Review: Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter Bring the Jams at Space Evanston
What a pleasure to spend a misty autumn night grooving to Kurt Elling with Charlie Hunter at Space in Evanston. I saw him at the Chicago Jazz Festival when he […]
Review: The Joffrey Ballet Flawlessly Dances the Frankenstein Story
I am still in awe from watching the Joffrey Ballet’s Frankenstein at the Lyric Opera House. Choreographer Liam Scarlett stayed closer to Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein or Modern Prometheus than […]
Review: Writers Theatre’s Thought-Provoking Eurydice Features Strong Cast and Stunning Design
Eurydice: “I read a book today.” Orpheus: “Did you?” Eurydice: “Yes. It was very interesting… There were—stories—about people’s lives—how some come out well— others come out badly.” Orpheus: “Do you […]
Essay: In Defense of “Unregulated” Little Free Libraries
Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) thinks the little free libraries along many Chicago sidewalks are bad—very bad. They are “unregulated”! And they’re “popular”! And many of them are planted in city soil! (Collective […]
Review: Chicago Opera Theater Opens Season With a Compelling Timeline of War and Its Aftermath with Soldier Songs
Soldier Songs is a solo operatic performance that blends the genres of classical and heavy metal. I thought that I had never heard anything like it, however, the parallels between […]
Interview: Chicago Int’l Film Festival Artistic Director Mimi Plauché on New Locations, Emerging Themes and the Fest’s First Miyazaki
For the first time since the two-year-plus pandemic, the Chicago International Film Festival feels like its back to full strength, in terms of both its lineup and its potential as […]
Review: Chai’s Overflowing Energy Revitalizes Thalia Hall
Japanese Pop band Chai made their way to Thalia Hall last Monday on their “We the Chai ” tour, for a rather intimate and animated show. I knew the lucky […]
Review: In Revisiting a Classic, The Exorcist: Believer Retreads Familiar Demons
My admiration for filmmaker David Gordon Green, in his days as an indie filmmaker, knew no bounds as he stunned me with great works like George Washington, All the Real […]
Review: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Performs Fantastic Program of American-Inspired Music at Harris Theater
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center opened their season in a fantastic way at Harris Theater on Tuesday night. Based on an American-inspired theme, the program included well known […]
Review: Frankie and the Witch Fingers Find a Psychedelic Groove at Bottom Lounge
Touring in support of their new record Data Doom, LA-based psych-rock band Frankie and the Witch Fingers brought heavy riffage and a snappy atmosphere to Bottom Lounge. Fans of Ty […]
Review: Goodman Theatre’s The Nacirema Society Showcases Stellar Cast and Hysterical Writing
Gracie: “I just can’t get as excited as you do about it, Gram. At the end of the day, it’s just a big ol’ poofy white dress.” Grace: (A beat) […]
Review: Tank and the Bangas Are an Aural Delight with the Chicago Philharmonic
Tank and the Bangas are a genre of music unto themselves, so playing with the venerable Chicago Philharmonic was a further illumination of their poetry and music. The group is […]