Thomas J. Cox

What did our critic think of A CHIRSTMAS CAROL at The Goodman Theatre?

What did our critic think of A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Goodman Theatre, Chicago?

What did our critic think of ARSENIC AND OLD LACE at Court Theatre? Joseph Kesselring's 1941 play ARSENIC AND OLD LACE combines farce, explicitly dark comedy, and a little murder. Director Ron OJ Parson's decision to envision the central Brewster family as a wealthy Black American family gives the play a modern twist.

Court Theatre begins its 2022/23 season with Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring, directed by Ron OJ Parson. Arsenic and Old Lace runs September 2 – October 2, 2022 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. The press opening is Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 7:30pm.

Get a sneak-peek at Goodman Theatre’s A Christmas Carol back on stage in the heart of the Chicago Loop following a year of darkened stages.

Lookingglass Theatre Company has announced the Her Honor Jane Byrne audio play, written and directed by Lookingglass Ensemble Member and Mellon Playwright in Residence J. Nicole Brooks, is now available to listen to on demand! 

Due to popular demand, Lookingglass Theatre Company, in collaboration with WBEZ 91.5 Chicago, adds two new dates for the World Premiere audio play of Her Honor Jane Byrne, written and directed by Ensemble Member and Mellon Playwright in Residence J. Nicole Brooks. First heard Thanksgiving weekend to wide acclaim, Her Honor Jane Byrne will air again on Chicago's NPR news station WBEZ 91.5 FM and wbez.org on Sunday, December 27 at 8pm CST and Friday, January 1 at 11am CST.

Lookingglass Theatre Company, in collaboration with WBEZ 91.5 Chicago, presents a World Premiere audio play of Her Honor Jane Byrne, written and directed by Ensemble Member and Mellon Playwright in Residence J. Nicole Brooks. Her Honor Jane Byrne will air on Chicago's NPR news station WBEZ 91.5 FM and wbez,org on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26 from 11am-1pm CT and Saturday, November 28 from 2pm-4pm CT.

Lookingglass Theatre Company announces the new digital membership: The Secret Passage, which includes exclusive programming of enthralling stories, virtual delights and artist engagement opportunities. 

School's out! The sky's ablaze! A season for discovering ways Lookingglass plays. Typically, called a?oeSummer,a?? we think of it as a?oeNow.a?? a?oeNowa?? is the season to engage your child (Grades K-12) in something special, memorable.

Lookingglass Theatre Company announces gglassclasses online, where students from Kindergarten-12th grade will learn from experienced Lookingglass Ensemble Members and Teaching Artists virtually, while creating collaborative performances and building specialized skills. During this challenging time, Lookingglass is committed to continuing to engage with students, inviting them to keep curious, to imagine, and to play while at home. Registration and additional information is now available at https://lookingglasstheatre.org/gglassclass/.

J. Nicole Brooks's HER HONOR JANE BYRNE, now in a world premiere production at Lookingglass, is a play deeply rooted in Chicago's not-too-distant history. Inspired by former Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne (the first woman to serve as mayor here) and her decision to move into Cabrini-Green as a display of her desire to revitalize the city's housing projects, the play introduces a cast of characters representing different perspectives in the city. Brooks (who also directs) has assembled an intriguing array of characters in HER HONOR JANE BYRNE, and she makes the pivotal choice to prominently feature residents of Cabrini-Green as much as Byrne and some of her fellow Chicago politicians. Yet the play becomes too cluttered in its various storylines and ideas.

Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of Her Honor Jane Byrne, written and directed by Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks. Her Honor Jane Byrne runs February 26–April 12, 2020 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Performance will be held Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.

Lookingglass Theatre Company will present the World Premiere of Her Honor Jane Byrne, written and directed by Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks. Her Honor Jane Byrne runs February 26-April 12, 2020 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Performance will be held Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.

Lookingglass Theatre Company welcomes five new Ensemble Members and four new Artistic Associates into the Lookingglass family. Joining the Ensemble are Walter Briggs (Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Moby Dick), Kasey Foster (The Steadfast Tin Soldier, 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas), circus choreographer Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi (The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein), Anthony Irons (The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Act(s) of God), and composer and sound designer Andre Pluess (The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Eastland). New Artistic Associates include Cordelia Dewdney (Moby Dick, Hard Times), Wendy Mateo (Big Lake Big City, Beyond Caring), costume designer Sully Ratke (Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas) and Matthew C. Yee (Treasure Island, Moby Dick).

Pulitzer Prize finalist Theresa Rebeck celebrates and sends up the art of theater-making through a look at the original diva-legendary leading lady Sarah Bernhardt-as she defies gender norms to assume the role of a lifetime.

Pulitzer Prize finalist Theresa Rebeck celebrates and sends up the art of theater-making through a look at the original diva-legendary leading lady Sarah Bernhardt-as she defies gender norms to assume the role of a lifetime.

Lookingglass Theatre Company announces the release of an exclusive, custom wine created in partnership with City Winery, Phantasmagoria.

This visceral American classic serves as the 1920s chapter of August Wilson's epic American Century Cycle. What begins as a routine recording session becomes more strained as tensions rise between the members of a blues band and the owners of the recording studio. The white producers mean to exploit the talents of the band especially the gifted and impulsive Levee but when Ma insists on having things her way, tensions are enflamed and the play builds to an unexpected and searing climax.

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, continues its 2018/19 season with August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, directed by Writers Theatre Resident Director Ron OJ Parson. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom runs February 6 - March 17, 2019 in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The Press Opening is Wednesday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m.