Review: At Goodman Theatre, The Penelopiad Reveals What Happened at Home While Odysseus Was on That Odyssey

You may have read Homer’s The Odyssey in high school or college. It’s the story of Odysseus, a great hero, his adventures and of course, his journey, or odyssey. But did you […]

Nancy S Bishop /

Review: COBRAH Brings Her Queer “FEMININE ENERGY” to Thalia Hall

It always comes with great pleasure to have the opportunity to discover and see an artist live as they’re on the cusp of musical stardom. Swedish electro-pop artist Clara Blom […]

Andrew Lagunas /

Review: Bernard Rands Celebrates 90 at Guarneri Hall

In sold-out concerts on Friday and Saturday, Guarneri Hall was the scene of a 90th birthday celebration for Bernard Rands, a Pulitzer Prize winning composer. Originally from Britain, Rands has […]

Louis Harris /

Review: Chaepter’s Latest Single Knows a Little “Something About People”

Central Illinois indie savant Chaepter embraces hazy melancholia on new single “Something About People.” The track opens with a reverb-drenched guitar tone reminiscent of 2010’s bedroom pop, though the chord […]

Aviv Hart /
Lit,

Review: Quiet Obsession and Control—Tender by Beth Hetland

There’s something wrong with Carolanne. Beth Hetland’s graphic novel Tender tells the story of a woman with #goals: Carolanne lives in a cozy apartment in Chicago, takes the train to […]

Allison Manley /
Janice Aponte in gallery.

The Art of Janice Aponte Celebrates Womanhood, Nature, and Her Puerto Rican Heritage

AponteART is a new art gallery that recently opened in the Jefferson Park neighborhood. Janice Aponte, who is the gallery owner and also an artist, originally saw the storefront as […]

Thomas Wawzenek /

Review: Joffrey Academy’s Winning Works Presents Fresh Work With Classic Twists

The 14th annual Winning Works is an evening of fresh work and twists on classic techniques that will thrill dance audiences in the coming performances. The Joffrey Academy of Dance’s […]

Kathy D. Hey /

Review: Accidental Texan Pits Big Oil Against a Small Town, and its the Audience Who Loses

Although the film means well as something of an inspirational, David-versus-Goliath tale set in Texas oil country, Accidental Texan can’t quite get past the reality that its young lead character […]

Steve Prokopy /

Review: Problemista Is a Dry, Wry Debut About a Wannabe Toy Maker and His Hilarious Bad Behavior

The charming, quirky and mostly very funny Problemista comes courtesy of former Saturday Night Live writer Julio Torres, who wrote, directed, and stars in this story of Alejandro, an aspiring […]

Steve Prokopy /

Review: Millie Bobby Brown Stars in Netflix’s Damsel, a Fable that Aims for a New Take on the Fairy Tale

When is a fairy tale not a fairy tale? Well, according to the makers of Damsel, this story of a dutiful young woman who agrees to marry a handsome prince […]

Steve Prokopy /

Review: Chicago EU Film Fest Closer Life For Real Is a Sweet Fish-Out-of-French-Water Story

Closing out the Gene Siskel Film Center’s Belgium-centric Chicago European Union Film Festival is the latest work from writer/director/actor Dany Boon. He plays 50-year-old Tridan, an open-hearted man who grew […]

Steve Prokopy /

Review: Kung Fu Panda 4 Loses a Few Familiar Animals, But Finds Laughs and Action in Po’s Latest Adventure

While my memory tells me that I moderately enjoyed the previous three installments of the Kung Fu Panda franchise, I couldn’t tell you a blessed thing about their plots. I […]

Steve Prokopy /