Raven’s Suddenly Last Summer Tells Tennessee Williams’ Grisly Tale in a Garden
Playwright Tennessee Williams is a master of his craft. He is skilled at conjuring up a time or place and creating a story that snares you in its web from […]
The Wizard of Oz at Chicago Theatre Can’t Quite Catch Movie Magic
Based on the 1939 MGM Classic of the same name, The Wizard of Oz attempts to adapt the tale of one Kansas kid’s quest to find the titular mage for the […]
Chicago Shakespeare Brings Proper Prestidigitation to Macbeth
J.R.R. Tolkien often railed against the supernatural in Shakespeare despite appropriating many of the tropes in his own work (the Lord of the Rings’ Ents were a counterpunch referencing Birnam […]
Prometheus Bound, a Greek Play Retold With Puppet Gods and Song
The retelling of classics, especially Greek fables and tragedies, is going through a revival in the contemporary arts and theater world. But what the makers of Prometheus Bound have that […]
In Wake of Recent Tragedies, The Yard Shines With Brutal, Brilliant Columbinus
Columbinus, directed by Mechelle Moe as part of Steppenwolf’s LookOut series, is a must-see production, insomuch as words on the internet cannot do it justice. I read this script a […]
American Blues Theater Rocks With Superb Revival of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story
As a diehard rock ‘n’ roll fan, I’ve always thought that February 3 should be a national holiday—the day of the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly at the age […]
True Story of Deception Inspires Timeline’s World Premiere To Catch a Fish
To Catch a Fish, according to the supplemental program notes, was inspired by Chauncey Wright, a Milwaukee native unknowingly caught up in a web of illegal activity. Written by Chicago […]
Watch 2666, Goodman Theatre’s Production of Roberto Bolaño Novel, Now Available for Free Streaming
Goodman Theatre’s 2016 production of Roberto Bolaño‘s masterpiece novel, 2666, has been filmed and is now streaming worldwide—you can view it free. The original 15-member all-Chicago cast plays 80 roles. […]
God Is in the Details of Lyric Opera’s Jesus Christ Superstar
I don’t like musicals. I’m an atheist. I love Jesus Christ Superstar. I was a budding theater nerd when my cool uncle Tommy turned me on to The Who’s Tommy […]
Ferguson, Missouri, Matters in Solo Show Until the Flood
In 2014, unarmed African-American teenager Michael Brown was shot at least six times by a white police officer. His body remained on the street for four hours in Ferguson, Missouri, […]
Review: Take a Trip to Memphis in Porchlight’s Latest Hit
Perhaps the best compliment I can pay to Memphis, the 2010 Tony Award winner for Best Musical now on at Porchlight Music Theater (directed by Daryl Brooks), is that in the […]
Review: Festival of Me with Jonah Ray at @North Bar a Hulk-Style Smash
Chicago’s a comedy city. Throw a stone and you’ll hit a great comedy stage, and whether it’s Second City, iO, Annoyance or somewhere else you’ll be guaranteed a laugh or two. […]