Friday, 29 April 2022 18:42
Hop To It; 'The Lapin Agile' at Citadel Theater
Written by Kendall Royzen
Grab a glass of wine with me and journey with me to Paris, France 1904. We stumble in as guests to a local artist haunt in the Montmartre District and remain on the exterior of the room. It's a cozy, intimate, and simple bar, with witty, smart, and regular patrons…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Friday, 29 April 2022 07:27
Lifeline Resumes Run 'Middle Passage' Even Better Than Before
Written by Bill Esler
Lifeline Theatre has remounted 'Middle Passage' for its return to live production. It is every bit as good, even better, than the run cut short by the pandemic in March 2020. But this time around I was better able to appreciate the artfulness of the script. Adapted by Ilesa Duncan…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Sunday, 24 April 2022 12:50
‘Intimate Apparel’ at Northlight Theatre - Intimate Acting Brings Unidentified Back To Life
Written by Wesley David
“Intimate Apparel” by Lynn Nottage is a story about 35-year-old Esther, a skilled seamstress in New York City. The year is 1905. She lives in a boarding house owned by Ms. Dickerson, a widow. This boarding house houses other women who are passing thru on their way to marriage. Esther…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 25 April 2022 12:38
"Rock of Ages" at Paramount Theatre is Bursting with Fresh Talent and Energy
Written by Kimberly Katz
As a reviewer I've attended many productions of Rock of Ages and Paramount Theatre’s current production with its talented cast, wide-ranging set and rockin’ hair band rates right up there with some of the best I've seen. For me, it was especially exciting to return to the gorgeous and comfortable Paramount…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 23 April 2022 10:39
Marriott Theatre's 'The Sound of Music' Delights
Written by CJ Burroughs
For most of us—those reviewing theater or those thinking about attending or just about anyone, I guess—Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music is omnipresent. Just a part of our existence. The original soundtrack in everyone’s grandmother’s vinyl collection, with all of those songs. The 1960s film version that once…
Published in
Theatre in Review
It’s not often that Goodman Theatre imports plays from other theatre companies. It’s also an exciting moment when a frequent Goodman actress gets to showcase her newest play on the mainstage. “Relentless” by Tyla Abercrumbie was originally developed and produced by TimeLine Theatre in Chicago as part of their Playwrights…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 11 April 2022 14:08
Review: 'In Every Generation' at Victory Gardens Theater
Written by John Accrocco
There are plenty of holiday plays, but how many plays are specifically about Passover? For that matter, how many people really know what Passover signifies? Victory Gardens premieres Ali Viterbi’s new play “In Every Generation”, which tells the story of one Jewish American family’s journey from 1940s Europe through the…
Published in
Theatre in Review
A rare opportunity to see Brian Friel’s ‘Molly Sweeney’ is being presented at the historic Chopin Theatre building at its intimate Studio through May 8. The celebrated Irish playwright won a 1996 Tony Award for this very contemporary tale of a 40-year-old woman blind from infancy who has her vision…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 27 March 2022 13:00
Review: 'Laced' at About Face Theatre at The Den
Written by John Accrocco
Perhaps it was the pandemic, or maybe it’s the cultural divide between the left and the right, but it seems like small town gay bars are vanishing. Playwright Samantha Mueller sets out to commemorate these safe spaces in their new play “Laced” making its world premiere at About Face Theatre.…
Published in
Theatre in Review
More...
With the world being what it is, war and rumors of war, racial unrest, and division, it was comforting to see a play where two unlikely people form a friendship. A friendship based solely on basketball, more specifically, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. “King James” opened with the Marvin…
Published in
Theatre in Review
The preoccupation with the opioid crisis in our pop culture these days says a lot about the world in which we live. Rivendell Theatre contributes to the national conversation with a new play, “Spay” by local playwright Madison Fiedler. “Spay” is set in Appalachia, the heart of the opioid crisis,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 15 March 2022 11:32
As Good as It Gets: Wife of a Salesman an Instant Classic
Written by Bill Esler
Playwright Eleanor Burgess has delivered one of the best scripts I've read or seen, in ‘Wife of a Salesman.’ While it may be viewed somewhat as a “prequel” to Arthur Miller’s 1949 classic ‘Death of a Salesman,’ it never directly references that play, and is an intriguing and challenging work…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 21 March 2022 15:14
Happily Ever After: Once Upon a Mattress at Theo Ubique
Written by CJ Burroughs
Of all the theaters whose return I’ve been most excited to experience, Theo Ubique was near the top of the list. And, with their current production of Mary Rodgers’ Once Upon a Mattress, directed by Landree Fleming, the Evanston company did not disappoint. While Once Upon a Mattress is a…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Register
Login
Latest Articles
-
Spaceman: Into the Quiet Terror of the Void
Written by Ken PayneSpaceman, presented by [producingbody], touches down at The Edge Off-Broadway with a quiet, unnerving force, pulling audiences into the fragile headspace of an astronaut drifting far from home and even farther from certainty. Under Eric Slater’s beautifully calibrated direction, playwright… -
Inside a Real ‘Fire House’ You Are Immersed in Phantasmic Lives of Firefighters
Written by Bill EslerSet in Chicago’s oldest fire station (now Firehouse Art Studio) the immersive play "Fire House” is only loosely tethered to a realistic portrayal of what fire fighters do. What it conveys is an impressionistic vision of the experience that fire… -
Spamalot Is Every Monty Python Fan’s Dream Come to Life
Written by Angelo CamposSpamalot rides into the Windy City courtesy of Broadway In Chicago, inviting theatergoers to join King Arthur’s quest now through May 31 at the CIBC Theatre. Fans of Monty Python and the Holy Grail - the 1975 cult classic -… -
Raven Theatre announces the 2026-27 season
Written by Buzz Center StageRaven Theatre, under the director of Executive Artistic Director Jonathan Berry, announces its 44th season, to include Michael R. Jackson's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical A Strange Loop, directed by Mikael Burke in a co-production with About Face Theatre; Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie, directed by Raven Executive Artistic Director Jonathan…
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.