Dear, dear, fellow theatre-goers: I miss holiday shows a downright ridiculous amount. The sparkling snowflakes swirling around the Sugar Plum Fairy, the jolt of delicious fear before Jacob Marley appears, the sound design that makes your eyes weepy and your heart grateful? Yep. I miss those holiday shows. I miss holiday shows that I haven’t even seen yet, too. But if anyone knows how to turn lemons into a glitzy limoncello cocktail wearing a Santa hat, it’s the Chicago theatre {Read More}
‘The Boys in the Band’ is a party worth your RSVP
February 12, 2020 By Leave a Comment
When Mart Crowley’s The Boys in the Band emerged on the scene in 1968, it was a ground-breaking— even earth-shattering— portrayal of gay life. Well before the Stonewall Riots, and well well before this was a mainstream conversation, it brought an honest, raw, and deeply moving look at the lives, loves, and struggles of a young, gay, friend group. The star-studded 2018 Broadway revival was a heralded, glossy affair, well-deserving of its many accolades. That said, Windy City Playhouse, who {Read More}
‘Once On This Island’ offers up hope for the future
January 26, 2020 By Leave a Comment
Once On This Island… If the freezing temps have you daydreaming about balmier temps and sunnier skies, then perhaps an island jaunt is just the ticket. Lucky you! Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty’s Once On This Island is in town for a short trip, and the Broadway sensation- it won the 2018 Tony for Best Revival- envelops the audience in the kind of Caribbean vibes and infectious beats that’ll have you dancing in your seat. Based on Trinidad-born American writer Rosa {Read More}
A gift for all in Goodman’s ‘A Christmas Carol’
December 18, 2019 By Leave a Comment
That Dickens was pretty solid with enduring themes. And to create a work in December of 1843 that rings true- and, some might say, is the peak embodiment of the Christmas message- in December of 2019? Quite a legacy A Christmas Carol has. Ebenezer Scrooge, the miserly Christmas-hater, has a spiritual awakening or three on a night when magic can happen. His eventual change of heart (and wallet) has far-reaching ramifications for 1800s London and its residents of varying means, leaving everyone {Read More}
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ celebrates life’s little joys
November 21, 2019 By Leave a Comment
It’s a wonderful life- yes, even now Who’d’ve thought that a radio show about a small town in the 1940s would resonate so hard- and make me so weepy- in a big city in 2019 (at Thanksgiving)? Well, life’s full of delightful surprises if you just know where to look. Friends, here’s your heads-up: American Blues Theater’s live radio performance of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!’ will cure what ails you. (Especially if “what ails you” is a {Read More}
‘The Steadfast Tin Soldier’ joyfully marches us into winter
November 11, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Here’s a li’l true story for you: Last Friday night I was feeling burned out, stressed, and a more than a little achy from a recent incident whereupon I dislocated two ribs. (Long, wholly different story.) I had been slated to see the return of Lookingglass Theatre Company’s The Steadfast Tin Soldier that evening with my boy, my youngest, and even though I knew it would be a wonderful time…I was tired on a primal level. By the time we {Read More}
Cirque du Soleil’s Big Top ‘Volta’ surges with energy
May 24, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Brace yourself for Volta: 30 years ago, Cirque du Soleil came to Chicago for the first time with its show Cirque Réinventé; the love affair between Chicagoans and the Canadian company is still going quite strong in 2019 with Volta, the company’s 25th production. There’s nothing quite like a big top show, and Cirque remains firmly unmatched in terms of filling every inch of this kind of gargantuan space with energy and jaw-dropping talent. (Cirque’s tent, situated right outside of {Read More}
‘The Lightning Thief’ flashes into Chicago for a wild- and quick- run
January 10, 2019 By 1 Comment
The Lightning Thief: the Percy Jackson Musical So, there’s this middle grade adventure series loosely based on the antics (and pairings and ensuing offspring) of some Greek gods, and it was turned into a Broadway show. Oh, and it’s also a rock musical. Still with me? Good. Because The Lightning Thief: the Percy Jackson Musical– is absolutely fantastic and deserves a packed house for every night of its short Chicago stay at the Oriental Theatre. Adapted from Rick Riordan’s wildly {Read More}
