The combination of Eugene O’Neill, Brian Dennehy, and Robert Falls has yielded huge artistic returns over the years for the Goodman. Falls’ current staging of O’Neill’s “The Iceman Cometh” raises the already-formidable stakes by tossing the star wattage of Nathan Lane into the mix. But even if you go into this long (five hours with […]
Joyce Piven and her late husband, Byrne Piven, began telling stories 40 years ago at their eponymous theater. Creating a distinctive theatrical style, they started with a show based on some of Anton Chekhov’s stories. Evanston’s small but influential Piven Theatre is now celebrating its 40th anniversary with show aptly titled “Encores.” It isn’t a […]
Visiting Ten Chimneys, the Wisconsin summer estate of American stage legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, is like taking a step back into a more sophisticated time. The Genesee Depot home bursts with mementos of their long dual careers, when they starred in the then-scandalous “Design for Living” – Noel Coward’s ménage a trois comedy […]
The British colonization of Africa was a protracted, complicated cruelty whose ramifications still affect Africans today. Western ways supplanted centuries-old native traditions, wiping away tribal life. “The Convert” examines the negative impact of European “progress.” In 1890s Rhodesia, Catholic priest Chilford (Leroy McClain) strives to assimilate into encroaching British culture. He acquiesces to housekeeper Mai […]
“The Houdini Box” exemplifies Chicago Children’s Theatre’s passion for introducing young patrons to the performing arts. With its interactive playbills, gorgeous sets and a production melding acting, singing and puppetry, the show is, indeed, a good first taste of live performance. The world premiere musical, based on the book by children’s author and illustrator Brian […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
