All stories by Bob Bullen on BroadwayStars

Monday, April 1, 2013

HuffPo Review: Artistic Home’s Steamy ‘Night of the Iguana’ Puts the Passion Front and Center by Bob Bullen

I’m all for firsts. And Artistic Home’s very solid production of Tennessee Williams’ The Night of the Iguana presented a whole world of them. It was my first time seeing an…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 03:05PM
Friday, March 22, 2013

An All-Female ‘Julius Caesar’ Breathes Life into A Well-Worn Classic by Bob Bullen

You think you’ve seen Julius Caesar? Think again. Yes, Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s bold, modern-day production (closing March 24) has its share of surprises and risk, but there…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 05:05PM

HuffPo Review: A Drag-tastic ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ Pulls out All The Stops by Bob Bullen

While I’m not sure how much it cost to produce the national tour of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, I’d wager that a sizable, of not primary, chunk of the change went into the sh…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 03:47PM
Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Pre-Broadway Jekyll & Hyde Better Suited for the Vegas Strip by Bob Bullen

Due to work obligations, I couldn’t make press opening of the national tour of Jekyll & Hyde, which is set for a Broadway revival following a two-week Chicago engagement. So, I tur…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 07:36PM
Monday, March 11, 2013

Chicago Shakes to stage ‘Road Show’ and ‘Gypsy’ (cue the requisite dream-casting) by Bob Bullen

Time Out Chicago announces that Chicago Shakespeare Theater will produce that American musical comedy classic, Gypsy, along with Stephen Sondheim’s Road Show, a show that got one of it…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 08:24AM
Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Strawdog’s raucous ‘Improbable Frequency’ could use a bit more probability by Bob Bullen

While the rest of Europe was suffering through WWII, Ireland stood fast in its neutrality, even referring to the war as “The Emergency” in an attempt to mitigate the impact of th…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 08:08AM
Sunday, February 17, 2013

A sprawling story overwhelms in Saint Sebastian’s ambitious ‘Lefties’ by Bob Bullen

I heartily applaud Saint Sebastian, a spirited storefront company, for taking on Lefties, a highly ambitious world premiere by promising playwright Leigh Johnson. Johnson, a talented writer …

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 04:56PM

A modern and timeless ‘Julius Caesar’ at Chicago Shakes by Bob Bullen

As you enter Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Court Theater to see English director Jonathan Munby’s take on Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, you know you’re in for somethin…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 03:09PM
Monday, February 11, 2013

HuffPo Review: Despite an excellent Norma Desmond, a dreary ‘Sunset’ at Drury Lane by Bob Bullen

Christine Sherrill has ‘New Ways to Dream’ as Norma Desmond in Drury Lane’s “Sunset Boulevard” Before I begin to discuss Drury Lane’s disappointingly drea…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 05:58PM
Friday, February 8, 2013

Joan Curto celebrates Cole Porter in de’lovely musical revue by Bob Bullen

In one of several charming anecdotes told by Joan Curto in her new Cole Porter cabaret show now playing at Davenports Piano Bar through February 10, she talks about how Broadway legend (and …

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 10:44AM
Thursday, February 7, 2013

Huffpo review: Alexis Rogers captivates as Billie Holiday in Porchlight’s ‘Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill’ by Bob Bullen

In Porchlight’s seductive and sobering production of Lanie Robertson’s Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, the moment Alexis J. Rogers makes her reluctant entrance, drin…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 04:25PM
Saturday, February 2, 2013

Music Theatre Company’s sweetly sincere ‘The Baker’s Wife’ charms by Bob Bullen

Sometimes all you need is a committed, eager, talented cast, a piano and a director with vision to deliver a delightful evening of musical theatre. And Music Theatre Company in Highland Park…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 01:32PM
Tuesday, January 29, 2013

HuffPo Review: Mercury Theater’s ‘A Grand Night for Singing’ is ‘Something Wonderful’ by Bob Bullen

It’s a very rare thing to come across a show that embraces its simplicity with virtually zero pretense. A Grand Night for Singing at Mercury Theater is such a show. This perfectly enjo…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 06:07PM
Thursday, January 24, 2013

HuffPo Review: A Flat Yet Fascinating ‘Other Desert Cities’ at Goodman by Bob Bullen

It’s not hard to understand why Jon Robin Baitz’s Other Desert Cities is such an effective play. This award-winning compact family drama addresses the notions of deception, trust…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 07:35AM
Friday, January 18, 2013

An Interview with Jamie Prahl, Director of Saint Sebastian Players’ ‘Lefties’ by Bob Bullen

In Lefties, a play by Chicago-area playwright Leigh Johnson, a Russian-born father (who’s also, by the way, an avowed Communist who loves baseball), clashes with his son, a gifted semi…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 11:51AM
Wednesday, January 16, 2013

HuffPo Review: Rivendell’s ‘American Wee-Pie’ Finds Sweet Victory in Second Chances by Bob Bullen

