REVIEW: 'Mike and Seth' at the Side Project ★★½ by Nina Metz

A quarter-life crisis has descended upon an upscale Dallas hotel room where Mike (Derek Garza) and Seth (Michael Manocchio), friends since childhood, find themselves facing down their 30s an…

Inside iO Theater's new home in Lincoln Park by Nina Metz

Thirty-two years ago Charna Halpern approached Del Close with an offer. He was already a renowned director in the world of comedy, and working at Second City. She had just launched the Impro…

REVIEW: 'Invisible World' at the Annoyance Theatre ★★½ by Nina Metz

The current mainstage revue at Second City is titled “Depraved New World,” but if you're really looking for the transgressive stuff, it's happening a few miles to the north on Be…

REVIEW: 'Invisible World' at the Annoyance Theatre ★★½ by Nina Metz

The current mainstage revue at Second City is titled “Depraved New World,” but if you're really looking for the transgressive stuff, it's happening a few miles to the north on Belmont Av…

Rarely staged Beckett plays from Mary-Arrchie by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEW: "Hellish Half-Light" by Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. ★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Hellish Half-Light" by Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. ★★½ ... There are six short p…

REVIEW: "Hellish Half-Light" by Mary-Arrchie Theatre ★★½ by Nina Metz

There are six short plays by Samuel Beckett in this Mary-Arrchie production, some of which are rarely staged, including the remarkable “What Where” from 1983. Director Jennifer Markowitz…

Confident voice from 'Phyllis' at Chemically Imbalanced by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Phyllis" ★★★ and "Moral Hazard" ★★ both at Chemically Imbalanced Theater THEATER REVIEWS: "Phyllis" ★★★ and "Moral Hazard" …

'Apes' remains slightly bonkers, little known and incredibly hilarious by Nina Metz

COMEDY REVIEW: "Impress These Apes" at ComedySportz ★★★★ COMEDY REVIEW: "Impress These Apes" at ComedySportz ★★★★ ... I have no idea why "Imp…

A familiar game, well-played, in 'Dating' by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEW: "Dating: Adults Embracing Failure" at the Royal George ★★★ and "EL Stories: Listen to the Music" by Waltzing Mechanics ★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Da…

Sparks but not much more in 'Trafford Tanzi' by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Trafford Tanzi" at Fizz Bar ★★ and "Becker" at the Annoyance Theater ★★ THEATER REVIEWS: "Trafford Tanzi" at Fizz Bar ★★ and "Becker" a…

'Haymaker' a clever parody of action movies by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Haymaker" by the Neo-Futurists ★★★ and "Love Tapes" by The Inconvenience ★★½ THEATER REVIEWS: "Haymaker" by the Neo-Futurists ★★…

The Late 90s, showing how improv should be done by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: The Late 90s at iO ★★★½ and "The Doll's House Project: Ibsen Is Dead" ★★★ THEATER REVIEWS: The Late 90s at iO ★★★½ a…

'Mill Fire' an absorbing story of a small-town tragedy by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Mill Fire" at Theater Wit ★★★ and "The Next Thing" by Signal Ensemble ★½ THEATER REVIEWS: "Mill Fire" at Theater Wit ★★★ and "Th…

Funny side of nightlife in John Godber's 'Bouncers' by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Bouncers" at the Public House Theatre ★★½ and "Spark" at Adventure Stage Chicago ★★½ "Bouncers"

Non-Equity theater actors juggle day jobs by Nina Metz

The money isn't much, but actors say they are addicted to artistic rewards of storefront theaters No one pursues a career in theater looking to make a quick buck. That holds especially tru…

Fast-paced lines and gender roles in 'Brahman/i' by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Brahman/i" by Silk Road Rising ★★½ and "Raw" by Deluge Theatre Collective ★★ THEATER REVIEWS: "Brahman/i" by Silk Road Rising ★★½ and…

'Good Boys' scandal has only become more timely by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Good Boys and True" at Raven Theatre ★★★ "The Roper" at the Den Theatre ★★ "Good Boys and True"     

'Lean Back' is Virgin Daiquiri's take on being a woman by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Lean Back" by Virgin Daiquiri ★★★ and "The Earliest Known Photo of Men Drinking Beer" ★★½ THEATER REVIEWS: "Lean Back" by Virgin Daiquiri &#…

'Tale of Two Cities' is about half a story short by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEW: "A Tale of Two Cities" at Lifeline Theatre ★★½ A novel dense with story and narrative meanderings will always end up streamlined for the stage. That isn't neces…

The underlings take the spotlight in 'Assistance' by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: LiveWire's "Assistance" at the Storefront Theater ★★½ ... Redtwist's "Happy" ★★½ THEATER REVIEWS: LiveWire's "Assistance" at the Storefront Theate…

'Breach' is story of whaling and widows left behind by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Breach" by Dog & Pony at Den Theatre ★★½ and "Do-Gooder" at 16th Street Theater ★★ THEATER REVIEWS: "Breach" by Dog & Pony at Den Theatre ★&…

Our Fringe guide to winter 2014 by Nina Metz and Kerry Reid, Chicago Tribune

Here at On the Fringe we love holiday-themed shows as much as the next person. But after weeks and weeks of seasonal productions, we're ready for the winter theater season to start in earnes…

The ones who said it: Best of On the Fringe in 2013 by Nina Metz and Kerry Reid, Chicago Tribune

In his Tony Award acceptance speech this year for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" Tracy Letts gave special thanks to the Chicago storefront scene that nurtured him. "We are the ones who sa…

Seth Meyers surrounds himself with Chicago talent by Nina Metz

A sizable group of comedy writers with Chicago ties has been hired on "Late Night with Seth Meyers," a source close to the show confirmed Friday. The talk show launches in February on NBC in…

'Hero Villain' casts a spell without an ending by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Detective Partner Hero Villain" at Strawdog Theatre ★★½ and "Polaroid Stories" by First Floor Theater at Red Tape ★★ THEATER REVIEWS: "Detective P…

Comedic actor Jay Leggett dies by Nina Metz

New Colony takes on the 'Twihard' fan culture by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Kate and Sam Are Not Breaking Up" by New Colony ★★★ and "Street Justice: Condition Red" by Factory Theater ★★½ THEATER REVIEWS: "Kate and Sa…

'Head of James Franco' delivers a good kind of angry by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Bring Me the Head of James Franco" ★★½ and "They Died Where They Lied" ★½ ... both at Den Theatre THEATER REVIEWS: "Bring Me the Head of James Franco" …

Melancholy mood for 'All Girl Frankenstein' by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "All Girl Frankenstein" by Chicago Mammals ★★½ and "The Brewprints" by Drinking & Writing Theater ★★ THEATER REVIEWS: "All Girl Frankenstein" by Ch…

Annoyance launches Kickstarter for new space by Nina Metz

After nearly a decade in Uptown, the Annoyance Theater announced plans this past spring for a new venue at 851 W. Belmont Ave., just north of Clark Street. Lakeview is thriving neighborhood …

Annoyance launches Kickstarter for new space by Nina Metz

After nearly a decade in Uptown, the Annoyance Theater announced plans this past spring for a new venue at 851 W. Belmont Ave., just west of Clark Street. Lakeview is thriving neighborhood f…