All stories by Johnny Oleksinski on BroadwayStars

Monday, February 1, 2016

'Grease Live' was the best TV musical so far by Johnny Oleksinski

A wap bam boom! Before dissecting TV’s latest live musical presentation, let’s get something out of the way: “Grease Live,” which aired Sunday night on FOX, was the f…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 06:36AM[SHARE]
Friday, October 23, 2015

Laverne Cox not seasoned enough to play Tim Curry's 'Rocky Horror' role by Johnny Oleksinski

Let’s do the Time Warp, again? Fox's new "Rocky Horror Picture Show," debuting next year, is the most misguided and unnecessary TV retread yet. The beloved 40-year-old cult classic fil…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 07:54AM[SHARE]
Thursday, October 15, 2015

Why 'Hamilton' fans are flocking to Harlem by Johnny Oleksinski

Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway musical "Hamilton" is hands down the hottest show in town. A-list celebrities like Paul McCartney, Meryl Streep and even President Obama have flocked to the sho…

SOURCE: The New York Post at 01:51PM[SHARE]
Sunday, September 6, 2015

Meet the hottest chorus boys on Broadway by Johnny Oleksinski

On any given night outside the stage door of the Lyric Theatre on 43rd Street, there's a madhouse crowd waiting for "On the Town" star Misty Copeland to emerge. But...

SOURCE: The New York Post at 11:59AM[SHARE]
Friday, June 26, 2015

'Jamaica Farewell' will return to Chicago by Johnny Oleksinski

The one-woman play "Jamaica Farewell" will come to the Royal George Theatre this summer, courtesy of producer Hersey Felder.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:49PM[SHARE]
Thursday, June 25, 2015

A steamy song from 'City of Angels' by Johnny Oleksinski

This week's Theater Loop Showcase is Erin McGrath from "City of Angels" at the Marriott Theatre.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:32PM[SHARE]

Interrobang announces 2015-16 season by Johnny Oleksinski

Interrobang Theatre Project announced its 2015-16 season on Thursday. The three-play roster includes the local premiere of the newest play by Rajiv Joseph.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:32PM[SHARE]

American Theater Co. announces 2015-16 season by Johnny Oleksinski

American Theater Company announced its 2015-16 season on Thursday. It's the company's first season following the death of its artistic director PJ Paparelli in May.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:32AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Steep Theatre announces a season of local premieres by Johnny Oleksinski

Steep Theatre announced an ambitious season of local premieres by widely admired playwrights on Wednesday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:29PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, June 23, 2015

MCA Stage announces 2015-16 season by Johnny Oleksinski

The Museum of Contemporary Art announced its 2015-16 MCA Stage season on Tuesday. As always, it's a blend of theater, dance and music works by local, national and international artists.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:00PM[SHARE]
Monday, June 22, 2015

Northlight announces 'You Can't Take It With You' cast by Johnny Oleksinski

Northlight Theatre announced the cast of its upcoming production of George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's "You Can't Take It With You" on Monday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:08PM[SHARE]
Friday, June 19, 2015

Ithamar Enriquez is a dancing traffic cop by Johnny Oleksinski

This video features Ithamar Enriquez, performing a segment of his new show "Ithamar Has Nothing to Say" at Donny's Skybox.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:34PM[SHARE]

'Churchill' will close off-Broadway and reopen in Chicago by Johnny Oleksinski

"Churchill," Ronald Keaton's surprise hit one-man show about the eponymous British prime minister, will return to the Greenhouse Theater Center this summer.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:57PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Actors Theatre receives $1.2 million from Powerball winner by Johnny Oleksinski

Actors Theatre of Louisville is the latest recipient of a large grant from Roy Cockrum, the Tennessee Powerball winner who took home $259 million ($115 after taxes) last June.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:15PM[SHARE]

Actors Theatre receives $1.2 million from Powerball winner by Johnny Oleksinski

Actors Theatre of Louisville is the latest recipient of a large grant from Roy Cockrum, the Tennessee Powerball winner who took home $259 million ($115 million after taxes) last June.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:48AM[SHARE]
Monday, June 15, 2015

