A Conversation with Writers’ Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam
Chicago-area theater? It’s doing just fine, thank you very much.
Steppenwolf: "The Birthday Party"
Before you go see “The Birthday Party” at Steppenwolf, you should assess how you feel about Nobel-Prize winning writer Harold Pinter. Not sure, you say. Here’s a short quiz that might help: Do you prefer plays with a narrative arc that you can generally follow? Are characters with discernable motivations, who act according to those […]
Goodman Theatre: "Other Desert Cities"
Anyone who writes an honest tell-all memoir about their family will hurt some feelings. Most parents, siblings and spouses would rather not have their private moments revealed in a book. And what if the family has secrets involving crime, death and politics, and disagreements about what it all means? In that situation, a family […]
Lyric Opera: "La Boheme"
It is impossible to not fall under the spell of the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of “La Boheme” at the Civic Opera House.
Chicago Children's Theatre: "Bud, Not Buddy"
If there’s only one show you bring your kids to this season, make it Chicago Children’s Theatre’s new production “Bud, Not Buddy.” The play, based on the Newberry Award-winning book, follows a charismatic 10-year-old orphan (Bud) as he embarks on a journey to find his father in depression-era Michigan. Using clues his late mother […]
February Theater Highlights
Even the busiest of couples usually find time for at least one date night this month. Make it memorable with a trip to the theater. With historical journeys, memes on parenting, and classics from Pinter and some guy named Shakespeare, there’s certain to be a show to light your fire. The Whipping Man Through February […]
Steppenwolf: "The Motherf**ker with the Hat"
If the title of this Anna Shapiro-directed play leaves any doubt in your mind, let me confirm, it’s not PG rated. This tale of betrayal, revenge and addiction is a quick-moving exploration of modern love and friendship, and the language reflects all the messiness that involves. The play stars John Oritz, as Jackie, a recovering […]
Bank of America Theatre: "Book of Mormon"
“Book of Mormon” = Book of Awesome. And … that’s what I posted on Facebook after seeing the Chicago production of the Tony Award-winning musical, in town through June 2. Taking the show in with a friend, she asked afterward exactly how I was going to write about it, and this is what I said: […]
January Theater Highlights
This month, Chicago gets to see a few plays that were already big hits in New York. These might be old news as far as East Coast critics are concerned, but the Second City’s first-rate, so don’t be shocked if the plays are even better here than they were on Broadway. The Motherf**ker With The […]
Cadillac Palace Theatre: "War Horse"
The biggest question for Broadway in Chicago following its triumphant opening of the five-time Tony-awarded play, “War Horse,” is: why only three weeks? The moniker “theatrical magic,” bestowed by the New York Times on 2011 Tony’s Best Play is perfect. If this production at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre doesn’t satisfy critics who clamor for “fresh” […]
