Chicago Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 34

'PHEDRE' Crosses the Pond...And a Few Great Lakes In Between
by William Panek - July 15, 2009

There was a sense of communal bonding at Steppenwolf's Downstairs space on its usually dark Monday evening. Steppenwolf Theatre Company was lucky enough to air the recent simulcast of National Theatre's production of Racine's 'Phedre' to a sold-out crowd of Greek tragedy (and British theatre) enthu...

Oakbrook's 'Curtains' Adds Show Solidly to the Repertoire
by Paul W. Thompson - March 28, 2009

Two important post-Broadway mountings of 21st-century musicals opened in the Chicago area this week. One, 'Mary Poppins,' has had a great deal of attention. Now you can forget about it. This review concerns itself with the other one! 'Curtains,' the exemplary 2007 Kander and Ebb post-modern musical ...

An Astounding 'Miss Saigon' for Drury Lane Oakbrook
by Paul W. Thompson - January 12, 2009

A helicopter very nearly lands on stage every night at the astounding, frequently breathtaking production of 'Miss Saigon' now on view at the Drury Lane theater in Chicago?s western suburb of Oakbrook Terrace. Said helicopter is the most viscerally exciting aspect of this high quality local mounting...

Grease: The True High School Musical
by Michael Sherrin - January 11, 2009

There's few magic changes, but Grease is still as automatic, systematic, and hydromantic as ever. The recent Broadway revival of Grease races into Chicago's Auditorium Theater an energetic cast and sparkles aplenty. This production rides in from the reality show 'Grease: You're the One That I Want' ...

'The Santaland Diaries:' Chicago's Acquired Seasonal Taste
by Paul W. Thompson - December 04, 2008

I understand there is someone called David Sedaris. Now, don't shoot me-I've been busy....

'Grey Gardens' Shines in Chicago
by Susan Winer - November 23, 2008

Grey Gardens, the 2007 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical opened in Chicago on Friday, November 21, 2008, at the Northlight Theatre, and it?s one heck of a good piece of theater and history....

'St. Louis' Comes to Water Tower: It's a Perfect Match!
by Paul W. Thompson - November 20, 2008

You couldn't throw at rock at the Wednesday night opening performance of 'Meet Me In St. Louis' at the Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place without striking the cream of Chicago's hometown musical theater talent. And THAT was if you threw a rock at the audience!...

Petersen/Morton 'Dublin Carol:' Sadness and a Wish for Hope
by Paul W. Thompson - November 18, 2008

The very first snowflakes of Chicago?s coming winter season started to fall on me this past Sunday afternoon, as I made my way out of Steppenwolf Theatre Company?s Near North Side complex and a press performance in the Upstairs Theatre of Conor McPherson?s ?Dublin Carol.? That is the most Christmasy...

Exquisitely for Ella: A Songbook Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald
by Steve Leary - October 27, 2008

The Chicago Jazz Orchestra took on a big challenge - honoring the work of the late, great Ella Fitzgerald and they met it with imagination, class, great music and sass. The result was an almost perfect afternoon hearing some of jazz's' great songs interpreted by three of today's most gifted jazz sin...

John Herrera Anchors the Engaging, Tricky 'Medium at Large'
by Paul W. Thompson - October 22, 2008

After extensive development in New York at the York Theatre and the Vineyard Theatre, the world premiere of the musical 'The Medium at Large' took place Sunday afternoon, October 19, 2008, at the Village Players Performing Arts Center in Oak Park, Illinois, just over Chicago's western border. Starri...

A Greek Myth Takes New Form
by Susan Winer - October 14, 2008

Victory Gardens, the 2001 Tony winning Chicago Theater, opened its 2008/09 season last night (October 13, 2008) with an interesting take on the Orpheus Myth. Eurydice, by Sarah Ruhl, is definitely not your college professor's version of the Greek Myth... ...

Amelia Earhart Jungle Princess: The New Colony Premiere
by Steve Leary - October 13, 2008

The title alone with its irreverent reference to one of the most iconic proto-feminist figures of the 20th century is enough to scare a few people off. Those theatergoers who do decide to take the plunge will undoubtedly walk in…for a pleasant surprise....

'All Shook Up' Dazzles at Marriott Lincolnshire!
by Steve Leary - October 06, 2008

Three years after its Broadway debut, the lively musical comedy 'All Shook Up' has found a perfect Chicagoland setting at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. This fast-paced show is a real crowd-pleaser, with frequent moments of mistaken identity, gender confusion and unexpected love triangles....

Tommy Tune's 'Turn:' It's Good and Could Be Great!
by Paul W. Thompson - October 03, 2008

Where to begin? I have so many things to say about the world premiere production of the musical 'Turn of the Century' at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, a show with more than a dash of incisive sophistication, that I hardly know how to start this review. I'll just say that it is an extraordinarily beauti...

Northlight Theatre Brings New Life to Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
by Susan Winer - September 27, 2008

'Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde', which opened September 25th at the Northlight Theatre in suburban Chicago, is a beautifully mounted production and well worth two hours of your time. The two level set by Collete Pollard is minimalist but combined with John Horan's lighting amply support the excellent stagin...

'The Producers:' Old-School Hilarity Recreated Live!
by Paul W. Thompson - September 22, 2008

There is a big, steaming bowl of borscht on display in northwest Indiana, where Theatre at the Center's production of the 2000-2001 hit stage musical 'The Producers' is playing now through October 19th....

'Mamma Mia!' Tour Pop-Rocks the Historic Auditorium Theatre
by Paul W. Thompson - September 18, 2008

I have news for all you fans of Donna Sheridan: 'Mamma Mia!' isn't about her, it's about her daughter!...

Porchlight's 'Candide' a Delightful, Tuneful Romp
by Paul W. Thompson - September 17, 2008

For the zippiest and most whimsical performance on the boards in Chicago this fall, look no further that the under-two-hours, no intermission production of the legendary 'Candide,' produced by Porchlight Music Theatre at Lakeview's Theatre Building Chicago....

'Love/Middle Ages' Premiere: Writers Proud, Audiences Agree
by Paul W. Thompson - August 24, 2008

In development since 2003, and with three showcase productions in its hip pocket, the original musical 'Love in the Middle Ages' had its fully-staged world premiere Friday night, August 22, 2008, much to the pride and delight of the opening crowd of well-wishers at the suburban Oak Park Village Play...

'Syracuse' Adaptation is Oakbrook's 3rd Straight Homer!
by Paul W. Thompson - August 16, 2008

Young producers Kyle and Drew DeSantis and Artistic Director William Osetek are on a roll with their Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace revisal of Rodgers and Hart's 'The Boys from Syracuse.'...

Marriott's 'Monty' a Musical Theater Summit!
by Paul W. Thompson - July 25, 2008

The eight-year-old musical 'The Full Monty' is receiving what is surely one of its very best productions to date, now through September 21st at the Marriott Theatre in the far north Chicago suburb of Lincolnshire, Illinois....

Yeston/Kopit 'Phantom' Makes a Lovely, Puzzling Production
by Paul W. Thompson - July 20, 2008

Veteran Chicago theatergoers will recall the long-running production of the musical called simply 'Phantom,' at the now-razed Candlelight Dinner Playhouse in southwest suburban Summit, Illinois. The show, written in the 1980s by composer/lyricist Maury Yeston and bookwriter Arthur Kopit as a follow-...

'Ain't Misbehavin' Is A Rollicking Goodman Time
by Paul W. Thompson - July 01, 2008

That roar you heard in Chicago's Loop Monday evening, June 30th, was the enthusiastic opening night audience at the Goodman Theatre, where the volcanic excitement generated by a summertime, homegrown production of the 'Fats' Waller musical 'Ain't Misbehavin' will very nearly blow the roof off the pl...

Tiny 'Gutenberg' Delivers Big Laughs, Insight and Warmth
by Paul W. Thompson - June 26, 2008

'Gutenberg! The Musical!' is a fun night out, delivering more laughs than many a big budget show......

'A Dream of Arabia': A Dream Worth Living
by Steve Leary - June 13, 2008

...