Saturday, 17 October 2026 10:00
“A Strange Loop” Lets the Intrusive Thoughts Win at Raven Theatre in partnership with About Face Theatre
Written by John Accrocco
A 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 About Face Theatre. Mikael Burke directs a fantastic production with…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 11 October 2026 14:31
Robert Falls Directs a Sinfully Satisfying Don Giovanni at Lyric Opera of Chicago
Written by John Accrocco
Let he without sin cast the first stone, Lyric’s “Don Giovanni” seemingly says when they bring up the house lights while the cast cheerfully sing about sinners being smote. Lyric Opera of Chicago kicks off the season with a thrilling revival of their 2014 collaboration with former Goodman artistic director…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 13 October 2026 12:05
Inside Six Strange Worlds: Exquisite Corpse VI: LULLABIES
Written by Maddie Burroughs
For its sixth Halloween season, Rough House Theater Co. has transformed Steppenwolf’s Merle Reskin Garage into a spectacular puppet haunted house. Last year I visted House of the Exquisite Corpse V: BLOOD & PUPPETS, and this year’s installment feels familiar in form but distinct in approach. The experience unfolds across…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 13 October 2026 12:59
'Sanctuary Stories' Ventures Into Emotional Drama Behind the News on Immigration
Written by Bill Esler
Sanctuary Stories plumbs the line between theater and journalism, and the powerful human dramas both can depict. Funded by a Northwestern Medill School of Journalism grant to create a verbatim-based theatrical documentary, it is produced, directed and narrated by Craig Duff, a professor there. Duff’s background as a video journalist includes…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 10 October 2026 13:16
BrightSide’s Addams Family Musical Revives the Wonderfully Weird World of the Addams Clan
Written by Ken Payne
They're creepy and they're kooky, Mysterious and spooky, They're altogether ooky, The Addams Family. Yes, ooky. BrightSide Theatre’s production of The Addams Family Musical at the Theater at Meiley Swallow Hall feels like stepping back into the wonderfully odd world of a family we’ve all grown up with. There’s an…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 07 October 2026 15:10
Goodman's Dead Girl’s Quinceañera: When Fifteen Meets the Adult World
Written by Wesley David
At fifteen, the world can feel like a television show you haven't quite figured out how to turn off. For Salma (Jacqueline Guillen), it may be even more difficult. She watches too much television—especially detective shows—and has begun to see the world through the eyes of a detective. So when…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 08 October 2026 12:42
Chicago City Opera Delivers a Rare Operatic Haunting with Der Vampyr
Written by Ken Payne
With Halloween creeping closer, there’s something fitting about revisiting one of opera’s earliest flirtations with macabre horror - especially in a production presented and performed by Chicago City Opera (COT). Der Vampyr may not enjoy the mainstream familiarity of later supernatural works, but its mix of moonlit superstition, doomed romance,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- Chicago City Opera
- Der Vampyr
- Heinrich Marschner
- John Polidori
- The Vampyre
- Heinrich Ludwig Ritter
- Vampire
- Jeremiah Strickler
- Jordan Loyd
- Jessie Lyons
- Ariel Emma
- Keaton Payne
- Molly Clementz
- Bat Collazo
- Kevin Wheatle
- Alexis Enyart
- SarahAnn Sutter
- Jordan Crice
- Opera
- Halloween
- Chicago events
- Chicago opera
- live theatre
- live opera
- on stage
- Colvin House
- Fulton Street Art Center
- Skokie Theatre
Sunday, 04 October 2026 17:14
Dial M for Mastery: Oil Lamp’s Thriller Tightens the Screws
Written by Ken Payne
As a lifelong Hitchcock fan, Dial M for Murder has always been one of my comfort film thrillers - the kind of tightly wound mystery where every glance, every pause, and every seemingly harmless detail becomes a loaded clue. I’m a sucker for a well-crafted whodunnit, especially the kind that…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 01 October 2026 11:31
Operation Mincemeat: A Smart, Scrappy Musical That Shines When Its Cast Takes the Wheel
Written by Maddie Burroughs
In the 2019 film Yesterday, a struggling musician wakes up in a world where The Beatles never existed. A similar theatrical case study could be done with every musical that might not exist without Hamilton; Operation Mincemeat should be first on the list. That is not to say it is…
Published in
Theatre in Review
More...
Monday, 28 September 2026 20:31
Steppenwolf’s Topdog/Underdog: When History Deals the Cards
Written by Wesley David
Susan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog, the Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, is the kind of play that changes depending on when—and how many times—you see it. Directed by Kenny Leon, this revival stars Tony nominee Glenn Davis as Lincoln and Namir Smallwood as Booth, two brothers whose names alone tell us that Parks is…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Friday, 25 September 2026 16:38
'I’m Going to Marry You Tobey Maguire,' Full of Laughs, Ends With a Fizzle
Written by Bill Esler
Here’s a play that should be really good, based on its reputation alone. Written by Chicago comedy writer Samantha Hurley, I’m Going to Marry You Tobey Maguire premiered off Broadway at The Cell Theater in 2023. Now Refracted Theatre Company has mounted it at The Den Theatre in Chicago, bringing its…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 23 September 2026 23:39
Writers Theatre continues its 35th Anniversary Season with explosive, high-stakes boxing drama The Royale October 22 – November 29
Written by Buzz Center Stage
Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Artistic Director Braden Abraham, continues its 35th Anniversary Season with the highly-theatrical historical boxing drama The Royale from Marco Ramirez (Orange is the New Black, Buena Vista Social Club) and directed by Tyrone Phillips (Fat Ham; Byhalia,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 24 September 2026 12:12
Lookingglass’ Kowalski Ignites a Battle of Wits Between Two Icons
Written by Angelo Campos
Lookingglass Theatre’s production of Kowalski offers a gripping, fictionalized glimpse into the first meeting between two theater greats: Tennessee Williams and Marlon Brando. Set in 1947 in a dilapidated beach house, the plot revolves around the legendary playwright as he puts the finishing touches on his landmark work, A Streetcar…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Register
Login
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.