Emily McClanathan – Page 10

Actors Kevin Cruz, KO, and Lucy Godinez during a rehearsal of a new musical, "Broken Eggs", directed by Henry Godinez at the Goodman Theatre, Dec. 2, 2024. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

At the Goodman Theatre’s New Stages Festival, the audience plays a part in theater-making

December 5, 2024 at 5:45 a.m.

The 2024 event includes the musical “Broken Eggs,” the Chicago-set “Ashland Avenue” and a new stage adaptation of “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao," among others.

Illuminated ornaments hang from a tree on the first night of ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo on Nov. 15, 2024, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Holiday lights around Chicago: Our top 12 displays for 2024, from Botanic Garden to ZooLights

November 21, 2024 at 5:14 p.m.

These annual favorites are lit now for the season or are opening soon. Illumination is back at the Morton Arboretum, as is Christmas Around the World at the Griffin MSI.

Alex Villaseñor (Audrey II puppeteer) and Jimmy Hogan in "Little Shop of Horrors" by Music Theater Works at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. (Brett Beiner)

Review: ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ is still a fun musical but ‘Somewhere That’s Green’ hasn’t aged well

October 28, 2024 at 4:17 p.m.

Now in a production by Music Theater Works in Skokie, this campy sci-fi show has plenty for fans to enjoy, but the romance at the center needs an update.

Emily Kristen Morris is Elsa and Beth Stafford Laird plays Anna in the Disney musical "Frozen" at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora. (Amy Nelson)

‘Frozen’ opens soon at the Paramount Theatre — fans will spot the little differences between movie and musical

October 28, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

The Disney title will play through the holidays and into January in Aurora, the longest run yet for Paramount's Broadway Series.

Malachi Marrero (as Marcus) and Jelani Julyus (Bentley) in "Inheritance -or- Brothers from the Deep" by Factory Theater. (Logan and Candice Conner)

Review: ‘Inheritance’ by Factory Theater is about brothers on an ominous fishing expedition

October 21, 2024 at 10:17 a.m.

In the Factory Theater’s new play “Inheritance -or- Brothers from the Deep,” ensemble member and playwright Michael Jones tries his hand at transforming personal trauma into a supernatural element.

Jocey Villa and musicians in "Jocey y Las Mariachis," a world premiere by Visión Latino Theatre Company at the APO Culture Center in Pilsen as part of Destinos 2024. (Xavier M. Custodio)

Review: In ‘Jocey y Las Mariachis,’ a Mexican American artist shares both hopes and apprehensions

October 16, 2024 at 5:15 a.m.

A self-described “girl with big feelings” who can’t afford therapy, she wrote a show instead. “I’m basically Tinker Bell,” she says. “The more you clap, the more I heal.”

Taryn Welch, Tia Jemison, Britt Edwards, LaRon Jones and Direoce Junirs (front) with Dennis Dent, Raeven Carroll and Trequon Tate in "Blue Eyed Soul Sung by Brown Eyed People" at Black Ensemble Theater. (David J. Girson)

Review: ‘Blue Eyed Soul Sung by Brown Eyed People’ is a journey through musical history

October 8, 2024 at 5:30 a.m.

At Black Ensemble Theater, writer and director Jackie Taylor goes the extra mile to emphasize the message that “we are all one.”

Lucy Carapetyan and Richie Villafuerte in “Ironbound” at Raven Theatre. (Michael Brosilow)

Review: ‘Ironbound’ at Raven Theatre follows an immigrant woman’s struggles to get by in America

October 4, 2024 at 5:15 a.m.

The play spans 22 years but is set in a single location: a rundown bus stop near a factory in Elizabeth, New Jersey’s fourth largest city.

Ismael Garcia and Emma Samuelson in "Never Better" by Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre in Evanston. (Time Stops photo)

Review: ‘Never Better’ at Theo tells an authentic musical story about mental illness

September 17, 2024 at 5:15 a.m.

Preston Max Allen's new show in development could be everything I’d hoped “Dear Evan Hansen” would be.

Timothy Griffin, Jessica Goforth, Kat Evans and Troy Schaeflein in "A Shadow Bright and Burning" by Black Button Eyes Productions. (Michael Brosilow)

Review: ‘A Shadow Bright and Burning’ explores a magic alternate reality to Victorian England

August 27, 2024 at 3:37 p.m.

The world premiere adaptation in Chicago is based on a 2016 young adult novel that puts a spin on the “chosen one” trope.

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