Review: Parade Is a Crowd-Pleasing Hit, But It’s Not for Everyone
The first national tour of the musical Parade arrived in Chicago this week with impressive credentials. Based on a true story set in Atlanta, it involves the 1913 rape and […]
Review: Buddha’s Birthday by Lucid Theater Focuses on One Character—Plus That Raccoon
Buddha’s Birthday by Lucid Theater is a little slip of a play, a story of family relationships and conflicts—husband/wife, mother/daughter, aunt/niece. One character in each of those pairs is played […]
Dispatch: Juicy Plays at Wisconsin’s American Players Theatre Are Ripe for the Picking
There’s no better time for Chicagoans to point their cars north towards Wisconsin than right now. Some people might head to campgrounds, others may find a secret fishing spot, and […]
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 […]
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 […]
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: Secret Byrd Is an Adventure into the Sacred and Forbidden of the Renaissance
Concert Theatre Works presented Secret Byrd, an immersive performance of the Mass for Five Voices, a Catholic Mass by William Byrd, a Renaissance-era English composer. Vocals were provided by the […]
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 […]
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 […]