Given that Verdi's Nabucco has only come to Lyric three times now, this show is worth recommending for the cast alone, which is all encapsulated beautifully in Carlo Rizzi’s perfectly ener…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 10:21PMIn Philip Dawkins' new romantic comedy, the familiar gay tropes must react to the switch in their own unique way. Though it treads on familiar ground and some on-the-nose metaphors, About Fa…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:42PMAfter 13 years of innovative theater, Signal Ensemble Theatre will close for good in February, The Consultant being their final production. Heidi Schreck’s play doesn’t seem to have much…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 05:04PMFor Vices & Virtues, Profiles Theatre performs 11 short plays from resident playwright Neil LaBute in repertory, and each work's degree of success is heavily influenced by how well it o…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 11:25PMIn this New York-based world premiere from director Steve Cosson and his troupe, The Civilians, Goodman Theatre creates a sympathetic showcase for José Rivera’s depiction of a Colombian w…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:21PMDrury Lane Theatre's Bye Bye Birdie is executed impeccably and, through projections designed by Christopher Ash, recreates the period nicely. Director-Choreographer Tammy Mader’s take is f…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 12:09PMWith Posh, acclaimed Chicago director Jonathan Berry brings Playwright Laura Ward's words to roaring, disturbing life. Ward’s writing is both beautiful and brutal, always showing and never…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 03:53PMTimeLine Theatre's Sunset Baby, directed by Ron OJ Parsons, provides insight into how a life of hustling can be difficult to escape, how familial strife can be difficult to reconcile, and ho…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 03:04PMAlthough Route 66 Theatre's No Wake is a mere 80 minutes long, Playwright William Donnelly reveals the themes and crises of the play in such a excruciatingly slow, meticulous manner that the…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 11:59PMRasaka Theatre Company's Midwest premiere of Shane Sakhrani's romance, A Widow of No Importance, is a baffling mash up of Oedipal tension with a comedic style reminiscent of an average Big B…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 02:28PMShattered Globe's Animals Out of Paper is an unconventional story of romance, friendship and loss centered on an art that’s unfamiliar to many - origami. Pulitzer Prize nominee Rajiv Josep…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:57PMAs directed by Marriott Theatre Artistic Director Aaron Thielen, Spring Awakening is an explosion of youthful passion that should provide a rush for all demographics, reveling in the furious…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 04:43PMAside from minimal quibbles, I recommend attending London Wall. The story and characters may not come off as truly unique, but they manage to grip the audience with relatability. Recommended…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 11:03PMDynamically distilled by Louis Armstrong biographer Terry Teachout, "Satchmo at the Waldorf" is a one-man, 90-minute portrait of the artist as a performer playing with pain. Masterfully helm…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 07:08PMBeing election season, Mutt is especially timely. And the Midwest premiere by Red Tape Theatre and Stage Left Theatre is a winner, thanks to smart direction, phenomenal production values and…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 07:32PMJoanie Schultz and her young acting duo do more than could ever be needed to bring Dan LeFranc’s still life to stage life. But the resentments never resonate, and the character conflict is…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 03:31PMBrontë is a fitting tribute to Charlotte, Emily and Anne in their brilliant, complex glory, and Promethean’s production is nothing short of excellent and memorable. The sisters would be p…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:14PMTen Dollar House Written by Rick Kinnebrew and Martha Meyer at Piccolo Th…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:51PMThis world premiere collaboration is a beautifully acted and brutally realistic exploration of betrayal and the price of truth. Byhalia, Mississippi is a must see. Highly Recommended! (read…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 04:20PMA bad script can overwhelm even the best of productions, which is the case for Year of the Rooster. It’s lazy and completely unnecessary: a far departure from the overwhelming brilliance o…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 12:24PMThe idea of a play within a play has obviously been around for hundreds of years, and Playwright Brian McKnight's spin on it isn't unique enough to warrant rushing out to see it. We've seen …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:06PMAnother year, another 12 months of great Chicago theater! Taking into account the 700+ productions that were produced in the Windy City over the last year, here are our reviewer’s picks fo…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 03:56PM2015 was a great year for theater in Chicago, making it a difficult task to whittle down all 500+ productions to our best and most memorable productions. That being said, here's a list (in …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 01:40PMDirector Jerry Mitchell and company’s energy is infectious - Gotta Dance radiates positivity and sweetness from beginning to end. The inspiring story of a group of determined seniors is pe…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:01PMWith Light Opera Works' Guys and Dolls, director Rudy Hogenmiller, scenic designer Adam Veness and costume designer Brenda Winstead give us a colorful picture of the 1930s Times Square. Even…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 05:38PMMy Way is a delight from beginning to end. Fans of Theo Ubique will adore the show’s classic, intimate style, and newbies will enjoy an introduction to one of Chicago’s best-kept theater…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 07:34PMTrue to this show’s title, the divas it celebrates were truly dynamite, and so are the singer/actresses playing them. We’re treated to some truly sensational performances of more predict…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:40PMThe Nutcracker is a Christmas classic for a reason. With a poignant score, magnificent production values and gorgeous dancing, The Nutcracker truly has something for everyone. Highly Recomme…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 10:03PMAt its heart, Baritones Unbound is genuine. As a performance, it’s superb. As a concept and a production, it’s a little thin and a lot indulgent. Recommended. (read Lauren Whalen's entir…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 07:45PMWhen it comes to sharp and biting social commentary, no one gets to the gut like Bruce Norris. Domesticated is a strong, horrifically funny script executed deliberately and beautifully by th…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:39PMDespite the faults with this loony Finnish script, director Brad Akin keeps his production interesting throughout. If you like oddball stories, The Orchestra should definitely will play to …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 04:52PM
