Patrick Stump, who will perform at Lollapalooza on Aug. 6, never dreamt of pop stardom, but passion and talent landed him there nonetheless. As his band, Fall Out Boy, rose out of the Chicago hardcore and punk scenes to success on a national scale, the spotlight landed square on Stump’s soulful voice. The Grammy-nominated group […]
We could all learn to laugh at ourselves a bit more, and HBO star and Second City alum Jeff Garlin can surely teach us. In his latest stand-up routine at Steppenwolf, “No Sugar Tonight,” which runs an hour and a half, he proves that he’s incredibly comfortable with himself, and therefore comfortable making fun of […]
Last May on the season finale of ABC’s hit series “Grey’s Anatomy,” viewers could hear the soothing, coffeehouse voice of Evanston resident Andrew Belle singing “In My Veins.” Nothin’ goes as planned. Everything will break. People say goodbye in their own special way. All that you rely on and all that you can fake will […]
Cirque du Soleil’s “OVO” breathes life into even the most average species of insect. Based on a loose plot about a fly who visits a community of bugs carrying a large egg, the show includes colorful costumes, bossa nova beats and “wow”-factor stunts. “OVO” boasts 10 acts peppered with buzzes, chirps and comedic filler from […]
The Ravinia Festival draws great artists from all over the world to its bucolic setting, but this summer’s lineup also features fine musicians with local roots. On August 3, internationally renowned pianist and Highland Park resident Jorge Federico Osorio takes the stage at Ravinia’s Martin Theatre for “Osorio’s A-Liszt.” As the title indicates, the program […]
David Henry Hwang’s latest is a multi-layered journey through culture clash that’s both hysterical and heartbreaking. But the show is more than just malapropisms and misunderstandings; it’s a deft look at longing, something that all societies share in spades. Cleveland businessman Daniel (James Waterston) travels to China, in a desperate attempt to attract business for […]
The shows at Chicago theaters this month will either leave you sore from laughing or humming a clever tune—whether it’s puppets, cupcakes, Sondheim, the misunderstandings of a foreign language, or the ruminations of an overweight comedian. Jeff Garlin’s “No Sugar Tonight” at Steppenwolf’s Upstairs Theatre July 13-24 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago 312-335-1650 steppenwolf.org As […]
Emerald City Theatre’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” offers an updated twist on the classic Roald Dahl story. Greedy Augustus Gloop has been transformed into a 21st century “jock” who believes chocolate is good for his muscles, while bratty Veruca Salt is never far from her cell phone. The Oompa Loompas appear as puppets, expertly […]
The latest Cirque du Soleil show to hit Chicago is full of creepy, crawly insects. “OVO,” written and directed by Brazilian choreographer Deborah Colker, is about a day in the life of bugs. The show begins in the morning when a new fly visits a community of insects, carrying a mysterious egg (“ovo” in Portugese) […]
If you loved the Oscar-winning movie “Chicago,” starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Queen Latifah and Richard Gere, you’ll re-discover it in exciting ways at this short-run production. The talents of Broadway veterans Terra MacLeod as Velma, Ron Orbach as Amos and Tracy Shayne as Roxie are wildly evident, and John O’Hurley—who played J. Peterman on “Seinfeld” and […]
