Monday, 18 May 2026 13:34
A Red Orchid’s The Targeted Builds a Case for Compassion
Written by John Accrocco
If you’ve ever worked in an urban coffee shop, chances are you’ve encountered at least one ultra-paranoid kook who believes the government is spying on them. Often they’re filling out long journals or manifestos. Or perhaps that one crazy uncle we all seem to have who believes in way too…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 16 May 2026 11:02
No Dialog, Yet Strongly Affecting, Trap Door's 'Le Bal' Is Like Nothing You've Seen
Written by Bill Esler
Can you have a play run 90 minutes with no dialog? Indubitably, as Trap Door Theatre demonstrates with its new production, “Le Bal.” Adapted to the stage by Stephen Buescher, it is inspired by a 1983 French film of the same title. Of the absence of dialog, one Trap Door…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 17 May 2026 00:30
Rocky in Concert Delivers a Knockout Night Despite Technical Stumbles
Written by Ken Payne
Marking Rocky’s 50th anniversary, Rocky in Concert arrived at the Auditorium Theatre in a highly anticipated Auditorium Philms presentation featuring the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra performing Bill Conti’s score live. The setup is simple but effective: the film plays above the stage while the Philharmonic brings new clarity and presence to…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- Rocky in Concert
- Rocky Balboa
- Rocky
- Chicago Philharmonic
- Auditorium Theatre
- Boxing
- Oscar Winner
- classic film
- Auditorium Philms
- Sylvester Stallone
- Carl Weathers
- Burgess Meredith
- Talia Shire
- orchestra
- orchestra with film
- movies
- live orchestra
- Bill Conti
- James Olmstead
- Chicago events
- things to do in chicago
Friday, 15 May 2026 13:34
A New Home, A Necessary Warning: Timeline’s Enemy Lands Hard
Written by John Accrocco
Timeline Theatre unveils their chic, new Uptown home with its inaugural production–Henrik Ibsen’s ever-relevant “An Enemy of the People”. A streamlined text by acclaimed playwright Amy Herzog cuts right to the bone in this fast-paced version straight from Broadway. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Timeline chose to open…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- Timeline Theatre
- An Enemy of the People
- Maren Robinson
- Will Allan
- Behzad Dabu
- Campbell Krausen
- Amy Herzog
- Ron OJ Parson
- John Culbert
- on stage
- live theatre
- Chicago plays
- Chicago events
- Now playing
- henrik ibsen
- TimeLine Uptown
- Chi Theatre
- Uptown Chicago
- Public Health Crisis
- Political Drama
- Civic Responsibility
Friday, 15 May 2026 20:31
C'est Drôle: Tartuffe, or, The Charlatan brings classic humor to Wrigleyville theatre
Written by Kendall Royzen
While many of my classmates were signing up for Spanish classes, I thought it would be terribly useful to sign up for French. French? In Southern California? What good would that possibly do? A degree and several trips to French-speaking countries later, and I’m proud to say French is not…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 12 May 2026 14:47
Everybody Got a Secret: York Walker’s Covenant Haunts The Goodman
Written by Wesley David
The Goodman Theatre’s Covenant announces York Walker as a playwright ascending rapidly into the highest tier of American theater. This is not simply an impressive new work; it is the kind of play that reminds audiences why live theater remains uniquely capable of unsettling the spirit. Walker has written something…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 11 May 2026 14:15
Raven Theatre Delivers a Revelatory, Unmissable Octet
Written by Maddie Burroughs
There’s a rare kind of theatrical experience that transcends personal taste. Even if a genre is not typically your first choice, the sheer level of artistry on display is impossible to deny. That is exactly what director Keira Fromm’s production of Octet accomplishes: a vocally astonishing, emotionally resonant, and meticulously…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 11 May 2026 20:33
The Real Crime Would Be To Miss This: Crime and Punishment at TUTA Theatre
Written by Kendall Royzen
Real Chicagoans don’t gatekeep hidden gems. Whether it’s hidden bars behind laundromats, the best Billy Goat location (under Mag Mile), the best desserts or street tacos, the best place to catch a local game (insert season + sport), or a must-see show or concert, real Chicagoans share the hidden gems…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 11 May 2026 13:15
Satire With a Sword: City Lit’s Spirited New Musical 'Scaramouche'
Written by Ken Payne
City Lit Theatre is currently bringing the swordplay world of Scaramouche to vivid life, offering audiences a rare chance to experience this spirited tale of wit, rebellion, and theatrical daring onstage. With its blend of political intrigue, romance, and commedia‑dell’arte flair, City Lit’s production captures the adventurous sweep of the…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- SCARAMOUCHE
- City Lit Theatre
- Rafael Sabatini
- Jean Sibelius
- Ethan Smith
- Henry Michael Odum
- Laura Michele Erle
- Conor Ripperger
- Kent Joseph
- Alicia Berneche
- Shea Lee
- Ed Rutherford
- ndia Huy
- Rushil Byatnal
- Edgewater Presbyterian Church
- Edgewater
- live theatre
- on stage
- Events Chicago
- plays Chicago
- Musical theatre
- Now playing
- Kevin Zhou
- terry mccabe
More...
