Theatre with a side of life
Babes with Blades presents KING LEAR. King Lear wants to be idolized by his daughters. He goads them into a public competition to determine who loves him best. Wanting their father’s favor and a chunk of his kingdom, Goneril and Regan lay it on thick with speeches of devotion. In contrast, Cordelia shares her measured affection ...
Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents THE WINTER’S TALE. King Leontes of Sicilia is under the illusion Queen Hermoine is cheating on him. And he dogmatically maintains she is pregnant by King Polixenes of Bohemia. In his irrational jealousy, he imprisons his wife and conspires to kill Polixenes. When Camillo tips off Polixenes, the duo flee to Bohemia. ...
Remy Bumppo presents MUD ROW. Four women want a better life. Elsie dreams of marrying up. Frances fights for civil rights. Toshi yearns to return home. Regine wishes for her husband’s optimism. Two sets of sisters separated by decades are bound together as family. The past and present collide as the women grapple with poverty, trauma, ...
Music Theater Works presents JIMMY BUFFETT’S ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. Rachel is a career-focused scientist. Tammy is a dieting bride-to-be. When winter turns brutal in Cincinnati, the friends escape to Margaritaville. They arrive on the island to find the tequila flowing, the people chilling and the wifi missing. The vibe is warm and welcoming! Tammy quickly befriends ...
Goodman Theatre, along with Barrington Stage and Hartford Stage, present the World Premiere of DEAD GIRL’S QUINCEAÑERA as part of the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance’s 9th annual Destinos Chicago International Latino Theater Festival. Maria celebrated turning 15 with a festive quinceañera. No one has seen her since the party. She’s not responding to texts. Her friends ...
Lookingglass Theatre presents a Brando Beginnings production of KOWALSKI. It’s the summer of 1947. Tennessee Williams has completed his script for “A Streetcar Named Desire.” He has selected Jessica Tandy to play Blanche. He needs to decide on an actor to play Stanley. His director sends a newbie to him for an audition. Williams is already ...
Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents PLAY ON! Viola is a songwriter. Her dreams take her to New York where the Duke is king. To meet her idol, Viola disguises herself as a guy. The Duke is impressed by Vy-man and coerces him (Viola) to woo his estranged muse, Lady Liv. Vy-man’s persuasion works too well. Lady Liv ...
Broadway in Chicago presents Kokandy Productions’ critically acclaimed JEKYLL & HYDE. Henry Jekyll is curious about the psyche. He wants to determine the line between morality and derangement. When the Board of Governors shut down his request for research subjects, Jekyll decides to experiment on himself. When he ingests chemicals, he unleashes his inner Edward Hyde. ...
The Goodman Theatre presents the World Premiere of The 7 Fingers’ THE ATTIC: THINGS I’VE SEEN WHILE LYING ON MY BACK. Childhood. Trapeze. Lover. Miscarriage. Birth. A Fall. Cancer. A woman remembers her life from her bed at pivotal moments. From dreaming of swinging from the rafters to actually floating-through-the-air as an aerialist, the Tony Award-nominated ...
Idle Muse Theatre Company presents WITCH. Elizabeth lives in bitter isolation. The village blames her for sickness, barren cows, and failed crops. They think she’s a witch. At the town tavern, a mysterious stranger shares drinks with rivals competing for the love and inheritance of Sir Arthur. He offers to help each secure their desire. The ...