Theatre with a side of life
Reviewed by Tom Lawler Set the scene: LOBBY HERO, a drama from celebrated playwright and filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan (THIS IS OUR YOUTH, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA), debuted off-Broadway in the spring of 2001 and completed its scheduled six-month run just days before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Aside from a UK premiere in 2002, this property then ...
TimeLine Theatre, in partnership with the American Vicarious and the Theatre School at DePaul University, presents the Chicago premiere DEBATE: BALDWIN VS BUCKLEY. Is the American Dream at the expense of the American Negro? On February 17, 1965, this question was the subject of debate between American writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin and American ...
Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents Olney Theatre Center’s production of AVAAZ. Upon arrival to the 6th floor studio theatre at Chicago Shakes, the audience is greeted by sumptuous eye candy designed by Beowulf Boritt. Several elegant chandeliers dangle over a lavish spread of apples, greenery, candles and ornate brass pitchers and holders. Along the back wall are ...
Porchlight Music Theatre presents FUN HOME. ‘Fun home’ may conjure up carnival-like expectations. Although it is definitely fun and is about home, this show has more depth and breadth than a typical musical. It’s based on Alison Bechdel’s critically-acclaimed graphic novel about growing up in a funeral home, ‘coming out’ and her father’s suicide. The creative ...
Jackalope Theatre presents the remount and limited engagement of THE SMUGGLER. Andrew Burden Swanson is a master storyteller. Swanson plays Tim Finnegan, an unemployed Irish immigrant with a story… actually several stories… to tell. Swanson is transfixing as he weaves together a modern yarn with unexpected twists and turns. And he does it by seamlessly playing ...
Broadway in Chicago presents the Tony Award-winning musical comedy, SHUCKED. Cob County is under a corn emergency. The wedding of childhood sweethearts, Maizy and Beau, is interrupted by crop failure. When the community’s fields of dreams is threatened, they must face survival by slim-pickings. And this kernel of truth exposes them to outside forces. The creative ...
Music Theater Works presents LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL. “Omigod. Omigod you guys” this show is super fun! In 2001, Reese Witherspoon made being blonde and wearing pink the fashionable alternative to stuffy law suits. Her iconic film became a comedy classic. Elle, a Malibu sorority girl, follows her ex-boyfriend to Harvard. In her pursuit to get him ...
Hell in a Handbag Productions presents RUDOLPH THE RED-HOSED REINDEER, An Unauthorized Parody. The infamous “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” debuted in 1964. The animated TV special about a reindeer with a really shiny nose also introduced an elf wanting to be a dentist, an abominable snow monster and an entire island of misfit toys. The show ...
Broadway in Chicago presents & JULIET. “Romeo & Juliet” is iconic. Boy meets girl. They fall in love. Their families hate each other. They marry anyway. To escape the family feuds, Juliet fakes her death. Finding her lifeless, Romeo poisons himself. Juliet wakes to find his corpse. She then stabs herself to death. This legendary tale ...
Broadway in Chicago presents YIPPEE KI YAY The Parody Celebration of Die Hard. Bruce Willis’ iconic performance in “Die Hard” and “Die Hard II” created cult-classic Christmas movies. In both films, the terrorist plots utilized the holidays as an opportunity to attack. Willis played a NYC cop meeting up with his wife. His signature sarcasm turned ...