All stories by Chris Jones on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Only ‘For You’: A match-making program at Court Theatre pairs up artists and seniors by Chris Jones

As spread to Chicago by choreographer Erika Chong Shuch, the program pairs up artists and elders and lets the creativity exchange begin. You could call it a new way of defining "audience."

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:00AM
Thursday, October 29, 2020

Review: Ike Holter’s new audio play 'Put Your House in Order’ is a scary story set among Evanston’s lakefront liberals by Chris Jones

As presented by Chicago theater company The Roustabouts, this new audio play is about a virus, a liberal community and the present moment. Very scary for your Halloween listening.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:25PM

Playwright August Wilson’s archive headed home to Pittsburgh by Chris Jones

August Wilson archive headed home to Pittsburgh

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:59AM
Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Column: As we head into a winter lockdown, who will win? Netflix and DoorDash again? Don’t be so sure. by Chris Jones

What will happen during this likely locked-down winter? Will we stay on our screens and spend on Big Tech? Or is there hope for local culture, if we try?

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:30PM
Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Magician Teller will do ‘Chicago Shakesfear,' but even he can’t make live magic reappear by Chris Jones

Talking with Teller (of Penn & Teller) about his frequent collaborations with Chicago Shakespeare and what he thinks of magic over Zoom.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:25PM
Friday, October 23, 2020

Column: An early debate lead for Donald J. Trump but, in the end, he couldn’t help his own cause by Chris Jones

At the beginning of the final presidential debate in Nashville, Tenn., President Trump kept his earlier bluster in check and outscored Joe Biden. It couldn't last forever, though.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:25AM
Thursday, October 22, 2020

Second City accepting applications for ‘Saturday Night Live' scholarship by Chris Jones

The Chicago comedy theater, along with troupes in New York and Los Angeles, are taking applications for an 'SNL' scholarship with the aim to diversify comedy.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:34PM

Review: Brian Dennehy and the great Chicago ‘Death of a Salesman' are back to haunt us anew by Chris Jones

The Goodman Theatre's powerful staging of Arthur Miller's classic would go on to Broadway and win four Tony Awards. A Showtime film of that production is now available to watch for free thro…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:01PM

Column: Tragic presidency of Donald J. Trump may be nearing an end. What will be the final scene? by Chris Jones

Analyzing the trajectory of a presidency is not unlike inhabiting a writer’s room at Netflix or HBO. Or reading one's Shakespeare.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 07:00AM
Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Writers Theatre adjusts season again; About Face hopes to return to live performance in the spring by Chris Jones

The theater in Glencoe has a new play with blues music, adds a Christmas play and the digital play "Ride Share."

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:26AM
Monday, October 19, 2020

Review: In the latest Collaboraction ‘Peacebook,’ Riad Ismat’s son puts the pain of losing his dad while quarantined on the screen. Plus other p by Chris Jones

As "Peacebook" turns to video, we get authentic stories set in North Lawndale, a brave account from performance artist Sami Ismat and others, about two hours in all.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 07:12PM
Thursday, October 15, 2020

Goodman Theatre will stream its iconic 1998 ‘Death of a Salesman’ with Brian Dennehy by Chris Jones

As a fundraiser for Chicago's Actors Fund, the Goodman will stream the Chicago production that went on to Broadway. Here's how to watch.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:57PM

‘Jagged Little Pill’ leads Tony Award nominations with 15, honoring shortened season on Broadway by Chris Jones

In a strange year for Broadway, the 2020 Tony Award nominations have been announced. The last theater season was cut short by the pandemic, which forced Broadway to shut down on March 12, le…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:29PM

Column: For actors and other arts professionals, the healthcare safety net has been ripped to pieces by Chris Jones

Whether they work on stage or screen, actors rely on their unions for health insurance. Those systems rely on a real, live working theater, or Broadway, or on Hollywood movie making. But thi…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:30AM
Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Actor Brian Stokes Mitchell, this year’s Sarah Siddons winner, sang for New York from his apartment window during the pandemic by Chris Jones

The Broadway star and this year’s recipient of the Chicago theater award sang “The Impossible Dream” from the musical “Man of La Mancha" for healthcare workers and the crowds that ga…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:17PM
Monday, October 12, 2020

Review: ’45 Plays for America’s First Ladies’ by the Neo-Futurists is about an impossible role in an unofficial job by Chris Jones

No real position but a whole history of judgements. The Neo-Futurists write "45 Plays for America’s First Ladies" for this year's election season.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:07PM

Nathan Allen leaves House Theatre of Chicago after nearly 20 years as leader by Chris Jones

As founding artistic director, we was at the artistic helm for the theater's very popular successes, including "The Sparrow" and “The Terrible Tragedy of Peter Pan."

