It is clear that this is a well-meaning production meant to be a fun but offbeat family show, and it certainly has its moments. Unfortunately, due to its oddball humor, it comes across as bi…
Shawn Douglass' direction is even handed and keeps the tone of levity at all times even when there is deeper emotions present, thus paying homage to George Bernard Shaw's skill in adding tex…
Long Way Go Down juxtaposes humor with drama, nuance with catharsis, and thrills with poignancy. Its resolution satisfies, leaving you eager to muse about what happens to the characters five…
Prepared to by surrounded by drunken cougars who are in full hearted giggle-fest. This is the perfect Girls-Night-Out for Chicagoland gal pals. And if you're not into the story, watching t…
Thanks to Seth Bockley's adventurous interpretation of Philip Dawkins' fanciful script, Failure: A Love Story brings a cheerful perspective to life's only certainty besides taxes " and an Ou…
It's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph! is the gift to give yourself and loved ones this year. It's a wonderful holiday memory to share. (read more...)
CTA stories in a city full of people that have, at one time or another, had to deal with it is a wonderful idea for a play. But this production falls short of the relatable, warm and humorou…
Chicago has long deserved and, for 17 years now, has thoroughly enjoyed its own Christmas musical, a characteristically commercial celebration of entrepreneurial and meteorological risk-taki…
While there's a lot to like about this show, it might be a bit too static for children to fully enjoy. Moreover, labeling the somewhat low-stakes resolution of this story as a "miracle" smac…
The annual production has been a Chicago holiday tradition (and Gooman cash cow) for 35 years now so, to be honest, it doesn't really matter much what I think of it. Knowing this means less …
Marriot Theatre for Young Audiences created a lovely rendition of this classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Produced in the round, every seat is a good one. (read more...)
This show has a lot of potential, and the script has many opportunities for some good laughs; it's a shame that they aren't fully explored. Sister Gabriel should know better than anyone that…
I love variety shows and have longed for their return to the small screen. Well now I have hope, as Street Tempo Theatre brings the audience an early present of mayhem, laughs, and a sprinkl…
With Cinderella, the cast is talented enough, but they can only do so much with a tepid script and forgettable music. Not that every child will appreciate live theater, but when your target …
Cloying but cumulatively endearing, the songs soften the Christmastide story; Rachel Rockwell's production values are Paramount-proud. But they can't disguise the fact that Annie is basicall…
Overall, The Second City's Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue exudes high-energy that is good for some laughs. It is different enough from other holiday shows and other comedy shows to merit a view.…
This magical, ingenious retelling of a classic tale assures The House Theater's The Nutcracker a well-earned place in Chicago's holiday-entertainment pantheon. (read more...)
Playwright Julie Marie Myatt wanted to write about our forgotten veterans returning home and trying " not always successfully " to re-integrate into society. This lovely piece, in fact, eras…
Sly and effortlessly endearing, Mitchell Fain as the elf plays the audience like a mouth harp, mischievously relishing the delicious details and shock effects of David Sedaris' naughty confe…
This campy theater company aims to bring good old-fashioned Christmas cheer " well, if by "Christmas cheer" you mean "murdered Santa Claus and off-kilter TV special" in their set of one-acts…
Book author Mark St. Germain, of *Freud's Last Session* fame, apparently didn't trust the source material enough to leave it at that. There's an inexplicable choice to add a vaudevillian cha…
After sitting through 100 minutes of meaningless, mediocre karaoke, it's hard to focus on the show's positives. James Joyce's story lands weakly in terms of conflict/resolution, and this ada…
All in all, this re-telling of the old Christmas favorite stands out and is a great way to kick-off the holiday season. Full of pantomime fun, tongue-in-cheek jokes and Christmas spirit, Bah…
I wonder what my Catholic school teachers/nuns would think of this funny, touching, and slightly bawdy show? I may never know for sure but I think that they would certainly approve of the mu…
Succeeding most as an accurate and heartfelt piece of gay history, At the Flash can be shared with audiences of all types. This one-man show would also be a great primer on gay history for y…