Theater – Page 107 –

Director Stuart Gordon, co-founder of the Organic Theater Company, on May 12, 1981. (Anne Cusack/baiduhai)

Column: The legendary Organic Theater is gone, ‘Scream! Bleed!’ brings memories roaring back

By Rick Kogan

October 14, 2026 at 10:25 a.m.

New book remembers the formative Chicago theater company that gave us Joe Mantegna, Dennis Franz,...

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...

Actress Frances Sternhagen holds her award for best featured actress in a play for her performance in "The Heiress" during the Tony Awards in New York on June 4, 1995.

Frances Sternhagen, who played Esther Clavin on ‘Cheers’ and Bunny MacDougal on ‘Sex and the City,’ dies at 93

By Associated Press

November 29, 2023 at 2:49 p.m.

Frances Sternhagen, the veteran character actor who won two Tony Awards and became a familiar...

Tafadzwa Diener and Larry Yando in the 2023 production of "A Christmas Carol" at the Goodman Theatre.

Review: ‘A Christmas Carol’ at the Goodman Theatre is a play to make you believe kindness can win

By Emily McClanathan

November 29, 2023 at 5:35 a.m.

There's a moment early in the Goodman Theatre's annual production of "A Christmas Carol" when...

Leighton Tantillo, 11, of Park Ridge is appearing in the 2023 Goodman Theatre production of "A Christmas Carol."

What was Scrooge like as a child? Park Ridge seventh-grader portrays him at Goodman Theatre

By Pioneer Press

November 30, 2023 at 4:22 p.m.

When he was about four or five, Leighton Tantillo would sit down at his parents'...

Veronica Garza is a 40-year-old Cindy Lou Who in "Who's Holiday!" at Theater Wit. (Charles Osgood)

Review: Funny, moving ‘Who’s Holiday’ at Theater Wit is the Malört of holiday shows

By Emily McClanathan

November 28, 2023 at 5:15 a.m.

After spending a boozy hour in Cindy Lou Who's trailer, you'll never again see the...

American Blues Theater will cut the ribbon Nov. 28, 2023, on its new home at 5627 N. Lincoln Ave.

American Blues Theater opens a new home on Lincoln Avenue, carved from a former Walgreens

By Chris Jones

November 27, 2023 at 2:47 p.m.

In a cheering piece of news for Chicago's struggling theater scene, American Blues Theater will...

Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone and Andy Mientus in "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas" at the Studebaker Theater.

Review: ‘Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas’ at the Studebaker is a happy holiday show for all ages

By Chris Jones

November 21, 2023 at 11:15 a.m.

What a pleasure and a privilege to have Jim Henson's puppets in downtown Chicago for...

Stephen Schellhardt as Willy Wonka, and cast, in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora.

Review: ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ at the Paramount has lots of chocolate, now it just needs to warm up

By Chris Jones

November 20, 2023 at 1:54 p.m.

Going large — and festive — is something the Paramount Theatre in Aurora loves to...

Jeffrey Kringer and Lissa deGuzman in "Cinderella" at Drury Lane Theatre.

Review: A swirling, fashionable ‘Cinderella’ at Drury Lane Theatre brings sparkle to the season

By Chris Jones

November 19, 2023 at 8:59 a.m.

Christmas always arrives suddenly for me when I'm at the theater, usually during the second...

Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone as Ma and Andy Mientus as Emmet Otter in the Studebaker Theater holiday show this "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas," adapted from a 1977 TV special with Jim Henson's muppets.

‘Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas’ is a new holiday musical in Chicago with puppet otters and Broadway aspirations

By Chris Jones

November 17, 2023 at 10:16 a.m.

In 1977, Jim Henson produced a remarkable one-hour television special in Toronto for the Canadian...

The cast of "Spamalot" at the St. James Theatre on Broadway in New York.

Review: In ‘Spamalot’ revival on Broadway, Eric Idle’s knights fight bravely on

By Chris Jones

November 16, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.

For those of us who closely watched Eric Idle's hilarious "Spamalot" move from Chicago to...