Monday, 18 May 2026 13:34
A Red Orchid’s The Targeted Builds a Case for Compassion
Written by John Accrocco
If you’ve ever worked in an urban coffee shop, chances are you’ve encountered at least one ultra-paranoid kook who believes the government is spying on them. Often they’re filling out long journals or manifestos. Or perhaps that one crazy uncle we all seem to have who believes in way too…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 16 May 2026 11:02
No Dialog, Yet Strongly Affecting, Trap Door's 'Le Bal' Is Like Nothing You've Seen
Written by Bill Esler
Can you have a play run 90 minutes with no dialog? Indubitably, as Trap Door Theatre demonstrates with its new production, “Le Bal.” Adapted to the stage by Stephen Buescher, it is inspired by a 1983 French film of the same title. Of the absence of dialog, one Trap Door…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 17 May 2026 00:30
Rocky in Concert Delivers a Knockout Night Despite Technical Stumbles
Written by Ken Payne
Marking Rocky’s 50th anniversary, Rocky in Concert arrived at the Auditorium Theatre in a highly anticipated Auditorium Philms presentation featuring the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra performing Bill Conti’s score live. The setup is simple but effective: the film plays above the stage while the Philharmonic brings new clarity and presence to…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- Rocky in Concert
- Rocky Balboa
- Rocky
- Chicago Philharmonic
- Auditorium Theatre
- Boxing
- Oscar Winner
- classic film
- Auditorium Philms
- Sylvester Stallone
- Carl Weathers
- Burgess Meredith
- Talia Shire
- orchestra
- orchestra with film
- movies
- live orchestra
- Bill Conti
- James Olmstead
- Chicago events
- things to do in chicago
Friday, 15 May 2026 13:34
A New Home, A Necessary Warning: Timeline’s Enemy Lands Hard
Written by John Accrocco
Timeline Theatre unveils their chic, new Uptown home with its inaugural production–Henrik Ibsen’s ever-relevant “An Enemy of the People”. A streamlined text by acclaimed playwright Amy Herzog cuts right to the bone in this fast-paced version straight from Broadway. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Timeline chose to open…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- Timeline Theatre
- An Enemy of the People
- Maren Robinson
- Will Allan
- Behzad Dabu
- Campbell Krausen
- Amy Herzog
- Ron OJ Parson
- John Culbert
- on stage
- live theatre
- Chicago plays
- Chicago events
- Now playing
- henrik ibsen
- TimeLine Uptown
- Chi Theatre
- Uptown Chicago
- Public Health Crisis
- Political Drama
- Civic Responsibility
Friday, 15 May 2026 20:31
C'est Drôle: Tartuffe, or, The Charlatan brings classic humor to Wrigleyville theatre
Written by Kendall Royzen
While many of my classmates were signing up for Spanish classes, I thought it would be terribly useful to sign up for French. French? In Southern California? What good would that possibly do? A degree and several trips to French-speaking countries later, and I’m proud to say French is not…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Friday, 15 May 2026 12:34
Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces 40th Anniversary Season
Written by Buzz Center Stage
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) Artistic Director Edward Hall and Executive Director Kimberly Motes announce today the company's 40th Anniversary Season. America's leading Shakespeare Theater curates a season rooted in Shakespeare and Chicago with a complement of world-class contemporary work—emblematic of the Theater's global, yet unmistakably Chicago perspective. Celebrating four decades of vivid and entertaining performances…
Published in
Theatre Buzz
Tagged under
- Chicago Shakespeare Theater
- Edward Hall
- Kimberly Motes
- 40th Anniversary Season
- Shakespeare
- Play On!
- Duke Ellington
- Sheldon Epps
- The Winter's Tale
- A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Romeo y Julieta
- Henry Godinez
- Reunion in Bartersville
- Jerry Dixon
- Heartbreakers
- chicago theatre
- Chicago plays
- Musical theatre
- Chicago events
- live theatre
- on stage
- Chicago stage
Tuesday, 12 May 2026 16:41
OAK PARK FESTIVAL THEATRE ANNOUNCES 51ST SEASON "HAMLET" AND "THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST"
Written by Buzz Center Stage
The Oak Park Festival Theatre, Oak Park's premiere Equity theatre and the oldest professional classical theatre in the Midwest, today announced the casts and production teams for its Summer 2026 productions of William Shakespeare's HAMLET and Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Presented in repertory for the first time in company history, the productions run concurrently…
Published in
Upcoming Theatre
Tuesday, 12 May 2026 16:35
METROPOLIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE ANNOUNCES ITS UPCOMING 2026-27 SEASON INCLUDING RIDE THE CYCLONE, THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER, DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE MATCH GAME AND RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN'S OKLAHOMA!
Written by Buzz Center Stage
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights at 111 W. Campbell St., is proud to announce its 2026-27 season launching with Ride the Cyclone, September 16 - October 18; followed by a Chicago-rooted holiday classic The Christmas Schooner, November 24 - January 3, 2027; an in-concert production of Disney's The…
Published in
Upcoming Theatre
Wednesday, 13 May 2026 16:29
BrightSide Theatre announces 2026-27 season - THE ADDAMS FAMILY, THE SECRET GARDEN: IN CONCERT, KEN LUDWIG'S BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY, and AVENUE Q
Written by Buzz Center Stage
BrightSide Theatre has announced its 15th season of presenting professional theatre in Naperville. Its 2026-27 mainstage slate of four productions will include Chicago-area favorites that have not previously been produced professionally in the western suburbs. The season will open in October with THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a musical based on the characters from cartoons…
Published in
Upcoming Theatre
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Thursday, 14 May 2026 14:25
Steppenwolf Presents LAURA BENANTI: NOBODY CARES - August 6 – 9, 2026
Written by Buzz Center Stage
Direct from an acclaimed run at Edinburgh Fringe and two sold-out Off-Broadway engagements, Steppenwolf Theatre is pleased to present Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares, a one-woman comedy show from the mind of Tony Award winner Laura Benanti, playing five performances only August 6 – 9, 2026 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. Tickets ($79* – $125*)…
Published in
Upcoming Theatre
Monday, 11 May 2026 16:10
American Blues Theater announces its 2026-2027 Season
Written by Buzz Center Stage
American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces its 2026-2027 Season, including the world premieres of Black Girl from a White Suburb by Tania Richard, directed by J. Nicole Brooks, and Ken Urban's Blue Ink Award winner The Conquered, directed by Jonathan Berry. The season includes the Chicago Premiere of UHURU by Gloria Majule, directed by Mikael Burke and the 25th Anniversary of the beloved holiday…
Published in
Upcoming Theatre
Tuesday, 12 May 2026 14:47
Everybody Got a Secret: York Walker’s Covenant Haunts The Goodman
Written by Wesley David
The Goodman Theatre’s Covenant announces York Walker as a playwright ascending rapidly into the highest tier of American theater. This is not simply an impressive new work; it is the kind of play that reminds audiences why live theater remains uniquely capable of unsettling the spirit. Walker has written something…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 11 May 2026 14:15
Raven Theatre Delivers a Revelatory, Unmissable Octet
Written by Maddie Burroughs
There’s a rare kind of theatrical experience that transcends personal taste. Even if a genre is not typically your first choice, the sheer level of artistry on display is impossible to deny. That is exactly what director Keira Fromm’s production of Octet accomplishes: a vocally astonishing, emotionally resonant, and meticulously…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Latest Articles
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Steppenwolf Theatre Presents ADIRONDACK CHAIR CIRCLE – October 22 – December 6, 2026 – World Premiere!
Written by Buzz Center StageSteppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to continue its 51st Season with the world premiere of Chicago playwright Stephanie Alison Walker's biting satire Adirondack Chair Circle, directed by Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon (Downstate, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), playing October 22 — December… -
Writers Theatre celebrates record-breaking 2025/26 Season with artistic growth and unprecedented ticket sales
Written by Buzz Center StageWriters Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Artistic Director Braden Abraham, concluded its 2025/26 season by shattering box office, attendance, and fundraising records, and cementing its position as a premier national hub for theatre excellence…
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American Blues Theater names Nia Akilah Robinson the recipient of the 2026 Blue Ink Award for her play Overnight at the Museum and announces featured finalists Benjamin Benne and Claire Crowley
Written by Buzz Center StageAmerican Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the recipient of the 2026 Blue Ink Award is Nia Akilah Robinson for her play Overnight at the Museum. As part of the award, Robinson receives a $3,000 cash prize and a staged reading…
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ETA’s for colored girls Honors the Enduring Power of Ntozake Shange
Written by Wesley DavidNearly fifty years after its groundbreaking premiere, Ntozake Shange's for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf remains one of the most important works ever written for the American stage. Neither conventional play nor musical,…
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*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.