Director Jessica Thebus is a Chicago theatrical community lifer as well as a life-long North Side/North Shore resident. Thebus grew up in the Piven Workshop with John and Joan Cusack, Jeremy Piven and Sarah Ruhl; earned a Doctorate in Performance Studies from Northwestern, where she is now on the faculty; and has worked extensively with […]
On March 5, the guy sitting “midcourt,” row 16, says to his wife, “105 to 94 with 58 seconds left.” “It’s impossible. They’ll never win now,” she answers. “Certainly not very likely,” he agrees One would think this pair was cheering on the Bulls at the UC or Northwestern’s Wildcats at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Instead, this […]
If “Venus in Fur” sounds familiar, you’re probably thinking of “Venus in Furs,” the song that plays as the lights come up at Goodman Theatre. Or perhaps you’re thinking of the kinky 1870 book “Venus in Furs” by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, which inspired the song. Masochism was named after this Austrian author. That same novel also […]
It’s sentimental, but then so are the Irish. It’s hilarious, because they can turn a phase into laughter like no group on the planet. And it’s laced with tragedy, as is their history. Northlight Theatre presents “Chapatti,” a two-person play by Christian O’Reilly set in present-day Dublin and given its world premiere in the North […]
Have you ever told a lie? Unless you’re lying, the answer is “yes.” Some fibs we shrug off as a way to avoid hurt feelings. Others, however, can get us into serious trouble. “American Myth,” a new play by Christina Gormanopening March 13 at American Blues Theater, takes a look at the lies we tell. […]
You probably know Bob Woodruff—or at least his story. He’s the TV journalist who was to succeed Peter Jennings as co-anchor of ABC News’ weekday broadcast, “World News Tonight” back in December 2005. But the plan was derailed when he was critically wounded by a roadside bomb while on assignment in Iraq. He sustained massive brain injuries and lost part of his skull, but […]
Song, dance and history lessons are in store for audiences of Schoolhouse Rock Live! The beloved 1970s cartoon series comes to life at theMarriott Theatre for Young Audiences with a spirited production that pays homage to learning through music. Directed by George Keating (one of the original co-creators of the show), the musical tells the story […]
One can hardly glance at his or her Facebook news feed without being cleverly implored a time or eight to “Dream BIG!” Perhaps Tony Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehlerisn’t on Facebook. Because the director of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” playing Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre through March 30, only offers audiences a peek […]
I’ll admit it—I’m a huge Sondheim fan. But even so, I never saw his “Road Show” (music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman) in any of its previous iterations, and there have been a few. The first workshop production in New York was titled “Gold!” and later “Wise Guys;” it opened in […]
March’s local stage highlights include the return of “Cats” and a play about an Irish cat lady. And if felines aren’t your thing, witty words should be plentiful in new plays at the Goodman and Piven. Chapatti March 7–April 13 American theaters have imported many great plays from Ireland over the past couple of decades, […]
