The season-opening production at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre runs through October 20

Goodman Theatre’s season-opening production of INHERIT THE WIND centers on a fictionalized version of the 1925 “Scopes Monkey” trial — at its heart, a debate on creationism vs. evolutionism. Though playwrights Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee make it clear they’re on the side of evolution, it’s still a treat to watch this production’s Matthew Harrison Brady (Alexander Gemignani) and Henry Drummond (Harry Lennix) go head-to-head in a verbal spar. I think it’s a risk to stage a classic play, like this piece from 1955, and claim it points to the current moment. But in the case of Artistic Associate Henry Godinez’s production, that holds up fairly well for INHERIT THE WIND. It’s not really a stretch to stage a classic that advocates for the ability to have original thoughts and challenge ideas in 2024. 

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Michael Frayn’s farce-within-a-farce runs through November 3, 2024

Michael Frayn’s NOISES OFF is a genuinely funny homage to classic British farce, replete with more doors and sardines than seems humanly possible. Former Steppenwolf Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro has returned to direct this increasingly chaotic 1982 farce-within-a-farce. NOISES OFF follows a fictional company of actors and crew members staging another farce called NOTHING ON. Over the course of two hours and 40 minutes (with two intermissions) it includes three Act Ones — showing us various, ever messier moments in the production journey. The first Act One finds the company in a hurried dress rehearsal, the second backstage about a month or so into the show’s tour, and the third near the tour’s end as everything descends into madness.

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The Chicago area premiere of Dave Molloy’s Best Musical Tony-nominated show runs through November 3

Writers Theatre’s production of NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 is inventive, glamorous, and tightly executed — no small feat for Dave Molloy’s complex and unique musical. Director Katie Spelman’s 13-member ensemble is likewise chock full of powerhouse performers. Particularly when it comes to the vocals, this cast is reaching — and finding — their way to the stars. 

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The Broadway In Chicago engagement of the musical based on the classic 1985 film runs through September 1, 2024

BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL is a fun and faithful adaptation of the 1985 film — but it’s overly long and generically scored. With music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard (Silvestri composed the film’s original score) and book by Bob Gale, the musical has a typical pop Broadway score — with some 1950s flare when protagonist Marty McFly travels back in time to 1955. 

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The Midwest premiere of Duncan Sheik, Steven Sater, and Jessie Nelson’s ALICE IN WONDERLAND-themed musical runs through September 29, 2024

While Kokandy Productions’ ALICE BY HEART has some lovely performances, the musical itself is far less imaginative than its ALICE IN WONDERLAND-inspired title suggests. 

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The U.S. premiere of the stage adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic literary epic runs through September 1, 2024

Now in its North American premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, THE LORD OF THE RINGS is sprawling, messy theater that’s in serious need of editing. With direction from Paul Hart, book and lyrics by Shaun McKenna and Matthew Warchus, and music by A.R. Rahman, Värttinâ, and Christopher Nightingale, this stage adaption represents many iconic scenes, characters, and creatures from J.R.R. Tolkien’s books. 

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Jason Robert Brown and Taylor Mac’s world premiere musical adaptation of John Berendt’s best-selling non-fiction book runs through August 11, 2024

MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL is a sprawling, messy musical that weaves together the threads of several characters in 1980s Savannah, Georgia. Composer/lyricist Jason Robert Brown draws on a variety of different musical styles, while Taylor Mac’s book scenes present a series of vignettes for the Savannah residents. Brown uses a hodgepodge of musical styles to develop the characters, but the result is a score that lacks cohesion and is occasionally redundant. Along with director Rob Ashford, Mac and Brown took a “go big or go home” approach to MIDNIGHT. I admire the musical risk-taking, but the adaptation of John Berendt’s 1994 best-selling book is full of character threads but relatively light on plot. 

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The world premiere of Samuel D. Hunter’s new play featuring Laurie Metcalf runs through August 4, 2024

In LITTLE BEAR RIDGE ROAD, Samuel D. Hunter has accomplished a rare and magical feat: He’s given us a play that’s mundane and profound at the same time. With Joe Mantello directing, Steppenwolf’s ensemble of Laurie Metcalf, Micah Stock, John Drea, and Meighan Gerachis make the play yet more fascinating and emotionally raw. 

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The revue plays an open run

The Second City’s 112th Mainstage Revue, THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETOURS, promises “weird, sexy comedy” in its opening moments. This ensemble definitely hits on the weird and occasionally hits on the funny. I think this revue, while not always consistently funny, gave this ensemble some real moments to shine. And as with past Second City revues I’ve seen, the show’s mix of sketch and improv has lively energy, and the wide variety of sketches presented made me curious to see what comes next.

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The Broadway In Chicago engagement of the SIX national tour runs through July 14, 2024

The SIX queendom is back in Chicago for a third visit…and this latest group of queens still magnificently bring the house down with Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s clever book and fantastic pop Broadway-style songs.

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