Measure for measure, Dreamgirls has more star turns in its first 15 minutes than many musicals have in their entirety. And Porchlight Music Theatre's production, directed by Brenda Didier, d…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:37PMEclipse Theatre's *Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train* is a treasure in every sense of the word. Then embrace the encrusted grime as part of the tarnished gold. Engross yourself in Playwright St…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 03:28PMBroadway in Chicago's 'Bullets Over Broadway' is a bizarre, cartoonish musicalization of the 1994 movie of the same name. By the time the show wraps up, it’s abundantly clear why this Woo…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:16PMVictory Gardens Theater's world-premiere 'Hillary and Clinton' is at once very broad and very niche. Playwright Lucas Hnath’s play challenges the audience to imagine a parallel universe al…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 07:33PMWalt McGough’s baffling, juvenile commentary 'Paper City Phoenix' is truly one of the most inscrutable plots this critic has ever had to try and parse, filled with shallow characters and v…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:49PMThe subject matter of Chicago Childrens Theatre's world premiere 'Jabari Dreams of Freedom' is essential and timely. The talent is excellent, the production values beautiful. If Nambi E. Kel…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:57PMAbe Koogler’s 'Kill Floor' is filled with complex, dynamic characters whose damaged lives will intrigue you from the stark, eerie, opening image. As the piece winds through a series of fra…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:54PMRoyal George Theatre's 'Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin,' directed by Trevor Hay and performed on a gorgeous set designed by Hay and Felder that represents Berlin’s last home, is a marvelo…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 07:13PMPlaywright Samuel D. Hunter is his laser-like focus on outsiders of the heartland, and his dedication to presenting them as the humans they are. Steep Theatre’s The Few showcases Hunter at…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 11:14PMNew American Folk Theatre's 'Trash' runs like an extended riff on the tropes of Southern Gothic. Playwright Johnny Drago’s characters feel like an inverted and exaggerated caricature of so…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:08PMThomas Bradshaw's 'Carlyle' is billed as a satire. It’s not. The piece delivers some of the most straightforwardly offensive and despicable forms of misogyny and racism that you can imagin…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 11:50PMHouse Theatre's gut-wrenching world premiere adaptation of Laurence Gonzales’ book lovingly portrays the true story of a doomed 1989 flight that resulted in an inspiring tale of human resi…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:26PMEntertaining it is – light entertainment it’s not. Going into The Hypocrites' 'Adding Machine' with expectations of a piece that will challenge audiences, one will have a rewarding exper…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:00PMLester’s Dreadful Sweaters is a satisfying treat for families. This parable of open-mindedness and creativity has a great message, and this winning musical adaptation is sure to be a favor…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 03:39PMDirected by Daniel Ostling, 'Blood Wedding' is visually arresting and emotionally intense. But the overarching themes that Lorca delves into aren’t always clear, despite a fine cast and a …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 10:42PMIn Tracy Letts’ 85-minute world-premiere Mary Page Marlowe, the six incarnations of the title character create a drama that pierces the heart, engages the intellect and weaves an extraordi…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 01:50AMOne of Remy Bumppo's most commendable traits is its willingness to tackle challenging productions. While I commend their initiative here, they ironically lose sight of the central conflict o…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:19PMStaged in a format that just doesn’t work and employing a “collective reading” that just results in a mess, The Plagiarists' 'Ulysses' manages to be both drawn-out and forgettable, wit…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 11:49PMApart from the third act, where some real action occurs, Profiles Theatre's 'Jerusalem' by Jez Butterworth consists mainly of hearing drugged-out characters tell stories. At 3 hours, the pla…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 02:07PMTUTA Theatre has been regaling Chicago audiences with innovative theatre for years. 'The Edge of Our Bodies' is no exception, and Carolyn Molloy's performance is nothing short of exceptional…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 10:22AMWriters Theatre's 'Arcadia', by Tom Stoppard, is a triumph on multiple levels. It’s a celebration of the sumptuous new space and a crackling fine swath of storytelling, offering a magnific…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 04:09PMNorthlight Theatre's 'Butler' is a hidden nugget of history, Written by Richard Strand, the play is based on true events, and is not only entertaining but educational as well in that we’re…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 01:55AMDavid Kovac's 'Fooling Buddha' is a deft balance of comic prowess and sleight-of-hand. Part autobiographical storytelling, part mind-boggling illusion and part philosophical musing, it's tho…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:18PMThe Chicago Tap Theatre is a gift to the local dance scene - the group is both staggeringly talented and never afraid to take a chance. With a compelling story, a stunning score and knockout…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 11:17PMMatilda the Musical is a indeed special show. It’s an empowering story about dealing with bullies. It is also a story that celebrates imagination. And that will make you believe, if only a…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 07:16PMThe Factory Theater's 'The Last Big Mistake' combines campy acting with irreverent humor and fun/sexy wrestling moves, but it displays a lot more style than substance. If you've enjoyed othe…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 10:54PMAlena Smith's 'The New Sincerity' teeters between terrific and troubled. Smith does a first-rate job skewering a movement's shortcomings, but her plot is wholly unlikely and characters incon…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 01:06AMShort Shakespeare! Twelfth Night, adapted and directed by Kirsten Kelly, is a fun and clever romp with deft direction, beautiful production values and talented actors. Shakespeare himself wo…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 10:44PMUltimately , Goodman Theatre's 'The Matchmaker' is good “match” between cast and audience. In fact, the one big critique would be that sometimes, after a very funny line, actors proceed …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 02:08PMWhile not blatantly innovative, Chicago Shakes' 'Othello' subtly increases the play's relevance while staying true to the script. The tremendous cast excels in honoring Shakespeare's languag…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 05:28PMThough it wobbles in the beginning, 35MM is well worth watching. A snapshot into our minds and hearts, with the angst, passion and need for connection, the show is distinctive and emotional.…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 03:20PM
