All stories by Michael Phillips on BroadwayStars

Saturday, March 25, 2023

Review: Lyric Opera’s rich Chicago mashup ‘Proximity’ takes on gun violence, loneliness and climate change. It’s a lot. by Michael Phillips

Opera’s future needs more than its past. Lyric Opera's world premiere "Proximity," a stimulating mashup of three different one-act works, is Chicago's latest proof.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:01PM
Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Riffing on Rossini, Lyric Opera’s ‘Factotum’ started as a South Side Chicago comic opera. But its creators had bigger ideas. by Michael Phillips

Lyric Opera of Chicago's world premiere of "The Factotum" is a hit in the city where it's set. This is "The Barber of Seville" meets "The Barbershop."

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:45AM
Monday, December 17, 2018

'Mary Poppins Returns' review: Emily Blunt and that 'Hamilton' chap take a strenuously jolly holiday by Michael Phillips

Families could do a lot worse this holiday season than to take out a home equity loan for a bucket of multiplex popcorn and take in “Mary Poppins Returns,” director Rob Marshall’s hect…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:40PM
Thursday, April 12, 2018

'You Were Never Really Here' review: Joaquin Phoenix out-hammers Mike Hammer by several hammers by Michael Phillips

When the Glasgow-born filmmaker Lynne Ramsay adapts a novel, she does what any responsive writer-director must. She listens to what speaks to her, personally, in the material, and creates co…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 09:15AM
Wednesday, December 20, 2017

'All the Money in the World' review: Plummer seamlessly subs for Spacey by Michael Phillips

What’s the going rate for a Spacey-ectomy? Ten million dollars isn’t all the money in the world, but it’s a lot. And it’s the amount director Ridley Scott’s backers paid to remove …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:45AM
Thursday, April 28, 2016

Blair Brown reflects on the stages of her acting life by Michael Phillips

"You know," Blair Brown says, her hand on a glass of foamy green tea she acknowledges looks like "pond scum," "it never occurred to me that I'd ever do television or film. When I was startin…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:49PM
Thursday, October 1, 2015

Next up for Michael Shannon: Elvis by Michael Phillips

In "99 Homes," 41-year-old Michael Shannon gives his latest fiercely accomplished performance as an Orlando real estate broker whose name, Rick Carver, indicates a knife-like ability to slic…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:02PM

Next up for Michael Shannon: Elvis by Michael Phillips

In "99 Homes," 41-year-old Michael Shannon gives his latest fiercely accomplished performance as an Orlando real estate broker whose name, Rick Carver, indicates a knife-like ability to slic…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:25PM
Thursday, March 26, 2015

A new Sondheim movie tune sends us back into the vault by Michael Phillips

A new Stephen Sondheim song is news. Now on DVD and Blu-ray, the film version of the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical "Into the Woods" features among its bonus content a new Sondheim so…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:43PM
Sunday, November 3, 2013

BOOK REVIEW: 'Fosse' by Sam Wasson by Michael Phillips

Wasson goes beyond the razzle-dazzle in his evocative biography of Bob Fosse "Bob Fosse was the best thing ever to come out of burlesque, and he would pay for it forever," Sam Wasson writes…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:00AM

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