Posted on August 4, 2010 by Scotty Zacher
Not Wanted on the Voyage …an epic new musical. Not Wanted on the Voyage is a provocative new musical about an ordinary family faced with extraordinary circumstances. Secrets lie just beneath the surface in this darkly funny, modern re-imagining of the Great Flood – the first time the world ended. Broadway writers [...]
Filed under: Broadway in Chicago, Musical, Northwestern University, Theater News, World Premier, YouTube | Tagged: Northwestern University, Andrew Howard, Dominic Missimi, AMTP, Melissa Torchia, Stuart Oken, Josh Horvath, Not on the Voyage, Niel Bartram, Brian Hill, Timothy Findley, Amanda Dehnert, Maija Garcia, David Holcenberg, Christopher Jahnke, Jim Steinmeyer, Jeff Grow, Neil Bartram, Ethel M. Barber Theatre | Leave a Comment »
Posted on July 22, 2010 by Scotty Zacher
This is not this season’s most exciting title, but then the world of dentists isn’t exactly fraught with incident. Dental Society Midwinter Meeting is just that—a carefully chronicled, day-by-day depiction of a real convention, an annual conference of dentists where practitioners catch up on the profession’s latest developments, ethical challenges (insurance fraud and drug abuse), and party heart with conventioneers’ jubilation.
Filed under: 2010 Reviews, Chicago Dramatists, Lawrence Bommer, World Premier | Tagged: Chicago Theater, Chicago Dramatists, laura Jacqmin, Dana Black, Justin James Farley, Emily Duffin, Mike Mroch, Chase Corman, Rakisha Pollard, Becky Mock, Chris Kriz, Dental Society Midwinter Meeting theater review, Megan Shuchman, Nora Taylor, Myron Elliot Jr, Michael Dutton, Michael Litchfield, Simone Martin-Newberry, Molly Kobelt, Rhonda Marie Bynum, Collin Geraghty, Paige Smith, McCormick Place, Skokie Marriott | 1 Comment »
Posted on May 25, 2010 by Scotty Zacher
A provocative, timely ode to newts. Next Theatre presents War With The Newts written by Jason Loewith and Justin D.M. Palmer Based on the novel by Karel Capek directed by Jason Loewith at Loyola University’s Mullady Theatre, (map) through June 20th | tickets: $25-$40 | more info reviewed by Robin Sneed [...]
Filed under: 2010 Reviews, Jason Loewith, Next Theatre, Robin Sneed, World Premier | Tagged: Jason Loewith, Keith Parham, Karel Capek, Loyola University, Mike Tutaj, Jennifer Avery, James Anthony Zoccoli, Joseph Wycoff, Next Theatre Evanston, Justin D.M. Palmer, Collete Pollard, Mildred Langford, Robin Sneed, War With The Newts, War With The Newts review, War With The Newts Next Theatre revew, War With The Newts Chicago review, Steve Pickering, Joel Ewing, Eddie Bennett, Mullady Theatre, Why I Am Not a Communist, Michael Montenegro | 1 Comment »
Posted on May 25, 2010 by Scotty Zacher
Fun and witty, with a shmeer of the absurd Victory Gardens presents Jacob and Jack Written by James Sherman Directed by Dennis Zacek at Biograph Theatre, 2433 N. Lincoln (map) thru June 20th | tickets: $20-$48 | more info reviewed by Katy Walsh ‘You must be a good actor. You’re not [...]
Filed under: 2010 Reviews, Katy Walsh, Victory Gardens, World Premier | Tagged: Andrew Keltz, Carol J. Blanchard, Craig Spidle, Daniel Cantor, Dennis Zacek, Grant Sabin, Jacob and Jack, Jacob and Jack Chicago review, Jacob and Jack James Sherman, Jacob and Jack review, Jacob and Jack Victory Gardens review, James Sherman, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Jeff McLaren, Jesse Klug, Katy Walsh, Laura Scheinbaum, Mary Griswold, Rebecca Green, Roslyn Alexander, Scott Miller | Leave a Comment »
Posted on May 19, 2010 by Scotty Zacher
Sexual fear and loathing in American politics The Ruckus presents The Gay American by Kristian O’Hare directed by Allison Shoemaker at the side project, 1439 W. Jarvis (map) through May 26 | tickets: $10 | more info reviewed by Paige Listerud Washington D.C. is the perfect place for a gay sex [...]
