'Old Jews' off to the cabaret by Chris Jones

The long-running Chicago production of "Old Jews Telling Jokes" is moving to the Royal George cabaret space on Thursday, vacating the larger Royal George mainstage.    

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 5:09pm on February 3, 2014☆⚑

If you're ready for raw experimentation, heaven is waiting by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Hamlet is Dead. No Gravity" by Red Tape Theatre ★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "Hamlet is Dead. No Gravity" by Red Tape Theatre ★★★ ... This very i…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 4:35pm on February 3, 2014☆⚑

On The Theater Loop, something new for opera lovers by Chris Jones

With John von Rhein's four-star review of "The Barber of Seville" at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, we're adding the world of opera to The Theater Loop.    

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 2:43pm on February 3, 2014☆⚑

Chris Jones on acting: When the best comes from very little by Chris Jones

The two best performances I've seen on screen this year, Chiwetel Ejiofor in "12 Years a Slave" (Ejiofor should win an Academy Award on March 2) and Tom Hanks in "Captain Phillips" (Hanks, u…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:00am on February 3, 2014☆⚑

Complex issues, social ambivalence mark latest Steep production by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: 'strangers, babies' at Steep Theatre. ★★½ Steep Theatre never shies away from plays about the dark corners of the soul, the ones that fester as you go about y…

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

Amid bewitched weather, here comes the sun at House by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Rose and the Rime" at House Theatre ★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "Rose and the Rime" at House Theatre ★★★ ... If this hellish Chicago January pro…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 5:35pm on January 29, 2014☆⚑

Trio of actresses set the bar high for 2014 by Chris Jones

The big wave of winter theater openings, many of which took place in subzero temperatures, is in a brief lull. The pace picks up again next week, but enough has come down to merit an update.…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 4:56pm on January 29, 2014☆⚑

Second City offers new fellowship for minority performers in sketch comedy by Chris Jones

In a move that comes after NBC's "Saturday Night Live" reacted to intense pressure to hire more minority performers, Chicago's Second City says it has created a new (and tuition-free) multi-…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:56pm on January 29, 2014☆⚑

After a student's death, trying to untangle issues by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Gidion's Knot" at Profiles Theatre Alley Stage ★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "Gidion's Knot" at Profiles Theatre Alley Stage ★★★ ... In "Gidion's …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 6:30pm on January 28, 2014☆⚑

Jeff Garlin headed back to Chicago by Chris Jones

Jeff Garlin, the Chicago comic and improviser who found fame after his stint on the HBO show "Curb Your Enthusiasm," is headed home for a series of intimate gigs at the Zanies comedy club.&n…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:04pm on January 28, 2014☆⚑

Great songs but 'Funny Money' needs a flinty dose of reality by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Mr. Chickee's Funny Money" by the Chicago Children's Theatre ★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Mr. Chickee's Funny Money" by the Chicago Children's Theatre ★★…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 6:04pm on January 27, 2014☆⚑

'Luna Gale' is the challenge of caring amid the chaos by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Luna Gale" at the Goodman Theatre ★★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "Luna Gale" at the Goodman Theatre ★★★★ ... A social worker at the c…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 6:00pm on January 27, 2014☆⚑

Eddie Izzard to play multi-night stand at Chicago Theatre by Chris Jones

The British comedian Eddie Izzard, known for his cross-dressing and also his highly intelligent comic material, is to return to Chicago in June. The Chicago gig is part of Izzard's "Force Ma…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:22am on January 27, 2014☆⚑

'Tom Jones' has wit, but needs some clarity by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: 'Tom Jones' at Northlight Theatre ★★½ THEATER REVIEW: 'Tom Jones' at Northlight Theatre ★★½ ... "A good countenance is a letter of recommendati…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:00am on January 27, 2014☆⚑

Drury Lane does well to put together 'Young Frankenstein' by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Young Frankenstein" at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace ★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Young Frankenstein" at Drury Lane Theatre ★★½ ... So you ha…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 3:55pm on January 24, 2014☆⚑

A new dilemma: What about mixing guns and arias? by Chris Jones

Walking into the Chicago Cultural Center for a warmhearted retirement celebration last week, I was pulled up short at the double revolving door by a set of stickers. The ones with the menaci…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 6:08pm on January 23, 2014☆⚑

Listen, old chum, Marriott brings 'Cabaret' to life by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Cabaret" at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire ★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "Cabaret" at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire ★★★ ... One of th…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:00am on January 23, 2014☆⚑

'42nd Street,' sung big, loud and proud in Aurora by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "42nd Street" at the Paramount Theatre ★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "42nd Street" at the Paramount Theatre ★★★ ... One of the great pleasures of t…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 6:04pm on January 22, 2014☆⚑

A different take on racial issues and real estate by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Luck of the Irish" at Next Theatre in Evanston ★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Luck of the Irish" at Next Theatre in Evanston ★★½ ... Had Lorraine Hansbe…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 4:12pm on January 22, 2014☆⚑

Uptown Underground is new cabaret planned for North Side by Chris Jones

Chicago's Uptown neighborhood is to get a new cabaret-style theater. Dubbed The Uptown Underground, the new venue, located at 4707 N. Broadway, will be dedicated to burlesque, vaudeville, cl…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 5:40pm on January 21, 2014☆⚑

Play about race in the workplace already feels dated by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Rasheeda Speaking" by the Rivendell Theatre Ensemble ★★ THEATER REVIEW: "Rasheeda Speaking" by the Rivendell Theatre Ensemble ★★ ... Staged at the R…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 4:40pm on January 20, 2014☆⚑

'Guitars' has a relaxed and playful vibe by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Seven Guitars" at Court Theatre ★★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Seven Guitars" at Court Theatre ★★★½ ... August Wilson's plays first arrived…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:49am on January 20, 2014☆⚑

On Seth, Johnny and the straight man by Chris Jones

In his occasionally salacious but richly layered biography of Johnny Carson, Henry Bushkin (Carson's longtime lawyer, compadre and acolyte) describes a party in 1979, at the home of Gina and…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:00am on January 20, 2014☆⚑

In a thrilling, revisionist 'Hedda,' she knows what's coming by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Hedda Gabler" at Writers Theatre ★★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "Hedda Gabler" at Writers Theatre ★★★★ ... Kimberly Senior's self-awar…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 2:30pm on January 17, 2014☆⚑

Reconceived 'Phantom' with a reverence for the original by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "The Phantom of the Opera" at the Cadillac Palace Theatre ★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "The Phantom of the Opera" at the Cadillac Palace Theatre ★★ύ…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:00am on January 16, 2014☆⚑