2,003 stories by "Scotty Zacher"
Lyric Opera of Chicago ends off their gangbuster season (Show Boat, Aida, Magic Flute) in a surprisingly understated way: an opaque take on Handel's *Rinaldo*. But the brilliant voices and v…
This play is uneven, but it has some genuinely great moments. Act I clocks in at over an hour, and could use some judicious editing, while Act II clips along at barely 30 minutes, and ties t…
As the *Magic Parlour* gets going, the audience's gasps get louder. The tricks get more elaborate, involving an astounding array of props, extraordinary feats with a deck of cards and mind r…
Adapter and director Rachel Rockwell masterfully condenses Shakespeare's comedy, staying true to the context while honing in on the love. A wonderful way to introduce children to Willy Shake…
The blend of music, comedy, and empathy in TUTA Theatre Chicago's *Fulton Street Sessions* makes for a challenging and exciting night. Go see it and take a friend, the more easily-offended t…
Playwright Jayme McGhan has penned a tribute to the working class. McGhan writes about corporate corruption from the point of view of those affected by top decision makers. Despite strong p…
You cannot expect a Pinter play to give any direct answers or deliberate structure. The question of who is the caretaker and who or what is the recipient of care, has both an answer and ambi…
Lifeline Theatre's staging of *Hunger* will leave you simultaneously wanting both more and less.
Telling an extraordinary story that sometimes sags under its own weight, *Hunger* is richly…
Alexander and his friends sing their way through the day's problems, with charming lyrics (Judith Viorst) and music (Shelly Markham), plus quirky choreography by the show's director, Ernie N…
The nominations for the 1st Annual Chicago Theater Critic’s Beat Awards are in! Â See the entire nomination list
Creating an evocative parade of alternate plane humanity, Director Michael Montenegro brilliantly blends Brechtian decadence with syncretic American life. *He Who* is a wild puppet symbolist…
This play is by turns laugh-out-loud funny and absurdly devastating, and the actors aren't afraid to use the entire space of the theater, creating a blur between the worlds of actors and aud…
*Winter Fire* is a testament to the open minds of the Joffrey's artistic staff, and their willingness to resist the ever-tempting comfort zone. Tradition is wonderful and safe. The unknown i…
*Man Boobs* is a parable for a perilous world, reminding us that vanity exists in both the cocksure and timid. People often want to see their self-loathing"it's a case of "better the devil y…
Small towns, glue sniffing, a giant angel, lust and passion on a carnival ride, and the real meaning of redemption thrown in the face of fundamentalism. Get on Will Act For Food's ride and e…
The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke Written by William Shakespeare Direc…
As part of Steppenwolf's Garage Rep Series 2012, LiveWire Chicago's *Oohrah!* is bleak, reductionist and simplistic, exploiting stereotypes that "Hurt Locker" at least tried to justify.
"Hit the Wall* is a thrilling recreation of the 1969 riot outside the Stonewall Inn that symbolically launched the struggle for human rights for gays. Complete with a high-energy rock band, …
Kendall Sherwood's new work *Devil May Care* is a play of dialogue that lays bare the soul's motivations. This is really good theater from a young Chicago company that deserves a full house …
This work is a love letter of sorts to one of America's first"and some would say best"observers of that nature. Mark Twain could make us laugh at ourselves because he never put himself above…
DreamLogic Theatreworks' *Elder Gods* is an unusual sci-fi infused piece that will no doubt find its own cult following. Fortunately the staging redeems itself among regular theater-lovers, …
Under the direction of Tristan Brandon, the sublime acting ensemble assimilates into the greatest love story ever told. Aside from matching school uniforms, there are no costumes, no scener…
Playwright Scott T. Barsotti has written a phantasmagorical tale, with love at the center. Although we anticipated the signature WildClaw Theatre gore-fest, *Kill Me* is a different kind of …
*Superior Donuts* is pure Chicago. And thanks to Tracy Letts' brilliant script, excellent direction and a phenomenal cast, we never want to leave. Highly Recommended.
Despite a few problematic elements, Lyric has revived *Show Boat* in a way that would surely please Kern, Hammerstein, Ferber and the god of theatre himself, Dionysus. Intrigue, suspense, la…