Winter is leaving... in this song from 'The Secret Garden' by Johnny Oleksinski

This week's Showcase video is Aubrey McGrath and Suzanne Gillen from "The Secret Garden," currently onstage at Court Theatre.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 07:19PM[SHARE]

Kristin Chenoweth will perform at Chicago Theatre by Johnny Oleksinski

Kristin Chenoweth, the Tony Award winner and the host of this year's Tony Awards, will play the Chicago Theatre this fall, the venue said Monday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 07:19PM[SHARE]

Winter is leaving... in this song from 'The Secret Garden' by Johnny Oleksinski

This week's Showcase video is Aubrey McGrath and Suzanne Gillen from "The Secret Garden," currently onstage at Court Theatre.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:38PM[SHARE]

Kristin Chenoweth will perform at Chicago Theatre by Johnny Oleksinski

Kristin Chenoweth, the Tony Award winner and the host of this year's Tony Awards, will play the Chicago Theatre this fall, the venue said Monday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:12PM[SHARE]
Friday, June 12, 2015

'Little Mermaid' cast announced by Johnny Oleksinski

Chicago Shakespeare Theater has announced the cast of its upcoming production of Disney's "The Little Mermaid."

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:39PM[SHARE]

'Little Mermaid' cast announced by Johnny Oleksinski

Chicago Shakespeare Theater has announced the cast of its upcoming production of Disney's "The Little Mermaid."

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:16PM[SHARE]

Michael Shannon back at A Red Orchid next season by Johnny Oleksinski

Michael Shannon, the actor known for his roles on HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" and in "Man of Steel" among other screen properties, will return to A Red Orchid Theatre in Old Town next season to…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 07:48AM[SHARE]
Thursday, June 11, 2015

Michael Shannon back at A Red Orchid, plus more season casting by Johnny Oleksinski

Michael Shannon, the actor known for his roles on HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" and in "Man of Steel" among other screen properties, will return to A Red Orchid Theatre in Old Town next season to…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:05PM[SHARE]
Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Watch Shoshana Bean and Whitney Bashor sing from 'Beaches' by Johnny Oleksinski

This week's Showcase is Shoshana Bean and Whitney Bashor from "Beaches," the new musical about friendship at Drury Lane Theatre being billed as a pre-Broadway production.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 07:03PM[SHARE]

Three premieres in Jackalope's new season by Johnny Oleksinski

Three new plays will make up Jackalope Theatre Company's 2015-16 season, a spokesman for the company said Tuesday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:49PM[SHARE]

Three premieres in Jackalope's new season by Johnny Oleksinski

Three new plays will make up Jackalope Theatre Company's 2015-16 season, a spokesman for the company said Tuesday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:49PM[SHARE]

'Potted Potter' will return to Chicago by Johnny Oleksinski

"Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience " A Parody by Dan and Jeff" will return to Chicago this winter, Broadway in Chicago said Tuesday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:45PM[SHARE]

'Potted Potter' will return to Chicago by Johnny Oleksinski

"Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience - A Parody by Dan and Jeff" will return to Chicago this winter, Broadway in Chicago said Tuesday.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:51PM[SHARE]
Friday, June 5, 2015

A man remembers Chicago public housing by Johnny Oleksinski

This week's Showcase video is Kenn E. Head from "The Project(s)," the final play written and directed by American Theater Company artistic director PJ Paparelli, who died last month in a car…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:13PM[SHARE]
Wednesday, June 3, 2015

'Jerusalem,' 'Jacksonian' in Profiles' new season by Johnny Oleksinski

Profiles Theatre will perform several new-to-Chicago shows next season.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:51PM[SHARE]

All that Chat

2025-2026 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 12, 2025: Call Me Izzy - Studio 54
Sep 16, 2025: Art - Music Box Theatre
Oct 08, 2025: Beetlejuice - Palace Theatre
Nov 13, 2025: Oedipus - Studio 54
Nov 16, 2025: Chess - Imperial Theatre
Mar 23, 2026: Giant - Music Box Theatre
Apr 06, 2026: Becky Shaw - Hayes Theater
Apr 16, 2026: Proof - Booth Theatre
Apr 26, 2026: Drama Desk Cut-Off