Chicago Theater Question

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 1:16pm

Visiting Chicago for a long weekend in early October and would love some advice regarding local companies. I've already got the Steppenwolf covered (I'm FINALLY seeing Clybourne Park!) but could use some information regarding other companies.


Thanks in advance!

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 1:18pm

The Goodman is going to be hosting the Chicago premiere of RED, probably with some very talented local actors. Might be worth checking out, even if you've seen the play before. They usually do good work.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 1:23pm

Sweeney Todd runs at Drury Lane through October 9. It's starring Greg Edelman, and Rachel Rockwell is directing. She's an amazing director who did an amazing production of Ragtime last year and she does many consistently good productions. This theater is out in the suburbs, though, so if you're staying downtown, transportation might be difficult.
Updated On: 8/1/11 at 01:23 PM

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 1:33pm

Check out Chicago Shakespeare- I believe their Follies begins previews in early October.

Posted: 8/1/11 at 1:39pm

The buzz is huge on Follies & Sweeney. you can hit Hottix.com for half-price tickets the week of for other stuff that looks good to you.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 1:42pm

For some reason I thought that FOLLIES was happening later. I am trying to get myself to Chicago for it. The cast is unbelievable.

Who is Mrs. Lovett to Edelman's Sweeney? I seem to remember hearing it and thinking to myself, "that's great casting."

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 2:55pm

Liz McCartney is Mrs. Lovett. I'm unbelievably excited for this production, and I'll be seeing it on my birthday in two weeks! I'll report back on how the show is.

Follies also looks quite exciting. At the Chicago Shakespeare, they have a program where anybody under the age of 35 (don't know if this would apply to you) can buy $20 tickets, although the code doesn't seem to be working right now...

[ooblogway]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 7:23pm

I'd see if Aboutface Theater (LGBT Theater) and Hell in a Handbag (Campy fun shows a la Charles Busch) and Profiles Theater (solid productions of recent NYC/Off-Broadway hits) have any production up while you are there.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 11:04pm

Wow! Thank you all for your responses!

I'm in town for the Lyric opening and a CSO performance, but really love the abundance of options! Can't hardly wait!

AD please report on the Sweeney! I'd rather not rent a car, but will I need to if I'm staying on the magnificent mile and chose to go? How far by cab?

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 11:16pm

If you are still here on the 12th, I'd recommend seeing the Joffrey Ballet's new production of Don Quixote.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 8/14/11 at 10:56pm

I just got back from seeing Sweeney Todd, and it was really good. Not the most amazing thing you'll ever see, but a really strong production. Rachel Rockwell has once again proved herself a great director with quite innovative ideas. I know the show really well, but a couple moments made me jump, and I could feel my heart pounding in the end sequence. The ensemble was really strong, and it was very well-sung all around. Liz McCartney was a standout as Mrs Lovett, although Gregg Edelman wasn't as great as I had hoped. He played the role as really dead up until the epiphany, which in theory would work well, but it made for a dull first act. Heidi Kettenring stood out as the Beggar Woman because I think she's such a versatile actress. I saw her as Olive in Spelling Bee, and this role is quite the divergence from that and the ingenue she was in Piazza, and she handled each role so well. The lighting design should also be noted as really great--it was really atmospheric and when the lights came up at intermission it was a slight shock to find myself back in the ornate theatre. The Beadle was also quite good, and I really believed that he was one who was "always happy to serve my fellow neighbors" or whatever that line is. But what holds this production together is what Rachel Rockwell has done. She's really a brilliant director, and I think we're so lucky to have her here in Chicago.

It seemed at this performance that most of the audience didn't know the show very well at all, so it was fun to see them react to certain parts--shock at the murders, when the realize that the dead people will be baked into pies, and when we see the man fall down with the chair contraption. When that happened during the Johanna quartet, it got some applause.

I really strongly recommend this production, and if it's at all convenient, you should go see it, but it's not quite as good as Rachel Rockwell's stunning production of Ragtime last year, so if it's not all that convenient, you don't have to go far out of your way to see it. But it was a really really strong production and a wonderful way to spend my birthday today.


EDIT: wow, that's a really painful run-on sentence... I'm too lazy to edit it, though... Updated On: 8/14/11 at 10:56 PM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/14/11 at 11:16pm

Great! I'm seeing it on the 26th. I'm kind of a Sweeney Todd fan if you couldn't tell from my avitar, so I'm pretty psyched.

And yes, although Chicago has a great storefront scene, if you're there for only a short visit, you might as well cover the "big three"--Goodman, Steppenwolf, and Chicago Shakespeare.

Posted: 8/15/11 at 12:31pm

I was hoping someone would review Sweeney. I can't wait!