The Joffrey Ballet’s Flawless, Revitalized Nutcracker
There is no ballet so ingrained in the public consciousness as Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Even those who profess no interest in the art form have likely seen a […]
Goodman’s A Christmas Carol Carries On Great Chicago Tradition for 40th Year
The Christkindlmarket has opened, the first weekend of Zoolights has come and gone, the Songs of Good Cheer holiday sing-along shows start at Old Town School of Folk Music next […]
Breath Boom at Eclipse Theatre Reveals the Violence and Dreams of a Bronx Girl Gang
Kia Corthron’s play, Breath Boom, makes us think twice about the nature of gender and violence. The tense and sometimes brutal story focuses on a Bronx girl gang and the […]
American Theatre Magazine Recognizes Third Coast Review’s Role in Indie Arts Scene
American Theatre magazine, the preeminent professional theater magazine in the U.S., has recognized Third Coast Review as one of the “indie arts sites” that contributes to arts coverage in Chicago […]
Remy Bumppo’s Puff: Believe It or Not Satirizes French Salons and Modern Hype
Puff: Believe It or Not by Remy Bumppo Theatre is a smart, funny poke in the eye of the contemporary affection for fake news and hype about nothing, set in […]
Firebrand Theatre’s Lizzie Is Delicious Rock-and-Roll Catharsis
Sitting in the audience at the thoroughly impeccable Chicago premiere of Lizzie, it is easy to forget that this production is also the Chicago premiere of the newly christened Firebrand […]
Actors Gymnasium’s Annual Circus in Progress
By Johanna Vargas “Inspired to build new neural pathways”; that is precisely the mission with which I left Circus in Progress, The Actors Gymnasium’s annual fundraiser. The cabaret-style circus art showcase […]
Q Brother’s Christmas Carol is Dickens Remixed, With Plenty of Surprises at Chicago Shakes
By Matthew Nerber Q Brother’s Christmas Carol, currently running at Chicago Shakespeare’s newly minted Yard, takes the holiday favorite and translates it into a full-fledged hip-hop musical, complete with song, […]
Northlight’s The Book of Will A Memorial Reconstruction Zone
The Book of Will is a gift to Bardophiles, a peek at the imagined creation of Shakespeare’s First Folio. The playwright, Lauren Gunderson, is the most produced living American playwright […]
The Minutes at Steppenwolf Is a Satire of Small Town Politics—and a Modern Morality Play
Steppenwolf Theatre’s world premiere of The Minutes by Tracy Letts takes place during a small town city council meeting. It’s a satire of small-town politics, individual grievances and so much […]
Hellcab: A Chicago Holiday Story But Not Your Mother’s Christmas Carol
The set is an old taxi. That’s all. An old Checker taxi, number 4538, with an Illinois license plate. The top is removed and its back wheels are on blocks. […]
Cirque du Soleil’s Crystal Shines in Chicago—Blending Circus and Ice Show
Cirque du Soleil’s ice show Crystal is in Chicago for a scant three days (Nov.16-19 at Sears Arena in Hoffman Estates) before they roll up the ice and head off to […]