Chicagotheaterbeat

LATEST ARTICLES ( 2140 )

• Review: Pass Over (Steppenwolf Theatre)

  

  Electrifying world-premiere from start to finish Review by Catey Sullivan Vaudeville by way of existential absurdism by way of a scathing commentary on a... Read more

  Posted on 25 June 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Native Gardens (Victory Gardens Theater)

  

  Hilarious 'Gardens' is about way more than plants Review by Catey Sullivan Holy Virginia Creeper On a Stick. Not since before the November election have I... Read more

  Posted on 23 June 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Her Majesty’s Will (Lifeline Theatre)

  

  World premiere is pure summer escapism Review by Lauren Whalen For all we know of William Shakespeare, several years of the iconic playwright's early life... Read more

  Posted on 22 June 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Relativity (Northlight Theatre)

  

  Nussbaum illuminates Einstein's private world in Northlight premiere Review by Catey Sullivan If ever there was an actor/part pairing that truly lived up to... Read more

  Posted on 13 June 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Parade (Writers Theatre)

  

  Don't let this sumptuous, enthralling 'Parade' pass you by Review by Catey Sullivan Parade opens with a solemn drum cadence, a thrumming, insistent tattoo... Read more

  Posted on 12 June 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Johnny 10 Beers’ Daughter (Something Marvelous)

  

  Johnny 10 Beers' Daughter World-premiere struggles with character nuance Review by Lauren Whalen War is hell. Not so coincidentally, that's how I began... Read more

  Posted on 08 June 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: The Night Season (Strawdog Theatre)

  

  Well-staged production is overly-long, overly maudlin Review by Lauren Whalen According to its website, the theme of Strawdog Theatre Company's 29th season i... Read more

  Posted on 06 June 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: T. (American Theater Company)

  

  Funny, perceptive world premiere explores infamous rivalry Review by Catey Sullivan Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan: There's not a women's studies scholar o... Read more

  Posted on 04 June 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Paradise Blue (TimeLine Theatre)

  

  Paradise Blue Earliest of Morisseau's 'Detroit trilogy' is entertaining period piece Review by Catey Sullivan With Paradise Blue , Dominique Morisseau... Read more

  Posted on 31 May 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Time Stands Still (AstonRep Theatre)

  

  Heart-wrenching yet humorous, this intimate drama is a must-see Review by Lauren Whalen War is hell. For the protagonist of Time Stands Still , it's also a... Read more

  Posted on 31 May 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Chicago the Musical (Drury Lane Theatre)

  

  A bold, sassy new take on a beloved musical warhorse Review by Catey Sullivan For 21 years, has been running on Broadway in a revival that's stripped down... Read more

  Posted on 21 May 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Seminar (Spartan Theatre)

  

  'Seminar' could use some workshopping of its own Review by Lauren Whalen Theresa Rebeck's Seminar feels like a wannabe literary adaptation of "The Paper... Read more

  Posted on 20 May 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Shakespeare in Love (Chicago Shakespeare)

  

  A near-perfect blend of action, intrigue and swoony romance Review by Catey Sullivan Sparkling wit, a feel-good romance and a sexy, sassy, intelligent... Read more

  Posted on 19 May 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: She Loves Me (Marriott Theatre)

  

  Despite strong cast, production lacks romantic depth Review by Catey Sullivan As romances go, She Loves Me is as pretty as a glossy-page perfume insert. In... Read more

  Posted on 18 May 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Objects in the Mirror (Goodman Theatre)

  

  Storytelling so riveting you'll forget to breathe Review by Catey Sullivan As a piece of story telling, is riveting. Playwright Charles Smith's world premier... Read more

  Posted on 16 May 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Not About Nightingales (Raven Theatre)

  

  When the rules are unjust, we need to break them Review by Johanna Dalton Based on real events, Not About Nightingales is Tennessee Williams' gut-wrenching... Read more

  Posted on 15 May 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Jesus Christ Superstar (Paramount Theatre)

  

  Webber warhorse given new life in soul-stirring production Review by Catey Sullivan It's tough to find words to describe the the vocal magnificence and... Read more

  Posted on 10 May 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: La Havana Madrid (Teatro Vista)

  

  Stellar and moving Chicago history lesson My siblings and I grew up in a farm town downstate that was at least 99 percent white. While all three of us now liv... Read more

  Posted on 08 May 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: My Name Is Annie King (Underscore Theatre)

  

  Beautifully haunting score, wobbly story Cults are dangerous multi-headed animals, and history is full of fascinating examples. Typing in "cult" on YouTube... Read more

  Posted on 07 May 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA

• Review: Force Continuum (Eclipse Theatre)

  

  Wonderful performances aside, production is all over the place Representation matters, and Eclipse Theatre Company has always understood that. Their 25th... Read more

  Posted on 06 May 2017 CULTURE, THEATRE & OPERA