Tuesday, 05 November 2024 17:21
A Spell-Binding Reinvention: "Leroy and Lucy" at Steppenwolf
Written by Wesley David
Ngozi Anyanwu’s Leroy and Lucy, in its electrifying world premiere at Steppenwolf Theatre, takes the legendary tale of Robert Johnson’s fateful night at crossroads and infuses it with the powerful mysticism of Yoruba spirituality. Forget the familiar Christian devil—instead, Anyanwu conjures Eshu, a complex Orisha (god) from Yoruba mythology who…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 30 October 2024 15:18
The Babes with Blades are a DREAM! A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Sarz Maxwell
I’ve delighted in Babes with Blades since they began in 1997, and they are never more delightful than when slashing and sauntering their gender-flouting way through Shakespeare. Apt, that: MAGA really should condemn all the Bard’s works as rooted in cross-dressing! The Babes would thumb their noses at that, though!…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 29 October 2024 14:29
Botanical Bedlam: Music Theatre Works' Little Shop of Horrors Thrills with Campy Delight!
Written by Kimberly Katz
Music Theatre Works’ Little Shop of Horrors, featuring music by Howard Ashman and a book and lyrics by Alan Menken, is the ultimate Halloween and fall musical for cult hit fans. This spooky, yet fun production captures the essence of the beloved story, making it a must-see for the season.…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 29 October 2024 14:41
'Into the Woods' an Exciting Musical Fairytale Mashup at Chopin Theater
Written by Bill Esler
I’ll admit it: I knew little about “Into the Woods” before seeing the new production at Chicago’s Chopin Theatre. I’m not particularly fond of the composer, Stephen Sondheim. I’d bailed early watching the 2014 film with Meryl Streep. So I challenged myself to find out why it is so popular.…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 27 October 2024 13:12
Pericles: Royal Shakespeare Company refreshes an obscure tale at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Written by Susan Lieberman
They do abuse the king that flatter him For flattery is the bellows that blows up sin These days, fireplace bellows tend to be a specialty item. But most of us know that blowing the hot air of flattery into leaders comes to no good. With the presidential election just…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 24 October 2024 11:51
Some Like It Hot sizzles at Cadillac Palace Theatre
Written by CJ Burroughs
In the midst of the bustle and busyness of several stunning song-and-dance routines in Some Like It Hot, beautifully directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, we witness a transformation. Of course, transformation is what this show—and the classic Billy Wilder film on which it’s based—is all about. You know the…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 23 October 2024 10:11
Review: Remy Bumppo's 'Dear Elizabeth' at Theater Wit
Written by John Accrocco
What a treat to have two of Evanston-native Sarah Ruhl’s plays running concurrently at Theatre Wit. Alongside the Shattered Globe Theatre’s Midwest premier of Ruhl’s Becky Nurse of Salem is Remy Bumppo’s production of Dear Elizabeth. Directed by Christina Casano, this epistolary play has all the elements that make Ruhl’s…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 21 October 2024 17:14
Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' at Brightside Theatre is the ultimate Halloween treat with just the right amount of bite!
Written by Kimberly Katz
Brightside Theatre’s rendition of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, adapted by Stephen Dietz, captivates from the opening scene to its climactic finale. Ever since the 1992 Francis Ford Coppola film with Gary Oldman, Bram Stoker’s Dracula has fascinated me. It was a delight to see Brightside Theatre’s cast and crew brilliantly capture…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 20 October 2024 11:07
Dante’s ‘Commedia Divina,’ Retooled by Conspirators, Delivers Epic Laughs at Otherworld Theatre
Sarz Maxwell
The early closing of the Conspirators’ 2023 production of “Commedia Divina,” proved useful, giving this …erm … highly original company an opportunity to retool “Commedia Divina” into a production worthy of Election Year 2024. I can’t claim I wasn’t warned. I mean, the very title is “Commedia Divina: It’s Worse…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Friday, 18 October 2024 13:12
Review: Joffrey Ballet's US Premiere of Cathy Marston's 'Atonement' at Civic Opera House
Written by John Accrocco
What source materials make a great ballet? Can everything be interpreted through dance? It’s a fair question when considering Joffrey Ballet’s new adaptation of Ian McEwan’s complex novel. This sumptuous co-production with Ballett Zurich is proof that the sky’s the limit when it comes to what’s possible on stage. Those…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 15 October 2024 18:39
Handbag's 'The Golden Girls Meet The Skooby Don’t Gang: The Mystery of The Haunted Bush' a hilarious adventure not to be missed!
Written by Kimberly Katz
I look forward to every Hell and a Handbag production - because I know they’re always a great time. The company’s spot-on takes on adored characters, from those in the Golden Girls to Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, always blend high camp humor with a warm, heartfelt touch. In Handbag’s latest…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- Hell in a Handbag Productions
- Golden Girls
- The Golden Girls Meet The Skooby Don’t Gang: The Mystery of The Haunted Bush
- David Cerda
- Ed Jones
- Frankie Leo Bennett
- Grant Drager
- Ryan Oates
- Scott Sawa
- Tyler Anthony Smith
- Elizabeth Lesinski
- Caitlin Jackson
- Ben Meneses
- Josh Kemper
- Michael S Miller
- Danne W Taylor
- Chopin Theatre
Tuesday, 15 October 2024 12:40
Embracing Vulnerability: Goodman’s Heartfelt 'Primary Trust' Highlights the Power of Not Being Okay
Written by Wesley David
Eboni Booth’s 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Primary Trust is a deeply introspective and bittersweet exploration of abandonment, routine, and the disorienting reality of sudden change. Directed with sensitivity by Malkia Stampley in her Goodman debut, the production skillfully tells the story of Kenneth, a quiet, unassuming man in his late…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 12 October 2024 14:26
Rediscovering Revolution: Chicago Lore(s) brings Puerto Rican Activism to the stage
Written by Wesley David
Lore, a noun. knowledge and information related to a particular subject, especially when it is not written down, the stories and traditions of a particular group of people The world premiere of Chicago Lore(s), written by Sammy Publes and produced by Urban Theater Company (UTC), is a compelling and emotional…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Latest Articles
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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… -
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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…
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