Sunday, 27 October 2019 00:49
Fresh Insights in a Merchant of Venice Set in Mussolini's Fascist Italy
Written by Bill Esler
Triggered by Shylock’s role, Invictus Theatre gives us a strong production of The Merchant of Venice. One of Shakespeare’s most accessible plays, The Merchant is seasoned with timeless lines: “Love is blind”, “Let me play the fool,” “The quality of mercy is not strained,” “the devil can cite Scripture for…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 22 October 2019 15:59
Is it love or a side-effect? 'The Effect' at Strawdog Theatre
Written by Michael Chandler
What brings people together? Similar interest, physical attraction, and availability? Or could it be just a side effect of the medication the doctor prescribed? Strawdog Theatre Company kicks their 32nd season off with the Chicago Premier of Lucy Prebble’s The Effect. Tristan, a cheerful young man hungry to see the…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 20 October 2019 13:55
Revenge Is Served Cold W/ A Side Of Human Flesh in Bill Daniel's 'Hell Followed With Her'
Written by Michael Chandler
How many times have you heard someone say they went to see a western/zombie play? Most people would dismiss the idea of a western/zombie story especially one being played out on a stage. The two genres don’t seem to mesh well together when you put them in the same sentence.…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 19 October 2019 22:27
Love Dares to Speak (and Sing and Dance) in 'A Man of No Importance'
Written by Bill Esler
There is something immensely endearing in the passion that community theater groups bring to the stage. A Man of No Importance captures exactly these qualities, as its cast plays a troupe preparing for a production of Oscar Wilde’s Salome. Set in 1964 Dublin, Ireland, A Man of No Importance was a…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Thursday, 17 October 2019 17:25
Review: Porchlight's 'Sunset Boulevard' at Ruth Page Center for the Arts
Written by John Accrocco
Few shows this fall have been as highly anticipated as Porchlight Music Theatre’s production of ‘Sunset Boulevard’. Porchlight artistic director Michael Weber directs Chicago stage superstar Hollis Reznik in this vibrant revival. Aaron Benham conducts a full orchestra that really showcases the sweeping Andrew Lloyd Webber score. ‘Sunset Boulevard’ is…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 14 October 2019 13:46
You be the judge in Millie Rose’s 'Bloody Bathory'
Written by Michael Chandler
The season of fall has arrived. The skies are filled with clouds, the leaves have turned orange and brown and have trickled down onto the ground. As the city grows darker so does our theatre. The Barrens Theater Company kicks down the door to start the Halloween season with an…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 13 October 2019 12:14
In Mosquitoes, Good Performances Don't Redeem Overblown Script
Written by Bill Esler
Playwright Lucy Kirkwood was named “Best Newcomer” when her first play debuted in London in 2009. Her Chimerica played to acclaim all over, including a well regarded production at Timeline Theatre in 2016. Kirkwood’s 2017 Mosquitoes, now running at Steep Theatre, depicts today's societal clashes between advocates of post-Enlightenment rationalism,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Tuesday, 08 October 2019 12:55
"The Facts of Life – Satan’s School for Girls" is a Rollicking Good Way to Get Your Halloween On!
Written by Kimberly Katz
Here comes Halloween, one of my favorite holidays of all and, of course, the incomparable Artistic Director David Cerda of Hell in a Handbag Productions along with composer Andrew Milliken have created a Halloween camp extravaganza that is sure to satisfy even the blood/laugh thirstiest of Handbag's extensive loyal fan…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 09 October 2019 13:34
Review: 'The Hound of Baskervilles' at City Lit Theater
Written by Michael Chandler
What’s the big deal about Sherlock Holmes? What is it that makes Sir Arthur Conan Doyle work some of the most well-known mysteries of all time? Sherlock Holmes and his adventures were published over a century ago, yet Doyle's writing has continuously surfaced through time on film, television, and theater.…
Published in
Theatre in Review
More...
Tuesday, 08 October 2019 13:41
'The Brothers Size' doesn’t miss a beat as it makes its comeback to Steppenwolf Theatre
Written by Michael Chandler
There are a few plays that focus on the love between two brothers. There are even fewer that will allow you to understand the brother’s fears, desires, and dreams throughout their heartfelt journey together. A story of two brothers who not only try to find peace between each other but…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 08 October 2019 13:20
McKillip, Foust deliver big in First Folio's 'Sherlock's Last Case'
Written by Ken Payne
The pairing of Kevin McKillip as Sherlock Holmes and Joe Foust as the sleuth’s ever-loyal sidekick Dr. Watson could not have been any more perfect. The chemistry between the two alone, as audience members are treated to a volley of entertaining banter back and forth throughout, is well-worth the price of…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 08 October 2019 21:32
Invisible: They Rallied for the KKK in a Women’s Movement Gone Wrong
Written by Bill Esler
Invisible, a new play by Mary Bonnett, tells a provocative story about a little known slice of history – the emergence of the women’s arm of the Ku Klux Klan – the WKKK. Bonnett is also artistic director of Her Story Theater, and has produced eight such works with powerful…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 07 October 2019 15:00
'The Silence in Harrow House' is a memorable Halloween haunted house experience
Written by Vika Lvova
This Halloween season the Rough House Theater brings a very different haunted house experience to the Chopin Theatre. Written by Mark Maxwell and Clara Saxe, under the direction of Mike Oleon, The Silence in Harrow House is an updated version of last year’s production called The Walls of Harrow House,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Register
Login
Latest Articles
-
Midsommer Flight to present free production of Shakespeare’s ROMEO AND JULIET, June 28 – August 4 in six Chicago parks
Written by Buzz Center StageMidsommer Flight, a company that has brought free performances of Shakespeare's plays to Chicago Park District parks since 2012, will present a fully staged ROMEO AND JULIET - one of the Bard's most popular tragedies - as its 2024 free Shakespeare… -
LEAGUE OF CHICAGO THEATRES HIGHLIGHTS SUMMER 2024 PRODUCTIONS
Written by Buzz Center StageChicago continues to produce some of the most exciting work in the country this Summer, offering a wide variety of plays and musicals, as well as comedy, dance, festivals, and more. To highlight these productions, The League of Chicago Theatres is publishing its Summer…
-
Token Theatre to produce new play directed by Emmy winner Alan Muroaka
Written by Buzz Center StageToken Theatre, Chicago's Asian American theatre company, announces the company's first full production, ZAC EFRON, written by Artistic Director David Rhee, co-written by Managing Director Wai Yim and directed by two-time Emmy Award winner Alan Muraoka ("Sesame Street"). ZAC EFRON plays at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N Wells St, June 20-July 21,…
-
Review: Murder in the Cathedral at City Lit Theater
Written by Sarz MaxwellI arrived at City Lit Theater’s MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL expecting a heavy, serious, doubtless thought-provoking but rather intimidating major work of literature. By the end of the performance, I wanted to rush out, buy the book and read it…
Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.