Wednesday, 15 June 2016 10:21
Bat Boy: The Musical – A Unique Tabloid Musical
Written by Michelle Reidy
In the early 90’s, the now defunct supermarket tabloid Weekly World News, published a story about a creature - half boy half bat - found in a West Virginia cave. That story became the inspiration for Bat Boy: The Musical written by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming with music and…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Charles Busch, creator of the camp classics, Die, Mommie, Die!, Psycho Beach Party and Vampire Lesbians of Sodom seems to have written The Divine Sister just for David Cerda and his fabulous cast of rotating members in Hell in a Handbag Productions. Affectionately making fun of films like The Song…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 12 June 2016 10:14
The Art of Falling: An Amazing Collaboration of Dance and Comedy
Written by Michelle Reidy
Some things were just meant to go together, even if they do sound a little odd at first. Like peanut butter and bananas, apple pie and cheddar cheese, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennet; The Art of Falling is amazing collaboration between Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and The Second City. The…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Mediocrity, is usually the best word most people try and avoid when they aspire to make and or do something great. The idea is that if a person is part of something truly great that idea, performance, or invention will be remembered throughout history. Look at the radio and how…
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Theatre in Review
Chicago is alive with the sound of music, thanks to the return of Rogers and Hammerstein’s classic musical now playing at Cadillac Palace that comes with a delightfully vibrant cast and an orchestra that is able to capture the uttermost essence of the original score. Directed by three-time Tony Award…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 08 June 2016 17:16
American Theater Company's Xanadu is a Triumph of Comedy and Love!
Written by Kimberly Katz
"A place where nobody dared to go The love that we came to know They call it Xanadu And now, open your eyes and see What we have made is real We are in Xanadu A million lights are dancing And there you are, a shooting star An everlasting world…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Last year the Chicago theatre community lost a major piece of its landscape. Longtime American Theater Company artistic director PJ Paparelli died abruptly before solidifying the company's thirty-first season. It's almost ironic that a man responsible for bringing so many uncomfortably topical dramas to the Chicago stage had such a…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 04 June 2016 23:23
Each scene played five ways in Steppenwolf’s challenging Constellations
Written by Bill Esler
Watching one scene acted four or five ways is intrinsically interesting. It’s regularly played to comic effect at Second City. But what about an entire play strung together from a series of such scenes? This structure, used in Constellations at Steppenwolf Theatre, may put your interest to the test. But…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 28 May 2016 22:19
Deirdre Kinahan’s Spinning: A Too Sad Tale, Very Well Told
Written by Bill Esler
If you can stand witnessing 90 minutes of emotional misery, then I can recommend Spinning at Den Theatre, where Irish Theatre of Chicago is giving the Dublin-based Deirdre Kinihan’s work its U.S. premiere. The four actors turn in powerful performances– a fifth character, never seen, was almost equally present throughout,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Thursday, 26 May 2016 11:08
A Celebration of Space, The Arts, and Life Come to Sinfonietta
Written by Adam Jewell
I am sitting here, at nearly midnight, trying to figure out how to describe the relationship between space and the symphony. I remember jokingly putting on my Instagram how the two made the perfect combination. Alas, here I am struggling with how to put the beauty of space combined with…
Published in
Theatre in Review
With foreboding I took my seat in Court Theatre’s One Man, Two Guvnors, knowing the actors had devised some parts of the play on their own. As the company frolicked and sang the opening number, the jollity on stage was leaving me stone cold. But enter Francis Henshall (Timothy Edward…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 17 May 2016 16:13
OMFG (Oh My Fairy Godmother)! Disenchanted is a Hilarious Night Out
Written by Michelle Reidy
The Princess Complex: Little girls grow up with fairy tales about princesses who are rescued from some terrible fate by a dashing prince, fall in love, get married and live happily ever after. These little girls may dress up as princesses, replay their favorite scene and dream of the day…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 12 May 2016 13:22
"Chicago" Crosses the Finish Line First with Daring and Thrilling Speed
Written by Kimberly Katz
When you've seen a classic musical as many times as I have seen Chicago, you really hope for something new and exciting to bring a basically great show to life and this large young, mostly unknown cast (outside of John O’Hurley) really delivers. Now playing through May 15th at Cadillac…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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