Lifeline Theatre presents the world premiere of ANNA KARENINA. Leo Tolstoy's classic could be dubbed "War and Love." Tolstoy's lengthy Russian novel focuses on the tortures of all-consuming love. Anna (played by an outstanding Ilse Zacharias) desperately loves her son (played by skillful puppeteer Michele Stine) and her lover (played by the sensual Eric Gerard). Her ...
Review “Pillars of the Community” (Strawdog Theatre): Relevant and Timeless
Strawdog Theatre presents PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY. His cover-up of a past affair and financial crime threatens to demolish a politician's established world. Although it sounds like our present day reality, PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY is set in the 1800s. Samuel Adamson adapted Henrik Ibsen's 1877 play about a leader whose enamored base feel that he ...
EXTENDED THRU March 17 “Merrily We Roll Along” (Porchlight Music Theatre): A Blast Backwards
Porchlight Music Theatre presents MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. The creative team of Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and George Furth (book) cleverly start at the end and work backwards in this musical. We meet Franklin Shephard (played by Jim DeSelm) in present day. Although the perky ensemble is singing the title song Merrily we roll along, ...
2018: January Check-In
I had a list of January goals to accomplish for optimizing my health, social, home and financial sectors. As is often the case, my results were a series of victories, defeats and meh. I hit all my training work outs but fell short on the yoga classes. I cut way back on the wine drinking ...
Review “The Humans” (Broadway in Chicago): I miss ATC!
The HumansSeattle Repertory TheatreSeattle, WashingtonNovember 28, 2017Photo Credit: Julieta Cervantes Broadway in Chicago, along with Producers Scott Rudin and Barry Diller, present THE HUMANS, Best Play - 2016 Tony Award. I was fortunate to see the world premiere of THE HUMANS at American Theatre Company in 2015. I absolutely loved Stephen Karam's family portrait of love ...
Review “Hatfield and McCoy” (The House Theatre of Chicago): Epic Booze-Soaked, Blood-Bath
The House Theatre of Chicago presents an all-new production of Hatfield & McCoy. The Hatfields and McCoys was the infamous family feud from the 1800s. These families hated each other. Their bitter battle was fueled by moonshine and revenge. The House again brings the epic families' drama to the stage. When Rose Anna McCoy (played by Haley ...
Review “Traitor” (A Red Orchid Theatre): Small Town Showdown
A Red Orchid Theatre presents the world premiere adaptation of Heinrich's Ibsen's An Enemy of the People, TRAITOR. The intimacy of their space. Their choices in scripts. The look and feel of their performances. A Red Orchid has a long history of putting the theatre goer 'in the room.' And their current offering of TRAITOR not only ...
Review “Hinter” (Steep Theatre): A House Haunted by Secrets
Steep Theatre presents the world premiere of HINTER. Playwright Calamity West pulls us into a real-life unsolved mystery from the 1920s. From the first scene of shadows and whispers, the storytelling is engaging. West drops us on a farm in post WWI Germany. The war has caused a shortage of food, money and men. Widows are ...
Review “Five Mile Lake” (Shattered Globe): Dreaming Big, Living Wistfully
Shattered Globe presents FIVE MILE LAKE. Playwright Rachel Bonds puts her own spin on the familiar question 'Can you go home again?' Drew Schad (Danny) and Joseph Wiens(Rufus) have returned to their hometown. Each is retreating from complications of the real world. Their siblings, Daniela Colucci (Mary) and Steve Peebles (Jamie), never left home. They provide their siblings with the ...
Review “The Good Fight” (Babes with Blades Theatre Company): Inspiring Present-Day Gumption
Babes With Blades Theatre Company (BWBTC) continues its 20th Anniversary Season: “Origins” with the Chicago premiere of The Good Fight. Christabel Pankhurst, Emmeline Pankhurst, Gertrude Harding, Harriet Kerr, Grace Roe, Emily Wilding Davison were women suffragettes in London. Playwright Anne Bertram gives us a peek into the turbulent era that secured a woman's right to vote. Bertram starts her ...