Theatre with a side of life
Reviewed by Tom Lawler Set the scene: DEAR EVAN HANSEN, a musical about a depressed high school student battling social anxiety, was a sensation with audiences and critics alike when it made its Broadway debut in 2016. It nabbed six Tonys — including for Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score and most notably, a Best Actor ...
In search of a unique gift? Writers has the ticket! Writers Theatre presents the World Premiere live production of MANUAL CINEMA’S CHRISTMAS CAROL. Manual Cinema reimagines Charles Dickens’ holiday classic as a story within the story. Aunt Trudy (played by a dynamic LaKecia Harris) is grieving the loss of her husband Joe. In the past, Joe has ...
Theater Wit presents WHO’S HOLIDAY! Dr. Seuss’ beloved holiday classic “The Grinch” gets an Adults Only epilogue. Playwright Matthew Lombardo imagines a what-ever-happened-to-Cindy-Lou-Who retrospective. Lombardo creates the tike’s dark comedic backstory about being ostracized from Whoville. The play has an older Cindy Lou reflecting on her tumultuous and twisted relationship with the Grinch. Although Lombardo’s script ...
Broadway in Chicago presents Disney’s THE LION KING. Nants ingonyama bagithi baba Gugwana Dlamini (Rafiki) chants the infamous words that kick off the show and cast a spell on the audience. Her birth announcement summons the animals to a celebration of life. The resulting wildlife promenade is nothing less than transfixing puppet pageantry. Giraffes appear as performers ...
Lookingglass Theatre presents THE STEADFAST TIN SOLDIER. Magic is back! And just in time for the holiday season. Creator and director Mary Zimmerman masterfully spins Hans Christian Andersen’s story of a broken toy into a tale of resilience. The discarded soldier (played by Adeoye) goes on a journey of discovery. He falls for a ballerina (played by ...
Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents MEASURE FOR MEASURE. Upon arrival, the audience becomes barflies at a Cuban nightclub. Maracas are shaking. Showgirls are dancing. Drinks are pouring.The Havana vibe is sexy and fun. Before the play even begins, the debauchery is on full display. Cash is exchanged. Clothes are removed. Hook-ups are arranged. Director Henry Godinez places ...
Broadway in Chicago and Session Zero presents THE TWENTY-SIDED TAVERN. Ale and well met, fellow adventurers! In the spirit of Dungeons and Dragons, THE TWENTY-SIDED TAVERN is an interactive role-playing adventure. Created by David Andrew Greener Laws aka DAGL and Sarah Davis Reynolds with David Carpenter, the game is larger than life with oversized dice, a backdrop ...
Porchlight Music Theatre presents RENT. The late Jonathan Larson (music, lyrics, book) penned an award-winning rock opera. RENT is a modern-day spin on Puccini’s “La Boheme.” Puccini imagined the real struggles of starving artists in 19th Century Paris. Larson sets his story in late 20th Century NYC. His bohemians are filmmakers, drummers, guitarists, erotic dancers, poets ...
Music Theater Works presents Lerner and Lowe’s musical CAMELOT. CAMELOT is the 1960s award-winning Broadway musical and film. The love triangle story of King Arthur-Guenevere-Lancelot boasts a searing score by Alan Jay Lerner (lyrics and book) and Frederick Loewe (music). The fantasy musical imagines King Arthur’s very human struggle to lead by civility or jealousy. From ...
Mercury Theater presents CLUE. Parker Brothers made murder a popular game. They introduced color-coded characters, an array of weaponry and a mansion of rooms to die in. Figuring out the right killer combo was the objective to win. In 1985, the board game became an iconic comedy boasting a star-studded cast led by Tim Curry and ...