Saturday, November 9, 2013
They Died Where They Lied is billed as a comedy, and in that sense it definitely succeeds. If you enjoy well-executed, intelligent humor with a few hilariously coarse bits thrown in, camp ou…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 12:50PMFriday, November 8, 2013
With Jeff Hancock's choreography, Jesse Klug's lighting and Linda Buchanan’s inspired set design, Miss Saigon comes together as a near perfect package. And while that might sound hyperboli…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:14AMThursday, November 7, 2013
The comedy is not the only reason to see this hugely entertaining show - the high-energy musical numbers by the talented cast cast zing and sing with equally amusing harmony. Get to the Bee …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 11:54PMIn this world-premiere adaptation of the latest in the Click, Clack, Moo series, playwright James E. Grote brings his signature wit, insight, and creativity to once again entertains kids and…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:08AMWednesday, November 6, 2013
Eclipse Theatre has had a successful season with Sir Ayckbourn’s work, and they finish strong with Haunting Julia. It’s a ghost story that ironically reaffirms life for the living with w…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:53PMTuesday, November 5, 2013
Playwright Jayita Bhattacharya admirably gives us the feelings of loneliness both from a decaying relationship and the loss of that relationship in universal terms, and there's enough variet…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 12:23AMMonday, November 4, 2013
Playwright Pat Curtis has devised a script that clearly lays out the medical issues at stake when treating autism, but at the expense of character development; there's no way, then, to empat…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:39PMBob Fisher’s script showcases the ‘inner demons’ in the entire Frankenstein’s household rather than just the monster on the loose. All Girl Frankenstein is not your typical monster …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 10:25AMSunday, November 3, 2013
Good Thing is mostly a good thing. The story is thought-provoking, but the script could be tighter and the dialogue more natural. Still, long after the curtain, I continued to ponder the pla…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 05:45PMThursday, October 31, 2013
A pleasant way to end one year and begin another, Rachel Rockwell’s cumulatively delightful revival may not be the most sumptuous recreation, but it’s got spunk to spare, even heart, esp…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:36PMRarely does an entire audience get to feel like they are vital participants of a scripted play. Get your passport stamped and become a citizen of the incredibly innovative Sovereign Statemen…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 04:55PMI’m not saying Shakespearean is easy, but there has to be more passion and thought put into it than what’s being presented here. Lifeless, dull, and self-indulgent – this is one King…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 03:29PMWednesday, October 30, 2013
Artistic Homes' talented ensemble and colorful storytelling, makes this a thoroughly enjoyable evening. The Goddess is an opportunity for you to see the tarnished side of Hollywood’s Golde…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:12AMTuesday, October 29, 2013
Playwright John Schneider's characters are shells, instruments for dialogue that aim to be provocative but only succeed in striking poses. In the end, one wants to hear more from the Pleasan…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:53AMMonday, October 28, 2013
The music performances and dancing here are impressive, and Director Jess McLeod keeps the whole affair moving briskly, as it should. But the production feels cramped and, being this is a st…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:02PM Pygmalion Written by George Bernard Shaw Directed by Robert Scogin Ruth Page Center, 1016 N. Dearb…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 01:20PMSunday, October 27, 2013
In this gender reversal, Neil Simon has not really created characters - they are caricatures, which is fine for a skit but well nigh unbearable for over two hours. The ensemble fails to brea…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 05:32PMFriday, October 25, 2013
A tale of survival and trying to make it in a world that gets uglier by the day, this is a play of beautiful music and messages. Unfortunately, the play drags on longer than it should, which…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:12PMOverall, this is one of the most fluid transitions from the page to the stage that I’ve ever seen, and so much of that comes through in how seriously the creative team and cast treat this …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:26AMThursday, October 24, 2013
I don’t think there’s a touch light enough to make Trevor, with its uneven mélange of Hollywood in-jokes and tabloid titillation, both funny and true, despite Director Shade Murray’s …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:00PMIn this gaudy Mama Mia look-alike, everyone is mugging at such a ferocious volume that it can only be matched by the massive live band playing over all. Slick as an iPhone, We Will Rock You…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 12:07AMWednesday, October 23, 2013
You can see Harry & the Thief for its message, its spectacle, its action, or its humor, but you should definitely see it. Most of all, see this production because Pavement Group present…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:12AMTuesday, October 22, 2013
Lydie Breeze might be rich in atmosphere and style, but that doesn’t really matter if it overtakes the characters and storyline. And while this production tries to rise above the faults i…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 11:27PMSimply put, this is the best show I have seen all year – even before accounting for the fact that it raises money and awareness towards the serious problem of sex-trafficking here in Chica…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:07AMSunday, October 20, 2013
I’m always blown away by Puccini’s haunting way he captures the misery of loving deeply and tragically. For diehard and wannabe opera lovers, this Madama Butterfly is especially exquisi…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:52PMCompulsion is well-named. Rinne Groff’s driving drama depicts one man’s obsession with a tragedy that was more universal than he could allow. This Chicago premiere is suitably driven by …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:37AMSaturday, October 19, 2013
Milwaukee Rep’s production is pure perfection in its search for the American Dream. This Ragtime entertains and educates throughout, with all the sonorous, jubilant sounds of a country lea…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:57PMWhile the show’s conclusion itself is clear, it isn’t quite earned by the preceding sequences. Nonetheless, whatever your interpretation of the narrative or preferences on theatrical sty…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 07:46PMGo for the spectacle but stay for the songs. Despite some clunky lyrics, these engaging tunes by piano-player John Fournier stand out in Red Tape Theatre’s world-premiere showcase for the …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 02:03PM The Table Derived by the Company Directed by Mark Down Chicago Shakespeare at Navy Pier (map) thru …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 10:32AMFriday, October 18, 2013
This historic ballet is a visual and aural treat, a rarity that will appeal to newbies and veterans alike, and literally the best work I've seen this company do. In fact, Joffrey’s La Bay…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 05:43PM 
