REVIEW: 'The Jungle' at Oracle Theatre ★★★ by Chris Jones

Back when Chicago's Union Stockyards employed more than 25,000 people, processed almost all the meat that entered the American mouth and yet did not have today's sophisticated public relatio…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 5:45pm on August 4, 2014☆⚑

At the Den Theatre, a game-changing new space in Wicker Park by Chris Jones

That which lies behind the door of 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. is a game-changer for theater in the hip Chicago neighborhood of Wicker Park. I took myself over to that address earlier this week, …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 6:24pm on July 31, 2014☆⚑

Arts should be live and local, not mailed from the Met by Chris Jones

In 1883, the company's first year, New York's Metropolitan Opera began to tour. These great overland voyages of ear-pleasing sopranos, colorful tenors and their trunks and accouterments, gre…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 5:44pm on July 31, 2014☆⚑

Aside from its travel resume, Globe's 'Hamlet' has no great reason to be by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEWS: "Hamlet" by Shakespeare's Globe at Chicago Shakespeare Theater ★★ THEATER REVIEWS: "Hamlet" by Shakespeare's Globe at Chicago Shakespeare Theater ★★…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 4:55pm on July 29, 2014☆⚑

REVIEW: 'Hamlet' by Shakespeare's Globe at Chicago Shakespeare Theater ★★ by Chris Jones

If you were to see the Shakespeare's Globe "Hamlet" in dusty South Sudan, or in the tiny nations of Tuvalu or Nauru, or on St. Kitts and Nevis (maybe both if the touchy latter island decides…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 4:55pm on July 29, 2014☆⚑

REVIEW: 'The Marvelous Marvelettes' at Black Ensemble ★★★ by Chris Jones

At "Motown the Musical," written and authorized by Berry Gordy and now playing its final weeks in downtown Chicago, the legendary founder of Motown Records is painted as a big-hearted patria…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 5:26pm on July 28, 2014☆⚑

Story of the singers is front and center in 'Marvelettes' by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "The Marvelous Marvelettes" at Black Ensemble Theatre ★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "The Marvelous Marvelettes" at Black Ensemble Theatre ★★★ ... A…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 5:26pm on July 28, 2014☆⚑

Drama about failing senses must yet retain some feeling by Chris Jones

REVIEW: "A Small Fire" at Steep Theatre ★★½ REVIEW: "A Small Fire" at Steep Theatre ★★½ Adam Bock's "A Small Fire" is only about 80 minutes long, but the chang…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 2:34pm on July 20, 2014☆⚑

A powerful, eye-opening play set in working-class Scotland by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Men Should Weep" by Griffin Theatre at Raven ★★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "Men Should Weep" by Griffin Theatre at Raven ★★★★ ... Ena…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:37pm on July 18, 2014☆⚑

Storefront 'Othello' goes right to heart of a marriage by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Othello" at Gift Theatre ★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "Othello" at Gift Theatre ★★★ ... Of all William Shakespeare's great tragedies, "Othello" i…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 6:22pm on July 15, 2014☆⚑

'Hillbillies' musical is too much a sitcom patched together by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "The Beverly Hillbillies, The Musical" at Theatre at the Center ★★ THEATER REVIEW: "The Beverly Hillbillies, The Musical" at Theatre at the Center ★★…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 5:28pm on July 14, 2014☆⚑

Lusty party never gets into full swing by Chris Jones

REVIEW: "The Qualms" from Steppenwolf Theatre Company ★★½ REVIEW: "The Qualms" from Steppenwolf Theatre Company ★★½ A world premiere black comedy asks: Why do …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 6:07pm on July 13, 2014☆⚑

Almost worth falling for this revisionist 'Brigadoon' by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Brigadoon" at the Goodman Theatre ★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Brigadoon" at the Goodman Theatre ★★½ ... In certain, more cynical parts of Scotland, t…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 6:17pm on July 7, 2014☆⚑

This is an overachieving 'Spelling Bee' at Drury Lane by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" at Drury Lane Theatre ★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" at Drury Lane Theatre &…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 2:31pm on June 27, 2014☆⚑

Sting's former self is at the center of 'Last Ship' by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "The Last Ship" at the Bank of America Theatre ★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "The Last Ship" at the Bank of America Theatre ★★★ ... This is a heart…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:21am on June 26, 2014☆⚑

In play about exes, a character goes over edge by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Annapurna" at Profiles Theatre Alley Stage ★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Annapurna" at Profiles Theatre Alley Stage ★★½ ... Darrell W. Cox, the star of…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 4:34pm on June 25, 2014☆⚑

Kokandy hits the mark with Sondheim's tricky 'Assassins' by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Assassins" by Kokandy Productions ★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "Assassins" by Kokandy Productions ★★★ ... For a sense of how much a theater space…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 4:18pm on June 24, 2014☆⚑

Bach, break dancing and a troubling moment by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Red Bull Flying Bach" at the Civic Opera House ★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Red Bull Flying Bach" at the Civic Opera House ★★½ ... One rarely reads th…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 4:05pm on June 23, 2014☆⚑

Cast's quick thinkers are the attraction in 'Apes' by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Apes of Wrath" at Second City e.t.c. ★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Apes of Wrath" at Second City e.t.c. ★★½ ... "Apes of Wrath," the new comedy revue a…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 3:44pm on June 22, 2014☆⚑

'Death of a Maiden': Committed but off-balance by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Death of a Maiden" at Victory Gardens Theater ★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Death of a Maiden" at Victory Gardens Theater ★★½ ... In 1990, the exiled w…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 3:37pm on June 22, 2014☆⚑

Michael Cera anchors a 'Youth' that spans decades by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "This is Our Youth" at Steppenwolf Theatre ★★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "This is Our Youth" at Steppenwolf Theatre ★★★½ ... Written five ye…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:52am on June 19, 2014☆⚑

Bumpy ride for a satire of children's musicals by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Orville and Wilbur Did It!" by New Colony at Signal Ensemble Theatre ★★ THEATER REVIEW: "Orville and Wilbur Did It!" by New Colony at Signal Ensemble Theatre &#…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 6:25pm on June 18, 2014☆⚑

Amen! Young cast lifts spirits with 'Godspell' by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Godspell" at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire ★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Godspell" at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire ★★½ ... "Godspell" ha…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:00am on June 12, 2014☆⚑

'Andrews Sisters' is all about the cheery songs by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "A Musical Tribute to the Andrews Sisters" by Theo Ubique ★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "A Musical Tribute to the Andrews Sisters" by Theo Ubique ★★ύ…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 4:37pm on June 11, 2014☆⚑

Open your eyes to a new kind of 'Carrie' by Chris Jones

REVIEW: "Carrie: The Musical" by Bailiwick Chicago ★★★ REVIEW: "Carrie: The Musical" by Bailiwick Chicago ★★★ ... They came to poke fun at a girl who in…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 5:30pm on June 6, 2014☆⚑