Elizabeth Stenholt

Review: THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BE at Paramount Theatre
by Tina St. Angelo Wetzel - Mar 20, 2025

The newest production at the Copley Theatre in Aurora is The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. It’s the story of “12” year olds competing in a spelling bee. Under the direction of Jeff Award-winning Stephen Schellhardt and a set designed by Lauren M. Nichols showcasing a gymnasium, this group of actors brings forth the anxieties, awkwardness, innocence, doubt, fear and ultimately joy of this age group.

Photos: Inside The Beautiful City Project's THE GOSPEL TRUTH: SECOND EDITION
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 5, 2025

The Beautiful City Project's February cabaret THE GOSPEL TRUTH: SECOND EDITION, featured an all-Black cast and band, and raised funds and awareness for Sunshine Gospel Ministries, a Chicago organization celebrating its 120th year. See photos here! 

Review: FALSETTOS presented by Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company
by Rachel Weinberg - Nov 25, 2024

FALSETTOS, originally written as two-one act musicals set in 1979 and 1981, respectively, feels simultaneously dated and prescient. In this co-production from Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company, director Nick Bowling leads a first-rate ensemble that preserves the musical as a period piece but also makes it feel utterly alive. Lauren Nichols’s set design evokes a 1970s retro roller rink and Theresa Ham’s costume designs also use extremely ‘70s colors (and each character wears a signature color). But many of the show’s central themes hit now as ahead of their time and eerily relevant. In particular, the musical’s reverence for Jewish culture and tradition and its unabashed embrace of queer love are especially moving at a time when anti-Semitism and homophobia seem tragically on the rise in America.

Photos: Inside The Beautiful City Project's THAT'S WHAT SHE SANG
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 18, 2024

The Beautiful City Project's October cabaret, THAT’S WHAT SHE SANG, was held at the picturesque Den Theatre, the evening featured an all-femme cast, singing comedy songs from the musical theatre canon. Check out photos from the event. 

Cast Set For FALSETTOS at Court Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Oct 9, 2024

Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company will present William Finn and James Lapine’s Falsettos, a tribute to family and its many forms; a playful interrogation of faith and identity; and a celebration of the beauty, complexity, and necessity of love.

FALSETTOS to be Presented by Court Theatre & TimeLine Theatre This November
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 10, 2024

Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre announced their collaboration on FALSETTOS, set to run this November. The production will bring the Tony Award-winning musical to Chicago audiences.

Cast Set for THAT'S WHAT SHE SANG All-Femme Cabaret at The Den Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 5, 2024

The Beautiful City Project revealed the cast for THAT'S WHAT SHE SANG, an all-femme cabaret at The Den Theatre. Learn more about the event and see how to purchase tickets.

Photos: First Look at Blank Theatre Company's THE MAD ONES
by Stephi Wild - Jul 15, 2024

Blank Theatre Company is now presenting the second show of their 2024 season, THE MAD ONES, by Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk. Check out all new photos here!

Photos: The Beautiful City Project's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 28, 2024

The Beautiful City Projected presented JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR on Monday evening, raising funds for the Chicago organization Intentional Sports. See photos from the show. 

Photos: Inside The Beautiful City Project's A SECRET GARDEN PARTY
by Stephi Wild - May 31, 2024

The Beautiful City Project's May Fundraiser, a A SECRET GARDEN PARTY, was a memorable Memorial Day event, held at the home of Dan Ratner & Genevieve Thiers.

Review: ASSASSINS at Theo
by Rachel Weinberg - Nov 8, 2023

Although it debuted off-Broadway more than thirty years ago, Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s ASSASSINS remains a thrilling, bone chilling, brilliant, and immensely taut musical. Drawing on the United States history of successful and would-be presidential assassins, ASSASSINS is an astounding exploration of disillusionment and infamy. The musical feels remarkably prescient in the era of TikTok influencers and an epidemic of mass shootings in America; ASSASSINS unnervingly pre-dates both of these phenomena and yet is a real immediate reflection of them. When the ensemble sings in “The Gun Song” that “all you have to do is move your little finger/ and you can change the world,” it’s absolutely terrifying in a 2023 context. Sondheim and Weidman present a cast of historical characters that feel disenfranchised and disillusioned by American ideals, and modern America certainly hasn’t been disabused of this notion.

Goodman Theatre's THE WHO'S TOMMY and More Take Home Equity Jeff Awards; Full List of Winners!
by Stephi Wild - Oct 3, 2023

At the 55th anniversary celebration of Equity theater excellence, the Jeff Awards recognized 46 award recipients selected from among 214 theater artist nominees. Find out who took home Equity Jeff Awards in the full list of winners here!

Photos: The Beautiful City Project's OSCAR NIGHT, Honoring A Year's Worth Of Charities & Non-Profits
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 28, 2023

The Beautiful City Project's OSCAR NIGHT was an evening of songs that have won the coveted award of 'Best Song' at the Oscars, and paid tribute to the numerous organizations that TBCP have raised funds an awareness for over the past year. Hosted by Stephen Schellhardt & Devin DeSantis, the show featured performances across a span of 9 decades, and included top Chicago musical theatre talent, a 12-piece orchestra, and 12-person choir.

Goodman Theatre, Paramount Theatre & More Nominated for Equity Jeff Awards
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 14, 2023

Discover the nominations for the 55th Anniversary Jeff Awards for Equity Theater! Find out who made the cut and get ready for the highly anticipated awards ceremony.

Photos: GREASE Opens 2023-2024 Season At Drury Lane Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 24, 2023

Drury Lane Theatre opened its incredible 2023-2024 season with the song and dance spectacular Grease, with book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. See photos from the production!

Cast Announced for GREASE at Drury Lane Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 13, 2023

Drury Lane Theatre will open its 2023-2024 season with the song and dance spectacular Grease, with book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.

Photos: A NOT-SO-SILENT NIGHT, The Beautiful City Project's Fundraising Party For Season Of Concern
by Stephi Wild - Jan 4, 2023

The Beautiful City Project held it's Holiday fundraising event A NOT-SO-SILENT NIGHT, with proceeds to benefit Season of Concern, on Friday, December 19th at Floating World Gallery.

Review: FUN HOME at Copley Theatre
by Tina St. Angelo Wetzel - Aug 13, 2022

The third production at the Copley Theatre in Aurora is the 3 time Tony winning musical (2015 Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score) Fun Home. It was adapted from the 2006 memoir of Alison Bechdel. It is the story of Alison's journey discovering her own sexuality and her relationship with her closeted gay father Bruce as she tries to discover the truth about his mysterious life.

Paramount Theatre to Present FUN HOME as Part of the New BOLD Series
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 27, 2022

Paramount Theatre will present the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Fun Home – book and lyrics by Lisa Kron, music by Jeanine Tesori, based on the popular graphic novel of the same name by Alison Bechdel – as the third production in its inaugural four-show BOLD Series.

A KIND OF LOVE STORY Comes to Oil Lamp Theater
by Stephi Wild - Jul 13, 2019

Executive and Artistic Director, Keith Gerth and Associate Artistic Director, Stephen Smith of the Oil Lamp Theater in Glenview announce their next production, the witty and heartwarming romantic comedy A Kind of Love Story by Jenelle Riley. This endearing tale of true love almost missed is directed by Oil Lamp's Executive and Artistic Director Keith Gerth and will be performed from July 25th through September 8th 2019 at 1723 Glenview Road in Glenview.