Some shows simply demand attention. When “Les Miserables,” “Wicked,” “Miss Saigon,” or “Memphis,” come through town, those thirsty for water cooler bragging rights don’t think twice about plunking down their credit cards for tickets. The current touring company of last season’s Tony nominee, “Catch Me if You Can,” fails to achieve such can’t-miss status. But […]
This month, our fair city is home to multiple world premieres—making us the center of the universe in the theater world.
Ah, the Irish! Full of wit and humor, but somehow, sad at heart. Those qualities infused Northlight Theatre’s funny, poignant two-man show, “Stones in His Pockets.” The stars, David Ivers and Brian Vaughn, portray two Irish fellows in their 30s, Jake and Charlie. Jake is just back from a few fruitless years in New […]
The last time Robert Falls directed a Shakespeare play at the Goodman, where he serves as artistic director, he transplanted “King Lear” into a landscape that resembled war-torn Yugoslavia. It was a shocking, riveting, gut-wrenching and epic experience. Now, Falls is taking a similarly transformative approach to another Shakespeare work, “Measure for Measure.” Although […]
“Completeness” is about young people falling in and out of love.
“Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater is an emotional 75-minute journey through familial and romantic love.
“Did you ever have one of those days?”
How long is too long for an opera? Looking from the outside in at the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Wagner’s “Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg,” even the most devoted fan might tremble at the thought of committing about five-and-a-half hours to one opera. Fear not. In every aspect, the singers, the musicians, the set […]
Drury Lane Theatre’s nearly flawless production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard” throws down the gauntlet to all other musicals in quest of 2013 Jeff Awards come October. This is West End-quality musical theater with merely a trek to the near west ‘burbs (Oakbrook Terrace) required to take it in. Director William Osetek’s stellar cast […]
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 […]
