Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Though some bits may be too scary for the most wee ones among us, this is fun for the whole brood. Everything is zippy and well-choreographed, complete with a live band, dancers and pyrotech…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:13PMSunday, March 15, 2015
Kokandy’s Full Monty pulls off what few shows can - it’s clever in every way, but never winks at its audience. Thanks to wonderful writing, direction, design and acting, we get a ragtag …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 05:05PMFriday, January 30, 2015
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SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:26PMThis is a temporary post that was not deleted. Please delete this manually. (16b900d3-bd6d-4a75-be30-9dda5def562b – 3bfe001a-32de-4114-a6b4-4005b770f6d7)
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:03PMMonday, January 19, 2015
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Panic on Cloud 9 showcases the best of Chicago sketch comedy. It’s the perfect show to bring your friends and family who are visiting from out of town and a great destination for local ske…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 04:43PMWednesday, December 24, 2014
This is a small, deceptively quiet play where the fireworks of family implosion reverberate in your head long after the curtain has come down. There’s wisdom, humor, and deep honesty fou…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:06PMMonday, December 22, 2014
Chicago Shakes’ winter’s tale is as fun to feel as its plot is forgettable to recall. Director David H. Bell’s glorious stage pictures will stay with you long after the seemingly impro…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 10:37PMSaturday, December 20, 2014
Tweet of the Week (from "Newsies" cast member): fyi, if you're filming our show from the third row and think we can't see you...we can.
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 12:41PMFriday, December 19, 2014
Everything about this production is well-crafted, but particularly the juxtaposition of Kidder-Mostrom’s calm Vulcan with the rambunctious Klingons. A combination of terrific costumes, mak…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:13AMThursday, December 18, 2014
In a nutshell, Newsies’ choreography alone is worth the price of a ticket. The running time is bloated, the added songs leave a lot to be desired, and the female character is eye roll-wort…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 07:10PMSaturday, December 13, 2014
Joffrey Ballet, annual production takes audiences on a magical journey to a dream world of dance. With a lush, dramatic design and an impeccably cast ensemble, Joffrey’s Nutcracker is brim…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:37PMThursday, December 11, 2014
If you, like me, need your egg nog with a little bourbon or your favorite holiday special is “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”, Second City and Goodman have cooked up a satirical…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:07PMSunday, December 7, 2014
Adapter/director Terry McCabe takes a minimalist approach to these pieces - not much lighting, set or sound effects accompany the action. McCabe relies upon Doyle’s revered writing and a …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:52PMSaturday, December 6, 2014
Nineteen years after its advent, this show has become as essential to a Chicago Christmas as the lights on the Magnificent Mile. But it’s especially crucial when it comes to the central s…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:12PMSunday, November 30, 2014
Big musical about a big ship works in this small package as Director Scott Weinstein and his talented design team have created a theatrical world where your imagination fills in the details.…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 01:58PMSaturday, November 29, 2014
For anyone who’s ever wondered what Jesus’ mother felt like while watching her son’s brutal murder at the hands of a corrupt government, this script is ultimately very rewarding. Chock…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 05:40PMFriday, November 28, 2014
Nottage’s story seems to aspire to shine a light on the unfairly desperate straits endured by Africans struggling to navigate a racist and classist societal structure that’s both toxic a…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 10:59PMSaturday, November 22, 2014
An unmissable American classic! By the end of Lyric’s Porgy and Bess, I was flabbergasted by how moved I was not just by the stellar quality of the music itself but the humanity of those …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:33PMThursday, November 20, 2014
The latest national tour of Annie the Musical, directed by the musical’s lyricist Martin Charnin for the umpteenth time, at times feels a bit stale, but show-stealing performances and lova…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 03:44PMSunday, November 16, 2014
Lotto Fever’s main issue is its source material. Not the setting or time period, not the characters, but a script that can’t effectively straddle the line between pathos and belly laughs…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:49PMSaturday, November 15, 2014
The world premier of Leo Lionni's classic children's picture book Frederick is an example of good theater for children that isn't JUST for children. So many little touches throughout this mu…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 05:58PMThursday, November 13, 2014
A Bright Room is timely viewing for liberals after the recent mid-term elections. Kushner’s morality fable on the dangers of complacency is a clarion call to rally against its dangers - we…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:38PMWednesday, November 12, 2014
Since this is a Charles Dickens adaption, it feels perfectly right for the holidays, so thoroughly have his novels stamped the season. But, seasonal relevance aside, the play, like the book,…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:20PMSunday, November 9, 2014
Lillian Hellman’s story is a solid American classic that remains as timely now as it was more than 60 years ago. But at the Artistic Home, that story hits the ear with such inauthenticity …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 11:58PMFriday, November 7, 2014
As our understanding of the human condition increases, our ability to lay blame becomes more nuance. Getting passed that difficult, visceral desire to hate without contemplation is not at al…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 10:04PMMonday, November 3, 2014
Thanks to tight direction of a solid adaptation, starkly effective production values and spot-on character development, this Animal Farm is a brutal, thought-provoking journey for students a…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:58PMSunday, November 2, 2014
With Barbara Gaines at the directing helm, the powerful, entertaining performances of this cast roll over the few missteps mentioned. The production is a great chance to catch up on one of S…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 02:12PMAkvavit Theatre once again mounts a challenging Nordic play and cultivates interesting moments that might not be obvious from a simple reading of the text. But this time they don’t do quit…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 12:39AMSaturday, November 1, 2014
At its best, Megan Johns' new work Whatever We Want is a contemplative reflection on how early experiences shape who we become. But one needs to clear away the cliches and stock characters t…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 07:15PMThe prescient Both Your Houses attempts to skewer the sausage-making process of churning out legislation. But despite its inherent timeliness, the production has all drama of an 8th grade pr…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 04:52PM 
