Switch to the mobile version of this page.

- Username
- View Profile
- Edit Profile
- Log Out
- Log in
- Create Account

The Chicago Reader

Articles

Loading...

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Feb 11, 2020
Recommended
Roan @ the Gates traces the consequences of whistleblowing

American Blues Theater takes a page from the Edward Snowden story in its latest.
- By Max Maller
- Tags: Theater Review, Roan @ the Gates, American Blues Theater, Christina Telesca Gorman, Lexi Saunders, Jasmine Bracey, Brenda Barrie, Recommended

Arts & Culture, Calendar Jan 29, 2020
Leaping into live performance for February

Our critics suggest ten ways to fill out that slightly longer calendar this month.
- By Irene Hsiao, Kerry Reid, and Brianna Wellen
- Tags: Calendar, Calendar, Theater Preview, Porchlight, Victory Gardens, Windy City Playhouse, American Blues Theater, Lifeline Theatre, Same Planet Performance Project, Loud Bodies Dance, Rap Transit, Chicago Puntathlon, Tim and Eric

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Sep 18, 2019
Five Presidents walk into a funeral . . .

In Rick Cleveland's play, the five men who followed Richard Nixon as POTUS open up about the job at his memorial.
- By Jack Helbig
- Tags: Theater Review, Five Presidents, American Blues Theater, Rick Cleveland, James Leaming, Marty Higginbotham

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Jul 24, 2019
The Spitfire Grill runs on corn

American Blues Theater’s production finds some honesty amid the musical cliches.
- By Justin Hayford
- Tags: Theater Review, The Spitfire Grill, American Blues Theater, James Valcq, Fred Alley, Tammy Mader, Jacquelyne Jones, Catherine Smitko, Dara Cameron

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Apr 10, 2019
Recommended
A search for a missing gay teen reveals The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey

Joe Foust deftly portrays the detective and all the parties in the investigation.
- By Albert Williams
- Tags: Theater Review, The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, American Blues Theater, James Lecesne, Trevor, Trevor Project, Kurt Johns, Joe Foust, Recommended

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Feb 15, 2019
Spoiler alert: Nothing is as it seems On Clover Road

Steven Dietz's play sucker punches its audience again and again and again.
- By Jack Helbig
- Tags: Theater Review, On Clover Road, American Blues Theater, Steven Dietz, Halena Kays, Gwendolyn Whiteside, Philip Earl Johnson

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Nov 29, 2018
Here are 19 shows to get you into the holiday spirit

Christmas trains, elves, bingo, showgirls, and many, many carols, plus the Quranic perspective and Hanukkah goblins.
- By Julia Clausen
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, holiday show roundup 2018, The Nutcracker, Joffrey Ballet, House Theatre, Merry Merry Chicago!, Handel Messiah, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, It’s A Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago, American Blues Theater, A Christmas Carol, Goodman Theatre, Q Brothers Christmas Carol, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Klingon Christmas Carol, E.D.G.E. of Orion Theatre, El Stories: Holiday Train, Waltzing Mechanics, Burning Bluebeard, Neo-Futurists, The Ruffians, It’s Christmas, Goddamnit!, The Annoyance, Christmas Bingo: It’s a Ho-Ho-Holy Night, Vicki Quade, Snowgirls: The Musical, Hell in a Handbasket, Barney the Elf, Pride Films and Plays, Christmas Mubarak, Silk Road Rising, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, Strawdog Theatre Company, Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party, Chicago Children’s Theater, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Lookingglass Theatre, Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical, Theater at the Center

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Oct 17, 2018
Crumbs From the Table of Joy and Flyin’ West resonate together in separate productions

And together they provide two perspectives on black women’s lives, written by black women.
- By Tony Adler
- Tags: Theater Review, Crumbs From the Table of Joy, Raven Theatre, Flyin’ West, American Blues Theater, Lynn Nottage, Tyrone Phillips, Chanell Bell, Father Divine, Brandi Jiminez Lee, Emily Tate, Brianna Buckley, Harlem, Pearl Cleage, Chuck Smith, Homestead Act, Reconstruction, Tiffany Oglesb

Arts & Culture, Theater Review May 10, 2018
You already know The Buddy Holly Story

But Zachary Stevenson rocks that guitar and glasses like a pro.
- By Jack Helbig
- Tags: Theater Review, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, American Blues Theater, Buddy Holly, rock'n'roll, Zachary Stevenson, Alan Janes

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Review Feb 27, 2018
Keith Huff overdoes everything in Six Corners

A potentially great urban fable gets done in by excess.
- By Tony Adler
- Tags: Performing Arts Review, Keith Huff, Six Corners, American Blues Theater, cop drama, A Steady Rain, Peter DeFaria, Monica Orozco, Brenda Barrie, Manny Buckley, Gary Griffin

Blogs, Bleader Dec 22, 2017
It’s a Wonderful Life at Stage 773 and more of the best things to do in Chicago this weekend

The Lincoln Lodge's Christmas Feztacular and more events the weekend of 12/22-12/24
- By Steve Heisler
- Tags: Arts, Do This, macabre, house of horrors, the last jedi, daisy ridley, lightsaber, Luca Cimarusti, tony adler, it's a wonderful life, stage 773, american blues theater, the bangers, hideout, christmas feztacular, lincoln lodge, re:picture, peter drake, vga gallery, the ears have walls

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Dec 21, 2017
Thirteen holiday shows that will delight (or disgust or bore or just entertain) you

Hell in a Handbag's 20th annual production of Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer is among the yuletide highlights.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Barney the Elf, the Other Theatre Company, Dixie Lynn Cartwright, Roy Samra, Christmas Bingo: It's a Ho-Ho-Holy Night, Late Nite Catechism, Vicki Quade, Nuns 4 Fun Entertainment, Royal George Theatre, A Christmas Carol, Goodman Theatre, Henry Wishcamper, Tom Creamer, Larry Yando, Charles Dickens, The Christmas Schooner, Mercury Theatre, John Reeger, Julie Shannon, L. Walter Stearns, Hellcab, the Agency Theater Collective, Will Kern, Rusty Schwimmer, Profiles Theatre, American Blues Theater, It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, It's a Wonderful Life, Frank Capra, Bedford Falls, Gwendolyn Whiteside, Camille Robinson, John Mohrlein, Michael Mahler, The Nutcracker, E.T.A. Hoffmann, the House Theatre of Chicago, Haley Seda, Chris Matthews, Q Brothers Christmas Carol, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Hell in a Handbag Productions, David Cerda, Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, Michael Jack Hampton, Terry McCarthy, Graham Thomas Heacock, Kristoffer Bottrall, Black Ensemble Theatre, Sammy: A Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr., Daryl D. Brooks, Kenny Davis, This Way Outta Santaland (and Other Xmas Miracles), Theater Wit, Mitchell Fain, The Santaland Diaries, David Sedaris, Meghan Murphy, Yippe Ki-Yay Merry Christmas: A Die Hard Christmas Musical, MCL, Die Hard, Alan Metoskie, Michael Shepherd Jordan, Gary Fields, The Customer Is Always Right? Holiday Edition, the Annoyance, improv

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Nov 8, 2017
Akeelah and the Bee, Die Walküre, and 14 more new stage shows to see

An inspirational kids' show and a not-be-missed Lyric Opera production are among this week's best bets.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Akeelah and the Bee, Adventure Stage, Cheryl L. West, Scripps National Spelling Bee, La Shone T. Kelly, Aaron Quick, Brandon Rivera, Daryl Brooks, Bob: A Life in Five Acts, Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, the Comrades, Derek Bertelsen, Will Quam, Bobby Pin Girls, Nothing Without a Company, Janey Bell, Grace Hutchings, Emilie Modaff, Debo Balogun, Peter Wilde, Ben Kaye, The Consul, Gian Carlo Menotti, Chicago Opera Theater, Andreas Mitisek, refugee crisis, Patricia Racette, Victoria Livengood, Justin Ryan, Kristof van Grysperre, 42nd Street, Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble, Harry Warren, Al Dubin, Michael Heitzman, Gene Weygandt, Emilio Sosa, I'll Be Seeing You, Broken Nose Collective, Kevin Jandrist, standards, the Derrick Tate Connection, J.B., Archibald MacLeish, City Lit Theater, The Book of Job, Brian Pastor, John Sabine, The Low Upside, stand-up, Promethean Theatre Ensembl, Marisol, Juan Castañeda, Newsies, Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre, Patrick Rooney, Alex Sanchez, Man of La Mancha, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, MadKap Productions, Rocket City, Alabam', Mark Saltzman, Ashley Schaeffer, Michael Dalberg, Wayne Mell, School of Rock, Jack Black, Mike White, Julian Fellowes, This Wonderful Life, It's a Wonderful Life, American Blues Theater, Frank Capra, James Leaming, Carmen Roman, Joe Huppert, Steve Murray, Yasmina's Necklace, Rohina Malik, Susaan Jamshidi, Ann Filmer, 16th Street Theater, Goodman Theatre, Die Walküre, Lyric Opera Chicago, Richard Wagner, Andrew Jones, Christing Goerke, Eric Owens

