Thursday, 28 January 2016 23:52
Vices Overcome Virtues, Just Barely, in Neil LaBute's One-act Wonders
Written by Bill Esler
Playwright Neil LaBute earned a bad boy reputation early on, putting the spotlight on the extremely politically incorrect, while challenging audiences - and critics - along the way. In Vices & Virtues, his newest effort running at Profiles Theater, LaBute also stretches the performance format, queuing up twelve one-act 'playlets,'…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 26 January 2016 23:04
A Virtuosic Turn as Louis Armstrong in Satchmo at the Waldorf
Written by Bill Esler
Riveting. Arresting. Barry Shabaka Henley's performance as Louis Armstrong in Court Theatre's one-man-show Satchmo at the Waldorf is surely one of the great stage performances delivered in Chicago - or anywhere, for that matter. Lone actors on stage can be dry - and we were only mildly curious about the…
Published in
Theatre in Review
What drew me to this play is the powerful message around civil rights and the negative impact it had on the children of activist. Sunset Baby is about a women named after Nina Simone whose parents were a part of the Black Panthers. After her mother passes away, her father…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Friday, 22 January 2016 12:59
Route 66's No Wake Finely Explores How Some May Deal with Tragedy
Written by Ken Payne
The dialogue flows so smoothly one might forget they are sitting in a play. Veteran Chicago area actor Stef Tovar, who also founded the Route 66 Theatre Company in 2008, leads the charge in this play full of emotional interchanges combined with sharp humor. Route 66’s No Wake, currently running…
Published in
Theatre in Review
In London Wall, Griffin Theater Company has mined a stage gem from the British theatrical vaults, giving John Van Druten's 1931 romantic comedy a serious treatment. This production at The Den Theater also finds a well-written play, still fresh more than 85 years after its premiere - even with three acts…
Published in
Theatre in Review
In London Wall, Griffin Theater Company has mined a stage gem from the British theatrical vaults, giving John Van Druten's 1931 romantic comedy a serious treatment. This production at The Den Theater also finds a well-written play, still fresh more than 85 years after its premiere - even with three…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Marriott Theatre’s current production is chancy business. For a venue that theatre lovers have come to depend on for family entertainment over the years – wholesome G through PG rated shows such as “Mary Poppins”, “The King and I”, “9 to 5” and “Elf”, just to name a few, Executive…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Friday, 15 January 2016 13:45
Review: Bruise Easy at American Theater Company
Written by John Accrocco
American Theater Company starts the year with a world premiere by author Dan LeFranc, directed by Joanie Schultz. "Bruise Easy" is a modern day retelling of Electra, set in the seemingly vapid world of southern California. When Tess (Kelly O'Sullivan) returns to her childhood home to find her estranged brother…
Published in
Theatre in Review
The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company’s collaboration “Byhalia, Mississippi” opens up with a young white trash couple from the play’s titled town who are about to have their first child. The dialogue between the family is witty and sharp and you immediately feel like you are in the South.…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Tuesday, 12 January 2016 12:34
SONO'S JOURNEY- Romantic and Exciting Adventure into Biographical Dance
Written by Kimberly Katz
Melissa Thodos the creator of Sono’s Journey and her designers, which premiered at the Auditorium Theatre Saturday, did a wonderful job telling the story of Sono Asato, a dancer who broke age and race barriers from the time she was just fourteen years old. At that same young age, Sono…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 07 January 2016 19:30
Young Sophisticates Emerge as Real Playwrights
Written by Bill Esler
Crowdsourcing theater may be having its moment, as 500 script submissions competed for three slots in an evening of one-acts on the cozy stage at the Chicago Dramatists theater. Never mind this is the annual Pegasus Players high school competition. What they have wrought this time around is a delightful…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 30 December 2015 15:12
If You Ever Loved Dancing You GOTTA See "Gotta Dance"!
Written by Kimberly Katz
"Gotta Dance" is a partly fictional partly true story based on the 2008 documentary film by Dori Bernestein about the New Jersey Nets and the basketball team’s efforts to boost flagging attendance by creating the first-ever hip-hop halftime dance team comprised only of those 60 and older. Georgia Engel, best…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Friday, 18 December 2015 12:15
"Domesticated" The Play that Refuses to be Domesticated, Brilliantly Written, Funny and Feminist
Written by Kimberly Katz
Bruce Norris, also a member of the Steppenwolf ensemble, wrote and directed this very funny, fast moving play about a gynecologist turned politician, Bill Pulver, who ends up putting a young prostitute into a coma during rough sex play. The play opens at a press conference as the news hits…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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