Saturday, 17 November 2018 20:17
Marriott Theatre's 'Holiday Inn' a fitting ode to the Crosby, Astaire classic
Written by Ken Payne
Marriott Theatre brings yet another high-energy, song and dance production to its audience, this time mounting the regional premiere of ‘Holiday Inn’, a sentimental musical based on the 1942 film of the same name featuring the music of Irving Berlin and starring such great as Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby and…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 18 November 2018 17:26
Plainclothes Goes Behind the Scenes To Show How Shoplifters Get Nabbed
Written by Bill Esler
Plainclothes has all the hallmarks of a dynamic show – a parade of interesting and believable characters, fast-paced and witty dialog, even a socially meaningful storyline, and great performances by the cast. Premiering at The Den Theatre and written by Spenser Davis, who also co-directs (with Kanomé Jones) Plainclothes tells…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Monday, 12 November 2018 21:08
‘Iolanta’ at Chicago Opera Theater - You See What You Look For Or The Dance of the Sugar Plum Set Pieces
Written by William and Margaret Swain
Chicago Opera Theater opened their 2018-2019 season with the Chicago Premier of Peter Tchaikovsky’s ‘Iolanta’. Since this performance was also the Chicago debut of Lidiya Yankovskaya, COT’s new Stanley Music Director, it was an auspicious occasion for the company embarking on their 45th season. It also marked the first full…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 11 November 2018 19:47
Review: Manuel Cinema's 'Frankenstein' at Court Theatre
Written by John Accrocco
It’s a rare treat to get to experience anything as unique as Manual Cinema’s production of ‘Frankenstein’ at Court Theatre. With several productions of ‘Frankenstein’ going on this year, one might wonder how they’re each distinguishing themselves. Manual Cinema’s original adaptation is just that, a manual cinema. Told with intricate…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 13 November 2018 00:00
Testing the Limits of Dramatic Invention in An Oak Tree
Written by Bill Esler
It’s an intriguing proposition for a play: two actors meet for the first time on stage. One, the First Actor, has rehearsed the play, while the Second Actor has never even read it. In An Oak Tree, this dynamic repeats for each day’s performance – 22 in all by the…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Saturday, 10 November 2018 21:39
Blue Man Group's Never Ending Invention Brings Us Light-Horns,Spinulum and Twinkies
Written by Bill Esler
Blue Man Group premiered the newest version of its show Thursday night at Briar Street Theater, where it has been ensconced since 1997 – making it the longest running act in Chicago. Wearing shiny blue face paint, skull masks covering hair and ears, and blue rubber gloves, the Blue Men…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Friday, 09 November 2018 04:07
The Better Half: A rich, buttery, and zesty new production at Steppenwolf
Written by Kendall Royzen
As the house lights dimmed and the actors took to the stage, an odd play began to unfold at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theater. Lights appeared to direct the actors where to go, the actors didn’t act as though they were acting, and perched on my corner aisle seat actresses raced by…
Published in
Theatre in Review
The setting is a drought-stricken Midwest cattle town. Sheriff File (played by Denzel Tsopnang) and the town folk set the mood as they lament that “the earth is burning, crops is bad, and land is dry” in opening number “Another Hot Day” of BoHo Theatre’s presentation of 110 in The…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 07 November 2018 10:25
The Last Session: a Very Musical and Very Personal Take on the AIDS Epidemic
Written by Bill Esler
Refuge Theatre Project likes to pick up what it calls under-appreciated musicals and put them on in non-traditional settings. They hit that mark with The Last Session, an off-off-Broadway musical from 1997 that ran for about 20 weeks off-Broadway. Set in a 1990s Los Angeles recording studio, this production takes…
Published in
Theatre in Review
More...
Monday, 05 November 2018 18:19
A Storybook Siegfried Or James Earl Jones Takes Charlie Brown and Corporal Klinger on an Excellent Adventure to Where the Wild Things Are to slay a Dragon and Find the St. Pauli Girl
Written by William and Margaret Swain
Siegfried, the third installment of Richard Wagner’s monumental cycle, The Ring of the Niebelungen, opened in a comic-book fairy tale, if not quite mythical version this past Saturday evening to an enthusiastic full house at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. In the preceding two seasons, the prologue, Das Rheingold and…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 05 November 2018 23:52
Review: ‘Siegfried’ at Lyric Opera of Chicago
Written by John Accrocco
Five hours is a long time to do anything. A five-hour German opera loosely based on incest can sound even longer when given the choice on a Saturday night. That said, Lyric Opera’s new production of Wagner’s ‘Siegfried’ feels anything but long. ‘Siegfried’ is the third installment in Wagner’s four-opera…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 01 November 2018 04:21
Russian radio never sounded so good - 'Radio Culture' at TUTA
Written by Ron Reis
This was an interesting production that oddly enough had very little to do with radio. ‘Radio Culture’ is a one act play with a somewhat unique concept where just one actor holds a speaking role. TUTA’s home theatre space (4670 N Manor in Chicago) is a small little place that…
Published in
Theatre in Review
What makes a life extraordinary? Is it the chance meetings with celebrities, surviving world war or is it all the love that surrounds us? ‘Lady in Denmark’ by Dael Orlandersmith makes its world premiere at Goodman Theatre under the direction of Victory Gardens’ Artistic Director, Chay Yew. Orlandersmith is known…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Register
Login
Latest Articles
-
Hiplet Ballerinas: A Daring Dance Revolution at Auditorium Theatre
Written by Kimberly KatzAn electrifying evening of artistic fusion unfolded at the Auditorium Theatre as Hiplet Ballerinas, the professional company of the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center, dazzled audiences once again with their breathtaking production, Dipped in Versatility. Created by Homer Hans Bryant, Hiplet… -
HAMILTON returns to Chicago in 2026
Written by Buzz Center StageBroadway In Chicago announced today that HAMILTON will return to Chicago for a multi-week engagement beginning March 4, 2026 through April 26, 2026, at the CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe). Group tickets for 10+ are available now by emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com or calling 312-977-1710. Current… -
Blank Theatre’s SWEET CHARITY Charms with Talented Cast and Standout Choreography
Written by Lauren KatzWe are inside the Pompeii Club. From everything Charity has told us, the club is the place to be, and as the scene unfolds, it’s certainly no surprise. Costume Designer Cindy Moon does not hold back. The ensemble is dressed… -
The Antiquities: A Thought-provoking Look at Today from the Future
Written by Betsy SchmittWith AI and other technological advancements continuing to change the landscape of how we work and interact with one another, what does the future hold for humanity? What does it mean to be human in a world where robots and…
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 info@buzzcenterstage.com.
*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.