Announces "ha ha ha ha ha ha ha" January 13 – February 7, 2027
14 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreThe blurb is: hahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahaha hihihi hahahahahahaha hoho hahahhahaha hehe hahahahahahahahahaha. Julia Masli's award-winning solo phenomenon ha ha ha ha…
'Sanctuary Stories' Ventures Into Emotional Drama Behind the News on Immigration
13 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewSanctuary Stories plumbs the line between theater and journalism, and the powerful human dramas both can depict. Funded by a Northwestern…
Inside Six Strange Worlds: Exquisite Corpse VI: LULLABIES
13 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewFor its sixth Halloween season, Rough House Theater Co. has transformed Steppenwolf’s Merle Reskin Garage into a spectacular puppet haunted…
PrideArts announces cast and production teams for Nick Payne's CONSTELLATIONS, performed by alternating same-sex casts, November 13- December 13
12 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreThursdays – Saturdays at 7:00 pm, Sundays at 3 pm Additional Saturday matinees at 3:00 pm on November 28 and December…
Robert Falls Directs a Sinfully Satisfying Don Giovanni at Lyric Opera of Chicago
11 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewLet he without sin cast the first stone, Lyric’s “Don Giovanni” seemingly says when they bring up the house lights…
Teatro Vista Productions in collaboration with Audible presents Cafecito & Loops: A Mexodus Listening Tour Headed South Sundays, through November 1st
11 October 2026 in Now PlayingTeatro Vista Productions (TVP), the Midwest's only Latine-led Equity theatre company, in collaboration with Audible, presents Cafecito & Loops: A…
BrightSide’s Addams Family Musical Revives the Wonderfully Weird World of the Addams Clan
10 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewThey're creepy and they're kooky, Mysterious and spooky, They're altogether ooky, The Addams Family. Yes, ooky. BrightSide Theatre’s production of…
Chicago City Opera Delivers a Rare Operatic Haunting with Der Vampyr
08 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewWith Halloween creeping closer, there’s something fitting about revisiting one of opera’s earliest flirtations with macabre horror - especially in…
Avalanche Theatre stages the world premiere of They Broke Up by Skyler Tarnas November 6–22, 2026
08 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreAvalanche Theatre announces the world premiere production of They Broke Up by Chicago playwright Skyler Tarnas, November 6–22, 2026. Opening…
Oil Lamp Theater Announces the cast and creative team for the return of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY, Nov. 20 - Dec. 27
08 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreOil Lamp Theater is proud to announce the cast and creative team for its next production and the final production…
Adults-only holiday fun: Who's Holiday! brings R-rated Cindy-Lou Who back to Theater Wit for her sixth year, Nov. 27-Dec. 27
08 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreChristmas Day is in our grasp. Why the vodka? Glad you asked! Who's Holiday! brings R-rated Cindy-Lou Who back to…
Two-Time Tony Award-Winning Actress Victoria Clark To Receive the Sarah Siddons Society Award at Annual Benefit on Monday, November 9, 2026
08 October 2026 in Theatre BuzzThe Sarah Siddons Society is pleased to present its 2026 Award to actress and director Victoria Clark, who recently starred…
Goodman's Dead Girl’s Quinceañera: When Fifteen Meets the Adult World
07 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewAt fifteen, the world can feel like a television show you haven't quite figured out how to turn off. For…
Steppenwolf Theatre's ADIRONDACK CHAIR CIRCLE In Rehearsal – Playing October 22 – December 6, 2026 – World Premiere!
07 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreSteppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to launch its 51st Season with the world premiere of…
Hell in a Handbag Productions Announces 25th Anniversary Season!
07 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreHell in a Handbag Productions is thrilled to announce its 25th Anniversary Season, featuring three "camptacular" shows guaranteed to delight lovers of…
Chicago’s Theater Wit introduces new Watchword closed captioning system, dramatically improving access in all three of its theaters
07 October 2026 in Theatre BuzzChicago’s Theater Wit is now offering new, state-of-the-art closed captioning service, marking a dramatic improvement in making live theater more…
Paramount Theatre’s reimagined A Christmas Carol promises to be a dazzling new, all-ages spectacle for Chicago’s holiday theater season, November 11-January 3
07 October 2026 in Upcoming Theatre“God bless us, everyone,” because there’s a fresh, new, reimagined version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale A Christmas Carol debuting…
"John C. Reilly is Mister Romantic" Returns to Steppenwolf Theatre - December 10 – 13, 2026
06 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreFollowing last year's critically acclaimed, sell-out engagement, Steppenwolf Theatre Company is pleased to announce the return of John C. Reilly…
Saint Sebastian Players Open 45th Season With A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie Classic Miss Marple Mystery Runs Oct. 23–Nov. 15
06 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreThe Saint Sebastian Players open their 45th season of travels to different places with A Murder is Announced, a classic Miss Marple mystery…
Announcing "The Goodman, For Good" Campaign
06 October 2026 in Theatre BuzzToday, Goodman Theatre raises the curtain on its future as leadership and artists share a vision for its next century…
Two Edge Theater Company to stage A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE as its inaugural Chicago production, December 4 through January 10
05 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreTwo Edge Theater, a reincarnation of the Edge Theater Company that enjoyed eight successful seasons in the Denver, Colorado area,…
Frankenstein at Studebaker Theater adds performances for Halloween run
05 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreChicago's historic Fine Arts Building and Studebaker Theater are thrilled to announce their Halloween co-production of Manual Cinema's acclaimed Frankenstein…
ANY REBELLION OF WILL - Trap Door Theatre - Through November 1st
05 October 2026 in Now PlayingTrap Door Theatre is thrilled to continue its 33rd season with Any Rebellion of Will, written by S.L. Daniels and…
Latest Articles
-
“A Strange Loop” Lets the Intrusive Thoughts Win at Raven Theatre in partnership with About Face Theatre
Written by John AccroccoA musical, but it’s just the voices in your head. Sounds just crazy enough to win the 2020 Pulitzer for Drama. “A Strange Loop” by Michael R. Jackson finally makes its Chicago premiere at Raven Theatre in a co-production with… -
Announcing Goodman's 22nd New Stages 2026 Festival Line-Up
Written by Buzz Center StageFrom a "Kung Fu rom-com" to a witchy new musical, The Goodman's popular New Stages Festival in its 22nd year continues to offer a first glimpse at the latest works by a handful of the hottest contemporary playwrights. This year's four-play… -
Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble Announces 2026-2027 Season
Written by Buzz Center StageChicago Danztheatre Ensemble (CDE) is pleased to announce its 2026 - 2027 season. CDE will open this artistic season with Copestic Vibrations: A Music Festival, Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14, followed by a fully staged production of For…
-
Eos Theatre Company Announces Second Production with The Thin Place
Written by Buzz Center StageEos Theatre Company is pleased to announce their second production with Lucas Hnath's horror play The Thin Place, directed by JC Clementz (Steppenwolf's Director of Casting and Artistic Operations), playing February 5 - 28, 2027 in Bramble Arts Loft's Beatrice Theater, 5545 N…
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.