Sunday, 06 March 2016 21:24
Minority Report Meets 12 Angry Men in The Compass at Steppenwolf
Written by Bill Esler
The Compass, a powerful Steppenwolf for Young Adult premiere, concerns an Entrepreneur (Tim Hopper) who has launched the Compass app, a seemingly harmless and fanciful social media tool aimed at saving users the nuisance of worrying over minor decisions, like which shirt to wear today. Trouble ensues, however, when Marjan,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 06 March 2016 10:19
Those Sensational Soulful 60's A Fitting Tribute That Truly Inspires
Written by Ken Payne
Black Ensemble Theater does it again, and by that I mean provides a thoroughly engaging and inspirational experience, this time with their latest production Those Sensational Soulful 60’s. Beautifully written and directed by the talented Jackie Taylor, Soulful 60’s takes a peek at the heyday of Motown music featuring music…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 25 February 2016 11:47
Romeo and Juliet, So Romantic it Will Make You Want to Fall in Love Again
Written by Kimberly Katz
On the 400th year anniversary of William Shakespeare's death Lyric Opera of Chicago appropriately chose to commemorate the famed playwright’s life by putting on an outstanding production of Romeo and Juliet. Helping to make this such a special piece of operatic theatre, Joseph Calleja and Susanna Phillips as the tragically…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Friday, 26 February 2016 14:18
If/Then: Will Leave You Asking "What If...?"
Written by Michelle Reidy
If/Then is a contemporary musical that deals with the challenging question of “What if…?”. Through powerful singing and dynamic staging, it tells us two parallel stories of Elizabeth, a divorcee moving back to New York City after many years away. One day, in Madison Square Park, she has to make…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 27 February 2016 19:43
Neo-Futurists' Pop Waits: Electrifying As It Is Stimulating
Written by Ken Payne
Pop Waits, currently being performed at the Neo-Futurarium, is a smart and innovative production that takes audience members on a journey into the psyche of rock stars Iggy Pop and Tom Waits. Co-created by Molly Brennan and Malic White, the two are also featured in this well-written play/musical, each giving…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 23 February 2016 19:17
Hilariously Stupefying - Marc Salem's Mind Over Chicago
Written by Ken Payne
Kinesics. As defined in the programs that are handed out at Marc Salem’s Mind Over Chicago, kinesics is a systematic study of the relationship between nonlinguistic body motions (such as blushes, shrugs, or eye movement) and communication. In other words, Marc Salem knows when you are lying despite what might…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 15 February 2016 17:38
Far from Heaven: When Does Marriage Meet A Dead End?
Written by Kimberly Katz
This excellent stage production of the 2013 musical Far from Heaven was based on Todd Haynes‘ 2002 motion picture of the same name. Far from Heaven is set in 1957 Hartford, Connecticut, well before the advent of the sexual revolution. Cathy Whitaker played by Summer Naomi Smart discovers that her…
Published in
Theatre in Review
It's hard to make popcorn look unappetizing, but "The Flick" succeeds. Annie Baker's Pulitzer Prize winning play, begs the question, are you actually friends with the people you work with? Under the direction of Dexter Bullard, The Steppenwolf Theatre confronts this challenging new play. The play begins in the dark…
Published in
Theatre in Review
What happens when a 1970s dance diva goes into hiding as a nun in a neighborhood parish, you might ask? Well, let’s just say she definitely makes an impact. After Delores witnesses a murder by her boyfriend (a gangster who is married), the sassy disco queen is thrust into a…
Published in
Theatre in Review
More...
Wednesday, 17 February 2016 23:00
In the Story Behind ‘The Butler,’ Alonzo Fields Gets His Due, ‘Looking Over the Presidents Shoulder’
Written by Bill Esler
Key to the craft of an actor is learning the lines. In a 70-minute solo show where the star talks non-stop, that's a lot to learn, let alone deliver convincingly, and compellingly. Going well beyond that accomplishment, Manny Buckley is due accolades for his performance in American Blues Theater's "Looking…
Published in
Theatre in Review
How do you categorize a musical that is part comedy, part drama, and part burlesque? The answer is: you don't need you. Like Kander and Ebb's later popular Broadway hit Chicago, Cabaret uses flashy and often funny nightclub performance as a device to embellish and expound upon the more serious…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 07 February 2016 19:56
Gender-bending Shakespeare actually returns to the Bard's roots
Written by Bill Esler
How much sex and booze can a Shakespeare staging stand? A lot, it turns out, as "Fifty Shades of Shakespeare" showed at its opening Feb. 5. And it proves again that Shakespeare is so good a playwright that his language, and stage dynamics, cannot be denied - even with Juliette…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 06 February 2016 16:00
Mary-Arrchie's American Buffalo A Fitting Sendoff
Written by Ken Payne
After thirty years of bringing Chicagoans some of the city’s finest theatre, Mary-Arrchie will be closing their doors after its current and final production, American Buffalo. In this sharply written piece by David Mamet, Mary-Arrchie co-founder and jack of all trades Richard Cotovsky is joined by Stephen Walker and Rudy…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Register
Login
Latest Articles
-
A WONDROUS SOUND - Orchestra and Chorus of the Chicago Lyric Opera is a wondrous compilation of the best of the best!
Written by Sarz MaxwellThe repertoire for this fabulous program - A WONDROUS SOUND, showcasing the full force of Lyric’s amazing orchestra and chorus, was developed in collaboration between Lyric Conductor Enrique Mazzola and Chorus Director Michael Black. The orchestra started it off with… -
Stellar Performances in “Prayer for the French Republic”
Written by Bill EslerEarly in the first act I whispered to my companion and said “I love this!” Extremely well written by Joshua Hartman with stellar performances directed by Jeremy Wechsler, “Prayer for the French Republic” (a Northlight Theatre Theatre Wit co-production) attempts… -
Citadel's 'A Jukebox for the Algonquin" - The Reality of Life in a Senior Center sets the Stage for Tunes, Friendship and Rebellion!
Written by Kimberly KatzCitadel’s latest production, A Jukebox for the Algonquin, truly captured my heart. It’s a refreshing reminder that as we age, life doesn’t lose its spark—it merely shifts to a new rhythm, one filled with laughter, camaraderie, and unexpected joys. This… -
A Night to Remember Aboard Marriott Theatre’s Titanic
Written by CJ BurroughsAs a lifelong aficionado of the ill-fated ocean liner RMS Titanic, I’ve always gravitated toward any experience that would leave me feeling immersed in that famous moment of an era that nobody any of us knows anymore is alive to…
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.