Review: The Second City Asks Do You Believe in Madness?
The Second City’s 108th revue, Do You Believe in Madness?, is a bright look at dark times. Under the direction of Ryan Bernier, the cast well-represents the East Coast here […]
Review: Much the Same, Goodman’s A Christmas Carol Remains a Treat, If Ready for Change
Now in its 42nd year (a bit of a miracle, no?), Goodman Theatre’s A Christmas Carol remains a steadfastly satisfying holiday tradition, even as this latest edition sees little change year […]
Review: It’s a Wonderful Life As a Radio Play Remains a Holiday Must-See
Like putting up a tree and lights or baking sweet holiday treats, the holiday season in Chicago wouldn’t be the holiday season without American Blues Theater’s It’s a Wonderful Life: Live […]
Review: 140 LBS Weighs in on a Family’s Body Dysmorphia
Susan Lieu’s solo show title is 140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother, but it’s more a personal story. Directed by Sara Porkalob, the 75-minute story ran November 14-17 at […]
Review: Dana H. at Goodman Theatre Is an Intense, Emotional Experience
Walking into Dana H., all I knew was that the lead actor, Deirdre O’Connell, was lip-syncing. Little did I know I was going to see one of the most intense, emotional […]
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: Despite Potential, Be Here Now Never Manages to Spark Inspiration
There’s a thoughtful core to Deborah Zoe Laufer’s Be Here Now, the story of a bitter, cynical woman afflicted with headaches and seizures that leave her seeing the world as one […]
Review: Words of Wisdom Shine in Victory Gardens’ Tiny Beautiful Things
If you need an actor to carry your show on her shoulders, might I recommend the talents of one Janet Ulrich Brooks? Last year, she dominated Timeline Theatre’s Master Class as opera […]
Review: West Coast’s Teatro ZinZanni Pitches Its Circus Tent in the Loop
The dinner theater revue known as Teatro ZinZanni got its start more than 20 years ago in Seattle, where it launched as a self-described “Moulin Rouge meets Cirque du Soleil,” and […]
Review: The Drag Seed Is a Campy, Delightful World Premiere From Hell in a Handbag
“I’ve seen better acting in a Hallmark Original Christmas movie,” one character says to another—and in the world of Hell in a Handbag’s wickedly funny new play The Drag Seed, […]
Review: True West, a True Time Capsule at Steppenwolf Theatre
The play that launched Chicago’s lauded ensemble returns to the substantially larger stage for the first time since 1982. Sam Shepard’s True West propelled the Highland Park High School and […]
Review: Windy City Playhouse Forces the Experience at The Recommendation
Last year, Windy City Playhouse launched a bona-fide hit with Southern Gothic, the immersive theater experience set in the early 1960s where audiences were “invited” to a birthday party among friends, […]