All stories by Ted C. Fishman on BroadwayStars

Friday, October 25, 2024

Classic with a Spin: A Review of Broadway In Chicago’s “Some Like It Hot” at Cadillac Palace Theatre by Ted C. Fishman

This is a stylish, energetic production with a breathtakingly gifted crew that delivers all the energy and glamor of a vintage-style musical with a new school spin.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Friday, October 18, 2024

No Plot Spoiler, Just Joy: A Review of “Primary Trust” at Goodman Theatre by Ted C. Fishman

In the delicate hands of director Malkia Stampley, this is a fine production of a rare play whose great wisdom and humanity unfolds slowly and curiously, like epiphanies that spring up from …

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Thursday, October 10, 2024

Soul Passion: A Review of Black Ensemble Theater’s “Blue Eyed Soul Sung by Brown Eyed People” by Ted C. Fishman

This show is a trademark Black Ensemble jukebox show—great band, many wonderful singers who give their all and a book with an uplifting message.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Monday, September 30, 2024

The Truths Still Resonate: A Review of “Inherit the Wind” at Goodman Theatre by Ted C. Fishman

As theater art, the show is a triumph. How about as a message for our age delivered by a decades-old play crafted in a different political moment?

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Thursday, September 26, 2024

Seriously Zany: A Review of “Noises Off” at Steppenwolf by Ted C. Fishman

Steppenwolf’s cast has put in the work and delivers a seriously zany show.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Must See If You Can Make It: A Review of “East Texas Hot Links” at Court Theatre by Ted C. Fishman

Parson has delivered another knockout. Brave the box office wait time for tickets.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, May 7, 2024

No Bad Deed: A Review of “Judgment Day” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater by Ted C. Fishman

"Judgment Day," now premiering at Chicago Shakes, is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud funny play with a cast that somehow ekes comedy out of nearly every line and gesture.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Monday, March 18, 2024

The Epic of Penelope: A Review of “The Penelopiad” at Goodman Theatre by Ted C. Fishman

In Margaret Atwood’s retelling of the life of Penelope, the veiled, enigmatic, ever-weaving wife of Odysseus, is reborn.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Friday, November 10, 2023

Funny Things Are Everywhere: A Review of “Oh, the Places You’ll Glow” at Second City e.t.c. by Ted C. Fishman

Thanks to its cast of joyous, nimble clowns—who are also the show’s smart writers—"Places" delights while also provoking, just enough.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Thursday, November 9, 2023

Hail to the Chief: A Review of “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive” at Steppenwolf by Ted C. Fishman

The title character of the President of the United States never appears in "POTUS," a riotous political farce with an all-women cast. The comedy does, however, begin with a crisis he created.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Friday, June 30, 2023

The Psychedelic Whirl: A Review of “The Who’s Tommy” at Goodman Theatre by Ted C. Fishman

The biggest surprise in the engrossing staged version of "Tommy" now at The Goodman is how strongly the work stands alone given the indelible imprint the music by Pete Townshend and his coll…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Sunshine On a Cloudy Day: A Review of “Real Housewives of Motown” at Black Ensemble Theater by Ted C. Fishman

This show aims to portray the struggles of some of the wives (and eventually ex-wives) of Motown superstars.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Friday, May 19, 2023
Thursday, May 11, 2023

Stiff Upper Lip: A Review of “London Road” at Shattered Globe by Ted C. Fishman

This British musical seems to pull off the impossible. The mesmerizing but highly complex score requires singers and musicians who can manage its intricate rhythms with precision and still a…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Modern Family: A Review of Definition Theatre’s “Fairview” by Ted C. Fishman

An incisive, suitably atonal but pitch-perfect Chicago premiere of Jackie Sibblies Drury’s 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning play that leads, relentlessly, to unexpected heights of humor and dra…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Thursday, May 4, 2023

A Story of Possibilities: A Review of “From the Mississippi Delta” at Lifeline Theatre by Ted C. Fishman

