Given the name of the company, Black Button Eyes Productions probably had a date from the beginning with Edgar Allan Poe. You know, that gent poetical who enjoyed the company of ravens and q…
On the day celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr., Chicago said farewell to Lew Manilow, one of the more formidable Chicagoans of his generation. Manilow, who died Dec. 9 at the age of 90, was …
The most telling moment in Richard Lewis' opening night set at Zanies on Wednesday evening came at the end, after he had told his last quip. Having stepped down from the stage, Lewis didn't …
"My name is Lorraine Hansberry. I am a writer. I was born on the South Side of Chicago. I was born black and a female. I was born in a Depression after one World War and came into my adolesc…
Casting is complete for the world premiere of Keith Huff's "Six Corners," American Blues Theater announced Wednesday. The production will feature Brenda Barrie, ensemble member Manny Buckley…
Of all the Founding Fathers of these United States, Benjamin Franklin probably did more than any other to articulate the enlightened idea of America, to explicitly link his yoked but emergin…
"God bless, this is Dick Gregory." Those were the first words that legendary comedian Dick Gregory " who 58 years ago changed comedy history as a black stand-up comic performing for a white …
Not long after Oprah Winfrey's rousing speech at the Golden Globes, a meme began circulating on social media showing her at previous Hollywood functions with Harvey Weinstein, bearing the le…
Robert O'Hara wrote "Insurrection: Holding History" in 1996 when he was just 26 years old. At the time, the play was billed as "Roots" meets "The Wizard of Oz" " they did what they had to do…
Kokandy Productions has announced the cast of "Grand Hotel," the final musical in the company's fifth season. "Grand Hotel" will star Michelle Jasso as Elizaveta Grushinskaya, Jonathan Schwa…
When the Minnesota Vikings took a knee and declined to attempt the extra point Sunday, you likely were unmoved by the decision, since the Vikings already had won their game by five points an…
Casting is complete for the Chicago premiere of Sarah DeLappe's "The Wolves," Goodman Theatre announced Tuesday. The ensemble includes Angela Alise as #00, goalie; Isa Arciniegas as #25, cap…
Raven Theatre's 2018-19 season, the first with recently named artistic director Cody Estle at the company's helm, will feature all women playwrights, the company announced Tuesday. Opening i…
After 19 years in the job, Dorothy Milne is calling it quits as artistic director of the Lifeline Theatre in Rogers Park. In an interview with the Tribune, Milne, 60, expressed a desire "not…
Casting is complete for "Bunny Bunny: Gilda Radner, A Sort of Love Story," Mercury Theater Chicago announced Tuesday. Dana Tretta will star as Radner with Jackson Peter Evans as Alan Zweibel…
Saturday | "All My Sons": A manufacturer confronts a World War II tragedy and a failed American Dream in Arthur Miller's family drama. Through Feb. 11 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.; 7…
A generation from now, cultural historians will look back on this moment in Chicago theater and marvel at all the plays about small-town Americans tearing each other apart. Hot on the heels …
The inaugural Chicago Ex Fest has been canceled, founder Matthew Payne announced Friday in a Facebook post. Ex Fest, slated to run this weekend at the Crowd Theater in Lakeview, was created …
Once he takes the stage, comedian Felipe Esparza " who released the hourlong stand-up special "Translate This" on HBO last year but is perhaps still best known for winning "Last Comic Standi…
"Beautiful " The Carole King Musical" âœâœâœ 1/2 Chicago actress Sarah Bockel plays the lead in the current national tour of "Beautiful," the jukebox musical that celebrates t…
The antagonist of Loy Webb's intense new drama from the New Colony, "The Light," is seen only in conversation. He's a Chicago music artist, known only as Kashif, the kind that this city like…
Sales are slowing. Browse the official Ticketmaster website and you will see availability, pretty good availability, for midweek shows in January, and these are not resale inventory. They're…
"Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Richard Lewis!" With those words, a shaggy-haired, 30-something comic takes the stage at Zanies on North Wells Street, offers a quick bow and scans a seemingly end…
On Wednesday, the Marcus Center in Milwaukee, the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison and the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton, Wis., all said they would host the hit musica…
Saturday "Cal in Camo": A new mom struggles with her growing family in Rivendell's latest. Through Feb. 17 at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5779 N. Ridge Ave.; 773-334-7728 and www.rivendellth…