“The Sound of Music” Sing-to-Win Ticket Giveaway

“The Sound of Music” is coming to The Lyric Opera of Chicago! The beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is an iconic piece of American theater perfect for children, teens, parents and grandparents alike. To celebrate its return to our favorite city, we are proud to announce that the Lyric has teamed up with Make It […]

“The Last Five Years” Returns to the North Shore

Boy meets girl. Boy marries girl. Boy leaves girl. Girl gets left. Girl marries boy. Girl meets boy. It might seem backward, but that’s all part of the perspective of “The Last Five Years,” now playing atMetropolis Performing Arts Centre. The musical covers the five-year relationship of Jamie Wellerstein—an aspiring writer—and Cathy Hyatt—an aspiring actress. […]

Jeff Award-Winner Brenda Didier on “How to Succeed in Business”

Brenda Didier knows a thing or two about drawing an audience in through dance. The Libertyville resident has won multiple Jeff Awardsfor her work throughout Chicagoland, and she owns the Lincolnshire Academy of Dance. Brenda is currently working with Porchlight Music Theatre, where she is an advisory board member and artistic associate, on “How to […]

"White Snake" Sneaks Into Our Hearts

From the very first moment of “The White Snake,” it’s clear that we’re in Mary Zimmerman Land—a magical and beguiling world that’s familiar from previous plays by this renowned Evanston director. “The White Snake” at Goodman Theatre is classic Zimmerman: an ancient story brought to life on the stage with a light, playful touch. As […]

Broadway Producer Kevin McCollum Talks "Motown"

Kevin McCollum has come full circle. “Chicago was a great town for me,” McCollum says. “I drove down to see my first Broadway show—the touring company of A Chorus Line—when it came through town in 1977, and now here I am, bringing my own shows here!” He’s being modest. If you don’t already know, Kevin […]

Drury’s “Les Misérables” an Impeccable Production

A musical-theater masterpiece celebrating the 30th anniversary of Chicagoland’s most elegant venue, led by a top-five area director with a multi-talented cast. That is Drury Lane Theatre’s “Les Misérables.” For those whose introduction to “Les Mis” came via the much-hyped 2012 motion picture, Director Rachel Rockwell’s stunning, classical stage presentation is a reminder that musicals […]

Lookingglass Theatre’s “In the Garden” Provides Food for Thought

Charles Darwin shocked the world with his theory of evolution 155 years ago, and people are still arguing about it. These impassioned discussions began right inside Darwin’s home, a story that playwright Sara Gmitterimagines in her new drama. Making its world premiere at Lookingglass Theatre, “In the Garden: A Darwinian Love Story” is half romance, […]

Lyric’s "Music" is So Much More Than Sound

To focus on a single sense in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s second annual Broadway dalliance is a gross injustice to its breathtaking production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music.” It’s akin to crediting Michael Jordan’s basketball accomplishments to just the shoes. This not-to-be missed staging of arguably the most well-known musical in the […]

The Reviewing of “Cats”

The Marriott Theatre‘s production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “Cats,” based on T.S. Eliot’s collection of poems, “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” opened April 2. The following review is presented in the style of one of these poems, “The Naming of Cats.” The reviewing of “Cats” is a difficult matter, It isn’t just one of […]