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. 

Continue reading “Review: ALICE BY HEART at Kokandy Productions” →

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. 

Continue reading “Review: THE LORD OF THE RINGS at Chicago Shakespeare Theater” →

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. 

Continue reading “Review: MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL at Goodman Theatre” →

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. 

Continue reading “Review: LITTLE BEAR RIDGE ROAD at Steppenwolf Theatre Company” →

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.

Continue reading “Review: The Second City’s 112th Mainstage Revue” →

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.

Continue reading “Review: SIX THE MUSICAL in Chicago” →

Sanaz Toossi’s Pulitzer Prize-winning ENGLISH is a beautiful, well-paced exploration of language’s simultaneous ability to open up our worlds, and yet for new language learners, make them smaller in terms of what we can express. 

Continue reading “Review: ENGLISH at Goodman Theatre” →

World premiere of Levi Holloway’s dystopian play runs through June 22, 2024 at The Chopin Theatre

Levi Holloway’s dystopian play TURRET introduces audiences to an intimate bunker in a post-apocalyptic world. And notably, the play marks Michael Shannon’s return to A Red Orchid. Shannon plays Green, who presides over this mysterious bunker in which he’s holding captive his trainee, Rabbit (Travis A. Knight). At the play’s opening, this particular iteration of Rabbit appears to be one of many test subjects within Green’s clutches. The first several scenes of TURRET have a kind of mundanity: Rabbit runs furiously on a treadmill while Green performs a series of tests. The text doesn’t reveal much about the nature of these experiments, and audiences are left to wonder what, exactly, is happening for much of the play. 

Continue reading “Review: TURRET at A Red Orchid Theatre” →

The Chicago premiere of Larissa FastHorse’s play runs through June 2, 2024

In THE THANKSGIVING PLAY, four actors’ road to creating an elementary school Thanksgiving performance is paved with good intentions. But good intentions aren’t enough to save them from their “white savior” complexes. 

Continue reading “Review: THE THANKSGIVING PLAY at Steppenwolf Theatre Company” →

The world premiere comedy starring Jason Alexander runs through May 26, 2024

JUDGMENT DAY may be a world premiere comedy, but it trades in old-school jokes. Rob Ulin’s play is relatively simple and wears its moral heart on its sleeve (Main takeaway: Don’t be a jerk), even if lead role Sammy Campo doesn’t have a heart at all. While JUDGMENT DAY pokes some fun at the Catholic church, the play’s satire is not that deep. That said, this play is swiftly moving and delightfully entertaining, and it fully delivers on the promise of offering audiences a good time. 

Continue reading “Review: JUDGMENT DAY at Chicago Shakespeare Theater” →