Discriminating Oriental Theatre patrons through January 19 will spend much of Act 2 contemplating descriptions more vivid than “train wreck” to describe Broadway in Chicago’s initial offering of the new year, the first national tour of the musical “Ghost.” This too loud, blindingly bright, videocentric production offers none of the 1990 film inspiration’s sensuality. Unless, […]
Ask Carrie Underwood what it’s like to have her live performance compared to an iconic film star’s. Unfair? Probably. But it’s not Abby Normal, for goodness sake. And it’s a fair guess a vast majority of patrons to Drury Lane’s staging of Mel Brooks’ musical “Young Frankenstein” will be scrutinizing the cast against their indelible […]
Hedda Gabler is not happy. Back home after a honeymoon trip that lasted six months and found her mostly alone while her husband continued his research, Hedda is forced into a life she never wanted, married to a man she doesn’t love. Bored, she spends her time manipulating the few people around her and finds […]
Looking for a way to chase the winter blues? Look no further than Lifeline Theatre’s new musical production, “The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!” This musical, based on the popular book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, turns the classic story on its head. Audiences will “squeal” with delight as they hear both […]
Tom Jones is no Don Juan. The ladies are the ones chasing this good looking, friendly lad. But when led into temptation, Tom strays and eventually finds himself tangled in more than the sheets. The comedy “Tom Jones” has opened at Northlight Theatre in Skokie. It is a thoroughly entertaining production, with William Brown skillfully […]
Music is an extra ingredient that can spice up a dining experience. However, it needs to be just a pinch of background music or it can ruin the meal as easily as overdone meat, scalded milk or a fallen soufflé. How many times have you been to a restaurant or party where the music trumps […]
The title character of “Luna Gale” is never visible. In the few moments when she is onstage during thisGoodman Theatre production, Luna is quietly hidden away inside a baby carriage. And yet, as invisible as she may seem to the audience, the infant named Luna Gale is the force driving most of the adult characters […]
Perhaps it’s pure coincidence that February 14 is right in the middle of Marriott Theatre’s run of the classic John Kander/Fred Ebb musical “Cabaret.” Or maybe it’s pure genius. Because this story of 1929 Berlin, chronicling the city’s hedonistic cabaret scene as a feel-great smokescreen for the Nazi party’s clandestine rise to power, is not […]
A winning combination: That’s what Goodman Theatre artistic director Robert Falls and actor Brian Dennehy have been for a quarter of a century. Together they have created hit productions of plays by Eugene O’Neill and Arthur Miller, which they took to Broadway and for which they both received Tony Awards. Lucky for us, the two […]
If you’re jonesing for a night out – and love some live entertainment, dancing, or maybe even a mosh pit, check out this month’s upcoming shows at several of the North Shore’s best in music establishments: SPACE 1245 Chicago Ave. 847-492-8860 Thursday, January 28: Erwin Helfer’s Chicago Boogie Ensemble, 8 p.m. Friday, January 29: American […]
