Theater in Chicago - Page 2

[jbm2]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 12:17pm

Heading back to Chicago the end of March... Seeing First Wives Club, what else do I need to see? Which theaters should I check out?

[jbm2]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 11:38pm

Bump

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 2/14/15 at 12:15am

It's hard to say because different shows will be open by then, but the ones I'm most looking forward to are Jesus Christ Superstar at Theo Unique, Diary of Anne Frank at Writers' Theatre, Steppenwolf's Garage Rep, and Sondheim on Sondheim at Prochlight (scheduled to close in the middle of March, but with the rave from the Tribune, it'll surely extend). Definitely see if those interest you.

[jbm2]

Posted: 2/14/15 at 12:22am

What is Gaage Rep? It looks like they have 3 shows?.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 2/14/15 at 3:19am

Many years ago, Steppenwolf converted the first floor of their parking garage into a flexible blackbox theatre that seats about 80 people and focuses on new, cutting-edge work. Every spring, they do what they call the Garage Rep, in which they invite three small, new itinerant companies from around the city to each put up a show that represents their theatre in the space, and the three shows go up in rep. Tickets to each are $20, and they usually have a package where you can see all three shows for $45. It's a cheap way to sample some of the exciting work smaller theaters on the verge of establishing names for themselves are doing, and there's always variety. Last year, one company premiered a play by Katori Hall, another did a new play about hacker-activists, and another did a devised physical theatre piece based on the Bacchae. If it's anything like last year, it will be a fun experience.

[Natto]

Posted: 2/14/15 at 11:33pm

If only the Steppenwolf had a Pulitzer Winning drama not so long ago and it ran for ages. And hopefully that would help people remember it

[jbm2]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 12:47am

Wthe Garage series sounds awesome!

[jon5202]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 1:00am

OK Here is a sample of what is playing in Chicago on March 28 (the last weekend of the month). Posting over 65 productions that night from TheatreinChicago website:

http://www.theatreinchicago.com/searchresults.php?txtDate=2015-03-28&txtTitle=&txtGenre=&txtArea=&txtDateF=null&txtDateT=null&QFdate=1&go.x=15&go.y=13

I would suggest some of the following:

20,00 Leagues Under the Sea

Genius

The Addams Family

Glass Protege

Angry Fags

Apple Family Plays

Good Book

Balm in Gilead

Jesus Christ Superstar

Diary of Anne Frank (though tix are probably sold out)

End Days

Louis and Keely

Endgame

Marie Antoinette

First Date

One Came Home

Full Monty

Outside Mullingar

Four

The Other Place

The Royale

Two Trains Running


Some of these shows are up and running and reviews can be found online at this website. Some have not yet opened and may not prove to be worthy of your time. With the exception of The Diary of Anne Frank and Outside Mullingar, most of these productions are being done in the city by Chicago Off-Loop/storefront theatres though some larger theatres such as Court Theatre, Goodman and Steppenwolf are also represented here.

Check out Goldstar.com/Chicago for advance discounts and hottix.org for tix closer to your arrival.

Finally, national the tours of Beauty and the Beast and The Book of Mormon will be playing in Chicago in late March.

Hope this helps.








Updated On: 2/28/15 at 01:00 AM

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 9:14am

I took the advise of posters suggestions and my March trip is all set: CSO, Mr. Burns, Two Trains and Ann Frank. I'd like to squeeze in Marie Antoinette but their Saturday matinee begins so late and I have dinner plans. Looking for an earlyish Saturday matinee of anyone has any suggestions.

[jbm2]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 9:46am

Is anyone familiar with Profiles Theater? Or Northlight?

[jon5202]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 10:33am

Profiles Theatre is a relatively small off-Loop company that has two stages. They tend to do in your face work on a small scale. Uses equity and non-equity performers. Production values vary but you are always in for a good show. Their production of Cock was fantastic.

http://www.profilestheatre.org/

Northlight is a suburban regional theatre that does national and international work. An equity house basically with strong local performers including Rondi Reed, John Mahoney, Francis Guinan (all Steppenwolf company members). Mostly strong dramatic works and some comedies. Last season's production of Lost in Yonkers was quite stunning.

http://www.northlight.org/


Updated On: 2/17/15 at 10:33 AM

[schmoe]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 1:01pm

I saw Marie Antoinette in the Steppenwolf upstairs theater and thought it was great. Told her story in a modern, upbeat sort of way. Almost like an E True Hollywood Story version of the French Revolution. An enjoyable evening.

