122 stories by "Lauren Whalen"
Theresa Rebeck's Seminar feels like a wannabe literary adaptation of "The Paper Chase." Instead of the law students, however, Seminar protaganists are wannabe novelists, living in New York w…
La Havana Madrid clearly is a labor of love for Sandra Delgado and Teatro Vista, but is never self-indulgent. Rather, it's a much-needed history lesson for some, a relatable reflection for o…
If phenomenal songs and excellent performances were enough to save a show, Underscore Theatre's world premiere My Name Is Annie King would have a higher rating from me. Unfortunately, the cu…
Director Michael Pogue is clearly emotionally invested, but overwhelmed starting with Kia Corthron's heavy, meaningful play. It's unfortunate, because Eclipse Theatre's Force Continuum conta…
In To America is a stark, complex and emotional reminder of what truly makes America great, with stories ranging from heartbreaking to funny and everything in between: scrappy street urchins…
Over the course of 85 minutes, I was totally immersed in the action - when the characters jumped, I jumped. I gasped when a knock on the door signaled a turning point in their collective fat…
Sideshow Theatre's truth and reconciliation isn't perfect, but it is incredibly ambitious. On the whole it succeeds, exploring the nuance and humanity behind conflicts small and large. With …
Always teeming with enthusiastic and grateful fans, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is a belated Christmas gift to Chicago. Dancers who defy gravity, choreographers who make thoughtful an…
Shakespeare's Henry V is one of the more beloved history plays, and Babes With Blades seeks to give the script a modern twist with an all-female cast and realistic stage violence, as Directo…
Chicago playwright Barbara Lhota's world premiere Phantom Pain could have been a nuanced portrayal of friendship, race and privilege, but instead is unfortunately a thin one-dimensional ploy…
Gentle doesn't appear to have much of a point, nor does it dig especially deep into its antihero's psyche. Thankfully, the material is elevated through stellar production values and first-ra…
Despite trying to hard at times, Writer-Performer Cathy Schenkelberg is charismatic and winning, and the audience roots for her the entire fast-paced 80 minutes. Squeeze My Cans offers a rar…
"... the cast is phenomenal: a well-oiled machine who work together beautifully while also standing out in their own right...they are gorgeous to watch. Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble's main c…
Circle Theatre's provocative and stunning Venus in Fur and its themes of domination, submission and performance are still with me in the days after the premiere. What could have been disastr…
With a bloated running time of three hours, Mike Bartlett's "Earthquakes in London" tries to present a gripping saga of family and natural phenomena. Instead, it's dull, overly long and by t…
This world premiere play, based on one family's Holocaust story " equal parts frustrating, satisfying and full of unanswered questions " has compelling, inspiring roots and is beautifully ac…
Deep in the Heart of Tuna is the newest script in the series of short plays chronicling the wacky exploits in Tuna, the third-smallest town in Texas Though well-directed by Derek Van Barham…
Game Changers is classic Joffrey - strong and stylish dancers flawlessly executing envelope-pushing choreography. The program is thoughtfully put together, with nods to ballet's roots and ge…
Richard Greenberg's The Assembled Parties thoroughly captures family life in all its funny tragedy, and has a stunning lead performance by Loretta Rezos in her Raven Theatre debut. Like the…
The History Boys by Alan Bennett is epic, funny, tragic and more than a little dark. Bennett's script is specific in themes and casting, and very, very difficult to present effectively. Ecl…
Director and Chicago favorite Marti Lyons has assembled a beautiful, low-key yet epic, production of Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize winner about an academic with cancer and the last two hou…
There's a lot to like about Psychonaut Librarians. Though inconsistent at times, the story of a mother, a daughter and drug trip-induced time travel is both entertaining and compelling. Than…
A tragedy handled with fantasy and comedy, Brown Paper Box Co.'s The Baltimore Waltz is mournful, vulnerable and memorable. Short but effective, Playwright Paula Vogel's play is both univer…
The sad irony regarding The Temperamentals is how achingly relevant it feels today. Though Playwright Jon Marans' acclaimed off-Broadway play takes place in the early 1950s, many themes ring…
Playwright Conor McPherson's writing captures the quintessential nature of the Irish, though I wish The Weir's sole female character was more broadly defined and less of a stereotype. Overal…
