Broadway in Chicago presents the pre-Broadway world premiere of AMAZING GRACE. Songs are more meaningful when the lyrics aren’t just heard, they are understood. And the experience becomes more profound when each word is felt. Christopher Smith (music, lyrics, book) and Arthur Giron (book) deconstruct the words to the song “Amazing Grace” by telling the story ...
The Fourth Walsh
Theatre with a side of life
Category The Fourth Walsh
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Audience Annihilated Part 2 — The Gold Star Sticker: It’s Very Dark in Here
Reviewed by Tom Lawler Dream Theatre Company presents AUDIENCE ANNIHILATED PART 2: THE GOLD STAR STICKER. Brilliantly blurring the lines between a haunted house, multimedia art installation and most of all, a riveting, risky theatrical work, AUDIENCE ANNIHILATED… will surely creep you out for every one of its 15 minutes. Your journey begins on the sidewalk ...
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The 2014 Equity Jeff Winners vs my picks
2014 EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES PRODUCTION – PLAY – LARGE“The Dance of Death” - Writers Theatre - WINNER“Hedda Gabler” - Writers Theatre - T4W pick“Lost in Yonkers” - Northlight Theatre“Luna Gale” - Goodman Theatre “Seven Guitars” - Court Theatre PRODUCTION – PLAY – MIDSIZE“King Hedley II” - Congo Square Theatre Company“The Normal Heart” - TimeLine Theatre Company“Our Class” ...
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Review “Bethany” (The Gift Theatre): She Will Survive!
Reviewed by Tom Lawler The Gift Theatre presents the Chicago premiere of BETHANY. A few things about this bracing look back at our recent (and lingering) Great Recession actually reminded me of an earlier era of economic hardship: the ‘80s. Maybe it was the Trumpian motivational speaker (a slithering James D. Farruggio) espousing his how-to-get-rich philosophy, ...
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EXTENDED Thru Nov 16 Review “Sweeney Todd” (Porchlight Music Theatre): Scary Good!
Porchlight Music Theatre presents SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET. To open its season of Sondheim, Porchlight chose to showcase the darker side of the award-winning composer first. In Victorian England, Benjamin returns home after serving 15 years for a bogus crime. During his absence, his wife and daughter have also been victimized ...
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Review “The Wild Party” (Bailiwick Chicago): Boozy, Groping, Tripping, Hot Mess
Bailiwick Chicago presents THE WILD PARTY. The title says it all! Director and choreographer Brenda Didier skillfully throws a party and it’s wild! Set in the roaring 20’s, the story is about the vaudeville shenanigans after the curtain comes down. Queenie (played with moxie by Danni Smith) is everyone’s favorite good time gal. She rocks it ...
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Review “The Night Alive” (Steppenwolf Theatre): Dark with the promise of light
Steppenwolf Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of THE NIGHT ALIVE. Tommy (played in bittersweet perfection by Francis Guinan) is having a mid-life crisis. He is estranged from his wife and teenage children. He is living in a dilapidated room in his aging uncle’s house. He survives by running petty scams with his friend Doc (played by the ...
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Review “Capriccio” (Lyric Opera): Music is the winner!
Lyric Opera of Chicago presents CAPRICCIO. This is my second experience with Composer Richard Strauss’ debate of words verses music. Although Strauss aided Clemens Krauss in creating the libretto, there is no doubt what Strauss believes to be more important. Under the spirited baton of Sir Andrew Davis, the music dominates the stage from the overture ...
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It wasn’t a disaster as much as a nonevent!
Dear Redmoon Theatre, When you invite the city to a party, you need to be prepared when they show up. Last night, Redmoon Theatre launched the first annual Great Chicago Fire Festival. The pre-spectacle press materials described it as a theatrical fire showcase taking place on the Chicago River from the State Street Bridge to the Columbus ...