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:32PM
Sunday, October 11, 2020

Bradley Mott, a big man of the Chicago theater who scored huge laughs, has died at 64 by Chris Jones

Obituary: Big-hearted actor Bradley Mott of the Chicago theater (March 23, 1956 - Oct. 10, 2020)

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:37PM

Review: At Chicago Children’s Theatre’s 'Beatrix Potter Drive-In,’ the pint-sized people in the back seat get their due by Chris Jones

"The Beatrix Potter Drive-In Theatre Experience" at Chicago Children's Theatre is a blissful escape in a parking lot with some favorite children's stories.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:00PM
Friday, October 9, 2020

iO Theater of Chicago is for sale, a sad week for Chicago comedy by Chris Jones

Founder Charna Halpern is selling her theater, a longtime Chicago home for comedy and improv. The news comes soon after Second City's sale announcement.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:54AM

Column: Second City is on the auction block. Why Chicago has much to lose. by Chris Jones

With Second City up for sale, Chicago could lose a treasured institution. The theater can still be saved, but America's sense of humor — and its basic sense of civility — needs to heal i…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:00AM
Thursday, October 8, 2020

Column: Glimmers of hope and substance at the Harris-Pence vice presidential debate. But answer the question, already. by Chris Jones

Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence may have dodged questions and gone over time, but the whole proceedings were an improvement over the r…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:25AM
Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Chicago’s famed Second City comedy theater is now fully up for sale by Chris Jones

Following an exit by co-owner Andrew Alexander over the summer, the theater is now fully on the market. It's been shut down since March by the pandemic and continues to have expenses.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:36PM

Column: Why the Rose Garden COVID-19 fiasco was dismal news for the return of live entertainment by Chris Jones

The White House Rose Garden infection fiasco was a test case that showed rapid testing doesn't work as hoped, at least in present form. Chris Jones argues this debacle was bad news for the r…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:15AM
Monday, October 5, 2020
Friday, October 2, 2020

Chicago to give $1.2 million in grants to up to 120 arts venues by Chris Jones

A new City of Chicago program offers grants to Chicago's struggling performing-arts venues, including for-profit operations with bands and DJs.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:17PM
Thursday, October 1, 2020

In 'painful’ decision, Joffrey Ballet of Chicago cancels 2020-21 season by Chris Jones

A planned spring world premiere of Cathy Marston’s “Of Mice and Men” joins the already canceled "Nutcracker." But an emergency fund to support the company has already raised millions.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:25AM

Column: As arts in Chicago and the nation suffered, the Kennedy Center in D.C. was about to open a nightclub on its roof by Chris Jones

You’re a prestigious arts center in a pandemic. Here’s what not to do: Have a nightclub on your roof called Heist X. This is one of the strangest stories of the COVID arts shutdown.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 07:00AM
Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Column: First Trump-Biden match is a debate of depravity, revealing just how far America has sunk by Chris Jones

With shouting, anger and calls to "shut up," the first debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden deteriorated into a bitter showdown in Cleveland, in a nation…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:36AM
Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Want to see ‘Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol’ live on stage for the holidays? You’ll have to head to Milwaukee by Chris Jones

The Milwaukee Repertory Theatre has the most ambitious plan in the region to return to live performances, beginning with a holiday show inspired by the Dickens tale.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:25PM
Monday, September 28, 2020

Why this time seems different as Chicago theaters see ‘new hope’ for inclusion even while struggling for survival during the pandemic by Chris Jones

For Jackie Taylor, the founder of the Black Ensemble Theater and a woman who has seen calls for diversity come and go over the years, this moment seems different.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 07:00AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic
TBA: Ragtime