I remember my quarter-life crisis. Here I was, working long hours in a job I didn’t have any real passion for, broke, gaining weight, listless. I was going through the motions and lett…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 06:53PM
Monday, January 14, 2013

Promethean’s scrappy and searing ‘Caucasian Chalk Circle’ by Bob Bullen

“Terrible is the temptation to do good.” This warning, bellowed out by the clear-voiced narrator (Carey Davenport) in Promethean Theatre’s scrappy and searing new production featur…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 12:36PM
Saturday, January 12, 2013

This and that, and this and that by Bob Bullen

This: The first ever Chicago Theatre Week launches Feb. 12, and I’ve high hopes for this unique event. Following the lead of the highly popular Restaurant Week (which is also organiz…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 05:37PM
Sunday, January 6, 2013

Do you hear the people “sing”: Les Miserables on film, or the sacrifice of score for stars by Bob Bullen

Russell Crowe: changing notes and taking names as Javert in the film version of “Les Miserables” Oh, Les Miserables. My first exposure to the show was about 18 years ago when I s…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 12:45PM
Sunday, December 30, 2012

‘Warriors’ reading to benefit Newtown by Bob Bullen

On March 24, 1998, when Mary Hollis Inboden was 12 years old, a boy pulled a fire alarm at her middle school, ran into the woods to meet his friend, and they both started shooting at the stu…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 08:52PM
Saturday, December 29, 2012

A Flatlined ‘Purple Heart’ at Redtwist Theatre by Bob Bullen

The grieving process is deeply personal and complex, as Carla, the alcoholic widow and mother of an odd young boy, well knows. Following the death of her husband, a victim of the war, she dr…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 05:08PM
Saturday, December 22, 2012

Chicago Theatre Addict’s 2012 Top Ten by Bob Bullen

This year I saw 77 shows. While not a staggering amount (considering I’ve colleagues and friends who’ve tripled that amount, not to mention I saw nearly twice that many shows in …

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 12:39PM
Friday, December 21, 2012

HuffPo Review: A Grand ‘War Horse’ and Giddy ‘Book of Mormon’ Burst Into Chicago by Bob Bullen

The theatrical year in Chicago has ended in full gallop with two highly anticipated shows receiving full-scale, top-notch productions, playing through the new year. War Horse, the breathtaki…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 06:54PM
Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Chatting With Tracy Michelle Arnold, Star of Goodman’s ‘Other Desert Cities’ by Bob Bullen

When Jon Robin Baitz’s searing family drama Other Desert Cities premiered at Lincoln Center in January 2011, it took the town by storm. Not since August: Osage County can I recall an A…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 07:04PM
Thursday, December 6, 2012

‘The Grinch’ growls in flat touring production by Bob Bullen

Stefan Karl is the Grinch in “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” I’ll admit it. I’m a bit of a Grinch this holiday season. And I fully embrace my Grinchy-ness. …

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 10:38PM
Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Exclusive review: ‘The Bodygaurd’ opens in the West End by Bob Bullen

The Bodyguard, the new West End musical based on the film, opens tonight. In the now-iconic role created by the late, great Whitney Houston, Tony winner Heather Headly makes her big (and bra…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 05:22PM
Tuesday, December 4, 2012

What are the ‘Choosiest’ shows in 2013? by Bob Bullen

Have you heard? It’s the first annual Choosie Awards, where the team of Chicago Like A Local bloggers share what they feel is the best of 2013! And I’m honored to kick off the aw…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 04:58PM
Wednesday, November 28, 2012

HuffPo review: ‘Failure: A Love Story’ Finds Heartwarming Hope in the Unavoidable by Bob Bullen

Ah, the impending threat of death. What a warm and cozy feeling it is to know that each day presents new opportunities to face our own uncertain demise. Happy Holidays! In the fantastically …

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 02:48PM

Drury Lane’s ‘Sunset Boulevard’ gets its Norma Desmond by Bob Bullen

After months of speculating and rumor, Drury Lane has finally cast its Norma Desmond for their upcoming production of Sunset Boulevard. (In fact, I heard from multiple sources that Tony winn…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 08:28AM
Saturday, November 24, 2012

Porchlight’s lilting, if lightweight, ‘The Gifts of the Magi’ reminds us to think before we give by Bob Bullen

Jason Richards and Kevin McKillip in Porchlight Music Theatre’s “The Gifts of the Magi” Shopping for the perfect holiday gift is a dying art. For many, myself included at t…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 09:19AM
Tuesday, November 20, 2012

HuffPo Reviews: Profiles’ ‘Hellcab’ and Bernstein revue at Davenport’s Piano Bar by Bob Bullen

Profile’s Ambitious Remount of Hit Hellcab Delivers Unexpected Holiday Hope Im sure we’ve all encountered a hellacious cab experience or three — the driver who used the dri…

SOURCE: Chicago Theatre Addict at 01:13PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards