Tuesday, 14 November 2023 16:17
'Once on This Island' - A Caribbean Fairytale with a Modern Twist
Written by Wesley David
“Once On This Island” is receiving a spirited and lively revival by Pulse Theatre at the once venerable ETA Creative Arts Foundation, now a rental space on the Southside of Chicago. Set in the French Antilles, namely Haiti, this vibrant production rivals any Broadway In Chicago production. It is a…
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Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 15 November 2023 10:37
Laugh Riot 'Divina Commedia' Shows Contemporary Life May Just Be the Circles of Hell
Written by Bill Esler
The Conspirators latest show is an absolute laugh fest, and may just be their funniest so far. Subversive in its social commentary, which hits you in your funny bone, The Conspirators have chosen Dante’s Divine Comedy for their latest show, “Divina Commedia: It’s Worse Than That.” They lead us through…
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Theatre in Review
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Sunday, 12 November 2023 12:05
Review: 'The Lion in Winter' at Court Theatre
Written by Betsy Schmitt
It’s Christmas 1183, and King Henry II has gathered his family together at his court in Chinon, France, with hopes of settling once and for all the future legacy of the House of Plantagenets by naming one of his sons as successor to the throne. So, Henry’s three sons, who…
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Theatre in Review
Saturday, 11 November 2023 13:18
As Journalist Wrestles With Fact and Truth, 'Lifespan of a Fact' Skips the Emotion of a Tragic Story
Written by Susan Lieberman
Based on a book by two authors and giving playwriting credit to three authors, "The Lifespan of a Fact" speaks in a notably singular voice. Now in its Chicago premiere at TimeLine Theatre, the play takes a celebrated freelance writer, his editor at an esteemed magazine, and a newbie factchecker…
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Theatre in Review
Friday, 10 November 2023 13:59
Beautiful: Revisiting the Brilliance of Carole King Once Again
Written by CJ Burroughs
There are two moments I love most when I’ve seen productions of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. First, the audience usually contains a fair number of people who grew up with Ms. King’s songs as the soundtrack to their younger years. And when those songs start being performed during the…
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Theatre in Review
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Thursday, 09 November 2023 12:58
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, BEETLEJUICE! The hit movie comes to life on Auditorium Theatre’s Stage
Written by CJ Burroughs
For so many children of the ‘80s, the revisiting and repurposing of our childhoods’ intellectual and emotional property is comforting. Maybe I’m more cynical, but so many of pop culture’s attempts to cash in on my nostalgia don’t do much for me. And so, when Tim Burton’s beloved tale of…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 08 November 2023 08:47
Yellow Rose Theatre on Fulton a Great Venue Though ‘Justicia’ Needs Some Work
Written by Bill Esler
The Yellow Rose Theatre is one of Chicago’s newer venues, having launched in 2020 during Covid, with a company that demonstrates a passion for their work. Located at The Vault, an entertainment space at 607 W. Fulton, it is just a couple blocks east of the trendy Fulton Market District,…
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Theatre in Review
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Monday, 06 November 2023 16:34
Review: 'POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive' at Steppenwolf Theatre
Written by John Accrocco
We all have tough days at work, but when your job is in the Oval Office, a bad day at work could be trouble for the entire country. In Steppenwolf’s regional premiere of ‘POTUS or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive’ by Selina Fillinger,…
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Theatre in Review
Sunday, 05 November 2023 12:32
Review: The Artistic Home Ensemble takes on Jen Silverman's 'Witch' at The Den Theatre
Written by John Accrocco
The witch is back, Jen Silverman’s ‘Witch’ that is. Since first being commissioned by Writer’s Theatre back in 2018, Jen Silverman’s take on Jacobean theatre has become a somewhat popular selection for regional theaters. The Artistic Home Ensemble brings this play back to Chicago in a revival directed by Devon…
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Theatre in Review
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Friday, 03 November 2023 10:20
'The Night of the Hunter' not a feel-good play, but it is a very good one
Sarz Maxwell
"The Night of the Hunter" is not a feel-good play, but it is a very good one, exceedingly well performed and produced. Playing at City Lit Theatre through December 3 it was adapted for the stage by Shawna Tucker from the novel of the same name by Davis Grubb. It…
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Theatre in Review
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Thursday, 02 November 2023 20:04
The Magic Parlour is an absolute tour de force of mind-bending entertainment
Written by Wesley David
“Put someone inside of a box and cut them in half, people think it’s magic. They think it’s a special box. But, tear up a dollar and restore it right under their nose, or look into their mind and read their thoughts, or make something magical happen in their very…
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Theatre in Review
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Thursday, 02 November 2023 14:33
Review: Stephen Sondheim's 'Company' at Cadillac Palace Theatre
Written by Anne Rakowiecki
Phone rings, door chimes, in comes Company! The new, gender-swapped revival, that is. Known more for his fully scored, more epic musicals like Sweeney Todd and Into the Woods, Stephen Sondheim packs a big punch in this unconventional little musical about the dichotomy between single and married life — and…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 30 October 2023 11:25
'Brigadoon' Is a Feel-Good Musical Escape from a Post-pandemic, Pre-Election, Peri-MAGA Year
Sarz Maxwell
I doubt anyone would contest the appeal of a feel-good musical for the post-pandemic, pre-election, peri-MAGA year of 2023, and "Brigadoon" is just that: a feel-good show with overtones of fantasy and romance. The story has two NYC businessmen wandering astray on a hunting trip in Scotland and happening upon…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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