Review: Chicago Shakes’ The Journey Livestreams a Visit to the Home and Mental Feats of Scott Silven
As part of their WorldStage series, Chicago Shakespeare is offering a visit with illusionist and mentalist Scott Silven from his childhood home in rural Scotland—or as he says, “in the […]
Review: Jane Austen’s Classic Emma Gets a Delightful Musical Adaptation at Chicago Shakes
Later this month, a new film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma will open in cinemas, starring Anya Taylor-Joy (Thoroughbreds, “Peaky Blinders”) as the titular matchmaker with questionable, if endearing, motives. […]
Review: See A Q Brothers Christmas Carol to Avoid Holiday Treacle
I have a confession, I try to avoid theater this time of year because I don’t like the treacly sentimentality and predictability of most holiday plays. (It’s a good season […]
Review: Andares at Chicago Shakes Introduces Indigenous People of Mexico With Stories and Song
Andares is a lively and poetic narrative about the lives, ancestral myths and culture of the indigenous people who live in remote corners of Mexico. Presented by the Makuyeika Colectivo […]
Review: A Perfectly Polite Bit of British History in The King’s Speech at Chicago Shakes
Downton Abbey, the acclaimed British drama series that ran for several seasons on PBS here in the States, returned this weekend. The story, this time on the big screen, brought […]
Review: Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Wizard of Oz Brings Family Classic Film to Life
By Katie Priest As many people’s first introduction to the world of Chicago theater, Chicago Shakespeare Theater never fails to produce a memorable performance. The Wizard of Oz is one […]
Review: Six at Chicago Shakes Boasts a Show-Stopping Cast
Hamilton has spoiled us. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s masterpiece of music and lyrics has taken pop-centric historic adaptations to new heights, and any that may come after it have large shoes to […]
Review: Poetry of Men in Two Pints by Abbey Theatre at Chicago Shakes
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, Chicago Shakespeare brings us the esteemed Abbey Theatre (the National Theatre of Ireland) and a poetic two-handed conversation, Two Pints. The Irish pub holds […]
Review: A Gut-Check For Our Time in Classic An Inspector Calls at Chicago Shakes
Without ever brandishing so much as a pistol or pocketknife, upheaval and conflict are at the center of J.B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls, a play that lays out in no uncertain […]
Review: Us/Them Explores Chechen Terrorism with Energetic Pas de Deux in CST Belgium Series
Pink Floyd sang about “Us and Them”: Haven’t you heard it’s a battle of words The poster bearer cried “Listen son”, said the man with the gun There’s room for […]
2018 in Review: What We Liked on Stage
This isn’t a “best theater of 2018” list. We didn’t see everything. Most of our writers are freelancers, all with other gigs, and it’s hard for us to cover the […]
Review: Be Transported by Chicago Shakes’ Magical, Whimsical A Midsummer Night’s Dream
It is perhaps a sign of programming genius that the team at Chicago Shakespeare Theater slotted the whimsical comedy delight A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the middle of a long, cold, […]