Thursday, 07 September 2023 12:17
'The Innocence of Seduction' a Rollicking Recount of a Fight Over Comic Book Bans in the 1950s
Written by Bill Esler
It’s hard to imagine now, but in 1954, the U.S. Senate began investigating publishers of comic books, tapping psychologists who linked a rise in juvenile delinquency to comics depicting lurid stories and violent criminals. The nation was perhaps primed for the investigation, as the move came during the Senate’s ongoing…
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Theatre in Review
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Friday, 01 September 2023 13:35
'Gypsy' - Exciting Production With An Exhilarating Take on Ambition And Family Conflict
Written by Buzz Center Stage
'Gypsy' is an excellent musical about a family in Vaudeville. The mother is overbearing trying to make the children, specifically the daughters, create a wildly famous act. It is at Marriott Theater in Lincolnshire, Illinois directed by Amanda Dehnert. An initial striking character is Rose, played by Lucia Spina. She…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 03 September 2023 11:02
A Tantalizing Mystery Unwrapped in “Moon at the Bottom of the Ocean”
Written by Bill Esler
At first I wasn't digging “Moon at the Bottom of the Ocean,” Bryn Magnus’ two act play premiering at Dramatists Theater in Chicago. It opens with Paul (Jeffrey Bivens is excellent) sitting beside Vera's (Julia Williams) desk as she reels off brief descriptions of a scene in a coffee shop--but…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Coming-of-age is a subject with universal appeal across the arts. Playwright Jonathan Keebler makes it fun by putting it to music composed by Ryan Korell in GAY CARD, playing at Pride Arts Center through September 24. Logan (Ben Ballmer) is saying goodbye to the horrors of high school and is…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 23 August 2023 11:32
Solid Footing; 'Kinky Boots' Playing for a Limited Time in Chicagoland Area
Written by Kendall Royzen
There is an economic theory centered around shoes. The theory, in short, says that one should spend more money on the best pair of boots that will last you ten years, as opposed to buying cheap shoes that will need to be replaced every six months. The latter path inevitably…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Murder, intrigue, and Angela Lansbury: the three universally acknowledged truths that make up a great mystery story. Hell in a Handbag's production of Murder, ReWrote: The Musical Parody at the Den Theatre is the perfect cross-section of drag show and musical. Expect to laugh, cackle, restrain yourself from singing along, and…
Published in
Theatre in Review
The Writer by Ella Hickson, now in its U.S. premiere at Steep Theatre under the sure direction of Georgette Verdin, is a maddening yet compelling exploration of art, power, commerce, and gender. It is messy, incisive, and brashly frustrating. It is the anti-Barbie, exploring patriarchy, empowerment, and self-determination in a…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 13 August 2023 21:15
Where Did We Go Right: The Producers Perfect Performance at NorthShore Theater
Written by Kendall Royzen
Like any Millennial, my playlists are quite eccentric. Firmly planted within the rotation of 90s rap, boy band battles, and classic oldies rests a plethora of show tunes; Hamilton, Wicked, Hairspray, and the occasional song from shows I've never seen. Give me a karaoke mic and Broadway song choices and…
Published in
Theatre in Review
THE LIGHT has a cast of two, placing enormous demands on both actors, but Jazzma Pryor as Genesis and Rich Oliver as her partner Rashad rose to the challenge splendidly. Under the direction of Tim Rhoze, Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre’s Artistic Director, THE LIGHT is an in-depth examination of heterosexual relationships, particularly…
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Theatre in Review
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Thursday, 10 August 2023 11:16
'MJ the Musical' is an Explosively Entertaining Journey Through the Life of a Genius
Written by Kimberly Katz
Chicago is in for a real treat. And based on the full theater at last night’s opening, I think most expected this production would be something special – and it is. MJ the Musical is a lavish production based on Michael Jackson’s amazing life that engages its audience from beginning…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 25 July 2023 21:57
I Reviewed A Play!: Happiness abounds in 'We're in a play” at Marriott Theatre
Written by Kendall Royzen
The first time I read an Elephant & Piggie book I didn’t think highly of it. I thought they were too simple, too cliche. I read one, and didn’t pick up another. Every parent raved about these books. Every small child knew who Elephant & Piggie were, offering their recommendations…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 25 July 2023 12:21
‘No Man’s Land’ - Vintage Pinter and Classic Steppenwolf Excellence
Written by Bill Esler
“No Man’s Land” is vintage Harold Pinter: enigmatic, intriguing, remarkable word play, and loaded with laughs. Steppenwolf has given it a definitive production, set in the soaring library of Hirst, a British aristocrat litterateur who has picked up Spooner, an aging poet, at a pub earlier. Descending into a scotch-soaked…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Monday, 17 July 2023 12:48
Northlight’s 'Marie and Rosetta' - A Train Bound for Glory
Written by Wesley David
I must admit, I knew nothing about Marie Knight or Rosetta Tharpe. It went over my head when they made an appearance in the critically acclaimed movie “Elvis”. Baz Luhrmann’s inclusion of Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight during the Club Handy scene with the likes of Elvis, BB King and…
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… -
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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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