Mark Larson’s encyclopedic new book chronicles the development of a unique artistic movement in Chicago through the voices of more than 300 actors, directors, designers, writers, choreographers and producers.
Stories by Hedy Weiss
At Ravinia, Russian Piano Master Pays Spellbinding Homage to Another
Rachmanioff’s “Piano Concerto No. 3” is awash in ravishing melodies and virtuosic thrills, and Denis Matsuev brought such volcanic power, exquisite lyricism and absolute fluidity to the fiendishly demanding work that it felt as if he himself were writing the demonic piece on the spot.
At Teatro Zinzanni, Life is an Old-World Cabaret, Circus, Comedy and Restaurant
Inside a lavish, 330-seat theater space in the Loop is the madcap escapade “Love, Chaos & Dinner” – a high energy combination of cabaret, comedy and circus, plus a four-course dinner (or brunch) – all backed by a dynamite band.
In ‘Come From Away,’ Discovering the Kindness of Strangers at a Traumatic Moment
The big surprise in this hit Broadway musical is how the seemingly most unlikely material for a musical – the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks – ends up feeling as if it were custom-made for the form and turns great darkness into a healing light.
At Black Ensemble, a Sensational Dance-A-Thon Set to the Beat of Funk
Unquestionably one of the company’s most irresistible, highly polished, dance-fueled productions of recent seasons, “You Can’t Fake the Funk” will take you higher, set you on fire, and infuse you with a Superfly energy.
Ravinia Festival Pulls Out All the Stops in Celebration of Leonard Bernstein
The widely celebrated 100th anniversary of the birth of Leonard Bernstein is now in the midst of a grand-scale finale as the Ravinia Festival moves through its second summer of programs devoted to all aspects of his legacy.
In ‘Ghost Quartet,’ a Maze of Stories Brought to Life With Haunting Music
Dave Malloy’s time-warping web of a song cycle deals with competing sisters, strange parents, a photographer’s guilt, a subway murder, an astronomer, spirits (of the alcoholic variety), and the quest for love, revenge, stardom and truth over many centuries.
American Blues Theater Reveals Luminous Glow of ‘The Spitfire Grill’
The 2001 musical with a soaring, intensely poetic score delivers both a rare emotional punch and a winning sense of forgiveness, redemption and love. It is uncannily timely.
Thoughts on a Trio of Musical Theater Classics
“Cats” and “Les Miserables” have both returned to Chicago this summer, and “West Side Story” is in the throes of a renaissance. Here are some brief impressions about all three musicals as experienced in their recent incarnations.
Coyotes’ Cries Herald a Ferocious New Steppenwolf Take on ‘True West’
Steppenwolf’s fabled 1982 production of Sam Shepard’s darkly comic tale is a foundational part of Chicago theater history. And now, two of the company’s “next generation” of actors are bringing their own high-octane intensity to the play.
Fiercely Immersive ‘Recommendation’ Explores Privilege, Justice and Moral Relativism
With its volcanic staging of Jonathan Caren’s intensely physical play, Windy City Playhouse has carved out a unique niche for itself in Chicago with a style dubbed “immersive theater.”
Salesmanship Cedes to Love in ‘The Music Man’
The overall pacing of this bear of a show can sometimes feel a bit off. At the same time, there is such a sense of jubilation about this production that its imperfections are easy to overlook.
New Musical ‘Darling Grenadine’ a Sobering Look at the Quest for Happiness
It might not be a Broadway-style blockbuster, but this intimate musical very skillfully mixes romantic comedy tropes with an uncompromising look at self-destructive behavior, self-doubt, alcoholism and complex friendships.
In ‘Ada and the Engine,’ a Woman Far Ahead of Her Time
A wonderfully imagined riff on the Ada Lovelace story, Lauren Gunderson’s fascinating, emotionally feverish play is now receiving a vividly realized Chicago premiere production by The Artistic Home.
Preserving Musical History With a Rarely Revived Operetta
For all it’s polish and ambition I can’t say the show has turned me into a fan of the operetta style. But “The Flower of Hawaii” is unquestionably an artifact of musical theater interest, and this might just be the only chance you will ever have to experience it.
Yes, There is Still a Formidable Audience for Classical Music
Despite the dire warnings about “the demise of the audience for classical music,” there is a significant audience in Chicago that values this incomparable art form. Two recent, radically different CSO concerts are prime examples.
In ‘Hedwig,’ Divided Cold War-Era Germany Gives Birth to Even More Divided Identity
Arriving at Theo Ubique as the final show of the theater’s first season in its spacious new Evanston home, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” serves as definitive proof that this company can finesse anything and everything in the musical theater repertory.
A Winningly Eclectic CSO Concert Mixes Contemporary, Classic Works
The unlikely combination of Vivaldi, Beethoven and Gershwin with two contemporary works was full of delightful surprises and unexpected revelations.
Hubbard Street’s Summer Program a Series of Wildly Poetic Existential Adventures
The titles of the four pieces provide a telling suggestion of the psychologically probing works being performed with the company’s trademark blend of uncanny fluidity, plasticity, control and ensemble perfection.
Rarely Produced British Play a Bitter Reminder of Veterans’ Fates
In some ways, “For Services Rendered” is an old-fashioned play, but it is a beauty. And coming at a moment when Britain is undergoing a different sort of social and economic upheaval, it seems ideally timed for a revival.
In ‘Ms. Blakk,’ a Raucous Campaign for a Queer Nation Candidate
This unabashedly flamboyant fantasia by Tina Landau and Tarell Alvin McCraney spins the true story of Joan Jett Blakk, who helped found the Chicago branch of the Queer Nation Party and ran for Chicago mayor in 1991.
There is True ‘Greatness’ in Firebrand’s ‘Queen of the Mist’
“There Is Greatness In Me” is the defining song in this riveting musical that releases the full “greatness” in its lead character by way of an electrifying performance by veteran Chicago actress Barbara E. Robertson.
Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ a Cautionary Tale for Those Who Would Play God
The 200th anniversary of “Frankenstein” was celebrated by a slew of Chicago theaters last year. Lookingglass’ new production has arrived a bit late in the game, but with its raw beauty and feverish emotion, it turns out to be well worth the wait.
In Knockout Musical ‘Six,’ King Henry VIII’s Wives Have Their #MeToo Moment
Forget about spending your last dime for tickets to The Rolling Stones’ concerts at Soldier Field next month. Instead, check out the fire-breathing female royalty of this sensational musical at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
‘Bloomsday’ a Breathtaking Play About Time, Love, Regret and Fateful Decisions
Steven Dietz’s hauntingly beautiful play is inspired by James Joyce’s groundbreaking novel “Ulysses,” but it is no stage adaptation. Rather, it’s a gorgeous, exquisitely imagined contemporary riff on Joyce’s essential themes.
