Monday, 11 March 2019 12:51
'Moving Thru the Light': Black Ensemble Theater’s Tribute to Mahalia Jackson
Written by CJ Burroughs
I’ll let you all in on a little secret: Whenever I’m having a lousy day, I pull up YouTube and take in Mahalia Jackson’s performance of “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” at the 1970 Newport Jazz Festival. This performance is notable, of course, for the special guest who joins…
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Theatre in Review
Monday, 11 March 2019 00:14
Applicants for a Mission To Mars Find They Must First Learn How To Live on Earth
Written by Bill Esler
Chimera Ensemble’s How To Live on Earth tracks applicants vying for a spot on a one-way mission to colonize Mars. Artfully constructed by playwright M.J. Kaufman as a series of short scenes, How To Live on Earth introduces us to four aspiring space travelers – a librarian, a software engineer,…
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Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 09 March 2019 19:00
Witty Edwardian Satire Gives Us Spy Versus Spy Versus Spy
Written by Bill Esler
Lifeline Theater’s madcap adaptation of British author G.K. Chesterton’s 1908 metaphysical thriller The Man Who Was Thursday, gives us a madcap mix of spy-vs.-spy and Masterpiece Theater who-dun-it. Ensemble member Bilal Dardai is clearly a lover of this brief novel by Chesterton, a satire on espionage that if adapted to…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 05 March 2019 01:30
See Oscar Wilde Convicted of Gross Indecency in Promethean Ensemble's Inventive Revival
Written by Bill Esler
Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, running through March 23 at Strawdog Theatre, is an exciting rendering of the courtroom battles that led to a fatal fall from grace for 19th century literary genius Oscar Wilde. It is hard to imagine now, with the growing empowerment of the…
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Theatre in Review
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Sunday, 03 March 2019 21:52
Stunning Revival of 'We Are Proud to Present a Presentation' at Steppenwolf Theatre
Written by Bill Esler
You may need several moments to come down after witnessing Steppenwolf’s stunning, let me say truly astounding new production of a play by Jackie Sibblies Drury. This powerful work was ahead of its time when it premiered in 2012 at Chicago’s Victory Gardens Theatre – eventually heading for off-Broadway and…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 20 February 2019 01:19
A night that will go down in rock 'n roll history: 'Million Dollar Quartet' at Theater at the Center tells the story
Written by Ken Payne
One could only picture what would have happened should four of the greatest rock and roll pioneers ever step foot in the same studio at the same time. And just imagine if the above referenced were Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. Well, one winter afternoon…
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Theatre in Review
Saturday, 23 February 2019 19:02
The Scarlet Ibis: A Beautiful and Moving New American Opera “Because life is so big. And the world is so small.”
Written by William and Margaret Swain
Good news! The future of American opera is looking very bright, indeed! The beautiful and moving new opera, The Scarlet Ibis, was presented last Saturday and Thursday by Chicago Opera Theater as part of their Vanguard Initiative, a program to mentor emerging opera composers, commission and develop new operas, and…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 23 February 2019 23:13
A dreamy tale on an Abba song-filled island: "Mamma Mia!" at Drury Lane Theatre
Written by Cindy Payne
Opening night, February 21, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre brought yet another colorful, energy- charged musical, this time in its latest production, "Mamma Mia!" Always a totally enjoyable night out, this production held tight the integrity of the original production and even threw in a few special surprises. Being a…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 24 February 2019 22:23
Moments of Excellence, But Act(s) of God Brushes With Cosmic Disaster
Written by Bill Esler
Lookingglass Theatre, known for its excellent production values and its incomparable space at the Water Tower pumping station, brings us an intriguing new work, Act(s) of God. Billed as an existential dark comedy, but really much more of a farce, it is a “guess who’s coming to dinner” tale of…
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Theatre in Review
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Sunday, 24 February 2019 06:21
In Battle for our Musical Souls, The Total Bent Triumphs
Written by Bill Esler
The Total Bent is a musical show so delightful I wish I could shrink it down, put it in a shoebox and show it to all my friends. But you can (and should) go see it full scale at Den Theatre, where it runs through March 10. Ostensibly the story…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 20 February 2019 01:10
Marriott's Seussical a magical musical
Kendall Royzen and CJ Burroughs
The skies full of snow,The weekend seemed dire.Oh, where would we go?To Lincolnshire! On the Marriott stageTo see Seussical,Straight from the pageTo a musical! All your favorites are there,Horton and a Who or two,Gertrude and Mayzie,We even go to Kalamazoo! Oh, the thinks you can thinkWhen you think about Seuss.And…
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Theatre in Review
Monday, 18 February 2019 18:46
"La Traviata" The One Who Strayed Beautiful Voices in an Ugly Production
Written by William and Margaret Swain
Guiseppe Verdi’s beloved, romantic heartbreaker, La Traviata was beautifully sung Saturday evening at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The second offering this season by the great Italian composer, it is the last opera from the famed blockbuster trio of Verdi’s middle period which include Rigoletto, Il Trovatore. Unfortunately, it did…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 18 February 2019 23:53
Powerful Production of Requiem for a Heavyweight, Rod Serling’s Searing 1956 Teleplay
Written by Bill Esler
Before he was Twilight Zone’s scriptwriter and frontman, Rod Serling broke through with the 1956 teleplay of Requiem for a Heavyweight, a powerful noire telling of a boxer on his way down. This work was originally broadcast live in black and white, and starred Jack Palance, Keenan Wynn, and Kim…
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Theatre in Review
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