Friday, 01 March 2024 12:01
Mrs. Doubtfire leaves no doubt, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE
Written by Wesley David
The Groundhog Day musical debacle left me wary of movie-to-stage adaptations. I saw them as cash grabs, mere shadows of the beloved originals. So, I approached Mrs. Doubtfire with trepidation, fearing another corny, uninspired musical. Thankfully, Mrs. Doubtfire surprised me. It wasn't just enjoyable, but the refreshingly unapologetic old-fashioned style…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 28 February 2024 14:26
'Shakespeare’s R & J' adapted from 'Romeo and Juliet' by William Shakespeare at Pride Arts Center
Sarz Maxwell
Shakespeare’s R & J is another demonstration of just how brilliant William Shakespeare truly was, is, and ever will be. Romeo & Juliet has captivated audiences since the 16th century. The story of the star-crossed lovers is universal, appealing to audiences from all walks of life, and stanzas from the…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 26 February 2024 13:09
'James and the Giant Peach' comes to life in a big way at Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences
Written by Betsy Schmitt
For anyone familiar with children’s literature, Roald Dahl is a household name. Since the 1960s, Dahl has entertained and enchanted his young readers with fantastical tales of witches, giants, talking animals, magical chocolate factories, and yes, even a giant peach. So, it is more than appropriate that the Marriott Theatre…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Friday, 23 February 2024 12:16
Gripping ‘Richard III’ Mines Shakespeare’s Script for All its Power, Horror, and Humor
Written by Bill Esler
As the audience takes its seats around the Shakespeare Theater’s Courtyard thrust stage, wraiths in black gowns and white masks silently infiltrate the aisles, imparting an air of menace and suspense about what will unfold as we near the opening of “Richard III.” Soon enough, they take to the stage,…
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Theatre in Review
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Tuesday, 20 February 2024 10:33
Review: 'The Magic Flute' at Goodman Theatre
Written by Betsy Schmitt
Mozart’s masterpiece, and one of the world’s most frequently performed operas, The Magic Flute, is given a modern-day makeover in award-winning director and writer Mary Zimmerman’s production of The Matchbox Magic Flute, now playing at The Goodman Theatre on its Owen stage. In this world-premiere production, Zimmerman has adapted the…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 20 February 2024 11:31
Incredibly Powerful 'Topdog/underdog' Shines in Invictus' New Home at Windy City Playhouse
Written by Bill Esler
Invictus Theatre’s smashingly good Chicago production of Susan-Lori Parks’ “Topdog/Underdog” brings us a dark comedy that is both gripping and layered. This Tony winner for its current Broadway revival incorporates all the qualities of a well-written play, steadily unfolding details of the brothers who share a derelict apartment—the plaster is…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 19 February 2024 13:22
Review: Young People’s Theatre of Chicago’s 'The Diary of Anne Frank’ at Greenhouse Theater Center
Written by John Accrocco
It’s been almost 80 years since the publication of Anne Frank’s Diary, and yet it remains one of the most significant personal accounts of the Holocaust on record. Though ‘The Diary of A Young Girl’ is a well-established work of young adult literature, it continues to be challenged by parents…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 17 February 2024 14:59
Alex Edelman’s ‘Just for Us’ at Steppenwolf unbelievably funny and painfully relevant
Written by Bree Samani
Imagine being Jewish and attending a White Nationalists meeting undercover. Sounds crazy, right? In the award-winning comedian Alex Edelman’s acclaimed Broadway Solo Show, Just for Us you get to hear the story of how Edelman does the unthinkable by putting himself in an extremely uncomfortable situation among White Supremacists. It…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Sunday, 18 February 2024 12:12
Review: Blade Runner in Concert at Auditorium Theatre
Written by John Accrocco
Blade Runner Live? Don’t worry, it’s not a musical adaptation of Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi classic. It’s the inaugural film in The Auditorium Theater’s new series, Auditorium Philms, in which five films will be live scored by the Chicago Philharmonic. Performances are scheduled throughout the year and include a special…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 17 February 2024 14:03
Review: 'The Band's Visit' at Writers Theatre
Written by John Accrocco
There are but a few evenings in life that can ultimately change your destiny, David Yazbek’s The Band’s Visit tells the story of one such evening in the lives of those residing in a small Israeli town. When a lost bus drops off an Egyptian Police Band, a community offers…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 15 February 2024 13:52
Broadway in Chicago’s 'GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY' Features Standout Vocalists and Touching Story
Written by Lauren Katz
“May God bless and keep you always May your wishes all come true May you always do for others And let others do for you May you build a ladder to the stars And climb on every rung May you stay forever young May you stay forever young” For many,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Court Theatre culminates its "Oedipus Trilogy" with a captivating production of "Antigone," marking an exhilarating conclusion. For those who witnessed the illuminating "Oedipus Rex" and the soulfully performed "Gospel at Colonus," the profound experience of "Antigone" brings a bittersweet moment of reflection. A fitting finale to the house of Oedipus.…
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Theatre in Review
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Thursday, 15 February 2024 12:56
'A Home What Howls' Nails the Way Things Work for People in the Margins
Written by Bill Esler
Matthew Paul Olmos is a playwright on the rise, and under the direction of Laura Alcalá Baker we have a chance to see a beautiful production of an exceptional work in its world premiere at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre. As the vernacular title suggests, “A Home What Howls (or the house…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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