Saturday, 15 June 2024 17:27
Like Lightning Striking: Percy Jackson Musical Brings Myths, Gods, and Fantasy to Life at Skokie Theatre
Written by Kendall Royzen
We all can do with a little more magic in our lives. Myths and Gods, magic and fantasy, these are the foundations of the stories we’re drawn to. They have a way of pulling us in, making us believe, and letting us escape the world around us, even if it…
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Theatre Reviews
First on the stage was Tabla artist Salar Nader, considered Afghanistan’s premier virtuoso on the tabla. His unceasing accompaniment was at times almost subliminal, then bursting out with intentional significance, but ever present, keeping us firmly rooted in Afghani culture … though I hadn’t been aware that in August 2021…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 13 June 2024 07:24
Three's Good Company; Three Sisters at Windy City Playhouse
Written by Kendall Royzen
When we think of summertime in Chicago, we probably wouldn’t associate it an existential play set in a small Russian town filled with woe and dread and longing. That style of play would fit better with the dark winter days. But like a required literature course in high school, or…
Published in
Theatre Reviews
Monday, 10 June 2024 13:45
'Die Hard 4 Your Luv' Is a Great Parody of Boy Bands, and Action Thrillers
Written by Bill Esler
“Die Hard 4 Your Luv” by Kirk Pynchon and Mike Beyer at The Factory Theater is a great send-up of boy bands, those popular generators of light-pop ear worms that drew masses of devoted followers for the music, or the sexy styling. Groups like Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, One Direction and…
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Theatre in Review
For more than 50 years, Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber’s powerful masterpiece, Jesus Christ Superstar, has wowed audiences with its unorthodox look at the life and persona of Jesus Christ through its soaring lyrics and driving rock score. And so, it is most appropriate that BrightSide Theatre concludes its…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 06 June 2024 11:20
You Go Queens: "SIX" is the Perfect Pride Month Musical
Written by Wesley David
This Pride Month, the electrifying musical "SIX" playing at the James Nederlander Theatre isn’t just a celebration of female empowerment – it's a vibrant anthem for self-expression and defying societal expectations. Forget the dusty history books and the traditional view of Henry VIII's wives as mere pawns. "SIX" explodes onto…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 04 June 2024 13:50
Strong Production, Great Cast Give Powerful "Turret" a Grand Premier at Chopin Theatre
Written by Bill Esler
Something special has been afoot at Chopin Theatre for the past few weeks: the world premiere of “Turret,” written and directed by Levi Holliday. Created as a vehicle for two-time Oscar nominee Michael Shannon, the production by A Red Orchid Theatre (Shannon is a founding member) has turned into so…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 02 June 2024 18:52
“Stokely: The Unfinished Revolution” A Court Theatre World Premiere
Written by Wesley David
"Stokely: The Unfinished Revolution" a world premiere written by Nambi E. Kelley and directed by Tasia A. Jones, ambitiously attempts to capture the essence of civil rights icon Stokely Carmichael in a mere 90-minute play. The title, hinting at a deep dive into Carmichael's revolutionary ideologies, might mislead audiences expecting…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 28 May 2024 09:25
Compelling One-act Opera Is Based on Amazing Story by Tribune Reporter Howard Reich
Written by Bill Esler
Chicago Opera Theater premiered a one-act opera, “Before It All Goes Dark,” in two performances over Memorial Day weekend at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago. Semi-staged with chamber orchestra conducted by Joseph Mechavich, the compact work was commissioned by Seattle-based Music of Remembrance. Acclaimed for developing new works that confront…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 25 May 2024 12:35
Three Crow's 'The Danish Play' a funny, tragic, gripping, relevant tale
Sarz Maxwell
I love stories about World War II, particularly about survivors of the Holocaust and the Camps. And I love stories based on real people. So naturally I was drawn to THE DANISH PLAY, which Canadian playwright Sonny Mills (he/him/they/them) wrote about her great-aunt Agnete Ottosen. THE DANISH PLAY addresses historical problems…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Language may be the backbone of human communication, but there’s a lot that happens between the lines. Sanaz Toosi’s 2023 Pulitzer Prize winner ‘English’ explores what we learn when studying a new language. Director Hamid Dehghani assembles an all-Iranian cast for Goodman Theatre’s Chicago debut of this exciting new play.…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 21 May 2024 14:15
A Compelling Vision of Desperation and Injustice: Lifeline Theatre's 'Native Son'
Written by Wesley David
Lifeline Theatre’s production of "Native Son," directed by Ilesa Duncan and adapted by Nambi E. Kelley from Richard Wright’s seminal novel, is a masterful exploration of urban naturalism. With powerful performances and an incisive adaptation, the play captures the harrowing tale of Bigger Thomas, a young Black man whose life…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 22 May 2024 13:00
'Viva La Mort' A Novel Update to 1960s Film Falls Short in Script
Written by Bill Esler
“Viva La Mort: A Play With Songs” mines the 1956 Swiss novel “The Visit” by Friedrich Durrenmatt that came to further fame in a 1964 Hollywood melodrama with Ingrid Bergman and Anthony Quinn. In the original, a wealthy woman arrives in the poverty-stricken hamlet of her childhood, offering to restore…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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'Blue' Holds Mirror to Race in America
Written by Betsy SchmittWhen Francesca Zambello, director of The Glimmerglass Festival, commissioned an opera about race in America, the country was reeling from a spate of police shootings of young African-American men in Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. By the time the… -
Review: 'Falsettos' at Court Theatre
Written by John AccroccoEven 40 years later, the AIDS crisis continues to shape American life. Long before Hollywood brought AIDS stories to the cultural mainstream, the theatre was a safe place for actors and writers to explore their fears and sense of injustice… -
Delightful Send-up of 1930s Musicals, 'Dames at Sea' Nearly Sunk by Bad Sound
Written by Bill EslerOverall Citadel Theatre’s ‘Dames at Sea’ has a smashingly great cast of singers and dancers, perfect for a musical comedy satirizing the over-the-top 1930s movies and Broadway revues that were light on plot and heavy on costumes, dance routine, and… -
Disney's The Little Mermaid at Drury Lane: An Inspiring and Delightful Production Celebrating Girls' Unique Voices
Written by Kimberly KatzI thoroughly enjoyed Drury Lane's enchanting stage production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid from start to finish. While few are overly familiar with Hans Christian Andersen’s original, darker tale of ill-fated romance, the Disney animated film and this stage adaptation,…
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