The deep, sad chords of the overture to Massenet’s “Werther” at Lyric Opera of Chicago were all we needed to hear. This opera, based on “The Sorrows of Young Werther” by Goethe, was going to be a tragedy. Lyric’s new production, however, is nothing of the sort. Yes, lives are lost and ruined in this […]
The biggest problem with any stage production of “The Santaland Diaries” is that it doesn’t star David Sedaris, the witty writer and public-radio raconteur who made the story famous in the first place. Theater Wit confronts that issue head-on with its new production. Almost as soon as actor Mitchell Fain steps out onto the stage, […]
If tap dancing were easier, it’d be called basketball. Don’t just look for Chicagoland’s top athletes on the United Center’s hardwood this season. They’re at Lincolnshire’s Marriott Theatre in the jukebox musical with a George and Ira Gershwin score, “My One and Only.” The plot of this 1983 musical set in 1927 revolves around the […]
You meet a lot of interesting characters when you’re driving a cab — the good, the bad, the weird … and everyone in between. That’s what happens, anyway, to the guy who drives the taxi in Will Kern’s play “Hellcab,” a Chicago cult hit that’s back for a 20th-anniversary revival at Profiles Theatre. The premise […]
My face still hurts from laughing so much. “Potted Potter” is the perfect choice for an afternoon or evening of family fun at the theater this season—and in the perfect location. On stage at the Broadway Playhouse, you can shop ‘til you drop along the Mag Mile and Water Tower Place, then hit the theater […]
It’s official—the holiday season is here. For just about everyone, Thanksgiving weekend means family, and if you’re hosting, you’ll need a go-to list of entertainment options. We’ve got your back. Music Chicago Symphony Orchestra presents Disney’s Fantasia November 23–25 220 S. Michigan Ave. A great entertainment option for the entire family, and a special treat […]
You’ve got to respect Chef Bill Kim.
That Oscar is no slouch. It can’t be easy to be the understudy in a play where the two lead actors that grace the playbill are so well-known and well-liked. I mean, really, who’s going to want to see you instead of, oh, George Wendt? Wendt’s sudden departure from Northlight’s “The Odd Couple” is sad, for […]
The voters have spoken, and “Duck for President” is a winner! The new production from Lifeline Theatre mixes music, laughter and a mini lesson on democracy into an engaging show that is somewhat reminiscent of a “Schoolhouse Rock” video. The play, adapted from Doreen Cronin’s best-selling picture book follows Duck as he hits the campaign trail […]