Lifeline’s funny, poignant, zippy production of Endesha Ida Mae Holland’s 1990 play about the writer’s life-long journey from the Jim Crow South, through the Civil Rights Movement of t…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Right Is Right: A Review of “Big River” at Mercury Theater by Ted C. Fishman

"Big River" is a musical based on Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, with songs by Roger Miller. Mercury Theater’s production is crisply moving, superbly sung and highly entertaining.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, May 2, 2023

The Time Is Now: A Review of “Into the Woods” at Broadway in Chicago by Ted C. Fishman

Get downtown and see this show. It may change you for good. It will certainly raise your standards on what to expect from a musical, including one direct from Broadway.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Thursday, April 27, 2023

Revolutionary Practice: A Review of “We are Proud to Present” at Theatre Y by Ted C. Fishman

The playwright messes with the rituals and conventions of theater to get deep inside messy interlocking themes, including ethnicity, bias, justice, empathy and creativity.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Thursday, April 20, 2023

A Measure of Peace: A Review of “Galileo’s Daughter” at Remy Bumppo Theatre by Ted C. Fishman

The title character of Jessica Dickey’s play is also the subject of Dava Sobel’s bestselling book of the same name. Sobel’s book about the great scientist’s brilliant, illegitimate c…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Against Great Odds: A Review of “Last Night and the Night Before” at Steppenwolf by Ted C. Fishman

A full and convincing portrait of a family that works against great odds to stay together and give its members the support and tough love they need.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Thursday, April 13, 2023

Emotional Mercury: A Review of “The Cherry Orchard” at Goodman Theatre by Ted C. Fishman

For Goodman's current production of Anton Chekhov’s "The Cherry Orchard," Robert Falls has adapted the classic for speed and to make the laugh lines snap so wickedly hard that they elevate…

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Batter Up: A Review of “A Soldier’s Play” at Broadway in Chicago by Ted C. Fishman

In the current, riveting, too-short Chicago run of this forty-two-year-old Pulitzer-winning play, the young Black infantrymen play on the best baseball team in the U.S. Army.

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

Modern Misery: A Review of “Proximity” at Lyric Opera by Ted C. Fishman

"Proximity"’s deeply emotionally affecting scores, a cast of universally fine vocal leads and kinetic, video-centric staging add up to jarring, hard-to-shake work that will stir audiences …

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Friday, March 10, 2023

Shining Star: A Review of “Reasons: A Tribute to Earth Wind and Fire” at Black Ensemble Theater by Ted C. Fishman

What makes a tribute show work? Watch "Reasons" and learn while swaying, clapping, cheering and ultimately rising to your feet to dance and sing.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Where We Stand: A Review of “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Stevie Wonder Experience” by Ted C. Fishman

Backed by a seven-piece band, John-Mark McGaha performs in a concert filled with stories and music.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, March 7, 2023

The Promised Land: A Review of “The Mountaintop”at Invictus Theatre by Ted C. Fishman

The play is set in Room 306 of Memphis’ Lorraine Motel, the setting of Martin Luther King’s assassination in 1968.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Friday, February 24, 2023

Walk Beside Me: A Review of Steppenwolf’s “Chlorine Sky” by Ted C. Fishman

The moving production is author Mahogany L. Browne’s adaptation of her verse novel. Sky, is the thoughtful, athletic, resilient character at the center of this young-adult play.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Friday, November 18, 2022

Shifting Morality: A Review of Among the Dead at Jackalope Theatre by Ted C. Fishman

The work explores the shifting morality—most of it horrifyingly immoral—that overcomes nations, young adults and abandoned children in wartime.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Friday, November 4, 2022

Let The Good Times Roll: A Review of Blue Heaven at Black Ensemble Theater by Ted C. Fishman

Twenty-four songs in ninety minutes, all stirringly sung, played and arranged. That’s Black Ensemble Theater for you.

SOURCE: www.newcitystage.com at 08:00AM
Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Divide and Conquer: A Review of Julius Caesar at Invictus Theatre by Ted C. Fishman

Director Charles Askenaizer proves again that Invictus commands its small stage with strong, energetic performances and with emotionally potent productions.

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