Review: Burr Oak Warn of a Terrifying New Reality on Dazzling New EP, Annabelle
Although it feels much longer than a year, I’ve only been listening to Burr Oak since January of 2023 when I saw them alongside other local greats like Minor Moon […]
Fantastic Fest Review: Sean Baker’s Anora Is Chaotic, Thrilling, Passionate and More, Often All at the Same Time
Brace yourself for Anora, the latest display of emotional chaos from writer/director/editor/truth-teller Sean Baker (Tangerine, The Florida Project, Red Rocket). Part of Fantastic Fest, Anora is the story of Ani, […]
Dispatch: Family Drama Leads to Unexpected Consequences in Two More Fantastic Fest Official Selections
Film critic Steve Prokopy continues his coverage of the best in new and genre films from Fantastic Fest. Bring Them Down As the new Irish film Bring Them Down begins, […]
Review: Steve Slagg Plants the Seeds of Grief to Grow the Fruits of Acceptance on I Don’t Want To Get Adjusted to This World
It’s one of my life’s great treasures to stumble upon a new artist you connect with, made even better when they’re from our great city of Chicago! I only recently […]
Review: Catholic School Scandals Are a Familiar Story in Steep Theatre’s Happy Days Are Here (Again)
Steep Theatre’s world premiere play, Happy Days Are Here (Again) replays a familiar story (sexual abuse in the Catholic Church) and introduces a new one (a Palestinian adapting to American teen life) […]
Review: Demi Moore in the Role of a Lifetime in Body Horror Beauty Industry Satire The Substance
Snagging a Best Screenplay award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and giving Demi Moore arguably the best role of her career, The Substance hits like a hammer with its […]
Review: Animated Origin Story Transformers One Brings Heart and Character Depth to Robot Franchise
I’m just the age where Transformers of any kind (the Hasbro toys, animated series, the many movies) didn’t really have much of an impact on me. As a result, familiar […]
Interview: A Different Man Star Adam Pearson Discusses Playing a Character Close to Himself, Disability on Screen and More
A Different Man, the latest film from writer/director Aaron Schimberg, seems to have been created based on the filmmaker’s working relationship with one of the movie’s stars, Adam Pearson, who […]
Review: Music of the Baroque Delivers Once-in-a-Lifetime Excellence, Including a Concert Cruise on the River
Over a two-evening span, Dame Jane Glover and Music of the Baroque Orchestra and Chorus provided a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience. On Tuesday, with the help of soprano Joélle Harvey, tenor […]
Preview: Who to Check Out at Riot Fest 2024 (Now Back at Douglass Park)
Ah Riot Fest, you trick tricky fest. After announcing a departure from their usual location only to switch back to the Douglass Park campus, it’s finally time to rock out […]
Getaway: Foliage Drives to Local Spirits
Summer may be Chicago’s peak season, but fall is where we get to drive just outside the city in our green barn jackets and Hunter boots, sip on a PSL […]
Review: Chicago Shakespeare Theater Stages New Artistic Director’s Contemporary Vision for Henry V
When Barbara Gaines founded Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 1986, the first production held on the rooftop of Lincoln Park’s Red Lion Pub was Henry V, the story of a young […]