You have just one more chance to catch a concert at Symphony Center that brings you into direct contact with absolute genius. Beg, borrow (or maybe even steal) a ticket to hear 27-year-old Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov in an electrifying performance.
Stories by Hedy Weiss
Joffrey Ballet Dancers Demonstrate Their Prowess in ‘Swan Lake’
It has been four years since the Joffrey Ballet first performed Christopher Wheeldon’s reimagining of “Swan Lake.” Its current revival serves as a vivid indication of the extraordinary artistry that now defines the Joffrey, from principal dancers to corps.
In Porchlight’s ‘Gypsy,’ a Mama Rose of Hurricane Force
With her force-of-nature personality, powerhouse voice and galvanic emotional range, E. Faye Butler was clearly was born to play Mama Rose.
African-American Women Assert Their Independence in ‘Flyin’ West’
With echoes of “Oklahoma” in its evocation of the hardscrabble lives of exceptionally strong women, Pearl Cleage’s story revolves around the different choices made by four women, including the elderly but unbending matriarchal figure who experienced the abominations of slavery, yet survived to tell the story.
Luminous Play by Lynn Nottage Explores Faith, Politics, Family and Discrimination
“Crumbs from the Table of Joy” – one of the playwright’s earliest works, now on stage at Raven Theatre – is continually engaging. And in the current climate, it also turns out to be uncannily timely.
2 CSO Concerts Showcase a Pianist’s Fluid Interpretation of Beethoven, Mozart
This past weekend saw the last Chicago Symphony Orchestra concerts to be conducted by Maestro Riccardo Muti until November, and they should not go without notice for several reasons.
Making Deals With the Devil in the Bloody Brilliant ‘Witch’
Now receiving an altogether riveting world premiere production at Writers Theatre, “Witch” is a pitch-black fairy tale for our times, and one that is not to be missed.
Incendiary ‘Downstate’ Fearlessly Probes Unique Aspect of Crime, Punishment
The pitch black, profoundly provocative world premiere by Bruce Norris brings to the fore all the arguments and nuances around sexual predators, and will either make you question your opinions on the subject or confirm them.
Themes of Freedom, Faith and Money Fuse With Brilliant Score in ‘Caroline, or Change’
With its incendiary production, Firebrand Theatre easily secures its place among the handful of Chicago’s hottest “smaller” musical theater companies. Though there is nothing at all “small” about this formidable assemblage of talent.
New Musical ‘Tootsie’ Eyes Gender Roles, But Its Heart Belongs to Show Business
For all its timely social commentary, “Tootsie” (a gently updated musical version of the hit 1982 film) feels a bit like show business balm – a feel good work for the #MeToo era.
Hubbard Street’s Percussion-Driven Experiment Probes Heaven and Hell on Earth
In its three-part fall season program, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago harkened back to the creation of the universe and the ascent of man before conjuring an apocalyptic vision of where it all went wrong.
David Cale Turns a Family Nightmare into a Dreamy Tour de Force of Survival
If ever you had any doubt about the healing and transformative powers of art, “We’re Only Alive for a Short Amount of Time,” David Cale’s hypnotically beautiful one-man show, will set you straight.
CSO Opens Season with Music of Liberty and Memories of Repression
Music is not apolitical. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s season opening concerts take note of this, with impassioned comments made by Maestro Riccardo Muti.
In ‘BigMouth,’ a Torrent of Oratory at Once Brilliant, Provocative and Dangerous
However you describe “BigMouth,” the virtuosic, one-of-a-kind, one-man show created and performed by Valentijn Dhaenens – its impact is undeniable.
3 Popular Musicals Sing of Quest for Self-Esteem
They are set in different eras, and come with notably different sounds and story lines, but the three musicals now being produced on local stages share one major theme. Here’s a closer look.
Shattered Globe’s Piercing Dramatization of a Dostoyevsky Classic Soars
The haunting dramatization of “Crime and Punishment” now on stage attacks the work with the same fire and attention to moral argument as the master writer, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, himself.
‘Radio Golf’ Revival Tunes in to Hidden Wealth of August Wilson’s Final Play
A revelatory, brilliantly acted revival of August Wilson’s play is currently on stage at Court Theatre, under the direction of Ron OJ Parson.
Funny, Heartbreaking ‘No Child’ Taps Into the Art of Education
The blight, as well as the occasional bursts of beauty that define life in inner-city high schools is all too familiar. But rarely has it been captured with such a sense of wit, grace, exasperation and tragicomic insight.
Chicago Talent Headlines Bernstein’s ‘Candide’ in Knoxville, Tennessee
Not only does director Calvin MacLean have deep Chicago roots, so do a number of the major players in this grand-scale production.
Black Button Eyes Brings John Collier’s Twisted Stories To Life
One thing you realize from the very start of “Nightmares and Nightcaps: The Stories of John Collier” is that its narrator – a dissipated, devilishly twisted writer – is not going to sugarcoat things.
2018 Equity Jeff Award Nominations Announced
Nothing more concisely captures the impressive scope of the work done on Chicago-area stages than this annual list of nominations.
‘Vietgone’ Explores Emotional Wars of Vietnamese Immigrants Forging New Lives In US
Qui Nguyen’s play, now receiving its Chicago premiere at Writers Theatre, is a second generation, rap-era kid’s flashy, sexually charged version of a story about the pain and rage that come with being a refugee, and the difficult process of assimilation.
Dancing the Night Away at Dance for Life
As always, the annual benefit concert served up a rich smorgasbord of styles Saturday. It also offered a subtle suggestion of Chicago’s dance history.
The Music and Mayhem of Midsummer Nights in Grant Park
As difficult as it may be to believe, the summer of 2018 is winding down. One significant marker: the Grant Park Music Festival will give the final performances of its 84th season on Saturday.
A Glimpse of Magic in the Photo-Realist Paintings of Jeong Im Herbert
The Chicago-based artist has an uncanny ability to capture the texture of surfaces in a way that is as precise as a photograph, yet at the same time, magically abstract.