Sunday, 10 May 2026 20:34
Paramount's Lush and Spectacular South Pacific Brings Island Love to Life!
Written by Kimberly Katz
Rogers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific has long been one of my favorite musicals, not just for its sweeping romance and unforgettable score, but for the way it tackles big ideas with such touching honesty. Set on a remote island during World War II, the show blends sunlit escapism with the…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- Paramount Theatre
- South Pacific
- World War II
- Rogers and Hammerstein
- Joshua Logan
- James A Michener
- Tales of the South Pacific
- Some Enchanted Evening
- Bali Ha'i
- Allsun O’Malley
- Devin Archer
- Cindy Chang
- Anthony Maggio
- Matthew Michael Janisse
- Louisa Darr
- Esteban Ortiz‑Villacorta
- Chris Khoshaba
- Joshua L Green
- David Rossetti
- Devon Hayakawa
- Trent Stork
- Morgan DiFonzo
- Kory Danielson
- Musical theatre
- live theatre
- chicago theatre
- Aurora theatre
- Events Chicago
- Events Aurora
- on stage
- Now playing
- Musical
Sunday, 10 May 2026 20:43
Fallin’ to Pieces over “Always…Patsy Cline” at American Blues Theater
Written by CJ Burroughs
Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of theater and a lot of musical performances. And because of that, people regularly ask what the best show I’ve seen is. Without hesitation, I tell them it was the 2018 Jeff Award-winning production of The Buddy Holly Story at American Blues Theater.…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- Always…Patsy Cline
- American Blues Theater
- Michael Mahler
- Fall to Pieces
- Crazy
- Tara A Houston
- Liz Chidester
- Lior Shragg
- Molly Hernandez
- Ian Paul Custer
- Marc Edelstein
- Lauren Vogel
- Nilko Andreas
- Musical theatre
- live theatre
- chicago theatre
- Events Chicago
- plays Chicago
- on stage
- Now playing
- country western
- Country music
- Patsy Cline
Get ready for a cosmic comedy of gods, monsters, and mayhem that refuses to play by the old rules. That’s right - the universe is ending, and apparently it booked a headliner. In Lifeline’s world premiere Loki: The End of the World Tour, we travel to another universe where Norse…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- Loki: The End of the World Tour
- Lifeline Theatre
- Loki
- Thor
- Odin
- Asgard
- Ragnarok
- Kelan Smith
- Kara Alexander
- Alek Boggio
- Christina Calvit
- George Howe
- Heather Currie
- World Tour
- Norse gods
- Jack Chylinski
- Scott Danielson
- Janelle Sanabria
- Keenan Odenkirk
- Peter Gertas
- India Renteria
- Grace Reidenauer
- Anthony Kayer
- Avery Thompson
- Musical theatre
- live theatre
- on stage
- plays Chicago
- musicals Chicago
- chicago theatre
- Events Chicago
- world premiere
Sunday, 03 May 2026 13:54
Rom‑Com Spark and ’80s Verve Light Up Metropolis’ Wedding Singer
Written by Ken Payne
The Wedding Singer is currently onstage at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights, offering a faithful and upbeat interpretation of the Adam Sandler–Drew Barrymore film. The production leans into the story’s rom‑com roots while making effective use of the Metropolis space, integrating ensemble work, clear character moments, and a…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- The Wedding Singer
- Metropolis Performing Arts Centre
- Arlington Heights
- Adam Sandler
- Drew Barrymore
- Robbie Hart
- Chad Beguelin
- Tim Herlihy
- Matthew Sklar
- Abraham Deitz‑Green
- Teah Kiang Mirabelli
- Peyton Schoenhofer
- Andres J DeLeon
- Danny Dollase
- Jamie Dillon Grossman
- Caron Buinis
- Katherine Abel
- Amber Mak
- Carolyn Brady
- on stage
- live theatre
- chicago theatre
- Events Chicago
- plays Chicago
- Musical theatre
- live performance
- live band
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