All stories by Mary Wisniewski on BroadwayStars

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Finding the Light Within: A Review of “Leroy and Lucy” at Steppenwolf by Mary Wisniewski

This is a moving and magical show, exploring the idea of human genius and transcendence.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Friday, November 1, 2024

The Cost of Justice: A Review of “Nat Turner in Jerusalem” at American Players Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

This 2016 play by Rockford-born Nathan Alan Davis asks what justifies violence, a question that resonates with today’s global struggles.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Bedtime Fairy Tales: A Review of Kokandy’s “Into the Woods” at The Chopin Studio Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

There is magic in the setting for Kokandy Productions’ fine and intimate telling of Stephen Sondheim’s 1986 musical “Into the Woods”—a tale of wishes, spells and deadly danger.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Silly Love Songs: A Review of “The Last Wide Open” at American Blues Theater by Mary Wisniewski

The production has many appealing qualities, but the play doesn’t quite satisfy. It needs more—more music, more convincing dialogue. I wanted the full pierogi plate, but left feeling a l…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, October 9, 2024

A Poisonous Love Story: A Review of “Misery” at American Blues Theater by Mary Wisniewski

If you like Stephen King or psychological thrillers in general, don’t miss this show. There’s magic here.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Life of an Immigrant: A Review of “Ironbound” at Raven Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

It’s a powerful and rare play that puts a spotlight on a regular working-class woman, bravely negotiating a difficult life.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, September 17, 2024

The Game of Make-Believe: A Review of “Henry V” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater by Mary Wisniewski

“Henry V” is like one of those M.C. Escher prints where sometimes you see fish and sometimes ducks—it plays with your perception.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Monday, September 9, 2024

Hogwarts From the Heartland: Chicago Actors Matt Mueller and Larry Yando on Their Roles in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” by Mary Wisniewski

Yando, who played Scrooge in The Goodman Theatre’s “The Christmas Carol” for sixteen years and is known for playing complicated, dark characters, will take on the prickly Severus Snape…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Monday, August 26, 2024

If, If Only and What If: A Review of “Constellations” at American Players Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

The performances are real, and the play doesn’t feel like a gimmick but a true portrayal of how life works. It’s like cubism in story form—the variations are altogether at once.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Thursday, August 22, 2024

Successful Entertainment: A Review of “The Virgin Queen Entertains Her Fool” at American Players Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

“The Virgin Queen Entertains Her Fool” is a bawdy, witty, fast-paced tragicomedy, brilliantly acted and expertly plotted.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Villains By Necessity: A Review of “King Lear” at American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin by Mary Wisniewski

There’s no time wrong for “King Lear,” and if you haven’t seen a live performance, American Players Theatre’s production is a great place to start.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Pantomiming the Middle Earth: A Review of “The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale” at Chicago Shakes by Mary Wisniewski

“The Lord of the Rings” musical, now playing at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, is a disappointing muddle. Despite some lovely music and amazing puppetry, it doesn’t satisfy.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Oldies Made Edgy: A Review of Paramount’s “Million Dollar Quartet” at Stolp Island Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

If you haven’t seen this show before—this is the production to experience it. And if you’ve seen it a dozen times, come to Aurora and see it again.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Thursday, July 11, 2024

Southern Gothic: A Review of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” at the Goodman Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

“Midnight” is a sparkling, engaging night at the theater, and will make you want to book a weekend in Savannah. It’s worth seeing, especially for Ghee.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Friday, June 14, 2024

Stokely: The Unfinished Revolution Tells the Story of Stokely Carmichael by Mary Wisniewski

The new play by Nambi E. Kelley is currently running at Chicago's Court Theatre.

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:24PM
Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Cotton Candy Pop Concert: A Review of “Six: The Musical” at Nederlander Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

It felt like the end of an after-school special—we all learned something tonight. I’m glad this show is bringing young people into the theaters. And I hope they come back to see somethin…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Friday, June 7, 2024

Varieties of Romance: A Review of “A Little Night Music” at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

“A Little Night Music” celebrates mature love—the kind that happens after you’ve been around for a while; less fireworks, more bemusement.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Friday, May 24, 2024

A Hard Punch: A Review of “Native Son” at Lifeline Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

Lifeline Theatre’s new production of “Native Son” is brutal, powerful and relentless. Like a big, stiff drink, it hits you right in the gut, and you leave the theater reeling.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, May 8, 2024

A Song Factory: A Review of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” at Paramount Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

With the abundantly talented Tiffany Topol as Carole King, backed by a great cast, the new production of “Beautiful” at Aurora’s Paramount Theatre is irresistible.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Jason Alexander Is Returning to Stage Acting, This Time in Chicago by Mary Wisniewski

In Judgement Day at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Alexander plays a corrupt lawyer who may be looking for forgiveness.

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:18PM
Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Belle Époque: A Review of “Nana” at Trap Door Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

This show is alive. For the two hours spent in the tiny Bucktown theater, you can imagine you have stepped into a Toulouse-Lautrec painting—drinking absinthe and watching the can-can.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Friday, April 12, 2024

A Mission in the Theater: An Interview with Harry Lennix by Mary Wisniewski

Lennix, known for his work on television’s “The Blacklist” and “Dollhouse” and movies like “The Five Heartbeats” and “Ray,” is a busy man around Chicago these days. He’s …

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Thursday, April 11, 2024

Abridged Absurdity: A Review of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” at Court Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

Too much of Tom Stoppard’s absurdist, existential tragicomedy about two minor Shakespearean characters has been trimmed from this production, which is too bad, because the play is brillian…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Family Tree: A Review of “Purpose” at Steppenwolf Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

This is a moving, beautifully written and honest play that discusses generational conflict—between old ideas of “purpose” and spirituality and new ones, between the need for truth and …

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Monticello’s Façade: A Review of “The Reclamation of Madison Hemings” at American Blues Theater by Mary Wisniewski

This play sees the contradictions at the heart of this country—the tragic infrastructure under its noble façade. Monticello won’t look the same when you think of all the people who were…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Spectacle and Gore: A Review of “Richard III” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater by Mary Wisniewski

You don’t come to “Richard III” for history—you come for spectacle and gore, and Chicago Shakespeare delivers.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Monday, February 12, 2024

Grace and Power: A Review of “Notes from the Field” at TimeLine Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

In presenting the words of real people talking about America’s troubled education and criminal justice system in her 2015 play “Notes from the Field,” writer and actress Anna Deavere S…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Monday, February 5, 2024

Medium Cold: A Review of “Highway Patrol” at Goodman Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

The social media world is a "cool" place (in Marshall McLuhan's term)—you have to fill in the details. The story might work better in a cooler medium, like television.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Soulful and Devastating: A Review of “Champion” at Lyric Opera by Mary Wisniewski

In its Chicago premiere, “Champion” has strong vocal performances, exuberant dancing and a creative, multi-level set by Allen Moyer, which uses projected images of real newspaper headlin…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Unanswered Questions: A Review of “In Quietness” at A Red Orchid Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

The actors are telling a story that never finds its way, and leaves too many unanswered questions.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Feels Like Heaven: A Review of “Anything Goes” at Porchlight Music Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

It’s January in Chicago, and we must somehow survive it. You could go to Miami, but not everyone has the time. So here’s a closer source of heat—a dynamite production of “Anything Go…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 15, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic