File this one under “Things I won’t have to work very hard to convince you to see:” The Play That Goes Wrong, now playing at the Oriental Theatre, is an incredibly fun, incredibly madcap play-within-a-play that’ll have you gasping with laughter. Okie doke. Need more? 8 reasons to see The Play That Goes Wrong, stat: (I almost listed them out of order, a la A Review That Goes Wrong…but decided to give your brain a little rest today. You’re welcome.) 8 {Read More}
4 Reasons to see Second City’s stellar ‘She the People’
April 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment
If it’s been a bit since you’ve checked out a Second City show in Chicago’s famed Piper’s Alley, a) you probably haven’t had any palatable (read: comfortingly zany) news lately, and b) the UP Comedy Club’s new revue She The People: The Girlfriend’s Guide to Sisters Doing It For Themselves is the female empowerment piece that Judy Blume couldn’t possibly have prepared us for. 4 Reasons to see Second City’s stellar ‘She the People:’ 4 Even though the UP Comedy Club {Read More}
CPS students and ‘Hamilton’ on the stage where it happens
December 8, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Talk about your next-level field trips. On November 29th, students from 15 CPS high schools got to be in in the spotlight at the CIBC Theatre, where the wildly popular Hamilton has been playing in Chicago to downright frenzied acclaim. 1,900 students and teachers from 25 CPS schools were in attendance for the day celebrating the Hamilton Education Program, now in its second year, and proved to be a captive and supportive audience for their brave, creative, and vocal peers. Inspired by Hamilton and {Read More}
Win 4 tickets to the House Theatre’s (ballet-free!) ‘Nutcracker’
November 13, 2017 By Leave a Comment
If The Nutcracker makes you think of slippered children and the type of dances that Sugarplum Fairies like best, then the House Theatre of Chicago’s take on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s tale is the refreshing palate cleanser your holiday season may just require. Created by Jake Minton, Phillip Klapperich, Kevin O’Donnell and Tommy Rapley, and directed by Chris Mathews, this production has garnered quite a devoted following over the past 8 years. First off, there’s no ballet. Zero Tchaikovsky. And, while there’s definitely {Read More}
6 reasons we’re sweet on Lifeline Theatre’s ‘Arnie the Doughnut’
November 8, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Lifeline Theatre’s charming new production of Arnie the Doughnut– spun like sugar from Laurie Keller’s story of the same name- concerns Arnie, a freshly baked and rather, well, concerned doughnut who isn’t so sure about his lot in life. Namely, as breakfast to the rule-and-routine-happy Mr. Bing. (Sound dark? It totally isn’t.) 6 Reasons We’re Sweet on ‘Arnie the Doughnut’ 6. It features unlikely heroes. Since when does a buttoned-down nice guy get to be the force for change? Well, {Read More}
Windy City Playhouse’s ‘Becky Shaw’ the date you’ll never forget
October 11, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Ah, families and romance and crumbling class hierarchies: You know how I’m always touting family-friendly entertainment and stuff that the kids will simply adore? Becky Shaw, Windy City Playhouse’s razor-sharp new production, ain’t that show. That said, this is the show where you should bring your girlfriends, established relationships and, at least in my case, a husband and a mother. The comedic drama opens with a wealthy, dysfunctional family on the verge of relative poverty with more than their share {Read More}
ComedySportz’s 30th anniversary & why you need to be there
August 16, 2017 By Leave a Comment
And now, in Chicago Entertainment News: Have you guys experienced Chicago’s beloved ComedySportz, “the funniest sport you’ll ever play?” You’ve probably heard of it, because a) they’ve been around for 30 years, and b) I recently co-hosted a superbly fun event there and no one was exempt from my social media excitement. In a town this saturated with fantastic comedic and theatrical experiences, lemme tell you a little bit more about why ComedySportz should be on your date night, family {Read More}
Nothing ‘Curious’ about this tale’s appeal
December 9, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Imagine you stumble upon a murdered dog; everybody, including the neighbors and the police (whom you may or may not have accidentally struck), thinks you’re the killer. Now imagine- same scenario- except you’re a 15 year-old boy with extreme sensory issues, a brilliant mind for mathematics, an absolute inability to be touched (explaining that whole “striking a police officer” thing), and a crystal clear mission: to bring poor, murdered Wellington to justice. This is the premise of Mark Haddon’s explosively {Read More}
