All stories by Mary Wisniewski on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Coming Up Roses: A Review of “Gypsy” at BrightSide Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

When a terrific singing actress is in the role of Rose, you can’t take your eyes from her, and you can’t help but sympathize.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Sleep Warrior: A Review of “The Dream King” from Teatro Vista by Mary Wisniewski

It is in sleep that everything happens, and an office drone becomes a hero and a warrior. His quest is figuring out how to bring his dream life into his real one.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Monday, May 1, 2023

A Salute To Power: A Review of “Panther Women: An Army for the Liberation” by Mary Wisniewski

This is true, exciting storefront theater, set in a literal, narrow storefront on 79th Street in the South Shore neighborhood. It’s challenging, passionate, and beautifully in your face.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Changes and Endings: An Interview with Director Robert Falls on “The Cherry Orchard” by Mary Wisniewski

For the last play he programmed as Goodman’s artistic director, Falls chose a masterpiece about change and endings—Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard.”

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Monday, March 20, 2023

Story After Story: A Review of “The Comedy of Errors” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater by Mary Wisniewski

One of William Shakespeare’s earliest plays, “The Comedy of Errors” is sublimely ridiculous.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Friday, March 17, 2023

Lies, All Lies: A Review of “Describe the Night” at Steppenwolf Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

There are lies told for art and lies told for power. In art, a lie (known as a story), can show what’s true. In politics, lies oppress. This play reveals hard truths about fascism’s dest…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, February 28, 2023

An Act of Hope: A Review of “The Kelly Girls” at Factory Theater by Mary Wisniewski

Fighting a revolution looks like glorious fun from the outside. On the inside, you see friends die and family members suffer.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Thursday, February 23, 2023

Singing In Harmony: A Review of “Fen” at Court Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

“Fen,” a revival of a 1983 Caryl Churchhill play, is about women in the rural lowlands of England. But the distant setting in a somewhat distant time doesn’t matter, because the confli…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, February 22, 2023

No Fairy Tale: A Review of “Villette” at Lookingglass Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

“Villette” is a new play based on Charlotte Bronte’s final novel.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Thursday, February 16, 2023

Radical Vision: A Review of Citadel Theatre’s “The Christians” by Mary Wisniewski

In Lucas Hnath’s play “The Christians,” the popular pastor of a megachurch tries something truly difficult.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Deep Emotion: A Review of “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” at the Lookingglass Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

Lookingglass Theatre’s “The Steadfast Tin Soldier,” which first opened to glowing reviews in 2018, has become a Chicago holiday theater tradition, along with “The Christmas Carol” …

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Wodehouse Genius: A Review of “Jeeves Intervenes” at First Folio Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

“It is impossible to be unhappy while reading the adventures of Jeeves and Wooster,” said novelist Christopher Buckley. “And I’ve tried.”

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, October 26, 2022

The Audio Describer: Bringing Live Theater to Those with Vision Problems by Mary Wisniewski

Emily Means Wills has a unique place in Chicago theater. She helps audience members who are blind, or have low vision, experience live theater by describing what’s happening on the stage.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Menace To Society: A Review of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde at Idle Muse Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

What better way to explore the poisonous effects of repression than by making the respectable Jekyll female, with a malignant male Hyde acting out Jekyll’s hidden desires?

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Friday, September 9, 2022

A Real Shtetl: Barrie Kosky Discusses the North American Debut of his “Fiddler on the Roof” at Lyric by Mary Wisniewski

Kosky did not want a safe “Fiddler.” Kosky wanted the big chorus and full orchestra that can only be provided in an opera house. “It’s a shtetl. It’s a world,” Kosky explains. �…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Clashing of Swords: A Review of Richard III at Babes with Blades by Mary Wisniewski

Babes with Blades Theatre Co., known for its use of stage combat and the casting of women in male roles, explores disability culture and “othering” in its new production of “Richard II…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Friday, July 29, 2022

A Lunatic and A Lover: A Review of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Midsommer Flight by Mary Wisniewski

What a delight it is to sit on the grass and watch this talented, diverse troupe of actors perform one of Shakespeare’s most popular and accessible comedies.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Down a Joyful Rabbit Hole: A Review of “Lookingglass Alice” at the Lookingglass Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

“Lookingglass Alice” reveals the beauty in change and unexpected lessons, while acknowledging their pain.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, May 25, 2022

The Most Interesting Person in the Room: A Review of “Richard III” at Promethean Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

A portrait of a fifteenth-century serial killer that you can both hate and secretly cheer for.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, March 8, 2022

No Fear of Depths: A Review of “The Lady from the Sea” at the Court Theatre by Mary Wisniewski

Written in 1888, the play centers on Ellida, the daughter of a lighthouse keeper who grew up near the open sea.

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

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