Thursday, 17 April 2025 14:48
A Night to Remember Aboard Marriott Theatre’s Titanic
Written by CJ Burroughs
As a lifelong aficionado of the ill-fated ocean liner RMS Titanic, I’ve always gravitated toward any experience that would leave me feeling immersed in that famous moment of an era that nobody any of us knows anymore is alive to remember. I’ve watched every grainy, dated video interview with actual…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Tuesday, 15 April 2025 11:54
Writers Theater Excels in Brian Friel's Funny, Complicated 'Translations'
Written by Bill Esler
Brian Friel’s “Translations,” now playing at Writers Theatre in Glencoe, IL, shows off the renowned Irish playwright’s signature skill in creating a stage full of memorable characters, 10 in this case, each with depth sufficient to fuel their dramatic paths. “Translations” as Friel tells us, “has to do with language…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Sunday, 06 April 2025 13:00
Chicago Shakespeare Theater Presents Lively Production of Sunny Afternoon
Written by Lauren Katz
“It’s not us… all this mucking about with our sound.” Sunny Afternoon is about many things. This is in so many ways a rock concert – with a score that makes it impossible not to dance and clap along in your seat. It’s vibrant – with a talented design…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 08 April 2025 09:51
Layers Unfold in “The Book of Grace” at Steppenwolf
Written by Wesley David
In a masterful stroke of programming, Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere of "The Book of Grace," Suzan-Lori Parks' incendiary companion piece to her Pulitzer Prize-winning "Topdog/Underdog." Director Steve H. Broadnax III has crafted a searing production that peels back the layers of American family dysfunction with surgical precision.…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 05 April 2025 09:39
‘Trial of Themistocles’ Shows Off Best of the Culture of Greece, and Chicago Jurisprudence
Written by Bill Esler
Walking into the Harris Theater for the “Trial of Themistocles,” I was expecting something translated from ancient Greek, togas, masks, maybe a chorus, and a scholarly script that would take some work to wade through. Instead I found the latest installment of a delightful Trials Series produced since 2013 by…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Wednesday, 02 April 2025 22:23
A Hull Lot of Laughs: Titanique Makes Waves On Stage
Written by Ken Payne
All hands on deck Titanic fans! Get ready for a lavishly produced musical that boldly reimagines the Titanic story, navigating it into fresh and unforeseen waters. The story of the "unsinkable" Titanic is one most of us know well—the ship’s ill-fated maiden voyage on April 14, 1912, ending in tragedy…
Published in
Theatre in Review
THE LISTENERS has undergone several incarnations since the 2021 novel by Jordan Tannahill. It’s been a full-length movie, a TV series’, and now an opera, premiering in New York and now brought to Chicago by the renowned composer/librettist team Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek. This opera, at Civic Opera House, was…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 26 March 2025 13:11
Review: 'it's been ten years since everybody died' at Open Space Arts
Sarz Maxwell
I’ve reviewed a number of shows at Open Space Arts (OSA) – I love the place – so I’m familiar with OSA’s attributes: unique productions that battle antisemitism and homophobia with art; premiere plays by previously-unknown writers; small, intimate venue; and, most of all, incredible talent both on- and off-stage. …
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 24 March 2025 14:06
Definition Theatre Defines the Crisis: 'Splash Hatch on the E Going Down'
Written by Wesley David
In Definition Theatre's production of "Splash Hatch on the E Going Down," Kia Corthron's 1997 work feels unnervingly relevant in 2025. Under Cheryl Lynn Bruce's incisive direction, this story of environmental racism and maternal health transforms from a Clinton-era critique into a mirror reflecting our ongoing, unresolved struggles with environmental…
Published in
Theatre in Review
More...
Friday, 21 March 2025 12:08
The Search for Truth Turns to War in Oil Lamp’s Outstanding ‘The Lifespan of a Fact’
Written by Mitchell Oldham
Don’t be deceived by the title. The phrase “lifespan of a fact” sounds about as dry as the Mojave Desert and just a mite confusing. But, as Glenview’s Oil Lamp Theater’s current stage production proves, those knee jerk perceptions turn out to be completely absurd. Instead, its The Lifespan of…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Friday, 21 March 2025 12:36
Hive of Hilarity: Copley Theatre’s 'Spelling Bee' is a Buzzing Triumph!
Written by Kimberly Katz
I’m not holding back—Copley Theatre’s latest offering, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, is an absolute winner! I’ve seen this delightfully offbeat musical brought to life at various theaters, but Copley’s rendition? It’s absolutely “F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S.” This production earns its place at the very top, possibly stealing the crown altogether.…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 20 March 2025 12:53
Invictus Theatre Presents Enchanting Production of The Winter’s Tale
Written by Lauren Katz
Walking into Windy City Playhouse, audiences are immediately transported to somewhere new. Scenic Designer Kevin Rofls fills the space with trees, branches, and flowers – drawing the audience into the story as soon as they enter the space. Lighting Designer Trey Brazeal highlights the room in a mix of various…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 19 March 2025 01:06
Grand Opera that is Truly Grand: La Bohème at the Lyric
Written by Bill Esler
Going into “La Bohème” with little knowledge of Puccini’s masterpiece, I was just a naive theater-goer seeing it fresh at its opening Saturday night at Chicago’s Lyric. It is beautifully directed by Melanie Bacaling - striking massive two-story sets and colorful, ever varying crowd scenes. Especially intriguing to me are…
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.