Review: Kokandy’s Amélie Recreates the Film Classic
Kokandy Productions kicks off its 2025 season with the Chicago premiere of the musical adaptation of the 2001 French film, Amélie. The play is directed and choreographed by Derek Van […]
Review: Sasha Velour Sashays into Steppenwolf with The Big Reveal Live Show for Limited Run
Sexy siren and drag superstar Sasha Velour won the ninth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2017 with her iconic, signature reveal, which she brings in spades to the Steppenwolf […]
Dispatch: iO Fest 2025 Closes With POC Comedy, Off-Kilter Standup and Shakespearean Bloodshed
By Third Coast Review Staff iO Theater’s second annual iO Fest closed Sunday after 100-plus comedy acts performed over the four-day event. The fest featured homegrown Chicago talent and nationally […]
Review: Chicago Shakespeare’s Billie Jean Is Bold and Riveting
When audiences walk into The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, they are immediately transported to a tennis match. Scenic designer Wilson Chin completely transforms the space— with audience stands on […]
Dispatch: iO Fest Kicks Off With Party Rock and a Lineup of Female Comedy Acts
By Third Coast Review Staff Chicago’s rich comedy and improv tradition takes center stage this weekend as iO Fest 2025 returns July 24-27 to the iO Theater with 120 comedic performances from […]
Review: Griffin Theatre Company’s Girls & Boys Shines After a Rough Start
For the first half hour of Dennis Kelly’s Girls & Boys, making its Midwest debut at the Bramble Arts Loft, one could be forgiven for calling it a Fleabag rip-off. […]
Review: Tin Drum Theatre Makes Magic on a Small Stage With Incognito
Two chairs, a piano and a big bird. That simple scenic design—combined with a creatively structured script and superb performances by four actors playing 20 roles—creates magic on a small […]
Review: At Northlight Theatre, Kelvin Roston Inhabits Donny Hathaway’s Joy and Agony in Twisted Melodies
Donny Hathaway is a name tattooed in my mind since childhood. His singing style was otherworldly, blending traditional gospel with R&B and funk. He could bend a note like no […]
Preview: Chicago’s iO Fest Returns with Star-Studded Lineup July 24–27
Chicago’s rich improv tradition takes center stage next week as iO Fest 2025 returns July 24-27 to the iO Theater, 1501 N. Kingsbury St., filling four days with comedic performances, […]
Review: Blank Theatre’s Passion Showcases Sondheim’s Breathtaking Score
As fans of Stephen Sondheim may know, Passion is not as widely prod’suced as some of his other musicals. There are many reasons for this. The music can be quite […]
Review: Ethiopia’s Energetic Circus Abyssinia Is Fun Family Fare at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Summer is prime family time for Navy Pier, which attracts nine million visitors annually as the largest tourist attraction in Illinois. Longtime tenant Chicago Shakespeare Theater is adding more family-friendly […]
Review: Disney Magic Comes to Life on Stage During Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast, a beloved Disney classic, is seamlessly brought to the stage for a truly magical night of theater presented by Broadway in Chicago. This show will consistently […]