2,003 stories by "Scotty Zacher"
With snow falling on the Courtyard Theater stage and a cast that includes many of Chicago Shakes' best-loved and most talented regulars, The Merry Wives of Windsor comes off as more than a j…
While Raine's themes are intriguing and the acting outstanding, I'm not certain how fair a review I'll be able to provide of this script, thanks to the infuriating direction by the normally …
Adding to the show's musical cheer are carols and favorites that punctuate the action, performed by the jazzy 11-member ensemble and sometimes sung by the audience. There are also a few insi…
Fresh from the San Francisco Opera, Johann Strauss Jr.'s ever-green masterpiece is the most inebriating operetta ever written. Watching it leaves you woozy, the famous waltzes mellowing and …
With Bob Fosse-inspired choreography, this is frequently a delightful spectacle for the eye and ear, and the devoted cast knows how to pitch their kitsch between sweet and broad, all backed …
Even if you know the plot inside-and-out, this production is still a delightful holiday treat for the season. - even moreso rof anyone who (for whatever reason) has never seen the film. Thi…
More than any other ballet, The Nutcracker is uniquely personal to each audience member. The Joffrey Ballet's always-stellar production is an ideal place to celebrate old traditions, and to …
Silent Theatre's version of A Christmas Carol jaunts along at an 80-minute clip that holds the attention of a modern audience throughout. Kudos goes this ensemble for revitalizing both an ov…
The actors in this epic Dickens classic give the roles a fine, classically toned reading worthy of Masterpiece Theater, and are to be commended for their work. And what work they do - 6 acto…
Out of all dramatic forms, satire demands the most thought and effort. Elemeno Pea is either too preoccupied with trying to squeeze in different tones or too lazy to really explore the issue…
Amongst the drinking and merry-making on this Dublin Christmas Eve, Playwright Conor McPherson yanks the rug out. He drops an otherworldly twist into this holiday libation by way of a visit…
An invaluable contributor to Chicago's Yuletide joy, The Christmas Schooner has, within a generation, become a holiday addiction for the Windy City. It tells a tale that celebrates a homegro…
Billed as a "psychological superhero-noir," we certainly are waxed philosophical for its 70-minute duration. This is no fast-paced action piece. The surprisingly slow-moving narrative featur…
Between the imaginative visual designs and the talented, hard-working cast of 20, is by no means a cheap-looking show, fully embodying the feel of a Broadway-scale production. But the materi…
American Blues Theater continues its anachronistic ode to one of the great American tales. With their rich cast of voice actors and a live Foley sound set, we're treated to a brisk retelling…
After all the superlatives, it's enough to say that this is not just great theatre, it's the reason to go to theatre"to be transported, challenged, moved, enraptured. Bluebeard goes another …
With A Very Merry Madrigal, Theo Ubique serves up a shiny bauble of a show as a cast of six talented vocalists (Sarah Grant, Missy Aguilar, Tom Chiola, Molly Kral, Greg Foster and Andrew Sic…
Under the direction of Henry Wishcamper, a Christmas Carol rookie making his debut with the piece - the spirited tale of redemption remains evergreen, a thrilling, gratifying and joy-inducin…
Polaroid Stories Written by Naomi Iizuka Directed by Hutch Pimentel at Red Tape Theatre, 621 W. Belmont (map) …
An interesting spin on the Christmas classic, it's certainly worth seeing during the holidays. But a good script doesn't always guarantee a good production, and in this presentation NightBl…
Despite the script's imperfections, Red Theatre's production of Sidney Michaels' theatrical biopic brings the wit and passion of the Welsh poet to vibrant life. Dylan is a fascinating if fla…
Is it a fairytale, a folktale or a muzical? Yes. Playwright Emily Schwartz has concocted a play-full original - the plot is layered but not overly complicated, the characters whimsical wit…
A remount of Court Theatre's universally praised one-man show from two years ago, An Iliad returns to provide an enthralling, contemporary interpretation of Homer's opus. For those who miss…
La Traviata is beautifully sung and well-executed, jam-packed with some of the most beloved arias ever written. Although this classic is a sure thing, it suffers from living in the mammoth s…
This new adaptation of Christmas Carol has an intriguing premise but loses too much of the original. And with Christmas carols interspersed throughouth (and not enough character development…
