2,260 stories from Chicago Theater Beat
Walt McGough's baffling, juvenile commentary 'Paper City Phoenix' is truly one of the most inscrutable plots this critic has ever had to try and parse, filled with shallow characters and vap…
The subject matter of Chicago Childrens Theatre's world premiere 'Jabari Dreams of Freedom' is essential and timely. The talent is excellent, the production values beautiful. If Nambi E. Kel…
Abe Koogler's 'Kill Floor' is filled with complex, dynamic characters whose damaged lives will intrigue you from the stark, eerie, opening image. As the piece winds through a series of fraug…
Royal George Theatre's 'Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin,' directed by Trevor Hay and performed on a gorgeous set designed by Hay and Felder that represents Berlin's last home, is a marvelous…
Playwright Samuel D. Hunter is his laser-like focus on outsiders of the heartland, and his dedication to presenting them as the humans they are. Steep Theatre's The Few showcases Hunter at h…
New American Folk Theatre's 'Trash' runs like an extended riff on the tropes of Southern Gothic. Playwright Johnny Drago's characters feel like an inverted and exaggerated caricature of some…
Thomas Bradshaw's 'Carlyle' is billed as a satire. It's not. The piece delivers some of the most straightforwardly offensive and despicable forms of misogyny and racism that you can imagine,…
House Theatre's gut-wrenching world premiere adaptation of Laurence Gonzales' book lovingly portrays the true story of a doomed 1989 flight that resulted in an inspiring tale of human resili…
Entertaining it is " light entertainment it's not. Going into The Hypocrites' 'Adding Machine' with expectations of a piece that will challenge audiences, one will have a rewarding experienc…
Lester's Dreadful Sweaters is a satisfying treat for families. This parable of open-mindedness and creativity has a great message, and this winning musical adaptation is sure to be a favorit…
Directed by Daniel Ostling, 'Blood Wedding' is visually arresting and emotionally intense. But the overarching themes that Lorca delves into aren't always clear, despite a fine cast and a st…
In Tracy Letts' 85-minute world-premiere Mary Page Marlowe, the six incarnations of the title character create a drama that pierces the heart, engages the intellect and weaves an extraordina…
One of Remy Bumppo's most commendable traits is its willingness to tackle challenging productions. While I commend their initiative here, they ironically lose sight of the central conflict o…
Staged in a format that just doesn't work and employing a "collective reading" that just results in a mess, The Plagiarists' 'Ulysses' manages to be both drawn-out and forgettable, with only…
Apart from the third act, where some real action occurs, Profiles Theatre's 'Jerusalem' by Jez Butterworth consists mainly of hearing drugged-out characters tell stories. At 3 hours, the pla…
TUTA Theatre has been regaling Chicago audiences with innovative theatre for years. 'The Edge of Our Bodies' is no exception, and Carolyn Molloy's performance is nothing short of exceptional…
Writers Theatre's 'Arcadia', by Tom Stoppard, is a triumph on multiple levels. It's a celebration of the sumptuous new space and a crackling fine swath of storytelling, offering a magnificen…
Northlight Theatre's 'Butler' is a hidden nugget of history, Written by Richard Strand, the play is based on true events, and is not only entertaining but educational as well in that we're a…
David Kovac's 'Fooling Buddha' is a deft balance of comic prowess and sleight-of-hand. Part autobiographical storytelling, part mind-boggling illusion and part philosophical musing, it's tho…
The Chicago Tap Theatre is a gift to the local dance scene - the group is both staggeringly talented and never afraid to take a chance. With a compelling story, a stunning score and knockout…
Matilda the Musical is a indeed special show. It's an empowering story about dealing with bullies. It is also a story that celebrates imagination. And that will make you believe, if only a l…
The Factory Theater's 'The Last Big Mistake' combines campy acting with irreverent humor and fun/sexy wrestling moves, but it displays a lot more style than substance. If you've enjoyed othe…
Alena Smith's 'The New Sincerity' teeters between terrific and troubled. Smith does a first-rate job skewering a movement's shortcomings, but her plot is wholly unlikely and characters incon…
Short Shakespeare! Twelfth Night, adapted and directed by Kirsten Kelly, is a fun and clever romp with deft direction, beautiful production values and talented actors. Shakespeare himself wo…
Ultimately , Goodman Theatre's 'The Matchmaker' is good "match" between cast and audience. In fact, the one big critique would be that sometimes, after a very funny line, actors proceed too …
