Theater – Page 101 –

Alana Arenas (as Morgan), Kara Young (Aziza) and cast in "Purpose" on Broadway at the Hayes Theater in New York. (Marc J. Franklin)

Chicago Theater Report: ‘Purpose’ returns, new Broadway shows in town and dinner with Basil Fawlty

By Chris Jones

October 13, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

New shows have been announced for an already busy fall and early 2027. If you...

Jeff Carlson in a scene from “Drive Through Fire,” a movie shot in Oklahoma City. (Will Turner)

Column: Can some Second City alums make Oklahoma City the new Hollywood?

By Rick Kogan

October 13, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

"Drive Through Fire" is the latest movie project from Jim Carlson and Kate Duffy, two...

Letonia Copeland-Hardin, who performs under the name LT, adjusts her collar while working on material in the green room before her set at The Lincoln Lodge in Chicago, Sept. 26, 2026. (Nate Swanson/for the baiduhai)

Funny you should ask: Chicago scientist says humor makes for better researchers

By Ryan P. C. Trimble

October 12, 2026 at 5:30 a.m.

Letonia Copeland-Hardin is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago and also a stand-up...

The cast of the musical tour for "Girl From the North Country," in Chicago at the CIBC Theatre. (Evan Zimmerman)

A deep dive into Bob Dylan and ‘Girl From the North Country’

By Jerald Pierce

February 12, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

The show offers Bob Dylan fans and novices alike the chance to deep dive into...

Katy Sullivan (as Richard III) and cast in "Richard III" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. (Liz Lauren)

Review: Katy Sullivan roars as ‘Richard III’ at Chicago Shakespeare Theater

By Chris Jones

February 12, 2024 at 3:20 p.m.

"I am determined to prove a villain," Richard III famously tells us at the very...

Adhana Reid, Shariba Rivers and Mildred Marie Langford collectively play Sherrilyn Ifill in "Notes from the Field" at TimeLine Theatre. (Brett Beiner)

Review: ‘Notes from the Field’ at TimeLine Theatre shows a different face of Anna Deavere Smith

By Chris Jones

February 9, 2024 at 2:21 p.m.

This production, with the playwright's voice split between three actors, shows a different face of...

Stephanie Shum (as Meg) and Caren Blackmore (Arianna) with (background) Krystel McNeil (Vick), Alex Iyres (Ty) and Lynnette Li (Gladys) in “Mothers” at Gift Theatre. (Joe Mazza)

Review: In ‘Mothers’ at Gift Theatre, tensions in a mommy’s group. Then bombs start to fall.

By Emily McClanathan

February 9, 2024 at 5:30 a.m.

Structurally, playwright Anna Ouyang Moench’s work almost feels like two plays — a social comedy...

Ahmad Kamal and Aila Ayilam Peck in "Selling Kabul" at Northlight Theatre in Skokie. (Michael Brosilow)

Review: ‘Selling Kabul’ at Northlight Theatre is a tense and truthful story set in Afghanistan

By Chris Jones

February 8, 2024 at 2:16 p.m.

In this taut 100-minute play set in one room, the action revolves around a man...

The cast of the world premiere of ‘a home what howls (or the house what was ravine)’ from Feb. 7 to March 2 at Steppenwolf Theatre Co.’s Ensemble Theater in Honor of Helen Zell in Chicago includes Oak Lawn native Leslie Sophia Pérez (from left), Eddie Torres and Charín Álvarez.
- Original Credit: Michael Brosilow

Oak Lawn native stars in Steppenwolf for Young Adults’ ‘a home what howls’

By Jessi Virtusio

February 8, 2024 at 11:22 a.m.

Leslie Sophia Pérez graduated in June 2023 from The Theatre School at DePaul University in...

The cast of “Ain’t Misbehavin’” from Feb. 16 to 25 at The Drama Group’s Milord Studio Theatre in Chicago Heights includes Liane Williams, from left,, Marquetta Jackson, Kentrell Dawson, Erline Dorcy and Anthony Augustine. The show is a tribute to Black musicians of the 1920s and 1930s.
(Diane Kaffka)

The Drama Group’s ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’ puts spotlight on Fats’ Waller’s music

By Jessi Virtusio

February 8, 2024 at 9:57 a.m.

A decade after doing his first show with The Drama Group, Cordaro Johnson directs “Ain’t...

Alex Edelman performs "Just For Us" in a previous production on Broadway in New York. He's bringing his solo show to Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. (Matthew Murphy)

Talking to Alex Edelman about “Just For Us,” coming to Steppenwolf

By Chris Jones

February 7, 2024 at 5:00 a.m.

Talking to Alex Edelman about "Just For Us," coming to Steppenwolf Theatre.

L.R. Davidson, Crystal Sha’nae, Brian Owen, Dan Rosales and DeShawn Bowens in "Dog Man: The Musical" by TheaterWorksUSA in an earlier New York production. The show is now at the Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building. (Jeremy Daniel)

Review: ‘Dog Man: The Musical’ celebrates the creativity of kids — and their kind of jokes

By Emily McClanathan

February 7, 2024 at 6:47 p.m.

The musical’s peppy score and breezy pace suit the target audience of elementary schoolers.

Kyle Patrick and John Drea with the cast of "American Psycho" by Kokandy Productions. (Evan Hanover)

2024 Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations: Kokandy and Theo Ubique lead the way

By Doug George

February 6, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

This will be the all-volunteer Jeff committee's 50th anniversary in recognizing Chicago's Non-Equity theater.