Displaying items by tag: Eos
Hear Us Roar: The Trojan Women Will Leave You Speechless
Last night, while waiting in the tranquil lounge of the Bramble Arts Loft, a familiar question floated around the theatergoers: Does art imitate life or does life imitate art? It’s a philosophical question that has been around for ages. It probably passed through the minds of those who first saw the play some 2,000 years ago. It’s a question I never tire of. The debates change based on the context of the time it is asked, and the mindset of the individual. For no matter how many times it is asked, no two answers are ever alike; life and the medium are inextricably linked. There’s no better example of this currently playing in Chicago than The Trojan Women, the inaugural production of Eos Theatre Company, now playing at the Bramble Arts Loft.
Ashway Lawver as Hecuba. Photos by Steven Townshend / Distant Era.
A blisteringly relevant modern-day version of Euripides' anti-war play, The Trojan Women, has been rewritten and is set in a mother-and-baby unit of a prison. The war is over. Beyond the prison walls, Troy and its people burn. Inside the prison, the city's captive women await their fate. Stalking the antiseptic confines of its mother and baby unit is Hecuba, the fallen Trojan queen, whilst the pregnant Chorus is shackled to her bed. But their grief at what has been before will soon be drowned out by the horror of what is to come, as the Greek lust for vengeance consumes everything – man, woman, and baby – in its path. This caustic and radical new version of Euripides' classic tragedy comes from one of the UK's most exciting young poets, Caroline Bird, and is directed by Rachel Sledd Iannantuoni. It is an intense, gripping look at what happens when the world collapses.
Photo by Steve Townshend | Distant Era
The Trojan War is ancient history, relegated to stories retold through modern media countless times over. Yet the story of the war and The Trojan Women remains as relevant today as it did thousands of years ago. Euripides’ The Trojan Women takes place at the end of the war. Troy is burning while the city's captive women wait to be told their fate by the victorious Greeks, who penetrated the city walls hiding inside the famous Trojan horse. Caroline Bird’s modern adaptation of Euripides' 415 BCE tale sets the play in a Trojan hospital turned prison by the Greek invaders. “Her work is a fierce exploration of the complex intersections of class, gender, patriarchy, and nationality,” says Iannantuoni. “It is timely and timeless. Sometimes comical. Often absurd. Ultimately heartbreaking.” Superbly acted by members of the Eos Theatre Company, The Trojan Women is a production that will stay with you long after you leave the theater.
Photo by Steve Townshend | Distant Era
War is hell. While many of us might not experience it firsthand, we can empathize with the horrors it leaves in its wake, for war is as timeless as the stories that come from them. Yet again, we’re faced with a meaningless war started by the few and fought by the many. Yet again, humans are faced with unfathomable choices. Yet again, we both come together and tear each other apart over claims of moral and ethical superiority. The Trojan Women could have easily been written today. The plight of women in a patriarchal world is reduced to little more than incubators and spoils of war. The question of the role men play in war: protectors or pillagers? The questions of gratitude and honor, dignity and demise. The Trojan Women beautifully – hauntingly -- explores all of this and inevitably leads us to ask ourselves a single question: Does art imitate life or does life imitate art? See this incredible and timeless production, and let’s get together at Simon’s Tavern to discuss.
Unlike the Trojan War, The Trojan Women only runs through April 18th at Bramble Arts Loft (5545 N Clark St 2nd Floor, Chicago). Ferry your ships and set a course for Andersonville to get your tickets and a glimpse of this tragically timeless tale today.
This review is proudly shared with our friends at www.TheatreInChicago.com.
All The World's a Stage and Chicago Merely The Best Player: 'As You Like It' in Chicago Parks this summer
30 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewIs there anything more alluring than a summer night in Chicago? The lakefront beaches, the meandering pathways, the festivals and…
Opera Festival of Chicago Delivers an Assured, Full‑Hearted La Bohème
28 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewOpera Festival of Chicago continues its season with two mainstage productions - La Bohème and Adriana Lecouvreur - each featuring…
A Quietly Ravishing Night: Marriott’s A Little Night Music
26 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewMarriott Theatre’s in‑the‑round intimacy turns A Little Night Music - which premiered on Broadway in 1973 and later became a 1977…
GDC's Full 64th Season: "untamed passion:" Features New Works, New Voices and More
26 June 2026 in Upcoming DanceGiordano Dance Chicago (GDC), America's original jazz dance company, has announced its 2026-2027 "untamed passion" season. Highlights of the season include a November…
The Art of Awe: Water for Elephants Balances Spectacle and Soul
25 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewThe musical Water for Elephants, presented by Broadway In Chicago and based on Sara Gruen’s 2006 novel, is the rare touring…
Overshadowed Theatrical Productions Announces 2026-2027 Season: “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Moments”
23 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreOvershadowed Theatrical Productions announced their 2026-2027 season entitled “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Moments,” which includes five main stage productions and special…
Kokandy Productions presents SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at Chopin Theatre August 13 – November 1, 2026
23 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreKokandy Productions is pleased to announce full casting for its revival of Stephen Sondheim's stunning masterpiece Sunday in the Park with George, playing August 13 –…
Goodman Theatre’s Summer: Musicals, Park Performances & New Voices
23 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreGoodman's Centennial 25/26 Season concludes on a high note, with programming for all ages, interests and neighborhoods. The theater announces…
Astonrep Approaches Uncle Vanya’s Appeal from a Novel New Angle
21 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewAnton Chekhov, a Russian playwright who was also a doctor, can claim a level of regard few writers achieve and…
Couch Penny Ensemble’s An Oak Tree: A Raw, Unrehearsed Descent Into Grief
21 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewCouch Penny Ensemble, in association with Theatre Arcana, presents the ambitious and experimental An Oak Tree, a raw, unconventional approach…
A People: A Sweeping, Soul‑Stirring Journey That Celebrates Jewish Identity
21 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewAn extraordinary eight-person ensemble fuels the sweeping storytelling of A People - a production presented collaboratively by Arts Judaica and…
Lookingglass' Untitled Vampire Play has bite
19 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewLookingglass Theatre Company continues its tradition of staging visually inventive and thought-provoking world premieres with its latest production, Untitled Vampire…
Tom Stoppard’s epic finale Leopoldstadt is an instant classic at Writers Theatre
19 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewWhat would you do if you found out your heritage wasn’t what you thought it was? In Tom Stoppard’s case,…
Champions of Magic Captures the Thrill of Live Performance
18 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewOne of the things I have always thought that concerts and other live events had over theatre is the energy…
Nunsense, Not Quite Immaculate - But Blessed With a Strong Cast
18 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewFollowing its recent winter production of Sister Act, Drury Lane Theatre returns to the convent with Nunsense, a light-hearted musical…
League of Chicago Theatres welcomes Summer with the return of "Thank You 5," Juneteenth and Pride Month
17 June 2026 in Theatre BuzzThe League of Chicago Theatres announces the return of the "Thank You 5" summer promotion, running from June 18-July 3, 2026. "Thank You 5"…
Cedric the Entertainer brings laughter, life lessons to Aurora’s Paramount Theatre, one-night-only, Saturday, August 8
17 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreYou know him from “The Neighborhood,” “The Last O.G.,” “The Proud Family” and much more. Don’t miss your chance to…
Northlight Theatre to celebrate its new home in Evanston with a Grand Opening Gala "Celebrating our Past, Building our Future" Saturday, August 15, 2026
16 June 2026 in Theatre BuzzNorthlight Theatre's Board of Directors proudly presents Northlight Theatre's Grand Opening Gala, "Celebrating our Past, Building our Future," marking the culmination of the company's 50th Anniversary…
A Red Orchid Theatre Announces Remount of Hit Production BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA September 10 – October 4, 2026
16 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreA Red Orchid Theatre is thrilled to announce a remount of its critically-acclaimed, father-daughter drama Birds of North America, returning for a limited…
Raven Theatre's *OCTET* Makes Downtown Debut at The Goodman
16 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreFollowing an acclaimed extended run at Raven Theatre, Dave Malloy's "unique, ravishing and resplendent" (Chicago Theatre Review) a cappella musical Octet transfers to…
Funny, Incisive 'Southern Rapture' Skewers All Parties in 'Angels in America' Fracas
15 June 2026 in Theatre in Review“Southern Rapture” quickly elicits loud guffaws from the audience, a heartening circumstancve, as it means playwright Eric Coble’s script is…
Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music - Marriott Theatre - Through August 9th
15 June 2026 in Now PlayingMarriott Theatre, Chicagoland's longest-running musical theatre, presents A Little Night Music, a Tony Award-winning musical from Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler that explores…
Where Identity Slides: Steppenwolf’s Mesmerizing Catch as Catch Can
15 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewMia Chung’s Catch as Catch Can, which premiered with Page 73 in New York in 2018, arrives at Steppenwolf Theatre…
PlayMakers Laboratory Celebrates That's Weird, Grandma's 25th Birthday August 23 – September 6, 2026
14 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreJoin the fun this summer as PlayMakers Laboratory (PML) celebrates a major milestone at That's Weird, Grandma's 25th Birthday, marking a quarter century of the…
Bargatze’s Big Dumb Eyes Tour Lands in Rosemont With Subtle Force
13 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewNate Bargatze’s Big Dumb Eyes tour made its stop at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont with the steady, understated presence…
BrightSide’s intimate staging of The Producers shines with Broadway-sized power
13 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewBrightSide Theatre’s The Producers storms into Meiley Swallow Hall with the kind of swagger only Mel Brooks can inspire: brash,…
Factory Theater’s Two Out of Three Falls is a Theatrical Event
13 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewThose familiar with the Factory Theater space might feel themselves do a double take upon entering the theater for Two…
Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre presents IN THE CONTINUUM, playing July 25 - August 9
12 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreTim Rhoze, Fleetwood-Jourdain's Producing Artistic Director, today announced the cast and production team for the company's upcoming production of IN THE…
Magic Pairs with Artistic Expressions of Empathy in EAM’s Summer Art Exhibitions
11 June 2026 in BCS SpotlightElmhurst Art Museum’s two new exhibitions feature a pair of artists with Midwestern roots whose outlooks and perceptions of the…
Oak Park Festival Theatre's 51st Season Opens with HAMLET and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
10 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreFor the first time in company history, Oak Park Festival Theatre presents two productions in repertory: William Shakespeare's HAMLET and Oscar Wilde's THE…
Latest Articles
-
All The World's a Stage and Chicago Merely The Best Player: 'As You Like It' in Chicago Parks this summer
Written by Kendall RoyzenIs there anything more alluring than a summer night in Chicago? The lakefront beaches, the meandering pathways, the festivals and street foods, the hidden gardens where free art productions are staged, whatever you like, you can find it in the… -
Opera Festival of Chicago Delivers an Assured, Full‑Hearted La Bohème
Written by Kimberly KatzOpera Festival of Chicago continues its season with two mainstage productions - La Bohème and Adriana Lecouvreur - each featuring the Opera Festival of Chicago Orchestra and Chorus and performed at the George Van Dusen Theatre at the North Shore… -
A Quietly Ravishing Night: Marriott’s A Little Night Music
Written by Kimberly KatzMarriott Theatre’s in‑the‑round intimacy turns A Little Night Music - which premiered on Broadway in 1973 and later became a 1977 film - into a quietly seductive swirl of glances, secrets, and second chances, the kind of production where the waltz…
-
Kokandy Productions presents SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at Chopin Theatre August 13 – November 1, 2026
Written by Buzz Center StageKokandy Productions is pleased to announce full casting for its revival of Stephen Sondheim's stunning masterpiece Sunday in the Park with George, playing August 13 – November 1, 2026 in the intimate Chopin Downstairs Studio, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago. Tickets are on sale now at kokandyproductions.com or bit.ly/SundayChicago. This…
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.