Review: THE NUTCRACKER at Joffrey Ballet of Chicago
Set in December, 1892, Wheeldon’s “Nutcracker” takes place about 15 years before Sinclair’s harrowing novel of the poorest of Chicago’s poor, and while the lavishness is gone from Marie’s Christmas Eve party, the magic and the joy remains.
Review – PUFF: BELIEVE IT OR NOT at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Ranjit Bolt’s world premiere adaptation is full of all the plotting, panache and pith that are hallmarks of the style. Yet while the style and era are far from our own, the message is not.
Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Goodman Theatre
Arguably the most famous ghost story since the dawn of the printing press, the otherworldly adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge are so well-known, spoilers aren’t even really possible.
Review: Q Brothers CHRISTMAS CAROL at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
From the moment the doors open to the moment the DJ sets off the afterparty music, the feeling of pride, appreciation, and shared company stays the focus of the experience.
Review: THE BOOK OF WILL at Northlight Theatre
By and large, THE BOOK OF WILL is a surprisingly heartwarming treatise on the nature of death.
Review: THE MINUTES at Steppenwolf Theatre Company
When presented with the uncomfortable truth, we are given a choice: to reckon with it, or to keep living in blissful ignorance. Ignorance may be bliss, but the truth is always lurking just below the surface, waiting to be found.
Review: HELLCAB at The Agency Theater Collective
This show makes me think of those folks that we meet that exist on our periphery and our exchanges with them. Why not reveal a secret to a stranger if they’re willing to listen?
Review: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO! at American Blues Theater
Just as with my first experience watching the film, the story of IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE and the joy and connection these artists brought reminded me again that traditions are important. Clearly, this is one American Blues Theater have made their own, and I think I just might join them.
Review: LIZZIE at Firebrand Theatre
(left to right) Jacquelyne Jones and Liz Chidester. Photo by Marisa KM. By Catey Sullivan Raw, aggressive and raucous, “Lizzie” plays like a mashup of Sleater-Kinney and Pussy Riot, with a dash of “Spring Awakening” and “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” It is also wholly its own animal, and defies...
Review: A GOLDEN CELEBRATION OF DANCE at the Auditorium Theatre
November 12 commemorated the 50th anniversary of its rebirth with A GOLDEN CELEBRATION OF DANCE, once again showcasing magnificent dancers in one of the finest dance venues in the world.