All stories by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times on BroadwayStars

Monday, May 13, 2019

‘Rent’ has lost some of its edge, but remains a remarkable musical by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

“Rent” isn’t edgy or groundbreaking anymore, but it remains powerful and true to the original in all the right ways.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 04:41PM
Monday, May 6, 2019

Pre-Broadway ‘August Rush’ a nonsensical hodgepodge at the Paramount by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

At times, it seems director John Doyle is aiming for magical realism. But even magical realism needs to be grounded in a compelling narrative.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 05:46PM
Sunday, May 5, 2019

‘Matilda’ is fun, smart and frightfully fabulous at Drury Lane Theatre by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

Drury Lane Theatre's staging, directed with a keen eye for the monstrous (and the monstrously funny) by Mitch Sebastian, lives up to Dahl’s book.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 10:56AM
Thursday, May 2, 2019

TimeLine’s ‘Too Heavy for your Pocket’ tests the bonds of friendship, sacrifice by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

Set in 1961, the TimeLine Theatre production looks at the economics of revolution and the steep price it exacts from those who could least afford it.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 08:30PM
Sunday, April 28, 2019

Chicago Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ a combination devoutly to be wished by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

Barbara Gaines' production of the Shakespeare classic succeeds as a thriller, a tragedy and a doomed coming-of-age story.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 04:42PM
Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Ten years on, ‘Rock of Ages’ remains much ado about nothing by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

The show's book writer Chris D’Arienzo clearly understands that as Journey is to Mozart sonatas, so is “ROA” dialogue to Shakespearean sonnets.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 03:21PM
Friday, April 19, 2019

‘Footloose’ cuts loose at the Marriott Theatre despite a few missteps by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

The major selling point for “Footloose” is leading lady (and Northwestern University grad) Lucy Godinez as Ariel, the preacher’s daughter.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 09:30AM
Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Ike Holter concludes saga on a winning note with mighty ‘Lottery Day’ by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

Money, mystery and music are all vehicles Holter uses to get to the heart of “Lottery Day.” That heart is a damning commentary on gentrification.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 02:10PM
Friday, April 5, 2019

Horrific moment in time tests family bonds in ‘The Watsons Go to Birmingham’ by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

Director Wardell Julius Clark has assembled a cast who delivers first-rate performances emblematic of the smart, uncompromising production.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 02:39PM
Thursday, April 4, 2019

‘Cruel Intentions’ musical does little justice to plot or hit parade of songs by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

This show based on earlier incarnations of "Cruel Intentions" should, to quote the poets of pop whose music it fails to do justice, go “Bye Bye Bye.”

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 08:00PM
Tuesday, April 2, 2019

‘Admissions’ a timely reality check that misses the mark by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

If the days wherein you could stage a play about race without a single person of color on stage aren’t entirely over, they should be.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 03:33PM
Sunday, March 31, 2019

Familial, ethical conflicts erupt amid fierce clone wars debate in ‘A Number’ by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

Caryl Churchill’s play is science fiction, but every day, the “fiction” part of that seems to be fading just a little bit more.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 12:36PM
Thursday, March 28, 2019

‘Anastasia’ a sumptuous feast for the eyes in musical take on Russian princess by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

The show has as much to do with the Romanovs as Caesar salad has to do with Julius Caesar. That's precisely what you'd expect in family-friendly fare.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 02:26PM
Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Working-class frustrations boil over in a most powerful ‘Sweat’ by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

Set in Pennsylvania, and alternating between 2000 and 2008, Ron OJ Parson’s staging of “Sweat” is as familiar as a decade’s worth of headlines.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 02:05PM
Thursday, March 14, 2019

La Femme Dance Festival celebrates black choreographers in ‘dancestry’ program by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

Running March 14 – 16, Femme Fest spotlights the creations of five female choreographers of Black/African or Diaspora/African descent.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 08:15AM
Tuesday, March 12, 2019

A steamy ‘Bridges of Madison County’ fueled by unbridled passion, sizzling score by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

The onstage chemistry of the cast adds palpable depth to a first-rate production at Theo Ubique.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 06:16PM
Monday, March 11, 2019

‘Mahalia Jackson’ celebrates the music, not so much the life of iconic singer by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

In the music of “Mahalia,” we get a glimmer of the joy she brought to countless others, but the script offers little sense of the woman herself.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 04:25PM
Wednesday, May 9, 2018

‘Suddenly Last Summer’ sizzles in masterful Raven Theatre production by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

In director Jason Gerace’s staging, Tennessee Williams’ story of brutal oppression and irrecoverable loss is a fascinating psychological thriller.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 04:02PM
Tuesday, May 8, 2018

‘Last Stop on Market Street’ takes a marvelous journey from page to stage by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

“Last Stop on Market Street” is what children’s theater should be. It is burgeoning with wonder.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 02:26PM
Thursday, May 3, 2018

‘Once’ celebrates the unrelenting power of love, music despite too big a space by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

If it’s music you’re after, you could do far worse than the bittersweet “Once.” The script has troubles. The score is extraordinary.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 06:31PM
Monday, April 30, 2018

The Yard’s ‘columbinus’ takes on potent relevance for cast of Senn students by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

“When we were their age, we couldn’t conceive of world where school shootings happened. They can’t conceive of a world where they don’t.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 09:30AM
Sunday, April 29, 2018

Lyric Opera’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ a glorious rock-opera celebration by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

This “Superstar” has a lush, glorious sound the likes of which you've never heard before.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 06:21PM
Friday, April 27, 2018

A rock and roll revolution unfolds in Porchlight Theatre’s vibrant ‘Memphis’ by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

A lively exploration of "race music" of the 1950s and how these records by African-American artists sparked the rock and roll revolution.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 03:51PM
Friday, April 20, 2018

The band plays on in A Red Orchid’s vibrant ’33 to Nothing’ by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

The harmonies are exquisite, the lyrics raw and real. The ensemble could probably make a decent living gigging around Chicago.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 12:46PM
Thursday, April 19, 2018

Not everything is OK with ‘Oklahoma’ at Marriott Lincolnshire by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

Musically, “Oklahoma!” still works. But the Marriott Lincolnshire’s revival sits uneasily in a contemporary context.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 04:59PM
Saturday, April 14, 2018

‘Lettie’ an extraordinary portrait of second chances amid harsh realities by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

“Lettie” paints an exhausting picture of just how difficult it is to stay on the straight and narrow.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 02:24PM
Friday, April 13, 2018

‘Ghosts of War’ paints too simplistic a portrait of one man’s military conflict by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

Running in repertory with “Letters Home,” “Ghosts of War” continues Griffin Theatre’s commitment to telling the story of veterans, in their own words.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 04:17PM

Top cast, swoon-worthy sound make ‘South Pacific’ an enchanted evening by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

Under director Victor Malana Maog’s new staging at Drury Lane Theatre, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s lush score has never sounded more beautiful.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 02:43PM
Wednesday, April 4, 2018

The wonder of magic is just what the doctor ordered in ‘Rosenkranz Mysteries’ by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

Performing “The Rosenkranz Mysteries,” the titular magician is a mix of Khalil Gibran, Will Rogers and the Victorian-era fascination with spiritualism

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 04:57PM
Wednesday, March 28, 2018

‘On Your Feet!’: Rhythm of the music gets stronger in bouncy Gloria Estefan bio by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

Like an exhilarating party, touring show plays the hits with verve and shake-your-body percussive power.

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 02:05PM
Sunday, March 25, 2018

The stakes stay high for ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’ at Court Theatre by Catey Sullivan - For The Sun-Times

With only modest revisions, contemporary issues become part of stage adaptation of the 1967 film about an interracial couple 

SOURCE: chicago.suntimes.com at 06:10PM

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