Home

Last month, I talked about how to think like a piano player. That was all about harmony. Horns, too, are all about melody. What is melody? That is the part you can sing. BB King, even when he played guitar, was also singing. What a concept, right? Play things that…
Chicago great legend Marshall Brodien has passed away at 84 after battling Alzheimer’s since he was diagnosed in 2007. Brodien, who started out as a carnival barker for traveling freak shows then later established himself as a hypnotist, was probably best known for his 27-year run with The Bozo Show…
Wednesday, 06 February 2019 17:25

For the Guitarist Volume 8: Think Like a Piano Player

Written by
“Hey man, I’m a guitar player…why would I want to think like a piano player?” Good question. It’s all about being more MUSICAL. What I am talking about is harmony. You can do a lot with different voicings. When someone tells your average guitar player “play a G Chord”, you…
Friday, 28 December 2018 21:37

For the Guitarist Volume 7: Less is More

Written by
The more I play, the less I play. I think when you are a young player, it is natural to want to make a statement. The way many players do this is by playing a bunch of notes. “Look what I can do”, right? You run all over the neck…
Wednesday, 14 November 2018 19:09

For the Guitarist Volume 7: Songwriting

Written by
I started playing guitar at age eleven, but I started my first band at fifteen playing drums. The reason why I stuck with guitar is songwriting. I wanted to write songs. The guitar is a good, self-contained unit, a perfect vehicle for writing. Singer/songwriters tend to either be piano players…
Everybody has a favorite guitar player…well, almost everyone. We have those licks we learned from our favorites. That’s how we get a vocabulary of ideas. For me, I have gone through phases. I played along with recordings of people like Stevie Ray Vaughan and The Allman Brothers Band. That gave…
Saturday, 15 September 2018 21:39

For the Guitarist Volume 5: Chords

Written by
One of the first things we learn as guitar players are chords. You know…..here is a G…..here is a C and so on. But what are chords? Chords are harmonies. The notes in the chord come from the scale they are derived from. If we take the C chord, it…
Music Theory is often a touchy subject in the guitar world. A high percentage of players will tell you it isn’t necessary. I am one of those who clearly disagree with this philosophy. The more you know about music, the better. If all you do is learn a song, you…
Monday, 02 July 2018 17:02

For the Guitarist Volume 3: Solid State vs. Tube

Written by
For the electric guitarist, there is a dilemma…tube amp or solid state. Both have advantages. Both have disadvantages. Opinions vary as much as people do. I have traditionally been a tube guy, but I will not bias this article one way or another. The first amplifiers were tube amps. The…
Page 1 of 5

Dual Delights: A Spellbinding Journey with Jekyll And Hyde In Concert

20 January 2025 in Theatre in Review

Brightside Theatre's latest production, Jekyll And Hyde In Concert is a truly mesmerizing experience. And if you are a Chicago…

"Braids, Dreams, and Resilience: JaJa’s African Hair Braiding Shines at Chicago Shakespeare Theater"

20 January 2025 in Theatre in Review

JaJa’s African Hair Braiding, written by first-generation Ghanaian American playwright Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Obie Award-winning Whitney White, is…

XAVIER MORTIMER: MASTER OF MAGIC Now On Sale

20 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Broadway In Chicago and Starvox Touring are excited to announce individual tickets for XAVIER MORTIMER: MASTER OF MAGIC are now on sale. XAVIER MORTIMER: MASTER…

Drury Lane Theatre launches 2025/26 Season with the thrilling Chicago Regional Premiere of The Da Vinci Code

18 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Drury Lane Theatre opens its 2025/26 with the thrilling Chicago Regional Premiere of The Da Vinci Code, based on the novel by Dan Brown,…

Joffrey Ballet presents two World Premieres in upcoming 'Golden Hour' mixed rep program

17 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

This winter, The Joffrey Ballet presents Golden Hour, a radiant mixed repertoire program of warmth and splendor. Featuring world premieres by Yuri Possokhov and Dani Rowe,…

Marriott Theatre Kicks off Spectacular 50th Anniversary Season with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

16 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Chicagoland's longest running musical theatre, Marriott Theatre, officially kicks off its spectacular 50th Anniversary Season with one of the most enduring and beloved musicals…

TOO HOT TO HANDEL: the Jazz-Gospel Messiah … SIZZLES!!

13 January 2025 in Theatre in Review

We all have Christmas rituals; practices we incorporate into our personal experiences of the holidays.  For me, it used to…

Broadway Tribute Introduces A New Generation of Musical Titans

13 January 2025 in Theatre in Review

Collaborations can produce tremendous results and the one between Nathan Gunn, his wife Julie Jordan Gunn and Jam Orchestra counts…

Drury Lane Theatre brings the music of Carole King to the stage with its stellar cast of Beautiful, beginning January 29

10 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Drury Lane Theatre is thrilled to announce casting for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, a heartwarming journey through Carole King's inspirational life story, where…

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to The Auditorium March 7-9

10 January 2025 in Upcoming Dance

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the world's most popular dance companies, returns to The Auditorium, Chicago's landmark stage at…

Announcing 42 BALLOONS, a soaring original musical inspired by an unbelievable true story

09 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces today an exciting addition to the 2024/25 season: the North American premiere of the new musical 42 Balloons.…

Broadway in Chicago’s production of Shucked Charms and Delights

09 January 2025 in Theatre in Review

It’s the second act, and Beau (Jake Odmark) is in quite a state. The love of his life is about…

Court Theatre presents A Raisin in the Sun for the first time in company's history

08 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Court Theatre – under the continuing leadership of Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, with interim artistic leadership from Senior Artistic Producer Gabrielle Randle-Bent and Senior Managing…

Steppenwolf Theatre Presents FOOL FOR LOVE - January 30 – March 16, 2025

07 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

 Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to present a searing revival of Sam Shepard's dark and beautiful…

Writers Theatre to present Frida...A Self Portrait, opening January 31st

06 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Artistic Director Braden Abraham, continues its 2024/25 Season with Frida...A Self Portrait, starring acclaimed…

Invictus Theatre Company announces its 2025 season

06 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Invictus Theatre Company has announced programming for its 2025 season, its second in residence at the Windy City Playhouse. As…

Submissions Open for 2025 CHICAGO MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL - Returning April 3 – 6, 2025 at The Chopin Theatre

02 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Kokandy Productions is pleased to open submissions for the 2025 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival (CMTF), returning April 3 – 6, 2025 on The Chopin Theatre…

The Artistic Home to present HEDDA GABLER February 20 - March 23

02 January 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

The Artistic Home will present the Chicago premiere of Mark O'Rowe's adaptation of Ibsen's HEDDA GABLER. This pioneering work of…

Review: The Berlin Diaries by Andrea Stolowitz at Open Space Arts

24 December 2024 in Theatre in Review

My companion was apprehensive about the press release’s statement that “… the two-person cast will play all characters and will…

Legally Blonde at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts: Blonde Ambition Takes Center Stage in Skokie!

24 December 2024 in Theatre in Review

Unlike many of the shows I review, which I’ve often seen in other productions elsewhere, I went into Music Theater…

Presenting AVAAZ, written and performed by Emmy Award nominee Michael Shayan

23 December 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents Olney Theatre Center's production of Avaaz, a "powerful, defiant, celebratory" (Washington Post) exploration of family and the immigrant…

Restaged OVO by Cirque du Soleil heads to Hoffman Estates for six performances only Feb. 13-16

19 December 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

Between a triumphant European tour and a highly anticipated return to North America, OVO by Cirque du Soleil has undergone a full ‘metamorphosis’ under…

Beetlejuice on sale December 20th

19 December 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice… Beetlejuice! You’ve summoned him once again, Chicago— BEETLEJUICE is back for another hauntingly hilarious run! Broadway In Chicago announced that tickets…

CLUE On Sale Now

18 December 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce that individual tickets for CLUE, the hilarious murder mystery comedy inspired by the Hasbro board game…

Three-time Jeff Award winner Ron OJ Parson to direct Hymn

17 December 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces renowned Chicago director Ron OJ Parson will helm the North American premiere of Lolita Chakrabarti's Hymn, making his CST directorial debut.…

25 Years of Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer: A Warm and Sparkling Celebration of Individuality!

17 December 2024 in Theatre in Review

I fondly recall watching the 1964 children’s television special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer each year with great wonder! Its message…

Trap Door Theatre Presents: The Mannequins Ball, Opening January 23rd

16 December 2024 in Upcoming Theatre

Trap Door Theatre is thrilled to continue its 31st season with a production of the renowned play, The Mannequins' Ball. Written by Bruno…

Teatro ZinZanni's Love, Chaos, and Dinner: A Spectacular Romantic Journey of Joy and Laughter

13 December 2024 in Theatre in Review

Upon entering the beautifully decorated lobby of Teatro Zinzanni theater on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel, you are…

This Charles Dickens Gets to the Heart of 'Christmas Carol' In Spectacular Performance

11 December 2024 in Theatre in Review

Just as there are many Santa’s around town, this time of year we have a wide selection of Christmas and…

HUBBARD STREET DANCE CHICAGO RETURNS TO THE HARRIS WITH A WORLD PREMIERE FOR SEASON 47 WINTER SERIES

10 December 2024 in Upcoming Dance

Today, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) unveiled the full program for the second performance series of its 2024/2025 season, Season 47: Winter Series.…

 

 

         17 Years and counting!

Register

     

Latest Articles

Guests Online

We have 350 guests and no members online

Buzz Chicago on Facebook Buzz Chicago on Twitter 

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.