There was so much energy when I went into The Den Theatre, which I will rightfully chalk up to Haven Theatre Company’s infectious vibe. Upon entering, patrons were greeted with ear plugs before being thrust into a cloud of fog, as though attending a rock show. Curious, yet anxious, the…
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Theatre in Review
The play Threesome is an ambitious work, taking aim at the ease with which we become stuck in patterns of bad behavior like possessiveness in relationships. It also reaches into threats to women's freedom in other cultures. As the lights come up we meet a married couple already in bed,…
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Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 03 May 2017 20:14
"Lady X" Full of Funny, Talented Heroines Worth Saving!
Written by Kimberly Katz
Set in the 1930's, this melodrama has all the ingredients you'd expect, sex, drugs, murders and the quick, clever banter of women fighting for their lives in a film noir-colored seedy underworld of a dance hall/nightclub/whorehouse. In the latest Hell in a Handbag production "Lady X - The Musical", director…
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Theatre in Review
Sunday, 30 April 2017 21:03
Lyric Opera's My Fair Lady an Overall Enjoyable Experience
Written by Michelle Reidy
The Lyric Opera continues its Broadway at Lyric series, with the fifth installment in the series - My Fair Lady which opened on Saturday to a full house. The musical is based on the play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw and inspired by the Greek myth of Pygmalion, a sculptor…
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Theatre in Review
Sunday, 30 April 2017 15:15
"Chicago" at Drury Lane A Sultry, Humorous Story of Courtroom Shenanigans in the Jazz Age
Written by Ken Payne
It’s been quite some time since “Chicago” has actually been performed in Chicago (or thereabouts), but after a ten-year road in obtaining the show’s rights, Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook brings home the popular musical created in 1975 – and we are glad they did. With music by John Kander,…
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Theatre in Review
Sunday, 30 April 2017 12:23
Queen Has Strong Buzz for a Reason: It's Exceptionally Good
Written by Bill Esler
Let's cut to the chase on this review: Queen is the best show in town. Having its world premiere at Victory Gardens Theater, in Queen, Madhuri Shekar has delivered a knockout script, deftly directed by Joanie Schultz, and brought to life by a strong cast. Two PhD students - Sanam …
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 24 April 2017 14:29
"What's The Buzz?" Paramount's Reinvention of Jesus Christ Superstar is Boldly Delicious
Written by Ken Payne
Of the many Andrew Lloyd Webber hits, Jesus Christ Superstar has always been a personal favorite of mine. It rocks, it moves and…it’s back. After a lengthy absence, the award-winning musical has returned to the Chicago area, this time with a bit of a twist as, unlike past productions, the…
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Theatre in Review
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Friday, 21 April 2017 23:26
Disney's "Aladdin" Brings Classic Romance, Fun and Freedom for All to a 'Whole New World' of Theater Goers
Written by Kimberly Katz
I have to admit Aladdin is one of my all-time favorite Disney films so I was very optimistic upon entering Cadillac Palace to see the stage version. Turned into a live musical in 2011, Disney’s Aladdin has landed in Chicago for a five-month run with over three million people having…
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Theatre in Review
Sunday, 23 April 2017 22:03
Review: Into the Beautiful North at 16th Street Theater
Written by Jacob Davis
It’s been quite a year in Chicagoland for Karen Zacarías, and it’s not over yet. One year after her The Book Club Play graced the 16th Street Theater in Berwyn, a month after Destiny of Desire opened at the Goodman, and a month before Native Gardens plays at Victory Gardens,…
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Theatre in Review
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Wednesday, 19 April 2017 22:55
Scapegoat, a Wild Story, Is Overloaded With Action and Characters
Written by Bill Esler
Scapegoat; Or (Why the Devil Always Loved Us) a satirical political drama now playing at the Den Theatre, takes the audience on a wild ride through a rather unusual family affair. But the play rapidly bogs down with its own complexity. The curtain rises mid-action, and we gradually piece together…
Published in
Theatre in Review
How nice that even songs Stephen Sondheim cut from his own musicals can still find a home. “Marry Me a Little” is a 1981 songbook musical assembled by Sondheim. It’s a review of songs he wrote for various musicals in the 60's and 70's but were cut or unfinished. “Marry…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Following the lives of Charlotte and Jonny, The Mystery of Love and Sex cleverly explores a variety of subjects including sexual identity, race, political correctness and family undercurrents. Charlotte and Jonny have grown up together and have become the very best of friends. Charlotte is a white girl who had…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 13 April 2017 12:15
Review: "King of the Yees" at Goodman Theatre
Written by Michaelle Bradford
King of the Yees, now playing at the Goodman Theatre through April 30, is full of laughs and wisdom. Both touching and endearing, the play - with themes of family, community and tradition - takes a look at one Chinese-American family’s attempt to bridge the generation gap. Written by Lauren…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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