Filed under: 2010 Reviews, Paige Listerud, Ruckus, World Premier, side project theatre | Tagged: The Side Project Theatre, Neal Starbird, The Gay American, The Gay American review, The Gay American Ruckus review, The Gay American Chicago review, Julie Cowden, Stevie Chaddock, Aaron Dean, Walter Brody, Freddie Donovan, Elise Mayfield, Nick Shaw, Paula Consdorf, Christine Grodecki, Matt Griffin, Timo Aker, Brian Ruby, Aaron Thomas, Lizzie Powers, Mark Foley, Jim McGreevey, Dina McGreevey, Kristian O'Hare, Allison Shoemaker | Leave a Comment »
Posted on March 11, 2010 by Scotty Zacher
One of the most refreshing plays to land this season Theatre Seven presents: Mimesophobia Written by Carlos Murillo Directed by Margot Bordelon At Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Avenue, through April 4th (more info) By Oliver Sava I knew Mimesophobia was going to be Brechtian when I saw the costume rack on stage. [...]
Filed under: 2010 Reviews, Bertolt Brecht, Chicago Dramatists, Oliver Sava, Theatre Seven, World Premier | Tagged: Bertolt Brecht, Brian Golden, Brian Stojak, Carlos Murillo, Cassy Sanders, Chicago Dramatists, Cyd Blakewell, Grauman's Chinese Theater, Jessica Thigpen, Margot Bordelon, Michael Salinas, Mimesophobia, Mimesophobia Chicaog review, Mimesophobia review, Mimesophobia Theatre Seven review, Oliver Sava, Theatre Seven | 1 Comment »
Posted on March 8, 2010 by Scotty Zacher
Down in the dumps.. Livewire Chicago presents: Lower Debt written by Joshua Aaron Weinstein directed by Rebekah Scallet at the Viaduct Theatre, 3111 N. Western Ave. through April 4th (more info) by Keith Ecker As has been pointed out by many smarter than me, it is worse to be the recipient of apathy than [...]
Filed under: 2010 Reviews, Keith Ecker, LiveWire Chicago, World Premier | Tagged: Amber Hilgenkamp, Anders Jacobson, Annie Rix, Bailey Scott, Brian Cicirello, Chris Zdenek, Cory Conrad, Daniel Black, David Kelch, Earliana "Earl" McLaurin, Emma Weber, Eric Branson, Glenn Proud, Joseph Stafford, Josh Johnson, Judy Radovsky, Kristin Collins, LiveWire Chicago, LiveWire Chicago Theatre, Lower Debt Chicago review, Lower Debt LiveWire review, Malcolm Callan, Mark Macoun, Melissa diLeonardo, Miriam Reuter, Noah Lepawsky, Rebekah Scallet, Tamara Anderson, Viaduct Theatre, WC Productions | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 25, 2010 by Scotty Zacher
We all need a reason not to die in our sleep Goodman Theatre presents: The Long Red Road by Brett C. Leonard directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman through March 21st (more info) reviewed by Catey Sullivan We all need a reason not to die in our sleep. Such is the sad, irrefutable wisdom of [...]
Filed under: 2010 Reviews, Catey Sullivan, Goodman Theatre, World Premier | Tagged: Goodman Theatre, Catey Sullivan, Janice Pytel, Joshua Horvath, Ray Nardelli, Tom Hardy, Greta Honold, Fiona Robert, Katy Sullivan, the Long Red Road, Brett C. Leonard, The Long Red Road Chicago review, goodman long red road review, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Edward Pierce, Kimberly osgood, Marcos Akieten | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 16, 2010 by Scotty Zacher
More work-in-progress than job-well-done Dream Theatre presents: Aelita and Shiny Boxes by Bil Gaines and Mishelle Renee Apalategui directed and designed by Anna Weiler through February 21st (more info) review by Aggie Hewitt Aelita and Shiny Boxes are two original one acts by young playwrights Bil Gaines and Mishelle Renee Apalategui, presently premiering [...]
Filed under: Aggie Hewitt, Dream Theatre, World Premier | Tagged: Dream Theatre, Aggie Hewitt, Sean Murphy, Aelita & Shiny Boxes, Aelita and Shiny Boxes review, Anna Weiler, Bil Gaines, Mishelle Renee Apalategui, Mishelle Apalategui, Giau Truong, Megan Merrill, Judith Lesser, Chad Sheveland, Meredith Rae Lyons, Alicia Reese, Zach Livingston, Oh My God, Abriham Levitan, Coehlo, Lou Rocco Centrella | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 15, 2010 by Scotty Zacher
Steampunk gone silly Circle Theatre, Forest Park, presents: The Analytical Engine By Jon Steinhagen Directed by Bob Knuth Through March 28 (more info) Reviewed by Leah A. Zeldes Don’t be afraid of the scientific history implied by the title of Circle Theatre’s world premiere The Analytical Engine — little math or science actually [...]
Filed under: 2010 Reviews, Circle Theatre, Leah A. Zeldes, World Premier | Tagged: Circle Theatre, Jon Steinhagen, Mary Redmon, Circle Theatre Forest Park, Bob Knuth, The Analytical Engine, The Analytical Engine Chicago review, Charles Babbage, Ada King Lovelace, Ada King, Julie Harrie Playwrights Award, Bernoulli numbers, Elizabeth Wislar, Patricia Austin, Catherine Ferraro, Denita Linnertz, Eric Lindahl | 1 Comment »
Posted on February 15, 2010 by Scotty Zacher
Accomplished design team elevates poignant story Evanston’s Next Theatre presents: Return to Haifa by M.E.H. Lewis directed by Jason Southerland through March 7th (more info) review by Aggie Hewitt Return to Haifa is a smart and moving new play that follows two couples, one Jewish and one Palestinian during the ugly formation of [...]
Filed under: 2010 Reviews, Aggie Hewitt, Chicago Dramatists, Infamous Commonwealth, Infusion Theatre, Jeff Awards, Next Theatre, Stage Left Theatre, World Premier | Tagged: Jeff Awards, Chicago Dramatists, Infusion Theatre, Daniel Cantor, Stage Left Theatre, Rogers Park, Anish Jethmalani, Infamous Commonwealth Theatre, Illinois Arts Council, Jason Southerland, Jared Moore, Aggie Hewitt, Diana Simonzadeh, Todd Garcia, Return to Haifa, Return to Haifa review, Saren Nofs-Snyder, Miguel Cohen, M.E.H. Lewis, Next Theatre Evanston, Tom Burich, Next Communities, Dayton Playhouse, Tremain Fellowship, PEN Trans-Atlantic Award, Solano Theatre, Stone Soup Collective | Leave a Comment »
Posted on January 22, 2010 by Scotty Zacher
Cohesive set adds clarity to an otherwise jumbled script the side project presents: The Artist Needs a Wife by Jesse Weaver directed by Carolyn Klein thru February 14th (ticket info) review by Ian Epstein The side project’s production of The Artist Needs a Wife, by Jesse Weaver, tells the claustrophobic tale of Freud and Mott [...]
Filed under: 2010 Reviews, Ian Epstein, World Premier, side project theatre | Tagged: Allison Cain, Ann Sonneville, Carolyn Klein, Christopher Hainsworth, Emily Duffin, Greg PolJacik, Ian Epstein, Jesse Weaver, John Ferrick, Mieka van der Ploeg, Miles Polaski, Seth Reinick, Willem de Kooning, William Anderson | Leave a Comment »
Posted on January 3, 2010 by Scotty Zacher
A good time for ALL ages review by K.D. Hopkins As I entered the Lifeline Theatre on a freezing Chicago afternoon, I thought back to the first time I saw real children’s theatre. It was a production of Peter Pan in the early 70’s. I was a cynical kid and did not give in [...]
Filed under: 2010 Reviews, Children's Theatre, K.D. Hopkins, Lifeline Theatre, Organic Theatre, World Premier | Tagged: Alex Balestrieri, Andy Junk, Anne Sears, Cortney Hurley, David Bareford, David Fink, David Gregory, Dorothy Milnes, Edith Nesbit, Fabian Societ, Glenwood Arts District, Ian Zywica, Jennifer Aparicio, Joanna Iwanicka, K.D. Hopkins, Kenneth Grahame, Kyle Mahhan, Labour Party, Lifeline Theatre, Mallory Nees, Mike Ooi, Mikhail Fiksel, Organic Theatre, R&D Choreography, Richard Gilbert, Sara Gorsky, Sarah Hughey, Scott Allen Luke, Stuart Gordon, Victorian England, Wind in the Willows | Leave a Comment »
Posted on December 10, 2009 by Scotty Zacher
Sizzling Cast – Lukewarm Story The Addams Family Book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa Directed by Phelim McDermott & Julian Crouch thru January 10th (ticket information) Reviewed by Catey Sullivan Fair to snappy score, piffling to predictable story and characters of cartoon depth. That about sums up the [...]
Filed under: 2009 Reviews, Andrew Lippa, Broadway in Chicago, Catey Sullivan, Musical, Oriental Theatre (Ford), World Premier | Tagged: Nathan Lane, Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice, Oriental Theatre (Ford), Andrew Lippa, Sergio Trujillo, Phelim McDermott, Julian Crouch, Addams Family - the Musical, Bebe Neuwirth, Kevin Chamberlin, Zachary James, Terrence Mann, Catey Sullivan, Jackie Hoffman, Wesley Taylor, Krysta Rodriguez, Oriental Theatre, Carolee Carmello, Addams Family Nathan Lane, Addams Family reviews, Addams Family Musical reviews, Chicago Addams Family reviews | 6 Comments »
Posted on December 5, 2009 by Scotty Zacher
Although a few elements of this remarkably uneven spectacle are terrific, it all adds up to a disappointing and chaotic whole. If you’re too impatient to sift through the details, the short version is that Cirque du Soleil’s effort to re-imagine the vaudeville variety show succeeds in the circus acts for which the company has become famous and fails in nearly all of its efforts to be vaudevillian and, notably, the comedy.
Filed under: 2009 Reviews, Broadway-bound, Chicago Theatre, Cirque du Soleil, Leah A. Zeldes, Musical Revue, World Premier | Tagged: Cirque du Soleil, Chicago Theatre, DAvid Shiner, Marx Brothers, Groucho Marx, Leah A. Zeldes, Banana Shpeel, Daniel Passer, Patrick de Valette, Gordon White, Wayne Wilson, Tuan Le, Vanessa Alvarez, Joseph Wiggan, Josette Wiggan, Dominique Lemieux, Patricia Ruel, Bruno Rafie, Claudio Carneiro, Banana Shpeel review, Cirque du Soleil review, Scott Price, The Wiggans, Dima Shine, Jeff Retzlanff, Kelsey Wiens, Joseph and josette Wiggan, Schmelky Spectacular, Jerry Kernion, Laurel and Hardy, The Three Stooges, review Banana Shpeel | 1 Comment »
Posted on November 26, 2009 by Scotty Zacher
‘Rewind’: exquisite production, downer play The side project theatre company presents: Rewind By Laura Eason Directed by Anna C. Bahow Through Dec. 20 (ticket info) reviewed by Leah A. Zeldes “It wasn’t supposed to be this way. They were the next big thing in rock. But Noah walked away. Elisha married that asshole. And [...]
Filed under: 2009 Reviews, Leah A. Zeldes, World Premier, side project theatre | Tagged: The Side Project, Rogers Park, Laura Eason, Cyd Blakewell, Misha Fiksel, Leah A. Zeldes, side project theatre, rewind side project, Anna C. Bahow, Jim ellison, Material Issue, Chip Davis, Shane Kenyon, Brett Schneider, Annette Vargas, Screwball Press, Lounge Ax, the Double Door, Double Door, Empty Bottle, Avalon Ballroom, Aragon Ballroom | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 22, 2009 by Scotty Zacher
Directed by David Shiner, Cirque du Soleil is putting a contemporary twist on Vaudeville by infusing this classic form of theatre with a modern flair. Http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/vaudeville Banana Shpeel is currently playing its world-premiere at The Chicago Theatre on State Street
Filed under: Upcoming Shows, Video, World Premier | Tagged: Cirque du Soleil, Chicago Theatre, DAvid Shiner, Banana Shpeel, tap dancing, vaudeville | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 22, 2009 by Scotty Zacher
You Can Have Your G.I.F.T. Back Collaboraction presents: G.I.F.T. Reviewed by Timothy McGuire G.I.F.T. by Collaboraction is a different form of theatrical performance compared to the traditional plays around the city. It is an unconventional multimedia event that makes an effort to appeal to all of your senses. Unfortunately, this innovative an artistically funky [...]
Filed under: 2009 Reviews, Collaboraction, Timothy McGuire, Video, World Premier, YouTube | Tagged: Amber Robinson, Andy Junk, Antonio Brunetti, Aurelia Clunie, Carla Kessler, Catherine Glynn, Collaboraction. G.I.F.T., Emma Stanton, Firehouse Square, Gregory Hardigan, Hannah Phelps, Jeremy Harris, Saverio Truglia, Scott Cupper | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 21, 2009 by Scotty Zacher
Quirky, Murky, Malarkey The Silent Theatre Company presents Carnival Nocturne At DCA Storefront Theatre Conceived and written by Gillian Hastings Directed by Tonika Todorova Thru December 20th (ticket info) review by Katy Walsh Words cannot express… because there are none. The Silent Theatre Company presents Carnival Nocturne, the story of a traveling circus plagued [...]
Filed under: 2009 Reviews, Chicago Cultural Center, DCA Theatre, Katy Walsh, World Premier | Tagged: Barb Staples, Carnival Nocturne, Chicago Cultural Center, DCA Storefront Theatre, Dean Evans, Department of Cultural Affairs, Gillian Hastings, Hotel Monaco, Hotel Monaco Chicago, Katy Walsh, Lindsey Marks, Marvin Eduardo Quijada, Molly Plunk, Petterino's, Rachel Rizzuto, Silent Theatre Company, South Water Kitchen, Taylor Bibat, Tonika Todorova | 3 Comments »
Posted on November 16, 2009 by Scotty Zacher
A banjo-picking, toe-tapping, tumbleweed-talking good time! The House Theatre of Chicago presents: All The Fame of Lofty Deeds At the Chopin Theatre Written by Mark Guarino Based on and featuring the music and artwork of Jon Langford Directed by Tommy Rapley Thru December 20th (ticket info) Reviewed by Katy Walsh Chugging whiskey, a forgotten [...]
Filed under: 2009 Reviews, Chopin Theatre, House Theatre, Katy Walsh, World Premier | Tagged: Bloodshot Records, Chopin Theatre, House Theatre, House Theatre of Chicago, Jon Langford, Katy Walsh, Lee Keenan, Lofty Deeds, Mark Guarino, Nathan Allen, Tommy Rapley | 2 Comments »
