Will Lidke

Review: QUEEN FOR A DAY at Hell In A Handbag Productions
by Zac Thriffiley - Jul 16, 2025

The anarchic world premiere of Tyler Anthony Smith’s QUEEN FOR A DAY is as delightfully wild as it is deeply heartfelt.

Photos: QUEEN FOR A DAY at Hell in a Handbag Productions
by Emmy Rice - Jul 13, 2025

Hell in a Handbag Productions will conclude its 2024/25 Season with the world premiere of Queen for a Day written by ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith* and directed by Stephanie Shaw. See the photos here!

Hell in a Handbag's QUEEN FOR A DAY Comes to the Bramble Arts Loft 
by Stephi Wild - Jun 11, 2025

Hell in a Handbag Productions will conclude its 2024/25 Season with the world premiere of QUEEN FOR A DAY written by ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith and directed by Stephanie Shaw.

Hell In A Handbag's QUEEN FOR A DAY Begins In July At Bramble Arts Loft
by A.A. Cristi - May 10, 2025

Hell in a Handbag Productions will conclude its 2024/25 Season with the world premiere of QUEEN FOR A DAY written by ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith* and directed by Stephanie Shaw.

Video: First Look at The Marriott Theatre's TITANIC
by Joshua Wright - Apr 22, 2025

Marriott Theatre continues its 50th Anniversary Season celebration with the epic production of Titanic The Musical, directed and choreographed by Connor Gallagher with Musical Direction by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson. Watch extended clips from the production.

Full Cast Set For Hell In A Handbag's QUEEN FOR A DAY
by Stephi Wild - Apr 18, 2025

Hell in a Handbag Productions will conclude its 2024/25 Season with the world premiere of QUEEN FOR A DAY written by ensemble member Tyler Anthony Smith* and directed by Stephanie Shaw.

Video: TITANIC THE MUSICAL At Marriott Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 16, 2025

Marriott Theatre continues its 50th Anniversary Season celebration with the epic production of Titanic The Musical, directed and choreographed by Connor Gallagher with Musical Direction by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson. Check out video highlights from the production below!

TITANIC THE MUSICAL Continues Marriott Theatre's 50th Anniversary Season
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 19, 2025

Marriott Theatre, continues its 50th Anniversary Season celebration with the epic production of Titanic The Musical, directed and choreographed by Connor Gallagher (Marriott Theatre debut! Broadway: Beetlejuice; Off-Broadway: The Big Gay Jamboree, The Robber Bridegroom, Into the Woods; Beauty and The Beast, Disney’s Tale of Moana, Tangled) with Musical Direction by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson.

NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 Extends at Writers Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 27, 2024

Writers Theatre is extending its hit production of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, written by Dave Malloy and directed and choreographed by Katie Spelman with music direction by Matt Deitchman. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Review: NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 at Writers Theatre
by Rachel Weinberg - Sep 20, 2024

It’s a joy to experience GREAT COMET end-to-end, and for musical theater lovers that want to hear a complicated score flawlessly performed, this is the ticket. This GREAT COMET soars.

Video: First Look At ALICE BY HEART Midwest Premiere
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 7, 2024

See first look video of the Midwest premiere of Alice by Heart, a “magical, fantastical” musical inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland directed by Derek Van Barham and Brittney Brown, with music direction by Heidi Joosten and choreography by Derek Van Barham. 

Review: ALICE BY HEART at Kokandy Productions
by Rachel Weinberg - Aug 4, 2024

While Kokandy Productions’ ALICE BY HEART has some lovely performances, the musical itself is far less imaginative than its ALICE IN WONDERLAND-inspired title suggests. 

Writers Theatre To Present NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 2, 2024

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Artistic Director Braden Abraham, opens its 2024/25 Season with Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 written by Dave Malloy and directed and choreographed by Katie Spelman with music direction by Matt Deitchman. 

Photos: Kokandy Productions Presents ALICE BY HEART Midwest Premiere
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 26, 2024

Kokandy Productions will present the Midwest premiere of Alice by Heart, a “magical, fantastical” musical inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland directed by Derek Van Barham and Brittney Brown, with music direction by Heidi Joosten and choreography by Derek Van Barham. See photos from the production.

Kokandy Productions' To Present the Midwest Premiere! of ALICE BY HEART At The Chopin Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 26, 2024

Kokandy Productions will present the Midwest premiere of ALICE BY HEART at The Chopin Theatre from July 18 to September 29, 2024.

Kokandy Productions to Present ALICE BY HEART in July
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 26, 2024

Kokandy Productions presents the Midwest premiere of ALICE BY HEART at The Chopin Theatre. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Full Cast Announced For Kokandy Productions' ALICE BY HEART At The Chopin Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 26, 2024

Discover the full cast for Kokandy Productions' Midwest premiere of ALICE BY HEART, running from July 18 to September 29, 2024, at The Chopin Theatre.

Kokandy Productions' AMERICAN PSYCHO: The Musical Extends At The Chopin Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 14, 2023

Kokandy Productions' 'AMERICAN PSYCHO: The Musical' extends its run at The Chopin Theatre through December 10, 2023, with two additional weeks of performances.

Review: AMERICAN PSYCHO: The Musical at Kokandy Productions
by Rachel Weinberg - Oct 1, 2023

Kokandy Productions’ Chicago premiere of AMERICAN PSYCHO: The Musical is a delectable, campy romp. Producing Artistic Director Derek Van Barham’s production is a mainly bloodless vision for the bloody tale of serial killer finance bro Patrick Bateman — and it’s an approach that works incredibly well for the material. I know that AMERICAN PSYCHO: The Musical was short-lived on Broadway and that that production was a literal bloodbath. The fact that Kokandy’s production substitutes red confetti for stage blood is a microcosm of how well this scrappy interpretation of the musical works: By making the show more camp, less horror story, audiences are then free to indulge in the satire and fun.

Kokandy Productions Presents the Chicago Premiere of AMERICAN PSYCHO: The Musical At The Chopin Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 17, 2023

Indulge in '80s excess and “pure, decadent pleasure” as Kokandy Productions concludes its 2023 season with the Chicago premiere of American Psycho: The Musical, directed by Producing Artistic Director Derek Van Barham, with music direction by Heidi Joosten and choreography by Breon Arzell, playing September 14 – November 26, 2023.