Kaufman’s Deli: Rising from the Ashes, A Fresh Start
It’s been almost a year since the fire.
Steppenwolf: "The Book Thief"
I am haunted by this play. I loved the novel, “The Book Thief,”(Knopf, 2007) and mulled over it for weeks after I finished reading it. The play is about the power of words and stories, but also about the randomness of life—and death—driven home by the narrator of the play: Death. Set in Nazi […]
Joffrey Ballet: Human Landscapes
Dance can be modern, classical or theater with movement. The Joffrey Ballet embraces them all in its fall program. Three ballets are being presented under the title “Human Landscapes,” and each one confronts humanity in its own way. Most powerful, of course, is Joffrey’s revival of “The Green Table,” a German Expressionist ballet, choreographed by […]
Bank of America Theatre: "Kinky Boots"
This show is going to win a Tony or two … or three or four. “Kinky Boots,” currently in its pre-Broadway run downtown at the Bank of America Theatre, is a tour de force de fun. Its stars are Stark Sands as Charlie Price, the son of a shoemaker, and Billy Porter as Lola, the […]
Lyric Opera: "Simon Boccanegra"
Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra” is a masterpiece for the ages. It opened the evening of Monday, Oct. 16 and the Civic Opera House exploded with a house full of male voices of the highest caliber. The cast is a lineup of men at the top of their game. Led […]
Chicago Children's Theatre: "Harold and the Purple Crayon"
The Chicago Children’s Theatre’s production of “Harold and the Purple Crayon” is chock full of delight, wonder and charm. Inspired by the Crockett Johnson’s classic of the same name, the play tells the story of Harold, a creative and curious toddler who creates his own adventure with the help of his trusty crayon. It’s a […]
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre: "Black Watch"
National Theatre of Scotland’s “Black Watch,” which opened the evening of October 10, is a tough show. Presented by Chicago Shakespeare Theater after a successful run last year at the Broadway Armory, it is billed as a musical, though it’s not clear why. Recordings of bagpipes do drone on and plenty of marches, patriotic anthems […]
Quick and Easy: Story Pirates
Check out Center for Independent Futures (CIF) Story Pirates event as an easy and fun way to enjoy live theatre and support a great cause! When: Sunday, Oct. 21, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Where: SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston, IL 60202 Cost: Purchase tickets online, $20 for adults and $10 for children under 12. […]
Grilled Cheese Galore at Cheesie's in Evanston
Cheesie’s Pub & Grub has opened an outpost in Evanston, fortuitously timed to the start of classes at Northwestern.
'Elektra' Opens Lyric Season
“Elektra” seems a strange choice to open the season at Lyric Opera of Chicago. No arias, no beautiful costumes, no comic relief, just the intense suffering of this title character from the ancient Greek tragedy by Sophocles. Yet the company’s new production of Richard Strauss’s powerful 90-minute theater piece proves a stunning success. Opening night […]
