Never having seen a Steppenwolf production, I didn't know what to expect walking through the Old Town theater's front doors. Upon settling myself in my seat and feeling the room go cooler with the blackening of the lights and the immediate silence that followed, I became aware of greatly liking…
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Theatre in Review
Saturday, 12 December 2009 13:52
Macabre Fun at its Best - The Addams Family: A New Musical
Written by Ken Payne
The classic 1960’s sitcom, “The Addams Family” has radiantly been brought to life in the form of a musical that has its share of laughs, catchy numbers and, of course, the macabre and bizarre. Making its world premier at the Ford Center/Oriental Theatre in Chicago, “The Addams Family: A New…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 03 December 2009 12:43
The Day the Music Died: A Review of The Addams Family Musical
Kendall Hartenstine
Yours truly spent Thanksgiving Eve (yes, I am making up a new holiday) at the historic Oriental Theatre for a viewing of the much anticipated Addams Family musical. The show is previewing in Chicago until January 10th where it will make its move to Broadway. The following review may oust…
Published in
Theatre in Review
The town of Laramie, Wyoming gained international recognition on October 6th 1998, when young Matthew Shepard was tied to a fence followed by a brutal beating in which he was left for dead. Six days later Matthew died as the case became sensationalized throughout the world by the media as…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Going in to see a stage musical based on a well-loved, popular movie, one can't help but have expectations -- and big ones. This is Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein we're talking about...
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 02 November 2009 14:52
The Spirit of All Halllow’s Eve – Hypnotically Charming
Written by Ken Payne
Halloween was even more intriguing and mystical this year thanks to Theatre on the Hill’s charming production of “The Spirit of Hallow’s Eve”. Written and directed by Douglas Hawksworth, the Bolingbrook theatre company’s presentation was hypnotic, featuring dazzling costumes...
Published in
Theatre in Review
Although Cats can no longer claim the title as Broadway's longest-running show (The Phantom of the Opera surpassed Cats in performance number a few years ago), it is still clear why the show still brings in crowds of young and old. It is a strange musical, certainly, with no plot except…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 08 October 2009 19:46
"Plans 1 Through 8" a Hilarious Space Adventure
Written by Ken Payne
New Millennium Theatre Company’s “Plans 1 Through 8 from Outer Space” is probably the epitome of the word “zany”. Packed with outlandish humor and bizarre characters “Plans 1 Through 8” is the story of an alien race intent on taking over the Earthlings
Published in
Theatre in Review
Let’s just start by saying Coed Prison Sluts is certainly not your average musical. Claimed as the longest running musical in Chicago, this Annoyance Theatre production takes its viewers inside a prison – a very unusual prison to say the least.
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Monday, 31 August 2009 19:42
“Poseidon! An Upside Down Musical” is One Funny Adventure at Sea
Written by Ken Payne
Hilarity, madness, and good old-fashioned fun are high-flying in “Poseidon! The Upside Down Musical”, based on the book by David Cerda. Directed by Matthew Gunnels, Poseidon is the story about a ragtag group of “Poseidonites” who regularly get together to watch the 1972 disaster film The Poseidon Adventure.
Published in
Theatre in Review
Do you have a dream? The kind of dream that makes your whole family both respect your audacity and think you are crazy at the same time? The kind of dream that may take decades to fulfill, while quite possibly bankrupting your life savings?
Published in
Theatre in Review
If you’re finding that one of your brows is raised, if you’re bewitched, bothered, or bewildered, then you’ve probably yet to experience the work a compulsive ironist. The quotations cited above can be found in “The History Boys,” the Best Play Tony Award winner of 2006, which is now at…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Art gets underway when one of three friends purchases a very expensive painting - a white canvas. To his chagrin neither of his two friends “get it” in the way he does. While one friend, Marc, is outraged at the acquisition and forthright about his opinion, the other, Yvan, agrees…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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