Griffin Theatre presents a new, intimate version of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, TITANIC. Onto the fairly small Theater Wit stage, Griffin launches its ‘ship of dreams.‘ The size of the theater works perfectly to connect the audience to the emotionality of the tragic sinking. From each person’s appearance on the gangplank, Director Scott Weinstein uses ...
The Fourth Walsh
Theatre with a side of life
Category The Fourth Walsh
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Review “Devil’s Day Off” (Signal Ensemble): The Key is in the Notes
Signal Ensemble Theatre presents the World Premiere of DEVIL’S DAY OFF. Post show, I read Playwright Jon Steinhagen’s note in the program. It described his vision. He indicates his script has no stage directions, no settings, no names of characters. He invites directors to execute with creativity mixing up genders, races and even language. He even ...
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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 ...