Theatre with a side of life
Goodman Theatre presents THE COLOR PURPLE The Musical. Celie endures assault from her father, torture from her husband and a forced separation from her sister and children. Her grasp on hope is slipping away. She is trapped in a prison of her own unworthiness. The strength of other women ignite her spirit to fight for love ...
Steppenwolf Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of YOU WILL GET SICK. The show starts with Amy Morton and Namir Smallwood talking on the phone to each other. A voice from offstage (Jordan Arredondo) narrates stage directions. My confusion is immediate. Is this a performance for the visually impaired? What is going on? Although I ...
Broadway in Chicago presents KIMBERLY AKIMBO, winner of five 2023 Tony Awards including Best Musical. This show is ‘unexpected.’ Kimmy is 16. Due to a rare aging disorder, she is rapidly approaching the end of her life expectancy. Her mom is a pregnant narcissist. Her dad is an irresponsible drunk. Her aunt is a brassy thug. ...
Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents the North American premiere of 42 BALLOONS. Did you know in 1982 a truck driver named Larry Walters ascended 16,000 feet in a lawn chair tied to 42 balloons? Jack Godfrey (book, music, lyrics) tells the true story of a man chasing his fantastical dream. Larry wanted to be a pilot in the ...
LookingglassTheatre presents the World Premiere of IRAQ, BUT FUNNY. I’m struggling to even inadequately describe this innovative, interactive and immersive history lesson. Playwright and performer Atra Asdou tells the history of the Assyrian* people from the perspective of five generations of mother/daughter relationships. This semi-autobiographical tale is narrated by Asdou as an English gentleman. Asdou, hysterical ...
Jackalope Theatre presents the World Premiere of NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH. In the aftermath of the 2024 election, the country is in turmoil! The President is fueling hatred and distrust of anyone ‘different.’ Paul lives in the suburbs with his daughter. He is anxious about the future of democracy. Mohammed moves in next door with mysterious boxes and ...
Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents HYMN. Two men meet. Each is grieving. Their childhoods have led to very different adult outcomes. They are both searching for something missing. Can they find it in each other? Playwright Lolita Chakrabarti tells the tale of two strangers in their fifties. When their paths cross accidentally, they share ...
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company presents ART. Serge bought an expensive painting. Marc tells his friend that the acquisition was stupid. When Marc asks, Yvan agrees the purchase is laughable. Later at Serge’s, Yvan voices an appreciation for the art. At the center of Yasmina Reza’s play, translated to English by Christopher Hampton, is a white painting. ...
Goodman Theatre presents BUST, An Afrocurrentist Play. What happens when a black person is pulled over by the police? A lot of times, they are harassed, beaten or shot. Playwright Zora Howard, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, explores a provocative alternative. In her unique tale, she imagines centuries of ancestral oppression and years of racism uncorking enough ...
Court Theatre presents the World Premiere of BERLIN. It’s Berlin in 1928. Fascism is on the rise. A young artist. A seasoned reporter. A nightclub singer. A factory worker. Everyday people must decide to leave, hide or fight. Jason Lutes’ graphic novel depicts a volatile time in history. Adapter Mickle Maher masterfully brings the comic strip ...