[jbm2]

Posted: 2/16/15 at 6:39pm

Garage series looka fun. Angry Fags looks great!

[jbm2]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 7:40pm

What about The Windy City Playhouse? Are they a professional theater? Looking at End Days...

[mpd4165]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 8:56pm

Windy City Playhouse is a new theater in town, but they recruited some major Chicago talent for the creative teams...should be interesting.

[jbm2]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 9:00pm

Is End Days their first production?

[ggersten]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 9:16pm

Saw Tribune Theatre reviewer, Chis Jones, speak today and he said he thought The House Theatre was doing some of the best new material in Chicago. I have no personal information to confirm or deny.

[jon5202]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 12:41am

Windy City Playhouse is a new equity based commercial theatre opening in Chicago. End Days is their first production of a four play season. Opens March 19.

http://windycityplayhouse.com/

[jbm2]

Posted: 2/23/15 at 6:54pm

Looking form a 2 PM matinee on Sat March 21 all the mantises seem to start latter... Any ideas?

[jbm2]

Posted: 2/27/15 at 11:31pm

Just bought tickets to FOUR at Jackalope- it looks great. Has anyone seen it?

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 2/28/15 at 1:46pm

I want to give an update on some new shows that have opened recently that I would recommend.

Firstly, The Diary of Anne Frank at Writers Theatre is amazing. The production is wonderfully intimate, and the setup of the space makes you feel like you're trapped in the attic with the characters. The adults in the cast were uniformly fantastic, Sean Fortunato being a particular standout at Otto Frank, although Anne was a little weak. Not bad by any means, by a 13-year-old was cast in the role, and she understandably had a little trouble holding her own against such an incredibly seasoned ensemble around her.

The Hammer Trinity at The House Theatre of Chicago was a 10-hour experience that was at times exhausting, confusing, frustrating, thrilling, sublime, beautiful, funny, and moving. The story became messy and often hard to follow, but it probed at interesting questions. The staging, acting, and design elements were beautiful and incredibly creative. It was very strange because as the play went on, there were many instances where I had only a vague idea what was going on, but I was incredibly emotionally engaged. The experience of seeing the trilogy in one day was exciting because you spend the whole day in the theatre, and you start to meet new people during the breaks. Between parts two and three, on the one-hour dinner break, you can eat food you have brought or ordered from the restaurant next door in the theatre or the lobby with the actors. The group of people I was with last weekend at the first preview felt like we really came to bond immensely over that long period, and the walls between cast and audience broke down as we were in it together for the marathon. It was a highly memorable experience.

When I read The Other Place about a year or two ago, I fell in love with the text, so I was very excited to see it in production at Profiles. The lead actress does a marvelous job, and seeing the play in such a small space does benefit the play, although I disliked a few of the choices that were made in how to play the scenes. I won't give anything away because there are some surprises in the plot. It was a very respectable, if not perfect, production of a good play.

Finally, The Royale at American Theatre Company. This is a play about boxing, performed in a very Brechtian style. It has gotten some great reviews, but I felt underwhelmed by the production. There were some very good actors and some very interesting staging choices I liked very much, but I wasn't enamored with the script, nor was my companion. Then again, we have only the vaguest interest in anything to do with sports, so take that for what it is.

So there's my rundown of what I've seen lately (minus First Wives Club, which wasn't worth my time to write about again here). I'm looking forward to seeing Porchlight's Sondheim on Sondheim next week, and Theo Unique's Jesus Christ Superstar soon after that.

[jbm2]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 2:28am

Have tickets for both "The Other Place" and "The Royales". If I am not a sports/boxing fan- am I going to enjoy Royales?

[mpd4165]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 3:41pm

The Royale uses Boxing to tackle bigger issues such as race and class. There actually is only a section of physical sparring, but other than that, no other contact happens...Rocky, it ain't.

I just saw Porchlight's Sondheim on Sondheim and I was just thrilled to hear great vocalists (and a FANTASTIC music director) perform this music. I was musical geek heaven.

I'm hoping to catch Marie Antoinette and Mr. Burns, especially since I live not too far from Theatre Wit.

[jbm2]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 5:14pm

I don't have much interest in Mr Burns.... But, can't wait to see Marie Antoinette- it seems like everyone who sees it loves it!

[jbm2]

Posted: 3/8/15 at 1:51pm

I know it just started- but has anyone seen Jesus Chris Superstar yet?