Review: The Lyric Opera Sharpens the Cutting Edge with The Listeners
The Lyric Opera of Chicago is refreshing classical music by bringing in newer works. The Listeners is written by Missy Mazzoli with a libretto by Royce Vavrek based on the […]
Review: Sunny Afternoon at Chicago Shakes Is a Rock and Roll Fantasy
They were the most English of British Invasion bands. While other English musicians adopted American styles and turned their backs on their own musical traditions, the Kinks doubled down, writing […]
Review: Impostor Theatre’s Helena & Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey Parodies Love’s Whimsies
A musical version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Helena & Hermia in the Enamored Odyssey whirls and bumbles us through love’s entanglements. What sets this production by the Impostors […]
Review: Stage Left Theatre’s The Distrikt of Lake Michigun Plays With the History of Streeterville and Its Rogue Namesake at Water Tower Place
Stage Left Theatre, a Chicago company with 40 years of history, is redefining storefront theater with its new production, The Distrikt of Lake Michigun, in an empty retail space on the […]
Review: Invictus Theatre’s The Winter’s Tale Asks If Time Can Heal All Wounds
The Winter’s Tale is an unusual story, with two acts so different in tone that the play can be difficult to produce. Fortunately, Invictus succeeds. Under Charles Askenaizer’s direction, Winter’s […]
Review: U Should C Happy 2 B Here at the Annoyance Theatre
In most fields, calling someone or something “dumb” is an insult. Clients don’t want a “dumb” lawyer to handle their case. Authors aren’t going to include a critic’s “This book […]
Review: Strawdog Theatre Stages Shakespeare in a Pub—It’s Much Ado About Nothing: The Ides Reunion Episode
The Strawdog Theatre Company is staging a new take on Shakespeare with a satire of ’90s reality shows. Much Ado About Nothing: The Ides Reunion is a spoof of the […]
Review: Chicago Children’s Theatre Go, Dog, Go! Ve Perro ¡Ve! Is Spare With Words and Lavish With Fun
Nothing says willing suspension of disbelief like children watching a show. For the young ones gathered at Chicago Children’s Theatre’s world premiere of a new version of Go, Dog, Go, […]
Review: Lyric Opera’s New Version of La Boheme Is Set in a Realistic Paris and Sounds Wonderful
This may be the fourth time I have seen La Boheme at the Lyric. It is my all-time favorite and gets me misty every time. The 2025 version is advertised […]
Review: Joffrey’s Winning Works Presents a Thrilling Glimpse of the Future
Being present at the beginning of a burgeoning career in the arts is a privilege. The Grainger Academy is a training program exclusively operated by the Joffrey Ballet. Winning Works […]
Review: Idle Muse Theatre Presents a Vibrant and Lively Production of The School for Scandal
The lights slowly come down at the top of the show. Audience members quiet down and all look towards the stage, waiting for the action to begin. Then, the lights […]
Review: The Drowning Girls by Three Crows Theatre Tells a True Crime Story With Dramatic Style
The three drowning girls are young women in their 20s and 30s, desperate to marry and avoid spinsterhood. The time is the early 20th century, and Bessie Mundy, Alice Burnham […]