Circus, Stages

Review: Joffrey Academy’s Winning Works Presents Fresh Work With Classic Twists

The 14th annual Winning Works is an evening of fresh work and twists on classic techniques that will thrill dance audiences in the coming performances. The Joffrey Academy of Dance’s […]

Kathy D. Hey /
Circus, Stages, Theater

Review: Cirque du Soleil Performs a Holiday Thrill Ride in ‘Twas the Night Before

As we were making our way to the Chicago Theatre on Thursday, my friend asked me how I thought Cirque du Soleil was going to pull off their feats of […]

Kathy D. Hey /
Broadway, Circus, Stages, Theater

Review: Not Much Warmth in This Chilly Touring Production of Company

The American musical theater has been graced with another revival of Company, Stephen Sondheim’s and George Furth’s 1970 musical about our basic human need for togetherness. In this 2021 Broadway […]

Anne Siegel /
Circus, Stages

The Return of Ringling (Nov. 3-5)—A Chat with Circus Artist Jan Damm

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey have risen from the ashes once again, rekindled. Showcasing a huge, diverse cast of young performers from around the world, they are coming to […]

Kim Campbell /
Circus, Stages, Theater

Review: Cirque du Soleil Puts a Life of Wonder Before Our Eyes With Cortéo

Cirque du Soleil is always a treat to watch. There are acrobatics, aerial thrills, and juggling all done with a full serving of whimsy. Cirque is known for tributes and […]

Kathy D. Hey /
Circus, Stages

Review: ProTraining Showcase at the Actors Gymnasium Steps It Up

The clowns of The Actor's Gym pose contemplating their red noses

A look at this year’s graduating circus class from Actor’s Gym–a talented pool of actors gained new circus skills!

Kim Campbell /
Circus, Opera, Stages

Review: Lyric’s Carmen Features Strong Performances, But the Plot Can Be Troubling

Georges Bizet produced some of opera’s most memorable music for Carmen, his 1875 composition, set in Spain and sung in French, about a wildly free-spirited woman whose fickle and domineering […]

Bob Benenson /
Circus, Preview, Stages

Preview: Let’s Get Physical at the 9th Annual Physical Theater Festival July 16-24

Chicago’s Physical Theater Festival returns for the ninth year with in-person, indoor and outdoor performances, plus four workshops by festival artists, July 16-24, following the 2020 virtual festival.  The week features performances by […]

Karin McKie /
Circus, Comedy, Dance, Stages, Theater, Theater Festival

Preview: Chicago Circus and Performing Arts Festival Premieres April 21-24

Life’s been a circus over the last two years, so we might as well lean into it. Welcome to the Chicago Circus & Performing Arts Festival, the Windy City’s newest multidisciplinary […]

Karin McKie /
Circus, Stages

Preview: REFLEX Unravels 4,000 Years of Juggling 

The world premiere of REFLEX, a solo juggling show by renowned performer Jay Gilligan, (produced by Hideaway Circus) recently had its world premiere in Brooklyn’s Mitu580, an art and performance […]

Kim Campbell /
Circus, Stages

Review: Cirque du Soleil is Back in Town With ‘Twas the Night Before… a Holiday Spectacle

After a long dark night in circus and indeed performing arts history, Santa is back on stage, and his elves and reindeer are there too, full of hype for the […]

Kim Campbell /
Circus, Stages

Preview: Fall Beckons and Chicago Gets Its Circus On (with Two Tours—CirqueUs and Midnight Circus)

“High-flying, knot-tying, gravity-defying aerialists, loopy jugglers, musicians that pull at your heartstrings, and comedy that will leave you in stitches!”  It happens every summer now for the past few years […]

Kim Campbell /