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Jul 19, 2017
Beauty’s Daughter is more showcase than show

Wandachristine journeys through several decades and several lives without getting much of anywhere.
- By Justin Hayford
- Tags: Theater Review, Beauty's Daughter, Dael Orlandersmith, Wandachristine, American Blues Theater, Ron OJ Parson, Harlem, Caitlin McLeod, Paul Deziel

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Mar 1, 2017
The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Gender Breakdown, and nine more stage shows to see now

A black Irish comedy and a look at inequity in the local theater scene are among this week's best bets.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Martin McDonagh, Bluebird Arts, Luda Lopatina Solomon, Jaimelyn Gray, Kate Harris, The Best of Bri-Ko, Brian Posen, Brian Peterlin, Tim Soszko, Blue Man Group, clowning, sketch comedy, silent comedy, Carmina Burana, The Columnist, David Auburn, Philip Earl Johnson, Keira Fromm, American Blues Theater, Creatives, Irvine Welsh, Don De Grazio, Chicago Theatre Workshop, Simple Minds, Happy Mondays, Tom Mullen, AstonRep Theatre Company, Alexandra Bennett, Sarah C. Lo, Debra Rodkin, Jeremiah Barr, Derek Bertelsen, Eugene Onegin, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Lyric Opera, Alexander Pushkin, Michael Levine, Robert Carsen, Metropolitan Opera, Mariusz Kwiecień, Ana María Martínez, Alisa Kolosova, Charles Castronovo, Dmitry Belosselskiy, Aleyo Perez, Collaboraction, Gender Breakdown, Profiles Theatre, Not in Our House, Dani Bryant, Erica Vannon, Forum Productions, Jesus the Jew as Told by His Brother James, Steven Strafford, the Cuckoo's Theater Project, Redtwist Theatre, Language of Angels, Naomi Iizuka, Jenna Liddle, Marc James, Private Eyes, Steven Dietz, Piccolo Theatre, Michael D. Graham, Megan DeLay, Kurt Preopper, Edward Fraim, Venus in Fur, David Ives, Circle Theatre, Zach Livingston, Arti Ishak, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, Charlotte Drover

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Dec 1, 2016
From Scrooge to the Snow Queen: eight stage shows for the holidays

The Goodman's A Christmas Carol leads the seasonal onslaught.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Eric Schaeffer, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlie Brown, Peanuts, Emerald City Theatre, children's theater, holiday shows, Ann Filmer, Goodman Theatre, A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens, Larry Yando, Scrooge, Henry Wishcamper, Annoyance Theatre, It's Christmas, Goddamnit!, American Blues Theater, It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago, Gwendolyn Whiteside, Frank Capra, Jimmy Stewart, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Northlight Theatre, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet, Mary Bennet, Emily Berman, Erik Hellman, Arthur de Bourgh, The Rip Nelson Holiday Spectacular, David Cerda, Hell in a Handbag Productions, Steve Love, David Lipschutz, Ed Jones, Bruce Jenner, Doug Henning, Piccolo Theatre, The Snow Queen, Hans Christian Andersen, Jessica Puller, Arne Parrott, Under the Gun Theater, holiday improv, Hanukkah, dreidels

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Sep 8, 2016
Dutchman and TRANSit: A double bill of provocation

American Blues Theater revives Amiri Baraka's searing one-act alongside a new commission.
- By Tony Adler
- Tags: Theater Review, American Blues Theater, Amiri Baraka, LeRoi Jones, Dutchman, Darren Canady, TRANSit, Chuck Smith, Amanda Drinkall, Michael Pogue, Malcolm X, trans people, trans lives onstage, Elijah Muhammad, James Baldwin, Manny Buckley

Arts & Culture, Fall Preview Sep 4, 2016
Ten best bets for fall theater

A satanic hand puppet, a live version of Cheers, and a Twelfth Night in Hindi are among this season’s highlights.
- Tags: Fall Preview, Mary Zimmerman, Doug Peck, Goodman Theatre, Candide, Leonard Bernstein, Wonderful Town, My Sister Eileen, Bri Sudia, Lauren Molina, Sophocles, Electra, the House of Atreus, Agamemnon, Iphigenia in Aulis, Nicholas Rudall, Court Theatre, Sandra Marquez, Michael Pogue, Kate Fry, Amiri Baraka, LeRoi Jones, Dutchman, American Blues Theater, Darren Canady, TRANSit, Shattered Globe Theatre, True West, Sam Shepard, Black Button Eyes Productions, Amour, Michel Legrand, Shakespeare 400 Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Shanghai Jingju Theatre, Peking opera, The Revenge of Prince Zi Dan, Hamlet, Company Theatre Mumbai, Piya Behrupiya, Twelfth Night, Eduardo Pavez Goye, Foro Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, The Complete Deaths, Spymonkey, The Happiest Place on Earth, Sideshow Theatre Company, Philip Dawkins, Scooby Don't, Hell in a Handbag Productions, David Cerda, Andrew Hinderaker, The Magic Play, Calamity West, Give It All Back, Idris Goodwin, How We Got On, Haven Theatre Company, Kristiana Rae Colón, Octagon, Jackalope Theatre, I Am My Own Wife, Doug Wright, About Face Theatre, Delia Kropp, Nothing Without a Company, [Trans]formation, the Living Canvas, Cheers Live on Stage, Amy Poehler, Broadway in Chicago, Mat Smart, Naperville, The Royal Society of Antarctica, the Gift Theatre, Jeff Award, Aguijón Theater, Romeo y Julieta, Sándor Menéndez, Gerardo Cárdenas, Hand to God, Robert Askin, Victory Gardens Theater, Alex Weisman, Gary Griffin, Seret Scott

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature May 12, 2016
Little Shop of Horrors, Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf, and ten more new stage shows

A monstrous revival and a collaboration between Writers Theatre and Second City are among this week's theater and performance best bets.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, American Beauty Shop, Dana Lynn Formby, Chicago Dramatists, Megan Shuchman, And Now You Know Everything About Laurel Krabacher, Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody, Writers Theatre, Second City, Tim Sniffen, Stuart Carden, Michael Halberstam, Our Town, Olivia Bagan, Double Text, KoolAid Mix, 99 Problems, 90s parodies, Hannah Starr, Joe Janes, American Blues Theater, Little Shop of Horrors, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, Austin Cook, Dara Cameron, Jonathan Berry, The News Is Now, iO Theater, Cody Melcher, Chris Hauser, Once in a Lifetime, Sarah Goeden, Justine C. Turner, Nicole Bloomsmith, George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, Damon Kiely, Shirley Laura, Keith Walker, Vietnam war, Women's Army Corps, Victoria Alvarez-Chacon, Kat McDonnell, A Piece of My Heart, Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble, Reality Ever After, Under the Gun Theater, Real Housewives, Seedfolks, Paul Fleischman, Cleveland, Gibb Street, Sonja Parks, Anna Deavere Smith, Chicago Slam Works, This Great Nation, Much Enduring, Felix Mayes, Teagan Walsh-Davis, J.W. Basilo

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Dec 3, 2015
Fifteen holiday shows to see now

There's a lot more out there than A Christmas Carol.
- By Reader staff
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, A Beer Carol, Drinking & Writing Theater, Burning Bluebeard, Iroquois Theatre fire, The Hypocrites, The Ruffians, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Emerald City Theatre, A Christmas Carol, Goodman Theatre, Larry Yando, A Christmas Carol: The Musical, Quest Theatre, Clara & the Nutcracker, Piccolo Theatre, The Great Annoyance Melodrama and Vaudevilee, Hellcab, Profiles Theatre, HoliDaze, Step Up Productions, Holidazed and Confused, Second City, Up Comedy Club, It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, American Blues Theater, The Long Christmas Ride Home, Strawdog Theatre, The House Theatre of Chicago, The Nutcracker, holiday shows, The Santaland Diaries, David Sedaris, Sexy Saturdays, Uptown Underground, Kiss Kiss Cabaret

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Sep 24, 2014
Hell's kitchenette gets an unconvincing makeover in Court Theatre's Native Son

And a handsome open set isn't the only wrong note.
- By Justin Hayford
- Tags: Theater Review, Native Sons, Court Theatre, Richard Wright, Nambi E. Kelley, American Blues Theater, Seret Scott

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Sidebar Sep 15, 2011
Waiting for Lefty

American Blues Theater revives Clifford Odets's 1935 one-act
- By Tony Adler
- Tags: Performing Arts Sidebar, Waiting for Lefty, American Blues Theater, Barack Obama, Clifford Odets, Great Depression, labor, strike

Issue Cover

Browse by Issue

Other Searches