Magic of leprechauns, a greener-than-usual Chicago River and society’s tacit approval of late winter’s annual revelry dedicated to all things Irish serve as perfect backdrops for terrific March offerings in Chicagoland’s theater scene. Broadway in Chicago’s “Riverdance” March 13-18 Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph, Chicago 800-775-2000 How appropriate that St. Patrick’s Day week brings the […]
Familiarity can breed discontent. And that what’s troubling Sam and Rose Abrams in “Sirens,” now in its Midwest premiere at Citadel Theatre in Lake Forest. They’re looking for a cruise vacation to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Songwriter Sam has also been looking to recapture the passion of his youth and write another hit song, […]
Amir Kapoor, the character at the heart of “Disgraced,” is not a stereotypical Muslim American. For one thing, he isn’t even really a Muslim. Although he was raised in the faith, he denounces it now. Does that shield him from the suspicion that so many Muslims face in today’s America? Of course not. Portrayed by […]
My love of Green Day peaked in middle school, and I probably would have loved “American Idiot” in my angsty, grungy tween and teen years. It’s really more of a rock concert than a musical. But, I’m not in middle school anymore, so I longed for the usual anchors of a theatrical show—a plot, character […]
Prospero conjures the story of his revenge over a magical dinner table in “The Feast: an intimate Tempest,” a reimagining of Shakespeare’s play. The piece, co-created and co-directed by Jessica Thebus and Frank Maugeri, is an original commission and artistic collaboration between Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Redmoon, performed in the Upstairs Theater at Chicago Shakes. […]
With the White Sox, Cubs and Bears rebuilding, their general managers look to identify burgeoning youth capable of next-level stardom. Kenny Williams, Jed Hoyer and Phil Emery ought to be discussing talent evaluation strategy with Drury Lane Theatre’s executive team. And they’d best be taking notes. For its second consecutive show, the Oakbrook regional theater […]
Sex and God are on everyone’s minds in Randall Colburn’s drama “Hesperia,” now playing at Writers’ Theatre. Of course, most of the human race has been thinking a lot about sex and God for thousands of years, but those simmering tensions between lust and religious faith are at a boiling point in the small town […]
A play about business? Really? Yes, really fantastic. I didn’t know what to expect when I heard about TimeLine Theatre’s latest production, “Enron,” an award-winning play by British playwright Lucy Prebble that debuted on Broadway in 2010 to mixed reviews. Would I be lost because I barely passed Econ 101? The glossary of business jargon […]
“Legally Blonde: The Musical” is a sassy celebration of superficiality that’s such a good time, you’ll be glad you joined the party. The musical follows the same story as the film: Bubbly UCLA sorority girl Elle Woods follows her blueblood boyfriend, Warner Huntington III, to Harvard Law School to prove she is serious enough to […]
Evanston native Melissa Thodos started her company, now known as Thodos Dance Chicago, with the dream of developing dancers in “a rounded way.” That meant not only providing opportunities for them to perform, but also to choreograph and teach—a hard-to-find trifecta in the dance world. As of this year, Thodos has helmed her own mid-sized, contemporary […]
