The Power of Youth Performing for Youth
When Janet Louer and I first created a young actor’s Repertory Company at The Actors Training Center (ATC) it was a way to offset costs.
'Young Frankenstein' Looks like a Hit in Chicago
They are “Puttin’ on the Ritz” at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, and Frankenstein’s monster never looked better. The national tour of the Mel Brooks musical “Young Frankenstein” is hanging out in that gloomy castle in Transylvania Heights through Dec. 13, and all the old familiar pals from Brooks’s 1974 film comedy are there […]
Anzevino’s Obsession Fuels Theo’s “Passion”
Theater wonks prone to grousing over venues, contracts, subscriber bases or other foibles needn’t bother including Fred Anzevino in their gripefests. He doesn’t have the time. Because Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre’s artistic director is too busy discovering and fostering new talent, creating artistic community, directing, hawking tickets, laughing and secretly planning his next masterpiece to […]
There are 525,600 Reasons to Love Paramount’s “Rent”
Chicagoland fans of both college basketball and musical theater know Wichita State is not the only team to enjoy an undefeated regular season. Aurora’s Paramount Theatre completes its own 2013-14 perfect campaign with its absolutely spectacular production of “Rent,” following the equally triumphant trio of “In the Heights,” “Miss Saigon” and “42nd Street.” And know […]
Jessica Thebus, Director Extraordinaire
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 […]
Irish Dancers Capture the Real “Heartbeat” of March Madness
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 […]
Goodman's "Venus" Is A Sexy Battle of Wits
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 […]
Northlight's "Chapatti" Touches the Heartstrings
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 […]
World Premiere of “American Myth” Addresses Deception
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. […]
March Music: Livin' on a Prayer
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 […]
