Thursday, September 28, 2017

Lessons of liberation resonate in suffragettes’ ‘Taming of the Shrew’ by Hedy Weiss

“The Taming of the Shrew,” Shakespeare’s comedy about the war between the sexes, has had a rough time of it for decades now, ever since the dawn of the feminist revolution.…

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 12:59AM
Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Lyric Opera, Chicago Urban League unite for EmpowerYouth arts program by Miriam Di Nunzio

"EmpowerYouth! Igniting Creativity through the Arts" is a multiyear after school educational and creative partnership that kicks off Oct. 4.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 12:00PM

Fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi shows off his style – via cabaret by Mary Houlihan - For The Sun-Times

In the show, Mizrahi sings standards while also riffing, on among other things, personal weight issues, sleeplessness and Jewish stereotypes.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 09:00AM
Monday, September 25, 2017

‘Pretty Woman’ the musical, headed for Chicago debut before Broadway by Hedy Weiss

The musical will be directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell ("Kinky Boots").

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 11:59PM

Singing with unexpected charm about ‘A New Brain’ by Hedy Weiss

This production of the infrequently revived show, brilliantly directed by Fred Anzevino, is wholly captivating.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 09:51PM

Alsip’s own Matt Bellassai turns his comedy into first book by Bill Zwecker

The Facebook host and podcaster will publish essays about "all those tiny embarrassing moments" from his suburban upbringing.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 06:26PM
Sunday, September 24, 2017

Muti, Mutter, CSO combine for triumphant series opener by Kyle Macmillan - For The Sun-Times

The virtually sold-out program in Orchestra Hall on Saturday centered on two 19th-century stalwarts and a pair of crowd-pleasing, blue-chip artists.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 02:36PM
Friday, September 22, 2017

Hubbard Street stages bold experiment for 40th season by Hedy Weiss

What happens when you very cagily flip the ordinary positioning of performer and audience?

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 03:14PM

Joffrey Ballet named resident dance company at Lyric Opera House by Hedy Weiss

The alliance will mark the end of the Joffrey's long-time relationship with the Auditorium Theatre.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 11:58AM

Henry Godinez’s latest theatrical journey explores ‘Don Quixote’ by Mary Houlihan - For The Sun-Times

In his latest stage role, Godinez takes on a legendary fictional character.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 08:00AM
Thursday, September 21, 2017

An uneven canvas for art and mortality in ‘The Rembrandt’ by Hedy Weiss

This is also a jarringly uneven play that tries too hard to be hip and often ends up undercutting the very meaningful notions it is meant to explore.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 03:50PM

Tavis Smiley stage production to showcase last year of King’s life by Associated Press

"Death of a King: A Live Theatrical Experience" is based on Smiley's 2014 book of the same title.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 02:46PM
Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Chicago Shakespeare’s opens Yard with twitchy ‘Toad’ by Hedy Weiss

Sadly, the whole production wears you down as often as it enchants.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 04:48PM
Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Seeking the primal core in Arthur Miller’s ‘View from the Bridge’ by Hedy Weiss

Miller was a realist who tapped into the fractured heroic nature of his characters and the very specific time and place in which they lived.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 03:52PM
Monday, September 18, 2017

‘Five Guys Named Moe’ supplies hilarious romantic advice at Court by Hedy Weiss

The all too rarely revived 1990 musical devised by Clarke Peters features the wonderfully antic songs of 1930s saxophonist/bandleader Louis Jordan.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 03:44PM
Sunday, September 17, 2017

Paramount’s ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ a great ball of fire by Hedy Weiss

A long-running hit at the Apollo, the tribute to Elvis Presley and his fellow Sun Records artists finds its proper scale on a Broadway-size proscenium

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 05:27PM
Friday, September 15, 2017

Springsteen, Schumer among celebs headed to Broadway this fall by Associated Press

If your upcoming travel plans include New York, here's a look at some of the highlights of the first half of the 2017-18 Broadway season.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 03:00PM
Thursday, September 14, 2017

Margaret Atwood’s searing psychological thriller fit for the stage by Hedy Weiss

Stage versions of Atwood's work are still rare, so Rivendell's riveting world premiere production of her novel "Alias Grace" is reason to celebrate.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 08:06PM

Emmy competition feels ‘like a joke’ for Second City’s Jackie Hoffman by Curt Wagner | Tvshowpatrol.com

Now a Broadway star, former Chicagoan is up for TV's top prize for playing Joan Crawford's housekeeper Mamacita on "Feud."

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 05:38PM
Wednesday, September 13, 2017

David Koechner says George Wendt roast ‘wasn’t too harsh’ by Bill Zwecker

The comedian, who returns to the area this weekend for a stand-up show, reveals Second City benefit included a 'Superfans' bit and surprise guests.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 05:33PM

With The Yard, Chicago Shakespeare sets engineering poetry in motion by Hedy Weiss

Each of the towers is a self-contained ecosystem with heating & ventilating connectors, electrical connections, acoustical panels & sprinkler system.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 05:31PM
Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Remembering Sir Peter Hall’s master stagework in Chicago by Hedy Weiss

It is Hall's work on the opera stage that left its greatest mark in Chicago.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 05:58PM

Lincoln agonistes drives a haunting ‘Heavens are Hung in Black’ by Hedy Weiss

James Still's fascinating fantasia, "The Heavens are Hung in Black," is now receiving an enthralling Shattered Globe Theatre production.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 09:37AM
Monday, September 11, 2017

Michael Keaton, Sanaa Lathan love Chicago’s creativity by Bill Zwecker

"American Assassin" stars Michael Keaton and Sanaa Lathan know Chicago well — loving everything from our food scene to the city's creative theaters.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 04:42PM

Sun-Times 2017 Fall Entertainment Preview — Stage by Hedy Weiss

Discovery is the name of the game on Chicago stages. An astonishing pool of young talent is at work in this city right now (with many of the performers barely out of university theater progr…

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 08:30AM
Sunday, September 10, 2017

For 16th Street Theater, a season of troubled men, women in uniform by Hedy Weiss

The 2018 lineup features work by Chicago writers Ike Holter, Aline Lathrop and J. Joseph Cox, along with Kathleen Cahill and Sean Christopher Lewis.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 11:50PM
Saturday, September 9, 2017

Celebs violate Norm at Second City’s big-money roast of George Wendt by Darel Jevens

Some comedians reluctant to go too rough on the "sweetheart" actor best known for his "Cheers" role.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 09:45PM
Friday, September 8, 2017

Strong performances, voices, lift inane ‘Rock of Ages’ by Hedy Weiss

In the end, the screechy-screaminess of it all, along with the crotch grabbing, simulated humping and dumb humor, have a numbing effect.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 03:13PM

It’s a long way from Carbondale to ‘90210’ for musical star by Miriam Di Nunzio

Stage musical parody of the 1980s Fox series finds its Donna Martin in one very talented, and very hairy actor.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 03:00PM
Thursday, September 7, 2017

Goodman Theatre announces members of yearlong Playwrights Unit by Hedy Weiss

The Unit is a year-long residency in support of new work in collaboration with Chicago Dramatists.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 06:37PM

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