2,003 stories by "Scotty Zacher"
Fine Print Theatre's *The Xylophone West* brings that me-throw-rock-at-different mentality to a modern-day hermetic little town in Nebraska. *Xylophone* is a mostly realistic, if sometimes m…
Dance is a living, breathing art form, and thanks to the work of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, it thrives. *Come Alive*, Hubbard Street's spring showcase, features two previously performed p…
Oracle Theatre does a fine job of staging Jean Genet's *The Maids*. The three actors on stage - Rich Logan, John Arthur Lewis and Sasha Grishkov - together seem suspended in individual real…
Clocking in at a hefty two hours forty-five minutes, *Pinocchio* needs to be edited -- judiciously. By the final scene I was yearning to win my freedom from the prison of the Neo-Futurarium.…
In keeping with the fairytale theme the cast brings a sense of wonder and levity to their performance, punctuated by moments that remind us how dark this story really is. Blake Montgomery, …
*Riverdance* transfixes as a visual stunner! The river-singing, river-fiddling, river-theatrics... not so much. Slightly Recommended.
With Rebecca Ringst's gorgeous Babylon-in-Neon set , *Camino Real* looks stunning. Conventional it is not. If you're looking for a three-act conflict-crisis-resolution, this show might drive…
Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre's latest musical labor of love, where the sounds are superb even when the story stumbles. Throughout, co-directors Fred Anzevino and Brenda Didier honor the roman…
From tug-at-your-heart romance to unsettling horror, Fury Theater's production is an eye-opening showcase of Ellen Cribbs' playwrighting talents. Recommended.
Clifford Odets' play, skillfully performed by The Agency, carries the same weight today that it did in the 1930's. The social issues are the same. Today we call them 1% and back then it was …
*Bring It On* is not destined to be a critical darling of ardent musical theater fans. It's got all the substance of bubbles and giggles. Yet for all that, it's also a diverting romp and a s…
Brian Golden has done a stupendous job of directing this play. The rhythm and texture of destruction is starkly portrayed as it stirs the mind. *In The Heart of America* will continue to be …
As a brief episode exploring lust's pleasures and pitfalls, Fall of Man brings an elegiac tone to the plaintive "everycouple." Highly Recommended.
While the final 10 minutes of Paul Edwards' adaptation would benefit from some streamlined editing, *We Have Always Lived in the Castle* is a chilling, worthy testament to author Shirley Jac…
This show deserves a high rating on its own artistic merit. As some schools steer clear because of its teenage gay bullying themes, it would be a huge waste to have this work play to partia…
Harvey Fierstein's *A Catered Affair* shows a slice of America at its most dismal. While weddings are usually a glorious distraction from the day's worries, in this case, a wedding is the ma…
Though three hours might seem like an overwhelming commitment, for those open to this type of religious experience, *The Convert* is life-altering. Recommended.
Playwright Arthur Miller penned a timeless ode to siblings. In one family encounter, Miller masterfully captures the past and future of these brothers. Veteran Chicago actors Jon Steinhage…
This show is fun, upbeat and enjoyable for any age group. In fact, toting along a few kids to this show certainly isn't necessary, although you should bring someone " no one should miss this…
Tectonic Theater's *Laramie Projects* provide a powerful cautionary tale, a learning curve of hate towards hope that rises to the occasion. Matthew, who never sought martyrdom or sainthood, …
New York playwright Tony Meneses' much-praised drama delivers a different look at survival among sisters(in-law). While their men go off to fight what seems a world-wide war, the ten wives o…
Because Americans have a steady diet of television, movie and real life political scandal, *The North Plan* is what we crave. It's conspiracy, comedy and control. *The North Plan* is funny…
Playwright Julia Weiss penned a hilarious story. The premise is clever. The smart dialogue is pure adolescent slang and attitude. Director Annaliese Toft sews the T-Rex together form a re…
Though not as memorable as *Old Times* (Strawdog's stellar fall 2011 production), *The Petrified Forest, with its endearing story arc and fine acting, is a solid recommend.
