by Rachel Weinberg - March 03, 2026
THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO is a lopsided stage adaptation of Junot Díaz’s 2007 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. While the first act is tight and focuses squarely on the budding relationship between ultra-nerd Oscar Wao and his freshman year college roommate Yunior, the second act incorpora...
by Tina St. Angelo - February 23, 2026
The Joffrey Ballet is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. The current offering is called Icons. What a gift to the audience. I don’t know if Robert Joffrey had any idea what his company has become. Icons recreate 4 different ballets from different decades over the 20th Century....
by Rachel Weinberg - February 19, 2026
When I think of Steppenwolf, I often think of family members crying, screaming at one another, or some combination of the two. So the sparring between spouses Alice and Captain Edgar in August Strindberg’s 1900 play THE DANCE OF DEATH feels right at home. In a surprisingly funny and sharp version ...
by Tina St. Angelo - February 17, 2026
What did our critic think of DEAR EVAN HANSEN at Paramount Theatre Aurora IL?...
by Rachel Weinberg - February 14, 2026
Royal Shakespeare Company’s HAMNET is a dramatic and languid stage adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 buzzy novel of the same name....
by Rachel Weinberg - February 13, 2026
THE OUTSIDERS presents an original and vibrant stage adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s classic 1967 novel about the conflict between Tulsa teen gangs the Greasers and the Socs (short for socialites). The musical — and particularly director Danya Taymor’s inventive and visually dynamic staging — pu...
by Tina St. Angelo - February 12, 2026
What did our critic think of ON YOUR FEET! at Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace, IL?...
by Rachel Weinberg - February 10, 2026
Goodman Theatre continues its centennial season with the endearing and lively romantic comedy HOLIDAY....
by Tina St. Angelo - February 07, 2026
What did our critic think of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire IL?...
by Misha Davenport - February 07, 2026
What did our critic think of DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS at Lazy Susan Theatre Co.?...
Past Shows
The dynamic poeticism of Spoken Word and the piercing directness of Prose are at the forefront of this momentous theatrical experience inspired by the 1971...
A provocative riff on WAITING FOR GODOT and THE BOOK of EXODUS. PASS OVER is a rare piece of emotionally charged theater by a bold American voice. Twenty-something Moses and Kitch stand...
This powerful and thought-provoking theatre is adapted from interviews the author conducted with St. Louis area residents who lived through the civil unrest resulting from...
UNTIL THE FLOOD, directed by Tim Rhoze, examines the social upheaval in Ferguson, Missouri, following the 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown. Jazzma Pryor and...
The end of summer musical event will feature MC4, Grammy Award winning singer/composer Pastor Carlis Moody Jr., Renee Black, and Dudley Fair. Experience a brilliant...
Filled with passion, humor, and raw honesty, legendary playwright/poet Ntozake Shange’s form-changing choreopoem tells the stories of seven women of color using poetry, song, and...
From the beginning of American slavery to Reconstruction, the Great Migration, the Civil Rights Era, and modern movements for justice, 1619 packs generations of history...
Public staged readings of three new plays by Chicago-based African American playwrights: Jessica Posey, Michael Jones, and Nehanda Loiseau Julot; directed by Melissa Golden, Jamal Howard,...
A deep love is challenged by divisive political realities. Jesse, an introspective Black playwright, finds his choices called into question when his boyfriend, Neil, a...
In 1971, James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni sat down for a thought-provoking conversation about racism, manhood, writing, and teaching. Their words are still as relevant...
Not every marriage proposal goes as planned. Loy A. Webb's THE LIGHT introduces us to Rashad and Genesis on what should be one of the happiest days...
When African-American college graduate Warren takes a job with the 2008 Obama campaign, he’s fired up and ready to go – until he lands in...
An estranged bi-racial couple must confront their feelings about race and bias after their son is detained by the local police following a traffic stop...
This exceptional musical journey celebrates the amazing artistic accomplishments and contributions of Black female jazz musicians, composers, and bandleaders from the early 20th century to...
THE MAMALOGUES portrays what it's like to parent while Black, unmarried, and middle class. During a retreat, three single mothers share their angst about racial...
THE MAMALOGUES portrays what it's like to parent while Black, unmarried, and middle class. During a retreat, three single mothers share their angst about racial...
Anna Deavere Smith's performance piece TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES, 1992, directed by Tim Rhoze and featuring Jazzma Pryor, tells the story of the Los Angeles riots...
Videos