Lawmakers in Springfield Finish Ambitious Agenda
Lawmakers in Springfield blew through an ambitious agenda over the weekend, passing a host of bills as the spring session of the General Assembly came to a close. The state […]
Mamby on the Beach Announces New Location, New Dates, and an Enticing Lineup
It’s been an interesting year for festivals from location moves through new dates to focus shifts. Today we have another shift to a fest in the form of Mamby on […]
Review: Trap Door’s The Killer Perplexes, But That’s Why It’s Called Theater of the Absurd
The Architect (a nattily dressed Michael Mejia) welcomes a slightly frazzled Bèrenger (Dennis Bisto) for a tour of the Radiant City. It’s a paradise where everything is quiet, sunny, green, […]
Preview: Chicago Writers Bloc New Plays Festival Opens June 4
The 2019 Chicago Writers Bloc New Plays Festival will feature staged readings of 19 new plays by 14 Chicago-area playwrights. Presentations will take place at 7:30pm each Monday, Tuesday and […]
What to Watch on the Small Screen: June 2019
At long last, summer-esque weather has finally come to Chicago. If you find yourself bored and in need of something interesting to do, here are some films you can watch […]
Review: Stonewall Exhibit at Wrightwood 659 Celebrates Queer Art and “Trans-ness:” We Are Many Things at Once
About Face: Stonewall, Revolt and New Queer Art commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, a spontaneous rebellion by gay activists after a police raid on a gay bar […]
Review: Octavia Spencer Has a Great Time Going Crazy in Ma
Producer Jason Blum and his filmmaking shingle Blumhouse have made a name for themselves in the horror movie space by consistently delivering scares to grateful audiences and box office returns […]
Review: An Underdeveloped The Tomorrow Man Squanders Talent of Veteran Actors
The feature debut from writer/director Noble Jones (a short film and music video veteran), The Tomorrow Man, is less a film about two older people finding each other and more […]
Review: Falsettos Is Plenty of Fun, Proves Timeless Testament to Love, Family
The mile-a-minute lyrics, the ever-changing building-block scenery and the cliché-heavy characters of Falsettos give the impression at first glance that William Finn’s two-act musical is a screwball sex comedy about who […]
Riot Fest Turns 15 and Reveals Its Incredible Lineup
Riot Fest will turn 15 this year, just a few months after my solar clock hit 40. Chicago’s premiere punk festival has come a long way since its beginnings as […]
Review: Filmmaker Brian De Palma Brings Nothing New, Interesting to Domino
I don’t want Brian De Palma to stop making movies, not ever. But I also don’t want him making movies like Domino, his latest work that is such a retread […]
Review: Music Takes Center Stage Telling Elton John’s Story in Rocketman
I’ve already spotted think-pieces about the Elton John biopic Rocketman that break down scenes from the movie and declare them truthful or not, and after you see the film, you’ll […]