Chicagotheaterbeat

LATEST ARTICLES ( 2140 )

• Review: Burning Bluebeard (The Ruffians)

  

  After all the superlatives, it’s enough to say that this is not just great theatre, it’s the reason to go to theatre—to be transported, challenged, moved,... Read more

  Posted on 30 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: A Very Merry Madrigal (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre)

  

  With A Very Merry Madrigal, Theo Ubique serves up a shiny bauble of a show as a cast of six talented vocalists (Sarah Grant, Missy Aguilar, Tom Chiola, Molly... Read more

  Posted on 29 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre, 2013)

  

  Under the direction of Henry Wishcamper, a Christmas Carol rookie making his debut with the piece - the spirited tale of redemption remains evergreen, a... Read more

  Posted on 29 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Polaroid Stories (First Floor Theater)

  

  Polaroid Stories Written by Naomi Iizuka Directed by Hutch Pimentel at Red Tape Theatre, 621 W. Belmont (map) thru Dec 21 | tickets: $12-$25 | more... Read more

  Posted on 28 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol (NightBlue Performing Arts, 2013)

  

  An interesting spin on the Christmas classic, it’s certainly worth seeing during the holidays. But a good script doesn’t always guarantee a good production,... Read more

  Posted on 28 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Dylan (Red Theater Chicago)

  

  Despite the script’s imperfections, Red Theatre’s production of Sidney Michaels’ theatrical biopic brings the wit and passion of the Welsh poet to vibrant life. Read more

  Posted on 28 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: The Dead Prince (Strange Tree Group)

  

  Is it a fairytale, a folktale or a muzical? Yes. Playwright Emily Schwartz has concocted a play-full original - the plot is layered but not overly complicated,... Read more

  Posted on 28 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: An Iliad (Court Theatre, 2013)

  

  A remount of Court Theatre’s universally praised one-man show from two years ago, An Iliad returns to provide an enthralling, contemporary interpretation of... Read more

  Posted on 28 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: La Traviata (Lyric Opera of Chicago)

  

  La Traviata is beautifully sung and well-executed, jam-packed with some of the most beloved arias ever written. Although this classic is a sure thing, it suffer... Read more

  Posted on 26 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: If Scrooge Was a Brother (eta Creative Arts)

  

  This new adaptation of Christmas Carol has an intriguing premise but loses too much of the original. And with Christmas carols interspersed throughouth (and... Read more

  Posted on 24 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: The Nutcracker (The House Theatre, 2013)

  

  With their re-imagined, hyper-creative Nutcracker, The House Theatre has found its perfect annual gift to the theatre-going public. Read more

  Posted on 24 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: The Mikado (The Hypocrites)

  

  A cunningly raucous holiday romp, Mikado's circus backdrop nicely enlivens the pell-mell proceedings, with the supposedly restless audience moving about like... Read more

  Posted on 23 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Paulus (Silk Road Rising)

  

  Strongly acted and visually intersting, Paulus’ main weakness lies in its script, which never quite hits the mark, running nearly two hours, when 90 minutes... Read more

  Posted on 22 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Detroit ’67 (Northlight Theatre)

  

  Though one might expect a sweeping saga that serves as a history lesson, what we find instead is a Motown drama with solid-gold performances - a very specific... Read more

  Posted on 21 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Appropriate (Victory Gardens Theater)

  

  Even with the considerable talents of a creative team and cast that are among Chicago’s finest artists, this script is not worth the time and money of these... Read more

  Posted on 19 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: The Snow Queen, Or When Christmas Freezes Over! (Piccolo Theatre)

  

  It is rare, particularly in the world of theater, to find shows that are quite genuinely *fun for the whole family*. A mix of over-the-top humor, physical comed... Read more

  Posted on 18 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Old Jews Telling Jokes (Royal George Theatre)

  

  The title definitlely sums it up - a cast of five throws out rapid fire Jewish-flavored jokes at the audience, on such topics as sex, marriage, money, doctor’s... Read more

  Posted on 17 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Port Authority (Writers Theatre)

  

  In Conor McPherson's deeply moving 3-person play, the seemingly unassociated men are joined by a common yearning. McPherson renders that yearning gorgeously,... Read more

  Posted on 17 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Hellcab (Profiles Theatre, 2013)

  

  Even 20 years after it first debuted, Hellcab still offers audiences a very different kind of holiday show. Rather than being overly sentimental, it’s... Read more

  Posted on 16 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Elegy (The Elegy Project @ Victory Gardens)

  

  File this one in the Underwhelming drawer. With his 70-minute Elegy, playwright Ron Hirsen explores the tragic legacy of the Holocaust from the distance of the... Read more

  Posted on 15 November 2013 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA