With the homecoming and family-visit season safely in the rear-view, Shattered Globe presents a new play by Rachel Bonds about the places we come from. “Five Mile Lake” is directed by Cody Estle, his first production with the company. Bonds writes about a feeling that many city transplants can relate…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 16 January 2018 11:02
Traitor Mixes Hilarious Send-up With Biting Commentary on Our Times
Written by Bill Esler
The mayor of small-town East Lake, Illinois is facing a crisis: lead contamination was just discovered under a thriving magnet school, one that has become a sparkplug over the past few years for a dramatic influx of new residents, real estate development and a thriving local economy. Complicating matters for…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Friday, 12 January 2018 23:22
Once More for Nevermore!: Edge Theater’s newest play worth seeing again
Written by Kendall Royzen
Once upon a winter’s glow, I did venture to see a show, A show so dark and oddly brooding, filled with misery and woe. A new musical did appear, At the Edge Theater it did premiere, Nevermore: The imaginary life and death of Edgar Allen Poe. Upon the stage…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Friday, 12 January 2018 23:22
Once More for Nevermore!: Edge Theater’s newest play worth seeing again
Written by Kendall Royzen
Once upon a winter’s glow, I did venture to see a show, A show so dark and oddly brooding, filled with misery and woe. A new musical did appear, At the Edge Theater it did premiere, Nevermore: The imaginary life and death of Edgar Allen Poe. Upon the stage seven…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Echoing the western world’s most debated issue of late, For The Loyal was inspired by the Penn State sexual abuse scandal involving one of the college football coaches. Written by Lee Blessing and directed by James Yost, the play is presented as part of Interrobang Theatre Project’s ‘RAW Series’. Five…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 26 December 2017 15:34
Absurdity, Treachery, Heartbreak....and Laughs in BLKS at Steppenwolf
Written by Bill Esler
BLKS, a new comedy premiering at Steppenwolf Theater, tracks three young black women sharing an apartment in New York City, through 24 hours laced with sex and romance. Packed with high drama and high jinx, this first play by Aziza Barnes makes for an entertaining show. It may sound like…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Tuesday, 12 December 2017 23:30
Gorgeous Musical Journey by Greyhound Richly Revives the Broadway Gem, Violet
Written by Bill Esler
I was blown away by how great the score, acting and singing were in Griffin Theatre’s new show, Violet. I didn’t have time to learn about it before opening night, so maybe I came away with a completely unbiased assessment: “Boffo!” as the trade rags say for this over the…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Tuesday, 05 December 2017 00:42
"Rudolph the Red Hosed Reindeer" is Funnier and more Glamorous Than Ever in 2017!
Written by Kimberly Katz
This is Hell in a Handbag’s 15th Season and yet every year I look forward more than ever to seeing a Christmas show that's as irreverent and funny as "Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer". This year Handbag's Artistic Director and writer of the original, and yearly refreshed, Christmas production, David Cerda,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Friday, 08 December 2017 17:44
Review: 'Turandot' at Lyric Opera of Chicago
Written by John Accrocco
Finding love is hard. What someone else wants can sometimes be a riddle, but in the case of Puccini’s ‘Turandot’ it’s quite literal. The Lyric Opera of Chicago welcomes back the classic Eastern-flavored piece that is new to Chicago but has previously been seen in a few other American cities.…
Published in
Theatre in Review
More...
While I’d yet to see Beautiful: The Carole King Musical since it premiered to much acclaim (and a U.S. tour) a couple years ago, I entered the Cadillac Palace Theatre for its latest Chicago debut a lifelong Carole King fanboy. I knew her songs. I knew her story. But for…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Friday, 08 December 2017 22:54
Gobsmacked Brings A Cappella to Chi-aca-cago!
Written by Anne Rakowiecki
It’s fitting that the opening tune of Gobsmacked! declares, “Turn up the radio, blast your stereo right,” because the show is essentially a live jukebox. The seven performers sing and beat-box their way through songs that span the decades, from The Beatles to David Bowie to Duffy to The Black-Eyed…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Friday, 17 November 2017 18:45
Cirque De Soleil's "Crystal" is a Delight for Young and Old Alike
Written by Kimberly Katz
As a theater critic who used to travel to Las Vegas twice a year to review some of the most unusual shows, I have seen a lot of amazing Cirque De Soleil productions. Crystal, now being performed at Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, is the first Cirque show I…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 30 November 2017 00:51
Goodman's "A Christmas Carol" still tops list for Holiday fun in Chicago
Written by Ken Payne
Chicago has no shortage of Christmas traditions. In other words, if you’re looking for holiday fun it’s not very hard to find something to do with your friends, significant other or family. Rich traditions such as Zoolights at Lincoln Park Zoo, Joffrey’s Nutcracker, Christkindlmart, Christmas film classics at Music Box,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Register
Login
Latest Articles
-
Rosemont's Parkway Bank Park Announces 2025 Lineup for Rockin in the Park Free Summer Concert Series
Written by Buzz Center StageRosemont's Parkway Bank Park entertainment district (5501 Park Place, Rosemont) will turn up the volume this summer with the return of its popular "Rockin' in the Park" free summer concert series. Presented by Feldco, the 2025 series will kick off on Sunday,… -
Announcing the 2025 Broadway In Chicago Summer Concert
Written by Buzz Center StageBroadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that its free SUMMER CONCERT will return to Millennium Park on August 11, 2025. The free concert, sponsored by ABC 7 Chicago, will take place on Monday, August 11, 2025 at 6:15 p.m.…
-
American Blues Theater presents the Chicago Premiere of Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues
Written by Buzz Center StageAmerican Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, presents the Chicago premiere of Artistic Affiliate Charles Smith's Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues, directed by Ensemble Member Chuck Smith. Capping off Blues' 2024-2025 season, Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues is a comedic and thoughtful tale…
-
THE JOFFREY BALLET CLOSES 69TH SEASON WITH EXTENDED RUN OF CHRISTOPHER WHEELDON'S ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
Written by Buzz Center StageThe Joffrey Ballet concludes its 69th season with two-time Tony Award®-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon's enchanting and family-friendly Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Set to Joby Talbot's hallucinatory sound world of sweeping melodies and ticking clocks, the production features vibrant stagecraft and puppetry by Tony…
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.