Maya Lou Hlava

Review: THINGS WITH FRIENDS at American Blues Theater
by Rachel Weinberg - Sep 8, 2025

Kristoffer Diaz’s THINGS WITH FRIENDS is one extremely chaotic, messy dinner party. This world premiere introduces a variety of different flavors that come together for an undercooked meal.

Kristoffer Diaz' THINGS WITH FRIENDS World Premiere to be Presented at American Blues Theater
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 7, 2025

American Blues Theater will open its 40th anniversary season with a world premiere by Artistic Affiliate Kristoffer Diaz, Things With Friends. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets!

PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC Extends Again At Northlight Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - May 6, 2025

Northlight Theatre has announced an additional week of performances of Joshua Harmon's celebrated play Prayer for the French Republic, directed by Jeremy Wechsler in a co-production with Theater Wit.

Northlight Adds Week To PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
by Stephi Wild - Apr 22, 2025

Northlight Theatre has announced an extension of Joshua Harmon's celebrated play Prayer for the French Republic, directed by Jeremy Wechsler in a co-production with Theater Wit.

Review: PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC Co-Produced by Northlight Theatre and Theater Wit
by Rachel Weinberg - Apr 18, 2025

Now in its Chicago-area premiere, Joshua Harmon’s Tony-nominated sprawling and ambitious PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC is a searing and inquisitive look at contemporary Judaism and anti-Semitism.

PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC to Open at Northlight Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 24, 2025

Northlight Theatre will continue its 2024–2025 season with Joshua Harmon’s celebrated play Prayer for the French Republic, directed by Jeremy Wechsler. Learn more!

Video: Scene from Goodman's THE PENELOPIAD
by Joshua Wright - Mar 25, 2024

Get a first look at this spirited scene from THE PENELOPIAD by Margaret Atwood starring Jennifer Morrison (Once Upon a Time, House) in an all-new video.

Review: THE PENELOPIAD at Goodman Theatre
by Rachel Weinberg - Mar 17, 2024

Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Susan V. Booth puts her own spin on Margaret Atwood’s decidedly feminist tale THE PENELOPIAD. As with her famous novel THE HANDMAID’S TALE, Atwood uses THE PENELOPIAD as a device to convey the horrors and abuse committed against women. Atwood’s points are valid and mirror the gender inequalities and abuse women still experience now (the original novella was penned in 2005). But THE PENELOPIAD’s feminist argument isn’t revelatory. Instead of providing truly new insight or perspective, the play rather reinforces existing (though rightfully undeniable) points. 

Video: First Look at Jennifer Morrison & More in Goodman's THE PENELOPIAD
by Joshua Wright - Mar 13, 2024

Get a first look at Goodman Theatre's world premiere of The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood starring Jennifer Morrison (Once Upon a Time, House) in an all-new video.

Video: Choreographer JoAnn Hunter On Goodman Theatre's THE PENELOPIAD
by Joshua Wright - Mar 5, 2024

Watch Choreographer JoAnn Hunter talk about her collaboration with Artistic Director Susan V. Booth on The Penelopiad. 'I wanted the movement to help enhance storytelling...' she says in an all-new video.

Video: Jennifer Morrison & More on THE PENELOPIAD at Goodman Theatre
by Joshua Wright - Feb 20, 2024

Watch as the cast of The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood starring Jennifer Morrison (Once Upon a Time, House) talk about the production's world premiere in Chicago. Watch the all-new video!

Jennifer Morrison to Lead All-Women Cast of THE PENELOPIAD at Goodman Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 5, 2024

Goodman Theatre is presenting The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets!

Photos: Go Inside Opening Night of SPRING AWAKENING at Porchlight Music Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 2, 2022

This spring Porchlight Music Theatre is presenting the winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Spring Awakening, at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts.

BWW Review: SPRING AWAKENING at Porchlight Music Theatre
by Rachel Weinberg - Apr 29, 2022

Porchlight’s SPRING AWAKENING brings out moments of the raw emotion and many of the angsty vibes in the musical with Hlava’s Wendla and Kelch’s Mortiz as powerful anchors in this ensemble of angsty teens (though, aside from Hlava, all the actors are past their teen days). While the production doesn’t solve the musical’s challenges of underbaked characters and heavy-handedness when it comes to the issues presented, Didier’s direction and choreography bring us some nice tableaus, along with Justin Akira Kono’s music direction that highlights the ensemble in key vocal moments.

Photos: First Look at SPRING AWAKENING, Now Extended at Porchlight Music Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 27, 2022

This spring Porchlight Music Theatre is presenting the winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Spring Awakening, at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N Dearborn St., now playing through June 2.

Porchlight Announces Cast and Creative Team For SPRING AWAKENING
by Stephi Wild - Mar 23, 2022

This spring, Porchlight Music Theatre presents the winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Spring Awakening, at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N Dearborn St., April 23 - May 29, music by Duncan Sheik, book and lyrics by Steven Sater and based on the 1891 German play Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind.

Writers Theatre Hosts TREVOR The Musical Reunion With Marc Bruni and Original Cast
by Stephi Wild - Nov 18, 2020

Writers Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce a reunion of the original company of TREVOR the musical. The reunion will be presented in four weekly video installments on Writers Theatre's official Facebook page and YouTube Channel beginning Wednesday, November 18 at 7pm.

Porchlight Music Theatre Announces Cast and Creative for Disney's FREAKY FRIDAY, A NEW MUSICAL
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 21, 2019

Porchlight Music Theatre announces the cast and creative team for the Chicago premiere of Disney's Freaky Friday, A New Musical, April 10 - May 24, 2020 at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. The musical comedy about a mother and her daughter who switch identities stars Cory Goodrich as 'Katherine,' the mother, and Maya Lou Hlava as Katherine's daughter 'Ellie.'

A Red Orchid Concludes Season With Eugene Ionesco's KILLING GAME Beginning May 2
by Julie Musbach - Feb 8, 2019

A Red Orchid Theatre presents Eugene Ionesco's Killing Game, directed by Ensemble Member Dado, and featuring Ensemble Members Lance Baker and Doug Vickers. Killing Game runs May 2 June 23, 2019 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N Wells in Chicago. Press performances are scheduled for Saturday, May 11, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets for Killing Game go on sale Monday, April 1 at 12:00pm.

Photo Flash: First Look at Amelia Roper's ZURICH at Steep Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Oct 2, 2018

Forty floors up, behind the windows of a posh Swiss hotel, a man sings, a maid cleans, children run wild, a banker makes things difficult, and one elderly woman's fight against a corrupt world order changes everything. Or nothing. Disturbingly funny, Amelia Roper's Zurich dives below the surface of lives lived in the moments before.