Review: Come from Away Takes a Heartwarming Look at the Helpers
When asked how to talk about scary news with small children, Fred Rogers famously repeated his mother’s advice: “look for the helpers.” Come from Away, the Tony-nominated musical that opened […]
Review: What the Constitution Means to Me Sheds Light on the Penumbra of Law and the Lives of Women
What the Constitution Means to Me is partly a lesson in the glories of the 14th Amendment and partly the personal story of domestic abuse against women by the men […]
Review: Timeline’s Oslo, a Peace Process Built on the Personal as Well as the Political
The play is all talk. Talk with a global purpose among ancient enemies, who manage to find common ground. Even though you know the outcome and future impact, J.T. Rogers’ […]
Review: A Bronx Tale Recreates the Classic Gangster Story With Music by Alan Menken
A Bronx Tale, based on the play by Chazz Palminteri, is the story of Calogero Anello (Joey Barreiro), his childhood growing up in the titular borough, and his coming of […]
Review: Despite Hiccups, Touring Fiddler on the Roof Remains Poignant, Relevant
Fiddler on the Roof premiered on Broadway in 1964, and it was a smash hit. It ran for more than 3,000 performances (a record at the time) and won […]
Review: So Much Wrong with The Play That Goes Wrong
I attended The Play That Goes Wrong on a friend’s recommendation. I will never forgive him. The touring production runs at the Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., through December 16, […]
Review: Miss Saigon at the Cadillac Palace Is the Epic Broadway Hit, Helicopter and All
Inspired by Giacomo Puccini’s massively influential Madame Butterfly, Boublil and Schönberg’s equally successful Miss Saigon originally premiered in 1989 in London’s West End. It would prove to be an international hit, becoming Broadway’s […]
See it, Before This Parade Passes You By! Hello, Dolly! Is a Wow of a Show
Days later, I am still humming and smiling. From the moment the orchestra began the familiar overture, to the cast of Hello, Dolly! stepping onto the stage of the Oriental […]
Review: Tootsie World Premiere at Cadillac Theatre–A New Twist or an Old Drag?
A new comedy musical named Tootsie opened in a world premiere on Sunday for a limited engagement through October 14 before it heads off to Broadway in early spring. The Cadillac […]
Review: The Color Purple Is As Powerful and Moving As Ever
Every now and then, when I’m feeling particularly down, I’ll queue up this segment from the 2016 Tony Awards: a performance from the 2015 revival of The Color Purple featuring […]
Tony Winner The Humans Returns to Chicago Better Than Ever
The 70th Tony Awards, presented in June 2016, were an affair to remember in more ways than one. It was the year Hamilton won big. It was the year Cynthia […]
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: A Heartbreaking Masterpiece for Teens and Adults
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a Holmesian mystery told from the perspective of a 15-year-old British boy with autism. I was apprehensive to attend the […]