Sunday, 27 November 2011 18:54
Rock ‘N’ Roll and Right ‘N’ Wrong in “Memphis”
Written by Zach Zimmerman
Jukebox musicals have become as common as dancebreaks in the past decade. Popular songs of yesteryear are strung together with a loose story to create a Broadway show that feels more like a scrapbook of memories than something memorable in its own right. Given this musical landscape, it’s a rare…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 17 November 2011 17:38
Yuri Lane' “MeTube” at Victory Gardens Theater - “Two Million Hits and Counting...”
Written by Kimberly Katz
Yuri Lane was a child actor, almost cast as Doogie Howser until the producer decided to go blond. Lane has performed on the stage with Matt Damon and has many commercials under his belt but fame eluded him until one of his videos showing his amazing beat box skills went…
Published in
Theatre in Review
When it comes to bringing Rogers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music” alive on stage, of course the surrounding cast is utterly essential, but most important of all, the show would need a vibrant “Maria” who absolutely exudes true spirit and fun. Drury Lane’s Production of “The Sound of Music”…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 06 November 2011 20:30
Hunting, Craving and Searching for Happiness in Steppenwolf First Look Series 2011
Written by Zach Zimmerman
A metropolis during the Great Depression, a beachfront home in California, and a chic upper class apartment in New York City are the settings for the three plays developed in this year's Steppenwolf First Looks series. United in their focus on desire and pain, the frugally titled "Man in Love," "Want," and "Oblivion" feature memorable characters that are bold,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Friday, 04 November 2011 16:10
A Hand-Off Goes Wrong in “A Behanding in Spokane”
Written by Zach Zimmerman
Irish playwright Martin McDonagh’s newest play, “A Behanding in Spokane” is his first set in America. It’s still one of his characteristic black comedies – a label that means it okay to laugh at others’ pain and suffering – but it comes across the pond and centers on a one-handed…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 10 October 2011 17:21
Carrie Fisher's One Woman Show “Wishful Drinking” - “Hollywood Royalty” Is Not An Oxymoron
Written by Kimberly Katz
Carrie Fishers' one woman show is a delightful piece of theater and makes you feel you are spending an evening with this witty, intelligent star in the cozy comfort of her own posh living room. I don't always make note of set design, but this set by David Korins, was…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Though so many stories come to life via stage productions, there are just a handful that come across better than imagined. The needed ingredients to pull this off would be a strong cast – top to bottom - with dynamic leads, imaginative props to go along with a detailed set,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 12 October 2011 18:09
“Pussy on the House” is One Sexy, Funny Pussy
Written by Kimberly Katz
I only wish I had watched the film “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” the night before seeing this hilarious and touching send up because “Pussy on the House”, written by Ryan Landry, really hit the parody right on the head with huge laughs scene by scene and line for…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 04 October 2011 16:49
Art and Fame Collide in John Logan's Tony-Award Winning Red
Written by Zach Zimmerman
Abstract impressionist painter Mark Rothko is an asshole. Or at least, playwright John Logan thinks so. In his Tony-award winning play Red, currently enjoying a beautiful, if less than perfect, production at the Goodman Theatre, Rothko is a wide-bellied, self-centered rock of a man who treats his art better than…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 01 October 2011 17:04
Sarah Ruhl’s “In the Next Room”, or “The Vibrator Play”, is Funny, Important, and Liberating
Written by Kimberly Katz
I remember reading about the turn of the century medical trend that attempted to cure “hysteria” in women (and men) by stimulating them to orgasm or “paroxysm” by a doctor using manual or electrical (vibrator) stimulation and thinking that this would make a fascinating subject for film or stage. The…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 08 October 2012 19:00
H.H. Holmes Comes Alive at Rosemont’s Screams in the Park
Written by Ken Payne
1893 brought forth one of Chicago’s greatest accomplishments in the Columbian Expedition World’s Fair. At the time, the gargantuan fair was one of the most stunning spectacles the world had ever witnessed. The site took place on Chicago’s South Side and contained a brilliant collection of monstrous white buildings designed…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 29 September 2011 11:04
Jeff Dunham; 2 sold out shows at Hammond’s Horseshoe Casino
Written by Roger Reis
Very rarely does an entertainer take a stage and just knock out the audience. From the moment an entertainer walks out on stage they are thinking about one thing, a great performance. The setting for this show was The Venue inside Hammond’s Horseshoe Casino. The puppet master himself, the one…
Published in
Theatre in Review
When Blue Man Group invaded Chicago's Briar Street Theatre some 15 or so years ago, I would say it safe to say that no one expected the show to still be running strong to this day. But here we are in 2011 and Blue Man Group is still attracting new…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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