Monday, January 25, 2016

American Blues gets a jump on 2016-17 season by Hedy Weiss

American Blues Theater, the company whose recent memorable productions have included "Side Man," "Hank Williams: Lonesome Highway" and "The Rainmaker," has announced its 2016-2017 season. Th…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 06:40PM

Casting announced for ‘SpongeBob’ musical by Miriam Di Nunzio

Who will live in that pineapple under the sea? Okay, actually on the stage of ... The post Casting announced for ‘SpongeBob’ musical appeared first on Chicago Entertainment - Chi…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 11:02AM
Sunday, January 24, 2016

Verdi’s ‘Nabucco’ returns in force to the Lyric Opera stage by Sun-Times

By Kyle MacMillan | For the Sun-Times Sibling treachery, religious conversion, romantic rivalry and a ... The post Verdi’s ‘Nabucco’ returns in force to the Lyric Oper…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 03:39PM

‘Hairspray’ a heartfelt quest for equality at Paramount Theatre by Hedy Weiss

Broadway musicals can be intriguing barometers of where mainstream audiences happened to be at any particular point in history. This was driven home after watching the exuberant Paramount Th…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 02:52PM
Friday, January 22, 2016

Dancing back into the 1950s with “Bye Bye Birdie” by Hedy Weiss

How do you inject genuine fun, fizz and frenzy into "Bye Bye Birdie," the musical that arrived on Broadway in 1960, served as an homage to the 1950s, and now, in so many ways, might easily f…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 05:18PM
Thursday, January 21, 2016

Scorching ‘Sunset Baby’ makes history personal by Hedy Weiss

The legacy of the Black Power movement of the 1960s is still open to fierce debate. But what is often neglected in all the talk is any consideration of the fallout that period had on the chi…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 08:30PM

Steppenwolf Theatre launches new cafe, theater space by Miriam Di Nunzio

Steppenwolf Theatre and Boka Restaurant Group have joined forces in a new cafe/theater venture to ... The post Steppenwolf Theatre launches new cafe, theater space appeared first on Chicago …

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 01:35PM
Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Rarely seen Tennessee Williams’ ‘Mutilated’ finds brilliant interpreters at A Red Orchid by Hedy Weiss

A Red Orchid Theater's production of Tennessee Williams' "The Mutilated" is a sort of act of salvation for the playwright. And watching it you cannot help but think that Williams is looking …

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 07:37PM

Global excursions: ‘My Lai’ at the Harris Theater, and ‘God Bless Baseball’ at the MCA by Hedy Weiss

Two very different events — but both with decidedly East-West connections — are headed to Chicago stages ... The post Global excursions: ‘My Lai’ at the Harris Theater, and…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 06:00PM

Shakespeare 400 Chicago to feature 850 events by Hedy Weiss

Consider these statistics: During the course of his life William Shakespeare is believed to have ... The post Shakespeare 400 Chicago to feature 850 events appeared first on Chicago Entertai…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 04:05PM
Tuesday, January 19, 2016

“Bruise Easy” a badly warped homecoming tale by Hedy Weiss

As Robert Frost famously wrote: "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." But to judge by Dan LeFranc's dreadful new play, "Bruise Easy," now receiving …

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 07:07PM

Griffin Theatre revives ‘London Wall,’ a delicious vintage office comedy by Hedy Weiss

The law office that serves as the backdrop for "London Wall" - the beguiling vintage classic by John Van Druten that has been revived with period-perfect flair for its Griffin Theatre produc…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 04:41PM

Bette Midler to return to Broadway in ‘Hello, Dolly!’ by Sun-Times

By Mark Kennedy | Associated Press NEW YORK — It’s a match made in musical ... The post Bette Midler to return to Broadway in ‘Hello, Dolly!’ appeared first on Chicago Entertain…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 12:43PM
Sunday, January 17, 2016

Probing the conflicted life of Louis Armstrong in ‘Satchmo at the Waldorf’ by Hedy Weiss

Watching "Satchmo at the Waldorf," Terry Teachout's fascinating one-man (three character) fantasia about Louis Armstrong - now in its Midwest permiere at Court Theatre, where Barry Shabaka H…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 03:11PM

“Spring Awakening” an impressive departure for Marriott Theatre by Hedy Weiss

With its ravishing singing and orchestral accompaniment, its vivid acting, and its stark, stunningly modern design, the Marriott Theatre production of "Spring Awakening" is transfixing on ev…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 03:05PM
Friday, January 15, 2016

Chicago’s L. Scott Caldwell takes a walk down ‘Mercy Street’ by Bill Zwecker

Chicago native L. Scott Caldwell is part of the very large and esteemed ensemble cast of "Mercy Street," the six-part PBS Civil War drama mini-series debuting at 8 p.m. Sunday on WTTW-Channe…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 08:00AM
Thursday, January 14, 2016

