There’s a reason Elton John’s Broadway musical adaptation of ‘Aida’ was one the most popular musicals of the early aughts. Verdi’s classic has all the romance and tragedy that opera fans crave, but with a relatively easy to follow plot. For that reason, ‘Aida’ is a more accessible work for…
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Theatre in Review
Monday, 11 March 2024 11:14
'Bill W. and Dr. Bob' Tells About AA Founders, and What It Was Really Like to be their Wives
Written by Bill Esler
“Bill W. and Dr. Bob,” in its Chicago premiere at the Biograph Theater, tells the exciting story of the 1935 origins of Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA. Ubiquitous (though by its own traditions it doesn’t advertise), AA has spawned some 200 similar addictive behavior treatment programs (for drugs, compulsive sex and…
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Theatre in Review
It was a dark and stormy night (yes, it really was!) – the perfect ambiance for taking in one of theatre’s classic comedic thrillers, Ira Levin’s Deathtrap, staged by BrightSide Theatre at North Central College’s Meiley-Swallow Hall, in Naperville. For knowledgeable theatre buffs, Deathtrap holds the record for the longest-running…
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Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 05 March 2024 15:07
Black Ensemble Theatre's 'The Time Machine: A Tribute To The 80’s' celebrates a transformative era of music
Written by Wesley David
Black music in the 1980’s was transformative. It was the decade where Black music exploded in diversity and influence. It broke down racial barriers in popular music, with Black artists topping the charts and influencing artists across genres. Black music embraced new music technology; pioneering techniques used in popular music…
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Theatre in Review
Friday, 01 March 2024 12:01
Mrs. Doubtfire leaves no doubt, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE
Written by Wesley David
The Groundhog Day musical debacle left me wary of movie-to-stage adaptations. I saw them as cash grabs, mere shadows of the beloved originals. So, I approached Mrs. Doubtfire with trepidation, fearing another corny, uninspired musical. Thankfully, Mrs. Doubtfire surprised me. It wasn't just enjoyable, but the refreshingly unapologetic old-fashioned style…
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Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 28 February 2024 14:26
'Shakespeare’s R & J' adapted from 'Romeo and Juliet' by William Shakespeare at Pride Arts Center
Sarz Maxwell
Shakespeare’s R & J is another demonstration of just how brilliant William Shakespeare truly was, is, and ever will be. Romeo & Juliet has captivated audiences since the 16th century. The story of the star-crossed lovers is universal, appealing to audiences from all walks of life, and stanzas from the…
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Theatre in Review
Monday, 26 February 2024 13:09
'James and the Giant Peach' comes to life in a big way at Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences
Written by Betsy Schmitt
For anyone familiar with children’s literature, Roald Dahl is a household name. Since the 1960s, Dahl has entertained and enchanted his young readers with fantastical tales of witches, giants, talking animals, magical chocolate factories, and yes, even a giant peach. So, it is more than appropriate that the Marriott Theatre…
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Theatre in Review
Friday, 23 February 2024 12:16
Gripping ‘Richard III’ Mines Shakespeare’s Script for All its Power, Horror, and Humor
Written by Bill Esler
As the audience takes its seats around the Shakespeare Theater’s Courtyard thrust stage, wraiths in black gowns and white masks silently infiltrate the aisles, imparting an air of menace and suspense about what will unfold as we near the opening of “Richard III.” Soon enough, they take to the stage,…
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Theatre in Review
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Tuesday, 20 February 2024 10:33
Review: 'The Magic Flute' at Goodman Theatre
Written by Betsy Schmitt
Mozart’s masterpiece, and one of the world’s most frequently performed operas, The Magic Flute, is given a modern-day makeover in award-winning director and writer Mary Zimmerman’s production of The Matchbox Magic Flute, now playing at The Goodman Theatre on its Owen stage. In this world-premiere production, Zimmerman has adapted the…
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Theatre in Review
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Tuesday, 20 February 2024 11:31
Incredibly Powerful 'Topdog/underdog' Shines in Invictus' New Home at Windy City Playhouse
Written by Bill Esler
Invictus Theatre’s smashingly good Chicago production of Susan-Lori Parks’ “Topdog/Underdog” brings us a dark comedy that is both gripping and layered. This Tony winner for its current Broadway revival incorporates all the qualities of a well-written play, steadily unfolding details of the brothers who share a derelict apartment—the plaster is…
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Theatre in Review
Monday, 19 February 2024 13:22
Review: Young People’s Theatre of Chicago’s 'The Diary of Anne Frank’ at Greenhouse Theater Center
Written by John Accrocco
It’s been almost 80 years since the publication of Anne Frank’s Diary, and yet it remains one of the most significant personal accounts of the Holocaust on record. Though ‘The Diary of A Young Girl’ is a well-established work of young adult literature, it continues to be challenged by parents…
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Theatre in Review
Saturday, 17 February 2024 14:59
Alex Edelman’s ‘Just for Us’ at Steppenwolf unbelievably funny and painfully relevant
Written by Bree Samani
Imagine being Jewish and attending a White Nationalists meeting undercover. Sounds crazy, right? In the award-winning comedian Alex Edelman’s acclaimed Broadway Solo Show, Just for Us you get to hear the story of how Edelman does the unthinkable by putting himself in an extremely uncomfortable situation among White Supremacists. It…
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Theatre in Review
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Sunday, 18 February 2024 12:12
Review: Blade Runner in Concert at Auditorium Theatre
Written by John Accrocco
Blade Runner Live? Don’t worry, it’s not a musical adaptation of Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi classic. It’s the inaugural film in The Auditorium Theater’s new series, Auditorium Philms, in which five films will be live scored by the Chicago Philharmonic. Performances are scheduled throughout the year and include a special…
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Theatre in Review
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