Theatre with a side of life
The House Theatre of Chicago presents NUTCRACKER. This is my sixth time (2016, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010) seeing House’s imaginative interpretation of E.T.A. Hoffman’s story about a nutcracker. The creative team of Jake Minton(playwright/lyricist) , Phillip Klapperich(playwright), Kevin O’Donnell (composer) and Tommy Rapley (director/choreographer)spun the classic into a playful, magical and wonderfully heartfelt Chicago holiday tradition. The story is about ...
November Report Card: I love this statue. It’s on Lake Shore Drive near Hyde Park. I pass it all the time on my way back and forth to Indiana. I saw it 8 times this past month. It always makes me smile and I often muse out loud, ‘what are you looking at?’ Happy December! Chicago ...
Lookingglass Theatre presents the world premiere of THE STEADFAST TIN SOLDIER. Director Mary Zimmerman creates magic on stage this holiday season. Zimmerman tells Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of a toy soldier. A one legged soldier (played by Alex Stein) is the target of a series of unfortunate events. Despite his continual mishaps, he does fall in ...
Steppenwolf Theatre presents FAMILIAR. Playwright Danai Gurira introduces us to a somewhat typical Minnesota family. The Zimbabwean-American parents (played by Ora Jones and Cedric Young) bicker over TV. Their free-spirited daughter (played by Celeste M. Cooper) ruminates over the family not reading her blog. Their eldest daughter (played by Lanise Antoine Shelley) has become a fervent ...
Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary MISS SAIGON. This is my second time seeing MISS SAIGON. I love it hard! The score is fierce. The action is thrilling. And this production has cast powerful principles in Red Concepcion (The Engineer), Emily Bautista (Kim), Anthony Festa (Chris) and J. Daughtry (John). Plus, a ...
Refuge Theatre Project presents the Chicago premiere of THE LAST SESSION. The creative team of Steve Schalchlin (music and lyrics) and Jim Brochu (book) tell the story of a composer with AIDS in 1990s. At that point in history, the disease carried a death sentence. Inspired by Schalchlin’s personal struggle with AIDS, the show has Gideon, ...
Blue Man Group Chicago has added new content to its theatrical show. Since debuting its unique arts performance in 1991, Blue Man has entertained over 35 million people worldwide. Chicago is one of six permanent theatrical productions. So, a trio of blue men have been haunting Briar Street Theatre since the 90s. I was reminded at Thursday’s ...
October Report Card: I took this picture at the Garfield Conservatory. Ellen and I went for a tourist visit. I hadn’t been there in 20 years. I watched these birds interacting. I was amused how desperately one bird wanted to get outside and the other one wanted to get inside. I know some of my ...
The Factory Theater presents THE DARKNESS AFTER DAWN. Thunder… lightning… a woman covered in blood. This show startles on arrival. (Nod out to Sound Designer Sarah Espinoza for jolting me to attention with a boom.) A panicked Allison Cain (Rosemary) is in blood-soaked pajamas. She calls the police to inform them that she has killed an ...
Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents the North American debut of CIRCOLOMBIA. Wow! The circus has come to Chicago! And the experience is a heart-racing stunner! The Columbian circus troupe is performing for a limited engagement in Chicago Shakes’ The Yard. This new venue allows the troupe the space for its spectacular feats. The fifteen member crew includes singers, ...