The Lyric Opera of Chicago presents a new production of WOZZECK . Lyric’s latest opera is a unique theatrical experience for multiple reasons. Historically, Composer Alban Berg debuted this opera in Berlin in 1925. He had seen the the 1830‘s play “Wozzeck” in 1914. He begin writing the opera about a soldier named Wozzeck during World ...
Review “Four Women: Josephine, Eartha, Nina and Tina” (Chicago Humanities Festival): Phenomenal!
(From L to R) Lili-Anne Brown, Lynne Jordan, Monique Haley, Bethany Thomas, Karla Beard-Leroy, Alexis J. Rogers, Dee Alexander, and E. Faye Butler singing Four Women at the Chicago Humanities Festival production of Four Women on Monday, Nov. 2 at Francis W Parker School, as part of the 2015 Fall Festival, Citizens. Photo by ...
Review “The Time of Your Life” (The Artistic Home): Is Now! See it before Nov. 15th
The Artistic Home presents THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE. It’s 1939. People are unemployed, hungry and desperate. A mysterious man named Joe (played by Scott Westerman) holds court at Nick’s Tavern. Although the world around him is uncertain, he finds solace and beauty in his established routine of unpredictability. As various drunks, hookers, and seedy officials ...
Review “The Play About My Dad” (Raven Theatre): Poignant Hurricane Storytelling
Raven Theatre presents THE PLAY ABOUT MY DAD. Playwright Boo Killebrew tells Hurricane Katrina stories about her hometown, Gulfport, Mississippi. A family refusing to evacuate. An old lady waiting for her son to arrive from New Orleans. Two paramedics holding down their post. And Dr. Larry Killebrew, the playwright’s father, working through the storm at the ...
Review “Treasure Island” (Lookingglass Theatre): I Found Gold!
Lookingglass Theatre, in conjunction with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, presents the World Premiere of TREASURE ISLAND. Adapter and director Mary Zimmerman is at the helm of Lookingglass’ second voyage to sea. After closing their past season with the successful MOBY DICK expedition, Lookingglass opens this season with their TREASURE ISLAND adventure. Zimmerman adapts Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic ...
Review “The Terrible” (The New Colony): Therapeutic Performance Art with “No Exit”
The New Colony presents the world premiere of THE TERRIBLE. The lighting is stark. The stage is silent. Jessica London-Shields (Woolfe) methodically removes her clothes. She pulls on a one-piece, army-colored jumper. She sets up a camera and two tape recorders. Then, London-Shields binds her wrists from a rope suspended from a grappling hook. And in ...
Review “No Beast so Fierce” (Oracle Theatre): Pretty Fierce!
Oracle Theatre, in conjunction with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), presents NO BEAST SO FIERCE. Adapter and Director Max Truax reimagines Shakespeare’s “Richard III” in his newest Oracle production. The first major difference in his innovation is casting Katherine Keberlein in the lead. Although Keberlein is Richard III, she is also a ...
Review “My Mañana Comes” (Teatro Vista): Serves up a Bro-Fest that turns ugly, real ugly
Teatro Vista presents My Mañana Comes. As someone who has served, I was riveted by this authentic portrayal of life and lives in a restaurant. Playwright Elizabeth Irwin neatly peppers the dialogue with jargon; ‘eyes on 16,’ ‘taking the cut,’ and ‘shift pay‘. Irwin uses random dinner shifts over a three month period to introduce us ...
Review “East of Eden” (Steppenwolf Theatre): Family Drama Page Turner
Steppenwolf Theatre presents the World Premiere adaptation of EAST OF EDEN. Steppenwolf uses all the right stuff to turn John Steinbeck’s sprawling novel into an engaging play. Adapter Frank Galati whittles down the complicated family drama and pulls out the essential nuggets. His lean script keeps the action moving but never sacrifices essential story elements. In ...
Review “My Brilliant Divorce” (Irish Theatre): Figgins Keeps It Real
The Irish Theater presents the Midwest Premiere of MY BRILLIANT DIVORCE. Barbara Figgins (Angela) strolls on stage with her faithful companion at her side, a life-sized dog stuffed and on wheels. Figgins will spend the next impressive hour and half chronicling Angela’s last four years. In this one woman show, Figgins plays Angela, a woman whose ...