The Goodman Theatre’s production of “The Good Negro” rarely cackles on its own but it soars on the strength of its actors. Set in Birmingham, Alabama in 1962 in the early days of the American civil rights movement, Tracy Scott Wilson’s play is a thinly disguised drama about the challenges and successes achieved by Dr. […]
Theater fans will love the opera “Three Decembers” with Jake Hegge’s beautiful music, its straightforward story, and a strong, touching performance by American mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade. This intimate, three-person opera is the story of a self-centered theater star and her two needy children in a drama that unfolds with charm, conviction and humor, without […]
“The Drowsy Chaperone” is a very silly show providing wacky merriment to Marriott Theatre audiences in Lincolnshire. This over-the-top send-up of Broadway musicals, old and new, however, is so wild that gales of laughter are the only response. Set in 1928, during Prohibition but before the Depression, the musical revolves around a Broadway star played […]
A mother and three daughters face broken family bonds, first gingerly and then fiercely in “Independence,” a domestic drama by Lee Blessing at Lake Forest’s Citadel Theatre Company. Strong performances make this witches’ brew of a dysfunctional family a memorable evening in an intimate theatre setting. Set in the spring of 1983 and Evelyn Briggs, […]
The Joffrey Ballet’s spring program “Eclectica,” delights the eye like a bouquet of fresh flowers. The unifying theme is lyricism, with each number capitalizing on the strength and grace of Joffrey dancers. The evening opens with “Reflections”, a timeless and sparkling piece by the late Gerald Arpino, who co-founded the company with Robert Joffrey in […]
“Billy Elliot the Musical” is a show for the ages, full of heart and hope, in the midst of difficulties and defeat. This laurel-laden show has amazing production numbers without being over-produced. It tells a heart-rending story without being saccharine and it boasts adorable children who manage to avoid being cute. Billy Elliot the Musical […]
How does a dancer with an international company like American Ballet Theatre manage to fit marriage and motherhood into her demanding career? Just like every working mother, except a little more intensely, according to Karin Ellis-Wentz, 40, who is one of the four cygnets in the company’s upcoming production of “Swan Lake.” ABT is in […]
There is thought provoking entertainment in the Goodman Theatre’s world premiere of “The True History of the Johnstown Flood,” a new play by Northwestern University based writer Rebecca “Spinning into Butter” Gilman. Directed by Robert Falls, the play runs through April 18. The drama takes place amid a devastating flood that wiped out the town […]
Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire has more subscriptions than any regional musical theater in the country. That’s reason enough for the nearly 900-seat arena theater on Milwaukee Avenue to celebrate, but there is another one: This year marks the theater’s 35th anniversary, during which about 9 million people have seen one of their shows. This tenacious, […]
Reward yourself with great theatre this winter. This critic’s picks for February could not be more different. We’re highlighting a five-time Tony Award winning family drama downtown, a heartwarming comedy from the Great Depression playing in Skokie, and a sophisticated cabaret show in Glencoe. Select your own favorite, or attend them all—as a reward for […]
