Friday, 04 September 2026 11:57
Standing Room Only Crowd for Chicago’s Leading Theater Artistic Directors
Written by Bill Esler
It must have been heavenly for the creative leaders of Goodman, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare and Court, Chicago’s top regional theaters, to be greeted by a standing room only crowd. But there they were, on a panel moderated by the eminent Chicago Tribune theater critic Chris Jones. The program was introduced…
Published in
Theatre Buzz
Thursday, 03 September 2026 16:04
The Best of Us: Marriott Theatre’s Come From Away
Written by Kimberly Katz
Come From Away begins from a place of deep uncertainty, yet what emerges is a story grounded in the steady, everyday kindness people offer when they have nothing else to give. Rather than revisiting the events of September 11 themselves, the musical focuses on the human responses that rose in…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- Marriott theatre
- Come From Away
- Irene Sankoff
- David Hein
- Gander Newfoundland
- September 11
- Lexie Dorsett Sharp
- Alex Goodrich
- Sharriese Hamilton
- Justin Albinder
- Matt Crowle
- Devin DeSantis
- Sarah Bockel
- Madison Kauffman
- Heidi Kettenring
- Michael Earvin Martin
- Jonathan Shaboo
- Jessica Fisch
- Katie Spelman
- Musical theatre
- feel good theatre
- Chicago events
- on stage
- live theatre
- Lincolnshire
Wednesday, 02 September 2026 13:22
Steppenwolf Theatre Presents Revival of TOPDOG/UNDERDOG September 17 – November 1 / Rehearsals Underway
Written by Buzz Center Stage
Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to launch its 51st Season with Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Topdog/Underdog, helmed by Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon, who returns to Steppenwolf following his hit production of King James. Ensemble members Glenn Davis (Windfall, Purpose–Chicago/Broadway, King James) and Namir Smallwood (Windfall, The Book of Grace, Bug–Chicago/Broadway) go head-to-head in this highly-anticipated revival, more than two…
Published in
Upcoming Theatre
Tuesday, 01 September 2026 10:20
BrightSide Theatre Announces "Monte Carlo Night" 15th Anniversary Gala and Fundraiser on September 25
Written by Buzz Center Stage
BrightSide Theatre will celebrate its 15th anniversary with "Monte Carlo Night," a gala and fundraiser, on Friday, September 25, 2026, at Yellow Box Theatre, 1635 Emerson Lane, Naperville. The special evening will bring together supporters, artists, audiences, and community members to honor 15 years of stories, performances, and memories while…
Published in
Theatre Buzz
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Tuesday, 01 September 2026 10:54
Vape! The Grease Parody Is High-Energy Fluff
Written by Angelo Campos
Vape! The Grease Parody, currently running at Chicago’s Apollo Theater through January, takes a satirical swing at the iconic 1978 film. The production leans heavily into campy, low‑brow humor, poking fun at the original and the characters who appeared in it - Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson, made famous by…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- Vape The Grease Parody
- Grease
- John Travolta
- Olivia Newton-John
- Apollo Theater Chicago
- chicago theatre
- parody theatre
- theatre camp
- Danny Zuko
- Sketchworks Comedy
- Pink Ladies
- TBirds
- musical comedy
- Musical theatre
- on stage
- Chicago events
- 1950s
- Jack Plotnick
- Catie Hogan
- Rydell High
- Ashley Marinelli
- Will Leonard
- Jenna Smith
- Suzanne Sole
- Sophia Brazada
Monday, 31 August 2026 20:03
A Loving, Delight‑Packed Celebration: Joan Crawford Goes to Hell Marks 25 Years of Handbag
Written by Kimberly Katz
Hell in a Handbag Productions celebrates its 25th year with a revival of Joan Crawford Goes to Hell, a sharp, mischievous look at the Hollywood icon through the company’s signature parody lens. It is truly perfect timing that Handbag's guiding force David Cerda has chosen to do this play in…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- Hell in a Handbag
- JOAN CRAWFORD GOES TO HELL
- David Cerda
- Joan Crawford
- The Joans
- The Clutch
- Cheryl Snodgrass
- Christina Crawford
- My Way of Life
- Mommie Dearest
- Parody
- Gretchen Greear
- Nicholas Ian
- TJ OBrien
- Haley Gillman
- Ryan Kenny
- Lori Lee
- Michael Rashid
- Anna Rose Steinmayer
- Tyler Calhoun
- DJ Douglass
- chicago theatre
- live theatre
- Chicago events
- on stage
- Funny
- comedy
- camp comedy
Monday, 31 August 2026 14:13
Robert Falls to Direct the World Premiere of FLYING MONKEYS, by L.C. Bernadine, at Redtwist Theatre, Dec 6 - Jan 17
Written by Buzz Center Stage
Award-winning Redtwist Theatre, launching its 22nd season with Prayer Circle, September 17 - November 8, by Erik Gernand and directed by Executive Artistic Director Dusty Brown, announces today an added special engagement to its 2026 - 2027 season, the world premiere of Flying Monkeys, produced in collaboration with the New Theatre Project, December 6 - January 17, by L.C. Bernadine and directed by Robert Falls, at…
Published in
Upcoming Theatre
Monday, 31 August 2026 14:10
Buffalo Theatre Ensemble Names Daniel Millhouse as New Managing Artistic Director
Written by Buzz Center Stage
Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE), the professional theater company in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), is pleased to announce that, in keeping with the company's general policy of promoting from within, BTE Interim Artistic Managing Director Daniel Millhouse has been named the company's new Managing Artistic Director. "As we enter our 40th anniversary season,…
Published in
Theatre Buzz
Monday, 31 August 2026 14:05
Promethean Theatre Ensemble to offer talkbacks after selected performances BLOOD OF THE LAMB, opening September 5 and 6
Written by Buzz Center Stage
Promethean Theatre Ensemble announced today it will offer post-show audience talkbacks following two performances of their Chicago premiere of BLOOD OF THE LAMB. This gripping two-woman, Kafka-esque thriller by Arlene Hutton is set in a time about two days from now, when Nessa, traveling from LAX to JFK, finds herself diverted to Dallas. Trapped in…
Published in
Upcoming Theatre
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Thursday, 20 August 2026 17:46
Rising star Jacob Moskovitz to play Marlon Brando in the Chicago presentation of Kowalski at Lookingglass Theatre
Written by Buzz Center Stage
Rising star Jacob Moskovitz ("Elle") has joined the cast of Kowalski as Marlon Brando, alongside previously announced Chicago theater veteran Johnny Galecki ("The Big Bang Theory," "The Little Dog Laughed") as Tennessee Williams. The celebrated new play by Gregg Ostrin, directed by Colin Hanlon, will come to Chicago's Lookingglass Theatre Company at the historic Water Tower Water Works, 163 E Pearson St. at Michigan Ave. in Chicago,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 31 August 2026 16:24
An Immersive Sunday in the Park with George at Kokandy Productions
Written by John Accrocco
Composition, tension, balance, light, and harmony come together seamlessly in Kokandy Productions’ revival of Sondheim’s opus, ‘Sunday in the Park with George’. Director Derek Van Barham transforms the basement of the Chopin Theatre into a three dimensional reproduction of Georges Seurat’s ‘A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 30 August 2026 11:27
City Lit’s Shane Saddles Up a Classic Western With Fresh Heart
Written by Angelo Campos
City Lit Theatre’s world premiere of Shane, adapted for the stage and directed by Mark Pracht, brings a fresh, nostalgic perspective to Jack Schaefer’s classic novel - a story immortalized by Alan Ladd in the memorable 1953 film. Pracht, who has been developing this piece since the 2000s, crafts the…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 29 August 2026 13:29
In Sisters, Barrie Turns an AI Fable into an Impressive Character Study
Written by Angelo Campos
The rise of artificial intelligence raises many questions about its effect on humanity. What does it mean if we become increasingly reliant on AI to think for us, create for us, and entertain us? What happens if this tool encroaches into our lives in ways it never should? Matthew Libby’s…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Latest Articles
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Standing Room Only Crowd for Chicago’s Leading Theater Artistic Directors
Written by Bill EslerIt must have been heavenly for the creative leaders of Goodman, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare and Court, Chicago’s top regional theaters, to be greeted by a standing room only crowd. But there they were, on a panel moderated by the eminent… -
The Best of Us: Marriott Theatre’s Come From Away
Written by Kimberly KatzCome From Away begins from a place of deep uncertainty, yet what emerges is a story grounded in the steady, everyday kindness people offer when they have nothing else to give. Rather than revisiting the events of September 11 themselves,… -
Steppenwolf Theatre Presents Revival of TOPDOG/UNDERDOG September 17 – November 1 / Rehearsals Underway
Written by Buzz Center StageSteppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to launch its 51st Season with Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Topdog/Underdog, helmed by Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon, who returns to Steppenwolf following his hit production of King James. Ensemble members Glenn Davis (Windfall, Purpose–Chicago/Broadway, King James) and Namir Smallwood (Windfall, The Book of… -
Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project Gala: Radiant & Sumptuous at the Harris
Written by Mitchell OldhamThe first thing you notice about the meticulously curated Black dance performance held at the Harris Theater over the weekend is language. The eloquence and weight of the words used to explain why the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project (CBDLP)…
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