Friday, 17 December 2021 11:23
'8-Track: The Sounds of the ‘70s' Is Exactly What It Promises…A Fun Look Back
Kerstin Broockmann
More jukebox than musical, Theo Ubique’s production of 8-Track: The Sounds of the ‘70s, conceived by Rick Seeber with musical arrangements by Michael Gribben, is a tribute to 70’s AM radio, performed by an ensemble of powerhouse vocalists, showcasing a range of tunes from Motown to the Bee Gees. There…
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Theatre in Review
Thursday, 09 December 2021 18:54
Crawford Cast as Blessed Virgin in Musical Extravaganza. 'Oh Mary!'
Written by Bill Esler
‘Christmas Dearest’ is wicked good fun, a hilarious if unholy marriage between Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ and Mommie Dearest, the scathing tell-all book by moviestar Joan Crawford’s abused daughter, Christina. The show's creator, Hell in a Handbag Productions, is sui generis, a company whose staged shows tap the rarified…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 06 December 2021 13:19
'Twelfth Night' an Incomplete Evening at Midsommer Flight
Kerstin Broockmann
This year’s incarnation of Shakespeare’s gender-switch comedy Twelfth Night, Midsommer Flight’s holiday tradition returns to the Lincoln Park Conservatory as “an immersive journey.” Under director Kristina McCloskey (with associate director Stephanie Mattos), “Audience members will follow performers promenade-style from scene to scene, often having to choose which characters or plot…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 06 December 2021 14:51
The Wondrous Return of the Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker
Written by CJ Burroughs
As I ascended Madison Street early Saturday afternoon, my daughter’s hand in mine, Samuel Insull’s Civic Opera House rose up before us, throne-like, a sight that once greeted me daily in our old world with its bustling downtown and delights we took for granted. But our excitement — not just…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 27 November 2021 21:06
Covid Safe; Kiss Me, Kate at The Marriott Theater brings back Broadway with a bang
Written by Kendall Royzen
We all love a good comeback, a big bang, a triumphant return. After nearly two years of having to avoid the theater, and any overly crowded place, the Marriott Theater has returned to hosting shows with a genuine Broadway caliber production. Kiss Me, Kate, Broadway classic that earned the very…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 20 November 2021 11:41
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins Welcome Back Live Storytelling
Kerstin Broockmann
In 2020, the Ovals of Ostropol, the fictional troupe of travelling players that bring the story of Hershel and the goblins who menace him to life in Strawdog Theatre Company’s holiday tradition, were forced to spread Hanukkah cheer and occasional chills online. This year, the Ovals are back in a…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 25 November 2021 01:14
Beautifully Gift Wrapped, Special Delivery: 'Cinderella' at the Paramount Aurora
Written by Bill Esler
‘Cinderella’ is a sumptuous visual feast, and a musical delight. Running through January 9, 2022 at Aurora’s beautifully restored Paramount theater, this timeless classic tale has been given a Broadway caliber treatment under the direction of Brenda Didier. With gorgeous costumes (Theresa Ham) and wonderful original choreography (Tiffany Krause), the show…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 20 November 2021 13:31
Happiness Is...'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" at Citadel Theatre
Written by Ron Reis
Yes, Happiness Is… The Peanuts! No doubt. As a kid, I read every Peanuts comic I could. I learned at a very early age that there is a little bit of all the classic characters in every one of us. This musical is fairly early in the history of character…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Friday, 19 November 2021 22:49
Show Interrupted: Tracy Letts’ Powerful “Bug” Tells Us Steppenwolf Is Back
Written by Bill Esler
Tracy Letts’ “Bug” beckons audiences back to Steppenwolf live and in-person. This gripping psychological drama tells the story of Agnes (Carry Coon), a drug-addicted, alcoholic waitress marooned in an Oklahoma motel room, consoling herself by staying high, and hanging out with her best friend, R.C. (Jennifer Engstrom), a hard-boiled woman…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Tuesday, 16 November 2021 22:06
CHICAGO DANZTHEATRE PRESENTS THE YELLOW WALLPAPER
Written by Anne Rakowiecki
Dancing normally isn't my thing, but literature is. And "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is, surprisingly, a better candidate than most short stories for a dance interpretation. It starts as something quaint, recognizable, and spirals its way into madness: something dance and music can convey potently. Gilman's feminist…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 08 November 2021 21:31
Pump Boys & Dinettes Gets Spiced Up Revival at Porchlight Theatre
Written by Wesley David
It was 1982 in America, and premiering on Broadway was "Pump Boys & Dinettes," a show recalling the "good ole days" of the South (for some). While it doesn' have much of a plot, if you enjoy escapist theatre with a country and western feel, this is the show for…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 07 November 2021 22:46
Porchlight Theatre Spices Up “Pump Boys and Dinettes”
Written by Wesley David
It was 1982 in America when “Pump Boys and Dinettes” first premiered on Broadway. Developed by a band whose members worked at the nearby Cattleman Restaurant, the show is based on their experiences working there, but trasposed to a setting recalling the "good ole days" of the South (for some),…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 04 November 2021 21:20
Moments of Glory in 'Paradise Square' at Nederlander Chicago
Written by Bill Esler
It’s hard to cheer and yell with a mask on. But that I did right along with the entire crowd at “Paradise Square,” as Joaquina Kalukango delivered a shatteringly powerful show-stopper, “Let It Burn,” holding the audience in her thrall for every second. This was the best but not the…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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