Steppenwolf's "Belleville" Shatters Illusions
Belleville is an actual place, a neighborhood in Paris with a name that means “beautiful town.”
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 […]
Steppenwolf’s “Penelope” Tells a Tale of Emotional Desperation
Like the work of Pinter, Joyce and Beckett?
The Acclaimed “Clybourne Park” Doesn’t Disappoint at Steppenwolf
When I first read that “Clybourne Park” deals with race, I expected the play to be heavy, or polemical. It’s not, though it is certainly thought-provoking. Playwright Bruce Norris’ characters’ deep uneasiness and their struggles with political correctness—which will make you squirm in your seat—are relieved with inappropriate jokes and foul language, and the audience’s […]
Fall into Deep Dramas with the Start of Autumn Theater
Emotions run high this fall in Chicago area plays. An artist’s struggle, a playwright’s confusion, real estate woes, nostalgic clothing and a greedy pet all take center stage—you won’t want to miss these shows! Broadway in Chicago’s “Love, Loss & What I Wore” at Broadway Playhouse September 13-October 23 Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut […]
Curb Your Enthusiasm for Other Things—See Jeff Garlin!
We could all learn to laugh at ourselves a bit more, and HBO star and Second City alum Jeff Garlin can surely teach us. In his latest stand-up routine at Steppenwolf, “No Sugar Tonight,” which runs an hour and a half, he proves that he’s incredibly comfortable with himself, and therefore comfortable making fun of […]
Comedies and Classics: July 2011 Chicago Theater
The shows at Chicago theaters this month will either leave you sore from laughing or humming a clever tune—whether it’s puppets, cupcakes, Sondheim, the misunderstandings of a foreign language, or the ruminations of an overweight comedian. Jeff Garlin’s “No Sugar Tonight” at Steppenwolf’s Upstairs Theatre July 13-24 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago 312-335-1650 steppenwolf.org As […]
Robots and Theater Mix in “Heddatron”
“Heddatron” is an imaginative romp that programs literature to interface with robots. Throw in a media cover-up, reality television and a school book report, and the output is laughable! With so much going on, this 1-and-a-half-hour, no-intermission show is a triple play well worth seeing. Using documentary-style film footage, the play chronicles the recent robot-led […]
Good “Sex” at Steppenwolf
“Sex with Strangers,” a play about a 30-something woman dating a 24-year-old guy, is a libidinous, funny exploration of the Internet generation.
Tracy Letts Steals the Show in Steppenwolf’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
If you’re a theater lover and have never seen Edward Albee’s famous play about a couple’s turbulent relationship—or even if you have—don’t miss Steppenwolf’s current production. At 3 hours, with two 15-minute intermissions, this play is theater for serious theatergoers, but the fighting between the main couple, George and Martha—often funny and sometimes violent—keeps the […]
