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, […]
Review: Q Brothers Update Dickens With Rap, Rhymes and Plenty of Heart
For a holiday tradition that’s Lin-Manuel Miranda meets Charles Dickens, look no further than Q Brothers Christmas Carol at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, on through December 30. Presented at The Yard, […]
Circolombia’s Acéléré Is in the Room at Chicago Shakespeare Theater–But Only Until November 4
“People, are you ready? Circolombia is in the room!” This was the chant that began slowly and tentatively and built to a full on proclamation complete with fist pumping and […]
Review: Nell Gwynn at Chicago Shakes Delivers Laughs and a Lush Production
About 20 minutes into Nell Gwynn, the American premiere of Jessica Swale’s comedy now on at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, it’s possible to wonder just exactly what we’re all doing here. […]
Persuasive Xenophobia Finds Voice in BigMouth at Chicago Shakes
Critics Kimzyn Campbell and Karin McKie jointly review BigMouth, running at Chicago Shakespeare Theater through September 22. Ticket discounts are available when two or more “Big in Belgium” shows are […]
Review: Chicago Shakespeare Theater Captures the Magic in Peter Pan–A Musical Adventure
—Last month, I was at Chicago Shakespeare Theater to see Macbeth, a brooding, dark tale produced at the Yard, their newest and most versatile stage. Co-directed by Teller (of Penn […]
Chicago Shakes Brings Brilliant Irish Production of Waiting for Godot, a Play About Nothing
You know the scene. “A country road. A tree. Evening” Samuel Beckett couldn’t have been more succinct in the scenic direction for his existential classic, Waiting for Godot. That tree takes on mythic […]