Liz Lauren News

Sean Hayes will return to Broadway this spring starring in Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Doug Wright’s new play, Good Night, Oscar, directed by Lisa Peterson, at the Belasco Theatre. In Good Night, Oscar, Sean Hayes plays Oscar Levant: Hollywood actor, concert pianist, and the most subversive wit ever to appear on television during its Golden Age.

The Paramount Theatre launches its 11th Broadway Series with Dreamgirls, August 31-October 16, 2022. Get a first look at the new production photos here!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater is presenting the world premiere of The Notebook, a new musical based on the bestselling novel by Nicholas Sparks that inspired the iconic film. Now playing in a limited engagement through October 16, 2022. Get a first look at photos here!

American Players Theatre (APT) is preparing to enter tech rehearsals for the summer’s second rep of performances to join the five shows currently playing. Lorraine Hansberry’s classic, A Raisin in the Sun, directed by Tasia A. Jones, just opened, August 13, 2022, at 8:00 pm. See photos from both productions!

American Players Theatre is preparing to enter tech rehearsals for the summer’s second rep of performances to join the five shows currently playing. Lorraine Hansberry’s classic, A Raisin in the Sun, directed by Tasia A. Jones, will open Saturday, August 13, 2022, at 8:00 pm. See photos from the production.

The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences returns this summer with THE WIZARD OF OZ! Families will relive this beloved tale of four unlikely friends on the adventure of a lifetime at the Marriott Theatre. See first look photos of the production!

What did our critic think of IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE at Chicago Shakespeare Theater? Kellen Blair and Joe Kinosian’s IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE is campy musical theater fun that pays homage to the 1953 “B-movie” from which it’s adapted. In the vein of musicals like LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Blair and Kinosian lean into the source material’s ability to delight and amuse with a take-home message that’s clear as day—but the earnestness of the material is what allows it all to be delivered with a wink.

American Players Theatre (APT) will open two more plays this week. In the Touchstone Theatre, The River Bride, directed by returning APT artist Robert Ramirez, will hold its official opening night on Sunday, June 25, 2022, at 2:00 pm following two previews. In the Hill Theatre, Sense and Sensibility, directed by Marti Lyons, will also open Sunday, June 25, 2022, at 8:00 pm.

American Players Theatre (APT) will open two more plays this week. In the Touchstone Theatre, The River Bride, directed by returning APT artist Robert Ramirez, will hold its official opening night on Sunday, June 25, 2022, at 2:00 pm following two previews. In the Hill Theatre, Sense and Sensibility, directed by Marti Lyons, will also open Sunday, June 25, 2022, at 8:00 pm.

On June 19, 2022, Victory Gardens Theater opened the regional premiere of cullud wattah, written by Erika Dickerson-Despenza and directed by Lili-Anne Brown. 

In cullud wattah, Erika Dickerson-Despenza compellingly weaves the personal and political. The play is ultimately a narrative of resilience as the women in the play struggle with environmental racism and to econcile with the tension between their desire for justice (especially in ainee’s case) and the will to survive and make enough money to pay their bills.

American Players Theatre began its 43rd season this past Saturday, June 11, with a preview performance of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The Rivals, directed by Aaron Posner. There will be a second preview performance Thursday, June 16, 2022, before the production’s opening night on Saturday, June 18, 2022, at 8:00 pm.

American Idol alumni and real-life married couple Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young take the stage in SKATES: A New Musical. While Christine Rea and Rick Briskin’s musical bills itself on the whole as an exercise in nostalgia, the most nostalgic part of SKATES for me was seeing DeGarmo and Young perform; I rooted hard core for DeGarmo back in her AMERICAN IDOL days. Here, she shows why— she has a tremendous powerhouse voice and an appealing stage presence that make her a consummate performer. Director Brenda Didier and choreographer Christopher Chase Carter work with a cast of Chicago musical theater veterans who perform alongside DeGarmo and Young.

American Idol favorites Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young lead the incredible cast of the new musical, Skates, featuring Adia Bell, Adam Fane, Kelly Felthous, Cory Goodrich, Emma Lord, Jason Richards, Kelvin Roston, Jr., Zach Sorrow, and Trey Deluna. Check out all new photos and video

Lookingglass Theatre Company’s signature LOOKINGGLASS ALICE has returned to Water Tower Water Works—and it’s just as whimsical and delightful as I remember it when I first saw the production back in high school. Director David Catlin’s charming and inventive adaptation combines storytelling elements from Lewis Carroll’s ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND and THROUGH THE LOOKINGGLASS. The production’s partnership with The Actors Gymnasium has also cemented Lookingglass Theatre Company’s unique combination of literary adaptation and impressive aerial artistry. LOOKINGGLASS ALICE not only calls for a talented company of actors but also places considerable physical demands upon its ensemble.

In the Shakespearean canon, ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL defies categorization; it doesn’t neatly fit alongside Shakespeare’s comedies, tragedies, or history plays. Read our critic's review!

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.

Rehearsals are underway for the world premiere musical Skates! American Idol favorites Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young lead the incredible cast of the new musical featuring Adam Fane, Kelly Felthous, Cory Goodrich, Emma Lord, Jason Richards, Kelvin Roston, Jr., Michelle Lauto, Zach Sorrow, Trey Deluna and Adia Bell. 

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.

Get a first look at photos of the cast of Paramount Theatre's ROCK OF AGES on stage.