If there’s only one show you bring your kids to this season, make it Chicago Children’s Theatre’s new production “Bud, Not Buddy.” The play, based on the Newberry Award-winning book, follows a charismatic 10-year-old orphan (Bud) as he embarks on a journey to find his father in depression-era Michigan. Using clues his late mother […]
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 […]
“Book of Mormon” = Book of Awesome. And … that’s what I posted on Facebook after seeing the Chicago production of the Tony Award-winning musical, in town through June 2. Taking the show in with a friend, she asked afterward exactly how I was going to write about it, and this is what I said: […]
This month, Chicago gets to see a few plays that were already big hits in New York. These might be old news as far as East Coast critics are concerned, but the Second City’s first-rate, so don’t be shocked if the plays are even better here than they were on Broadway. The Motherf**ker With The […]
The perfect illustration of the art and science that is theatrical production is found in Drury Lane Theatre’s current presentation, “Singin’ in the Rain.” Art abounds in the show’s terrific dancing, professional vocals and instrumentation and stunning costumes and special effects. It doesn’t just rain on stage; it pours. But in the Oakbrook Terrace production’s […]
Every family’s got that skeleton in a closet. Some are kept close enough to the door that it often joins in at family get-togethers—it’s so out there it could even help with chores and the carpool. “Who’s that driving the kids to soccer practice? Oh, that’s just Bobby’s 3-day school suspension for smoking weed.” Others? […]
Holiday activities in Chicago and beyond? Yeah, we’ve got ‘em. There’s no shortage of great stuff to do, places to go and people to see this season. From family outings, to date nights and friendly get-togethers, we’ve got plenty of ideas to keep your holidays entertaining. The Theater Circuit Hellcab Profiles Theatre, Chicago Through January […]
“SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody” has rolled into town and the Royal George Theatre might never be the same. Based loosely on the E L James bestselling novel, the play pokes fun at the “mommy porn” genre with song, dance, improvisation and even some audience participation (front row seats, you’ve been warned!) Written and directed […]
Good news to those in the suburbs, you needn’t fight the traffic and crowds downtown in order to catch some of Second City’s comedy this season.
Full of comic characters enmeshed in concealed identities, secret trysts in the garden and one disastrous (fake) marriage, “Pasquale” plays out at the Civic Opera House with broad humor delivered in elegant taste. The title character is well into his 70s and wants Ernesto, his nephew and only heir, to wed a wealthy woman of […]
