Sunday, 24 September 2023 13:25
Powerful 'Sanctuary City' Plumbs Emotional Depths of Undocumented Americans
Written by Bill Esler
“Sanctuary City,” Steppenwolf’s latest production by Pulitzer-winning playwright Martyna Majok ("Cost of Living") takes us somewhere audiences likely haven’t been before—deep into the emotional experiences of undocumented American immigrants. “Sanctuary City” may seem confusing at first. A series of quick cut, apparently repetitive scenes take place on a bare stage…
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Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 19 September 2023 09:20
'JANE: Abortion and the Underground' Is a call to action (hopefully!)
Sarz Maxwell
I happen to like theatre that has topical and social significance. If you do too, then Idle Muse Theatre's production of "Jane: Abortion and the Underground" is a must-see! The women's organization Jane developed from feminist thought, with a 1960’s ‘women’s lib’ group centered at the University of Chicago, which was…
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Theatre in Review
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Thursday, 21 September 2023 22:39
Sublime 'Blues for An Alabama Sky' Gives Us a Sky Filled With Stars
Written by Wesley David
I have seen “Blues for an Alabama Sky” several times, all very good productions. However, the production by Remy Bumppo in the intimate space of Theater Wit was sublime. As soon as you walk into the theater, you are transported to an apartment building on iconic Lenox Avenue in the heart…
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Theatre in Review
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Wednesday, 20 September 2023 13:00
A Sensational Powerhouse Show in Gift Theatre’s ‘Rise and Fall of Little Voice’
Written by Bill Esler
With a powerful script by Jim Cartwright and knockout performances by every cast member, Filament Theatre’s “The Rise and Fall of Little Voice’” is a must-see. Set in the 1960s at a seaside village in northern England, this play about a young woman, LV (Emjoy Gavino), sequestered upstairs in her…
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Theatre in Review
Friday, 15 September 2023 12:22
“Hamilton” Doesn’t Throw Away its Shot in Chicago
Written by Wesley David
The Nederlander Theatre erupted in thunderous applause as the lights went down on the triumphant return of “Hamilton” to Chicago. Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical, finishing a successful run in Anchorage, Alaska, delivered an electrifying performance that left the Chicago audience in awe of its scope and magnitude. Chicago lifted “Hamilton”…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 14 September 2023 14:11
Review: 'A View from the Bridge' at Theater Wit
Written by John Accrocco
Arthur Miller’s perennial classic, ‘A View from the Bridge’, is revived in a faithful production at Shattered Globe Theater. Under the direction of Lou Contey, a cast of familiar Shattered Globe ensemble and a few new faces bring this powder keg of a tale to their stage for the first…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 12 September 2023 23:43
'A Chorus Line' at Skokie Theatre is Very Recommended!
Sarz Maxwell
A CHORUS LINE is one of my all-time favorite shows and, having recently reviewed MadKap / Skokie Theatre’s production of HAIR (and loved it), I arrived at the theatre in a very pleasant state of anticipation. And hey! CHORUS LINE actually exceeded my high expectations! HAIR is, as everyone knows,…
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Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 09 September 2023 15:27
REVIEW: RING OF FIRE AT DRURY LANE THEATRE
Written by Anne Rakowiecki
Fall into the blazing ring of fire that is Johnny Cash’s scorching song catalogue at Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash at Drury Lane Theatre. Part biography, part music revue, and all entertainment, Ring of Fire will take you on a nostalgic, country music-filled journey through the life,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 05 September 2023 20:24
Black Ensemble’s 'A Taste of Soul' is a full-on smorgasbord.
Written by Wesley David
As I neared the Black Ensemble theater, an undeniable sense of eager antcipation pervaded the atmosphere. While I stood there, patiently awaiting the arrival of my companion, I couldn't help but observe the diverse array of theatergoers—people of various ages and ethnic backgrounds,converging from all directions. They were in a…
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Theatre in Review
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Thursday, 07 September 2023 12:17
'The Innocence of Seduction' a Rollicking Recount of a Fight Over Comic Book Bans in the 1950s
Written by Bill Esler
It’s hard to imagine now, but in 1954, the U.S. Senate began investigating publishers of comic books, tapping psychologists who linked a rise in juvenile delinquency to comics depicting lurid stories and violent criminals. The nation was perhaps primed for the investigation, as the move came during the Senate’s ongoing…
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Theatre in Review
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Friday, 01 September 2023 13:35
'Gypsy' - Exciting Production With An Exhilarating Take on Ambition And Family Conflict
Written by Buzz Center Stage
'Gypsy' is an excellent musical about a family in Vaudeville. The mother is overbearing trying to make the children, specifically the daughters, create a wildly famous act. It is at Marriott Theater in Lincolnshire, Illinois directed by Amanda Dehnert. An initial striking character is Rose, played by Lucia Spina. She…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 03 September 2023 11:02
A Tantalizing Mystery Unwrapped in “Moon at the Bottom of the Ocean”
Written by Bill Esler
At first I wasn't digging “Moon at the Bottom of the Ocean,” Bryn Magnus’ two act play premiering at Dramatists Theater in Chicago. It opens with Paul (Jeffrey Bivens is excellent) sitting beside Vera's (Julia Williams) desk as she reels off brief descriptions of a scene in a coffee shop--but…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Coming-of-age is a subject with universal appeal across the arts. Playwright Jonathan Keebler makes it fun by putting it to music composed by Ryan Korell in GAY CARD, playing at Pride Arts Center through September 24. Logan (Ben Ballmer) is saying goodbye to the horrors of high school and is…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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