It’s not unusual for intellectual recitations to flow from the bowels of old Evanston buildings. That’s why Piven Theatre Workshop’s current premiere staging of Rebecca Joy Fletcher’s “Cities of Light” fits right in at the Noyes Cultural Center in Northwestern University’s shadow. Make no mistake, this is no “Mary Poppins,” but then again, it doesn’t […]
The sound of slender reeds opens a story of political intrigue, plots and crimes in Mussorgsky’s “Boris Godunov.” Lyric’s music director Sir Andrew Davis conducts this grim masterpiece, which is based on Pushkin’s play of the same name and recounts events from late 16th century Russian history. Boris is sung by an Italian bass, Ferruccio […]
A doctor’s life’s work is depicted … On the main stage out Lincolnshire way At the Marriott Theatre for young-uns Where the shows all run during the day It’s a rhyming bonanza of color and fun An excellent show is this, “Seussical” The book, score and acting, directing and such Would make this a fine […]
Chicago Children’s Theatre’s new production, “Goodnight Moon the Musical” is anything but sleepy.
“All Together Now”—a soundtrack for Thanksgiving Day). 1. The Way You Laugh by Dawes 2. Brand New Day by Trevor Hall 3. Share With Me the Sun by Portugal. The Man 4. How Come You Never Go There by Feist 5. Barrytown by Steely Dan 6. Hunger Song by The Middle East 7. Drink On […]
3-D is all the rage; just take a look at current movie offerings.
Illustrating fire on stage is a challenge, especially when it’s the subject of an entire play. Such is the case in “The Great Fire,” which launched the 2011-2012 season at the Tony Award-winning Lookingglass Theatre. “The Great Fire,” which is about the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, uses no open flames. Instead, a woman embodies […]
Musicians and songwriters give us their gifts. Melodies. Harmonies. Lyrics. Dance Beats. Personality. Stage Presence. Now that’s entertainment. But some artists go above and beyond the call. They create music for a cause, to benefit the needy. Their music moves us, changes us, improves us, makes us think and calls us to action. I received […]
“Mary Poppins” is a headline writer’s dream. A great staging can be summed up in one word: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocius. Performance not worth attending? Go fly a kite. It’s also an unequivocal showcase for the female lead, with the production’s success resting squarely on the title character’s shoulders. Consider Broadway in Chicago’s current run of the Disney […]
The musical “Follies” idolizes the days of Ziegfeld Follies while also poking fun at them. As a result, theatergoers get show-stopping numbers of the Vaudeville era as well as a deeper look at the past dreams and present follies of the characters. Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s production of “Follies,” by Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman, captures […]
