Chicagotheaterbeat

LATEST ARTICLES ( 2140 )

• Review: The Lonesome West (AstonRep Theatre)

  

  Well-acted, but mean-spirited Review by Lauren Emily Whalen The Lonesome West is an earlier work from playwright Martin McDonagh, who's since made a name fo... Read more

  Posted on 02 November 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Hello, Dolly! (Broadway in Chicago, 2018)

  

  A Broadway classic done in classic Broadway fashion This 1964 musical ran for nearly seven years on Broadway thanks in large part to producer David Merrick's... Read more

  Posted on 30 October 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Hooded, of Being Black for Dummies (First Floor Theater)

  

  Darkly comic and socially relevant Review by Lauren Emily Whalen Hooded, or Being Black for Dummies opens with a black police officer (Brian Nelson Jr.)... Read more

  Posted on 29 October 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: WaistWatchers The Musical (Royal George Theatre)

  

  Talented ensemble in search of better script Review by Lauren Emily Whalen "How far have the mighty fallen?" Standing in front of the poster of Angels in... Read more

  Posted on 27 October 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Edge of Life (Inglis Hall Productions)

  

  Review by Lauren Emily Whalen Writing a play about one's own life experiences isn't always the best idea. Though intentions are good, there's a specific... Read more

  Posted on 21 October 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Witch (Writers Theatre)

  

  Creepily entertaining world premiere Review by Lauren Emily Whalen Right now, we could all use some big witch energy. Fortunately, there's no better place... Read more

  Posted on 11 October 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Zürich (Steep Theatre)

  

  Normal people don't travel alone... Review by Lauren Emily Whalen Zürich 's five vignettes are all set in hotel rooms on the fortieth floor, in the play's... Read more

  Posted on 10 October 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: The Artificial Jungle (Hell in a Handbag)

  

  Review by Lauren Emily Whalen Including the phrase "trigger warning," which Artistic Director David Cerdadrops in the house speech, while referring to 's use o... Read more

  Posted on 08 October 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Phoebe in Winter (Facility Theatre)

  

  Eerie, immersive 'Phoebe' an absurdist confection not to be missed Review by Lauren Emily Whalen Descend into the bowels of a Polish Catholic school on... Read more

  Posted on 03 October 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Indecent (Victory Gardens Theater)

  

  Review by Lauren Emily Whalen A troupe of actors comes to America not long after the turn of the century. Strings have been pulled to get them past Ellis... Read more

  Posted on 02 October 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Tootsie the Musical (Broadway in Chicago)

  

  Never has an anti-hero been so likable Review by Lauren Emily Whalen Talk to any theatergoer of a certain age (as in, under 50) and you're likely to hear thi... Read more

  Posted on 01 October 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Frankenstein (Lifeline Theatre)

  

  Mesmerizing descent into madness Review by Lauren Emily Whalen Grief ain't pretty. The older you get, the harder the death of a loved one is to endure.... Read more

  Posted on 23 September 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Crime and Punishment (Shattered Globe Theatre)

  

  Despite talented cast and stunning visuals, 'Crime' becomes an exhausting endeavor Review by Lauren Emily Whalen Audiences may very well love Shattered... Read more

  Posted on 18 September 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: The Shipment (Red Tape Theatre)

  

  Stellar cast explores the destructive power of racial stereotypes I saw The Shipment with two companions and we left the theater asking each other, "What... Read more

  Posted on 17 September 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: These Shining Lives (Three Crows Theatre)

  

  Better script, stronger direction needed for fascinating story Review by Lauren Emily Whalen Three blue-aproned women sit at a table, heads down, methodicall... Read more

  Posted on 17 September 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Borealis (The House Theatre)

  

  Intelligent, exciting sci-fi world premiere Review by Lauren Emily Whalen It's hard not to love a play that makes liberal use of the word "asshat." Bennett... Read more

  Posted on 11 September 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: El Grande De Coca-Cola (Waterfront Cafe & Summer Stages)

  

  An evening of awkward, hilarious glory Review by Lauren Emily Whalen Welcome to a family-owned Mexican nightclub where tonight, Coca-Cola flows as freely as... Read more

  Posted on 04 September 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: A Shayna Maidel (TimeLine Theatre)

  

  Love between sisters overcomes dark time in world history Review by Lauren Emily Whalen In an early scene in A Shayna Maidel , New Yorker Rose welcomes her... Read more

  Posted on 01 September 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Tres Bandidos (Agency Theater Collective)

  

  Some brilliant moments exist within mostly underwritten world-premiere Review by Lauren Emily Whalen The climactic moment of Tres Bandidos is tense and... Read more

  Posted on 26 August 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Haymarket (Underscore Theatre)

  

  Folk musical 'Haymarket' a unique, memorable take on Chicago history Review by Lauren Emily Whalen I didn't see Haymarket 's earlier run earlier this... Read more

  Posted on 15 August 2018 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA