Jokes Is this the end of comedy? Why it’s never been harder to tell a jokeChicago Tribune - By Chris JonesThese are the worst of times for comedy. Especially in Hollywood. Riffing on the weak box-office performance of the movie “Late Night,” Stephen Galloway argued in the Hollywood Reporter Tuesday that comedy
The Theatre Is Evanston ready for ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’?Chicago Tribune - Chris JonesTime has proven Hedwig Robinson to be quite the perennial: we fans have found her in these parts at what was then the Broadway Theatre in 2001 (with no less than Katrina Lenk as her sidekick), at American
Lin-Manuel Miranda Netflix lands Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘Tick, Tick... Boom’Chicago Tribune - By Justin KrollFollowing a heated bidding war, Netflix has walked away with the rights to “Tick, Tick... Boom,” a musical adaptation to be directed by “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Sources say Andrew Garfield
The Theatre You watched the Tony Awards: So when can you see the shows in Chicago?Chicago Tribune - By Chris JonesMost of the major winners at the Tony Awards are making plans for national tours. But it can take a while for routes to wind their way to Chicago. And it’s also true that none of the Broadway musicals
Calling all dance experimenters, improvisors, LGBTQ artists and those unafraid to fail — Poonie’s Cabaret is backChicago Tribune - By Lauren WarneckeIn the summer of 2002, I remember improvising with my Columbia College classmates at Links Hall. We were dressed in black jazz pants and white T-shirts — in hindsight, white T-shirts in July may not have
The Theatre ‘Elizabeth Rex’ at Oak Park Festival Theatre is a worthy ‘distraction’ for Shakespeare fansChicago Tribune - Kerry ReidThe play’s the thing wherein to catch the conscience of the queen in Timothy Findley’s 2001 drama “Elizabeth Rex,” now in an al fresco staging with Oak Park Festival Theatre. Fitting, since Findley’s (first
The Theatre In powerful 'If I Forget' at Victory Gardens, a family fights over Jewish identityChicago Tribune - By Chris JonesIn its best moments, Steven Levenson’s “If I Forget” is like a Jewish “August: Osage County,” a relatable familial potboiler that simmers with religious, generational, marital and ideological tensions
Babes With Blades announces 22nd anniversary seasonChicago Tribune - Hannah Herrera GreenspanBabes With Blades announced its 22nd anniversary season, titled “Take Control. Take Action. Make History,” reflecting women taking ownership of their environments and the ways in which they might prevail.
Chicago theater openings for June 21-27Chicago Tribune - Hannah Herrera Greenspan“Ada and the Engine”: During the start of the Industrial Revolution, Ada sees the unlimited potential in Charles Babbage’s invention of the first mechanical computer. This play with music follows Ada Charles’
Chicago Theatre Hannah Gadsby at the Chicago Theatre: Different from 'Nanette' but she still likes to 'rummage' with your headChicago Tribune - Zach Freeman“Alright, come on,” comedian Hannah Gadsby said to the uproarious applause that greeted her when she walked abruptly out onto the stage of the Chicago Theatre Sunday night, eschewing an opening act or
'Internal Geometry' by Natya Dance Theatre is hardly radical but has women telling the storyChicago Tribune - Lauren WarneckePerhaps I’ll start at the end. In the post-performance Q&A for “The Internal Geometry,” a world premiere by Natya Dance Theatre at Links Hall, artistic director Hema Rajagopalan spoke about the origins
AstonRep Theatre Company announces 2019-20 seasonChicago Tribune - Hannah Herrera GreenspanOn Thursday, AshtonRep announced its production lineup presented at its new artistic home, The Edge Theater in Edgewater. The season opener will be “Equus” by Peter Shaffer (Sept. 27-Oct. 27). Co-Artistic
Theo Ubique announces 2019-20 seasonChicago Tribune - Hannah Herrera GreenspanOn Wednesday, Theo Ubique announced its 2019-20 season lineup for the company’s second year in new artistic home. Things kick off with the fall production of Michael John LaChiusa’s “Hello Again” (Sept.
A Red Orchid announces 2019-20 seasonChicago Tribune - Hannah Herrera GreenspanA Red Orchid announced its 2019-20 lineup including two Chicago premieres and one world premiere. The 27th season begins with the world premiere of Levi Holloway’s “Grey House” (Oct. 10-Dec. 1). Ensemble
Chicago theater openings for June 14-20Chicago Tribune“If I Forget”: Before Sept. 11, three siblings clash when reunited to celebrate their father’s 75th birthday. Will they negotiate how much of their past, family secrets, and long-held resentments their
The Theatre Terrence McNally's lifetime award speech at the Tonys was ignored — but it was the most important of the nightChicago Tribune - By Chris Jones“Lifetime achievement,” said the writer Terrence McNally at the Tony Awards last weekend. “Not a moment too soon.” That dry opening joke by the 80-year-old author of such dramatic masterworks as “Master
The Theatre The hottest name in Chicago theater isn't downtown — it's a storefront in Wicker ParkChicago Tribune - By Chris JonesThe Den Theatre — the hip, multi-stage venue on Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park — has been one of the great success stories of the last decade in Chicago theater. For the past generation, both Bucktown
Interrobang Theatre Project announces 10th anniversary seasonChicago Tribune - Hannah Herrera GreenspanOn Tuesday, Interrobang Theatre Project announced its production lineup for its 10th season, titled “No Man’s Land,” exploring the fear and anxiety that accompany journeys into the unknown. The season
Firebrand's 'Queen of the Mist' tells the painful true story of the woman who survived Niagara FallsChicago Tribune - Chris JonesBarbara E. Robertson has graced pretty much every major theater in Chicago: Goodman, Steppenwolf, you name ‘em. She played for a while in “Wicked,” too. But her performance in Firebrand Theatre’s “Queen
'Four Places' at Den Theatre: As their parents age, old secrets break their silencesChicago Tribune - Kerry ReidForget the fiery passions and howling heartbreaks of youth. If you want to stare into the real abyss of human rage, loss and despair, try figuring out how to take care of the people who raised you when
Hadestown Tony Awards 2019: 'Hadestown,' 'Ferryman' lead, Ali Stroker makes history as first actor in a wheelchair to winChicago Tribune - By Chris JonesThe 2019 Tony Awards turned out heavenly for "Hadestown," the stylized, bluesy, steampunk-influenced Anais Mitchell musical based on the "Orpheus and Eurydice" myth and set partly in the underworld. “Hadestown,”
The Theatre Chicago Tap’s ambitious ‘Saving the World’ is a sassy step into politicsChicago Tribune - Lauren WarneckeIf Chicago Tap Theatre (CTT) is known for one thing outside the dance world, it’s probably their Pride-themed extravaganzas. Tap dancing, beloved LGBT arts organizations like the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus
Writers Theatre announces casting for 2019-20 seasonChicago Tribune - Hannah Herrera GreenspanOn Thursday, Writers Theatre announced casting for its previously introduced 2019-2020 season, which includes Stephen Sondheim’s and James Lapine’s “Into the Woods,” Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” and
Tony Awards host James Corden hopes audience will find 'joy'Chicago Tribune - John Carucci and Mark KennedyTV talk show host James Corden steps back into the role of Tony Award host Sunday, not planning anything too political and not worried about any online snark. "I hope people will find joy in it," said
'Hamlet' by the Back Room Shakespeare Project is not your mother's ShakespeareChicago Tribune - Nicole BlackwoodMost theatergoers have a mental image of what Shakespeare looks, sounds and feels like: puffy shorts, British dialect, almost falling asleep in a hundred-dollar balcony seat. There’s not much room for
Pritzker bill dangles millions for Illinois arts spending — who will be the winners?Chicago Tribune - Chris JonesA million dollars for the new TimeLine Theatre in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood; $2 million for the South Side Community Arts Center; $850,000 for the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance; $927,500 for the planned
Chicago theater openings for June 7-13Chicago Tribune - Doug George"Sweet Texas Reckoning": Kate comes home to Texas with her African American wife. Artemisia Theatre at the Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave.; www. artemisiatheatre.org "Get Happy: Angela Ingersoll Sings
'Emma' at Lifeline Theatre: Jane Austen's matchmaking story is played for warmth and laughsChicago Tribune - Kerry ReidBack before Tinder and OKCupid, making a suitable match — for single men in possession of a good fortune and the single women depending upon finding them — was a fraught proposition. One might well be
'Life on Paper' by Jackalope Theatre builds a very human story from the numbersChicago Tribune - Chris JonesKenneth Lin — a writer for "House of Cards" among other TV shows — has written a really lovely little play, all about people who have risen in life on the back of their affinity for numbers and who have
