What I Found at Finding Neverland at the Cadillac Palace
I was excited to see Finding Neverland on opening night, but I was also a little skeptical. After all, the film of the same name is a film that moved […]
Hypocrites’ Cinderella at the Theater of Potatoes Tall on Talent, Short on Substance
Cinderella at the Theater of Potatoes, the Hypocrites‘ latest production, offers a re-imagined version of Pauline Viardot-Garcia’s chamber operetta Cendrillon, based on the familiar story of Cinderella. Performed through the […]
From 2016: Chicago Shakes’ King Charles III, Future History and a Father-Son Story
(Author’s note: We published this review almost six years ago and we think it’s interesting to read today, as Prince Charles ascends to the throne as King Charles III, upon […]
Re-Imagining of I Am My Own Wife at About Face Offers Mixed Results
Based on the life of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, Doug Wright’s Pulitzer and Tony-winning play I Am My Own Wife is typically performed as a one-person show by a male actor. […]
Eclipse Theatre’s The Little Flower of East Orange: A Tortured Family Drama With a Hint of Grace
The Little Flower of East Orange at Eclipse Theatre is a play of family turmoil that features colorful side characters as well as the tortured family members—mother, son and daughter. […]
Singin’ in the Rain at Marriott a Deluge of Color, Comedy and Talent.
Singin’ In The Rain is a classic for good reason. More than that, it’s a meta look at show business and the demand to keep up with technology and trend–for […]
Fun Home: Watching Alison Grow Up Lesbian and Talented
Fun Home, the prize-winning show (five 2015 Tonys including best musical), opened at the Oriental Theatre last week for a very short run. The play, based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling […]
The Magic Play at Goodman Weaves Together Magic and Love
The Magic Play has a lot more going for it than its utilitarian name. For one thing,it has a slim cast of three talented and established actors, one of whom […]
Pinter’s Betrayal at Raven Theatre: A Seven-Year Affair and Its Impact
Betrayal is a brisk 75-minute journey over the seven years of a love affair and its aftermath. The betrayals are multiple. Two marriages and a lifelong friendship. The lovers betray […]
Take the Red Theater November Writing Challenge: Write a Short Play Every Day!
Red Theater is issuing a writing challenge to Chicago’s current and future playwrights. Write a new short play every day in November—all 30 days–and post it according to challenge rules. […]
Stage Left’s The Bottle Tree Symbolizes the Haunting Impact of a School Shooting
A bottle tree is a Southern tradition with African roots. As an urban northerner, I never heard of such a thing, although I’m familiar with voodoo culture in Louisiana and […]
Young Frankenstein at Lake Forest Theatre: Outstanding Performers Polish Production’s Rough Edges
Young Frankenstein is a classic, and a favorite of mine. It’s a silly, slapstick adventure with a real heart, and I’ve always held it close to mine. Mel Brooks and […]