2,260 stories from Chicago Theater Beat
Steppenwolf's *The Compass*, conceived and directed by Michael Rohd, is targeted towards young adults. But make no mistake, this production delves into some extremely existential philosophie…
Just the story of how Roberto Bolaño's massive-yet-still-unfinished book was adapted by Goodman's artistic director Robert Falls over ten years could be the subject of a documentary. In t…
Brown Paper Box Co.'s eight-person cast is diverse in race and gender, and acclaimed director Lavina Jadhwani guides her cast in intelligent choices from beginning to end. This Julius Caesar…
Arne Lygre's work *Nothing of Me* serves as a powerful commentary on the ephemeral nature of life and relationships. Akvavit Theatre's skilled production remains focused and engaging in a sy…
Even with director Rob Lindley's passionate direction, Porchlight Music Theatre's *Far From Heaven* suffers from the inherent problem"this wasn't a source that demanded reinterpretation. Gil…
Hallucinogenic, paranoid and borderline schizoid, the Chicago premiere of Ken Urban's *The Awake* throws audiences into the deep end and doesn't offer a hand to help you navigate its deeply …
Chris Hainsworth new adaptation of James Leo Herlihy's novel *Midnight Cowboy* has grand scope but fizzles trying to create the appropriate atmosphere for the action. (read Clint May's entir…
Nobody sets out to put on a gawdawful show, or so the old adage insists. But sometimes that just seems highly improbable. So it is with Irish Theatre of Chicago's *In a Little World of Our O…
NightBlue Performing Arts' interpretation of the new stage version of *Mary Poppins* has a handful of strong performances and the best of intentions, but comes across as amateurish in more w…
Directed by James Beaudry, *Heathers the Musical* wears out its welcome within the first few scenes. The show has an inconsistent tone throughout as its very young ensemble veers uneasily be…
Raven Theatre's *The Old Friends* received its world premiere in 2013, but had probably lost its relevance decades prior. Though there are some expcellent performances accented by a great s…
With James Still's one-man drama *Looking Over the President's Shoulder*, American Blues Theater offers the audience a rich, compelling first-person access to Alonzo Fields' historic stint i…
What makes Filter Theatre's Twelfth Night such a ripping good time on the whole is the cast's antic energy level, the sound party the band brings to the stage and the performances Sean Holme…
Quest Theatre Ensemble's All the World's a Stage feels like a first draft - its heart is in the right place, but its piece are scattered and its actors too raw. (read Lauren Whalen's entire …
The engaging cast and the heartfelt songs of Broadway in Chicago's "If/Then" will give you your money's worth for a good evening out, and reassure you that the musical theater form can addre…
The true treasure here? That would be the Mary-Arrchie Theatre's American Buffalo production itself. It's down and dirty and fascinating from start to finish. And it is a grand sendoff for a…
This this production of Glass Menagerie has its cracks, the show remains magnificent. After experiencing Director Hans Fleischmann's vision of this celebrated play, one would have a difficul…
Muse of Fire, by Playwright Jacob Rosenberg, concerns itself with the a man trying to keep humanity alive in hell (a.k.a. Auschwitz) in the form of humor. Guy F. Wicke plays Georg, the direc…
With a beautifully lyrical score and a talented cast, Filament Theatre's Pinocchio-A Folk Musical is a perfect way to introduce young audiences to live theater. Recommended! (read John Olson…
The Other Theatre Company aims to explore the epistolary tradition of letter writing through a new lens in its world premiere of Other Letters. Boiled down to two chairs, two tables and two …
Otherworld Theatre's Messina 3004 is ambitious, colorful, energetic, athletic, sexy, and manages to achieve all of this in a brisk 90 minutes. You don't need to love Shakespearean comedies t…
Refuge Theatre Project is a company to watch - not even two seasons in, and their performers are strong, their ideas fresh, and their enthusiasm plentiful. High Fidelity is an indie delight.…
This is a company that really enjoys both playing with Shakespeare and throwing gender roles out the window. Upsetting the norm is part of the mission. Fifty Shades is a delightful romp that…
The brainchild of Striding Lion Performance Group, this Doctor Faustus takes the age old tale and infuses details new, old and extremely physical. It's part theater, part physical workout, a…
William Inge's *A Loss of Roses* has old-school characteristics, but carries a quiet resonance that's still very appealing. Raven Theatre's production boasts strong direction, production val…