‘Flanagan’s Wake’ joins ‘We Gotta Bingo’ at Chicago Theater Works by Miriam Di Nunzio

Chicago Theater Works today announced the return of “Flanagan’s Wake,” the hugely popular interactive musical ... The post ‘Flanagan’s Wake’ joins ‘…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 06:07PM

Lyric Opera’s 2016-17 season to range from new ‘Ring Cycle’ to ‘Charlie Parker’s Yardbird’ by Hedy Weiss

One thing is clear: Lyric Opera of Chicago has made no small plans for its 2016-2017 season. The post Lyric Opera’s 2016-17 season to range from new ‘Ring Cycle’ to ‘…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 02:14PM

Senn High School students at the heart-and-soul sweetness of ‘Milk Like Sugar’ by Hedy Weiss

Pop quiz: Where will you find some of the most honest, moving, skillful acting on any Chicago stage at the moment? Answer: You might be surprised to hear this, but it is at Raven Theatre, wh…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 01:37PM
Wednesday, January 13, 2016

26 minutes of ‘The Real Live Brady Bunch’ surface on YouTube by Darel Jevens

Andy Richter and Jane Lynch play Mike and Carol Brady in a YouTube video of ... The post 26 minutes of ‘The Real Live Brady Bunch’ surface on YouTube appeared first on Chicago En…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 08:47PM

The tale of counterpointed solo theater projects by Hedy Weiss

Call it the tale of two solo theater projects that started out as one but, as these things often do, resulted in a parting of ways. The post The tale of counterpointed solo theater projects …

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 03:47PM

Hey, ‘Sesame Street’ fans! Elmo and friends heading to Chicago by Bill Zwecker

Kids of all ages undoubtedly will be flocking to Navy Pier this weekend as Elmo and that lovable, furry red Muppet is joined by a bunch of his Sesame Street pals. The post Hey, ‘Sesame…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 02:53PM

A prison pageant that seeks ‘Another Word for Beauty’ by Hedy Weiss

Yes, it is set in a women's prison where at least some of the inmates have committed drug-related crimes. But no, "Another Word for Beauty," Jose Rivera's world premiere play-with-music at t…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 01:00PM

‘Pinocchio’ musical latest neighborly offering from Portage Park’s Filament Theatre by Sun-Times

By Mary Houlihan | For the Sun-Times As a child, Tyler Beattie loved fairy tales. ... The post ‘Pinocchio’ musical latest neighborly offering from Portage Park’s Filam…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 01:00PM
Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Character actor Richard Libertini, a Second City alum, dies at 82 by Sun-Times

By Derrik J. Lang | Associated Press The comedic character actor Richard Libertini has died. He ... The post Character actor Richard Libertini, a Second City alum, dies at 82 appeared …

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 07:28PM

‘No Wake’ leaves hangover of bad marriages, problematic parenting by Hedy Weiss

For most parents, the death of a child is the most devastating occurrence imaginable. So what playwright William Donnelly suggests in "No Wake," now in its Midwest premiere by Route 66 Theat…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 04:31PM

MacArthur Foundation to celebrate 35th anniversary of “genius awards” by Hedy Weiss

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the MacArthur Fellows Program - more familiarly known as "the genius grants." And the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation plans to celebrate…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 01:01AM
Monday, January 11, 2016

Heidi Kettenring to star at Porchlight by Hedy Weiss

In addition to the musicals produced as part of its standard season, Porchlight Music Theatre presents shows under the umbrella title "Porchlight Revisits," which features three-night-only c…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 05:16PM

Kate Baldwin, Paolo Montalban to star in Lyric Opera’s ‘King and I’ by Miriam Di Nunzio

Lyric Opera of Chicago today announced that Tony Award-nominated Kate Baldwin and Broadway actor Paolo Montalban ... The post Kate Baldwin, Paolo Montalban to star in Lyric Opera’s &#…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 03:00PM

Renowned mentalist Marc Salem bringing stage show to Chicago by Miriam Di Nunzio

World-renowned mentalist Marc Salem is bringing a Chicago-centric version of his interactive “Mind Over” series ... The post Renowned mentalist Marc Salem bringing stage show to …

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 11:30AM
Sunday, January 10, 2016

With ‘Sono’s Journey,’ Thodos Dance Chicago delves into living dance history by Hedy Weiss

Thodos Dance Chicago's world premiere work, "Sono's Journey," was a great moment in living dance history, fabled ballerina Sono Osato, frail but still elegant at the age of 96, made the trip…

SOURCE: Chicago Sun-Times at 02:39PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards