Theatre with a side of life
TimelineTheatre presents the Chicago premiere of THE CHINESE LADY. Once upon a time in a land far away, a fourteen year old girl left her family. She traveled on a large ship on her way to a new world. The girl landed in New York in 1834. She became the first Chinese woman to ever ...
Steppenwolf Theatre presents Yasen Peyankov’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s SEAGULL. Chekhov penned his dark comedy in 1895. The play focuses on a writer’s (played by Namir Smallwood) quest for love from his mother (played by Luisa Strus), his neighbor Nina (played by Caroline Neff) and his audience. At the onset of the show, Smallwood debuts his ...
April showers ended up bringing May fl--showers… at least today. Chicago is being soaked by wind and rain. A foggy gloom blankets the city. The howling wind sends sheets of rain across the Drive. It’s your basic commuting nightmare especially on public transit. As I sip my coffee in my pajamas, I am so grateful ...
Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL. It’s believed Shakespeare penned this tale in 1603 around the time of Queen Elizabeth’s death and during a plague that killed one-in-five Londoners. It is one of 18 plays printed seven years after the Bard’s own death. The first record of it being performed is in 1741. ...
Porchlight Music Theatre presents SPRING AWAKENING. Over a century ago, German Playwright Frank Wedekind debuted his provocative play, “Spring Awakening.” Wedekind penned a coming-of-age tale of teenagers in a 19th century sexual oppressed society. He wrote about puberty, rape, sexual assault, erotic fantasy and homosexuality. His characters dealt with child abuse, neglect, suicide ideation, and mid-terms. ...
This picture encapsulates my March experience perfectly! The poinsettia I bought in December for $8.99 refuses to die. It’s hanging on… unwavering, unwanted, and unwatered. It’s mirroring winter in Chicago. Even though we officially said goodbye to winter last week, he is treating us to a rain-sleet-snow frenzy on this Saturday in April. Winter is like ...
Goodman Theatre presents the World Premiere of GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR. It’s 1958. The Jack Parr Show is broadcasting from LA for Sweeps Week. Since ratings are everything, Jack has booked his friend Oscar Levant. Oscar is known for his piano virtuosity and his unfiltered humor. Oscar’s quick, self-deprecating and unscripted wit is the perfect draw for ...
Steppenwolf Theatre and Center Theatre Group presents the World Premiere of KING JAMES. Just in time for March Madness, Playwright Rajiv Joseph debuts his tribute to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Joseph tells the tale of two fans turned friends. The guys meet to purchase season tickets as LeBron James joins the Cavs. Their resulting bromance chronicles LeBron’s ...
Music Theater Works presents LA CAGE AUX FOLLES starring RuPaul Drag Race’s Ginger Minj. From “We are What We Are” to the “The Best of Times” curtain call, this production crushes it! Cast, costumes, choreography, comedy swirl together for a dynamic musical spectacle. The creative team of Jerry Herman (music and lyrics) and Harvey Fierstein (book) debuted ...
Idle Muse Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of Upon This Shore: A Tale of Pericles and the Daughters of Tyre. Director and Adaptor Evan Jackson ambitiously orchestrates one of Shakespeare’s less recognized works. At its core, the tale is about a prince separated from his wife and child. As with any Shakes’ saga, the ...