Theatre in Review

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Thursday, 09 January 2025 11:29

Broadway in Chicago’s production of Shucked Charms and Delights

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Jake Odmark as Beau and Danielle Wade as Maizy in The North American Tour of SHUCKED.
It’s the second act, and Beau (Jake Odmark) is in quite a state. The love of his life is about to marry another man, and he doesn’t know what to do. In an effort to lift him up, his friends do what anyone in their positions should do – insult…
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Tuesday, 24 December 2024 15:36

Review: The Berlin Diaries by Andrea Stolowitz at Open Space Arts

Eliana Deckner-Glick and Artem Kreimer in The Berlin Diaries.
My companion was apprehensive about the press release’s statement that “… the two-person cast will play all characters and will even share certain characters.”  “How can that work?” she wondered. “How will we know which character is speaking?” I told her, “Wait and see.”  I had no such doubts; I’ve…
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Tuesday, 24 December 2024 10:45

Legally Blonde at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts: Blonde Ambition Takes Center Stage in Skokie!

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Members of the cast of LEGALLY BLONDE:THE MUSICAL from Music Theater Works, now playing through December 29 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie.
Unlike many of the shows I review, which I’ve often seen in other productions elsewhere, I went into Music Theater Works’ current production of Legally Blonde blind. Other than the couple-decades-old movie the musical is based on, along with a covid-era TikTok fascination that my daughters had with a particular…
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Tuesday, 17 December 2024 00:49

25 Years of Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer: A Warm and Sparkling Celebration of Individuality!

Written by
(left to right) Lori Lee, TJ O'Brien, David Cerda, Cameron Cai, Micah Mixon, Matt Sergot, Michael Radford, Sydney Genco, Kelly Bolton, Whitney Willard Wilkinson, Mark Bartishell and Shawn Quinlan in Hell in a Handbag Productions’ production of Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer (An Unauthorized Musical Parody).
I fondly recall watching the 1964 children’s television special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer each year with great wonder! Its message of hope—that you can be yourself and different from the herd—left a lasting impression. The idea that, through perseverance, you can be loved and appreciated for your unique talents is…
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Friday, 13 December 2024 13:49

Teatro ZinZanni's Love, Chaos, and Dinner: A Spectacular Romantic Journey of Joy and Laughter

Written by
Contortionist Elayne Kramer in Teatro ZinZinni Love, Chaos, and Dinner.
Upon entering the beautifully decorated lobby of Teatro Zinzanni theater on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel, you are instantly transported to an exquisite, romantic art deco speakeasy. The theater itself is housed under a stunning 100-year-old Belgian Spiegeltent, featuring booth and chair seating in the round. A delightful…
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Wednesday, 11 December 2024 17:15

This Charles Dickens Gets to the Heart of 'Christmas Carol' In Spectacular Performance

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This Charles Dickens Gets to the Heart of 'Christmas Carol' In Spectacular Performance
Just as there are many Santa’s around town, this time of year we have a wide selection of Christmas and Holiday-themed shows on stage. While I’ve grown quite jaded about the diminishment of “real” theater during the holidays—steadfastly avoiding the Goodman show each year—there was something that overcame my reluctance…
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Tuesday, 10 December 2024 12:01

Join Sweet DeLa and Spicy Jinkx in their irreverent shenanigans

Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme in the 'Jinkx and BenDeLaCreme Holiday Show.'
[Reviewer’s Note: I’ve been reading a book whose main character is inveigled by Word of the Day; hence, I’ve striven to include as many unconventional and indecipherable words as possible. You’re welcome.] This is the seventh year of the JINKX AND DELA HOLIDAY SHOW, composed each year by BenDeLaCreme and…
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Saturday, 07 December 2024 11:51

Finally, A Fresh and Fitting Take on Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women

Written by
(left to right) Lucy Carapetyan, Tyler Meredith, Demetra Dee and Janyce Caraballo in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women at Northlight Theatre.
Like a lot of people, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women has been mostly a cultural curiosity for much of my life. I know it’s perennially referenced when talking about women and their struggle to achieve personal agency and autonomy. Since it was published in 1868, shortly after the Civil War,…
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Friday, 06 December 2024 22:30

An AfFAIR to Remember; Joffrey's The Nutcracker A Must See This Holiday Season

Written by
Joffrey Ballet's ensemble in THe Nutcracker at Lyric Opera of Chicago.
There is something magical about Chicago at Christmastime. Even if there is no snow on the ground, there is an energy in the atmosphere, peaceful and whimsical. Whether you take in the colorful zoo lights at The Lincoln Park Zoo, or stroll the Christkindl markets downtown, or ice skate in…
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Page 19 of 135

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New Leadership on Display at Alvin Ailey Dance Theater with Alicia Graf Mack

 

 

     

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*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.