From the moment it begins, it’s clear that “The North China Lover” will be a play about more than the romance mentioned in the title. It’s about memory—a story told through the distance of time. First, we hear the sound of a typewriter. When the lights come up at Lookingglass Theatre, an older woman (Deanna […]
“Cyrano de Bergerac” is one of those plays you’ve surely heard of and can probably outline at least the basic plot. Man with overly large nose falls in love with a beautiful woman and woos her through a handsome surrogate. Seeing the play reveals so much more. This production, at Chicago Shakespeare Theater (although not written […]
So the goy yutz writing under this byline takes his frequent theater companion, his shiksa daughter named Christina (oy vey!), to the Chicago premiere of “Old Jews Telling Jokes.” Overall, they like it fine. But as the schmegeggy walks out, he’s not really feeling part of the whole mishpocha (go figure). It dawns on him […]
In a perfect world, any actress portraying Dolly Gallagher Levi has her audience at “Hello.” But live professional musical theater isn’t a perfect world. Thankfully for Drury Lane Theatre and Tony winnerKaren Ziemba, in Chicagoland at least, this world is a neighborhood—a community of respect for the houses, creative teams and entertainers consistently delivering Broadway […]
Who says you need to be an actor to hit the stage? Of course, it’s Chicago’s world-class theatrical talent that makes our city a cultural destination. But our storied history in improv has led to a bunch of entertaining shows and interactive comedies that thrive on audience participation. You can find all types of sketch […]
Halloween’s on the horizon, but there isn’t anything scary about the variety of plays planned on local stages in October. If anything, the dominant theme is romance, not horror. Once October 9 to 27 The low-budget 2006 film “Once” charmed audiences with its tale of music and romance on the streets of Dublin. It seemed […]
In the best classes ever taken, learning is a byproduct of curiosity that leads to personal investment. Get ready to be schooled by Goodman Theatre’s “Pullman Porter Blues.” Cheryl West’s play, with a magnificent 12-number live blues soundtrack, simultaneously delivers insight, entertainment and education with local relevance. This quintessentially Chicago show with the most lavish sets […]
It’s safe to say that no one around today attended the world premiere performance of “The Rite of Spring” a century ago. The ballet Nijinsky choreographed to the music of Stravinsky for Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes was so raw and primitive it incited a riot in the Theatre des Champs-Elysees that also flowed out onto the […]
The regional premiere of 2010’s Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical “Next to Normal” demands its patrons come with expectations properly set. Don’t anticipate leaving the theater whistling a happy tune, because this is no Rodgers and Hammerstein. Expect haunting, disturbing, emotional brilliance. Presume impeccable talent worthy of one of the best professional companies in Chicagoland. Envisage […]
When Tony-nominee Josh Young intones, “…Oh what a show” in the opening minutes of “Evita,” he’s foreshadowing patrons’ next two hours. Broadway’s brand is well earned with this spectacular Broadway in Chicago touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s near-opera, at the Oriental Theatre through October 6. There’s neither a weak link in Director Michael Grandage’s […]
