Theater – Page 113 –

Ferdinand (Lawrence Grimm) and Will (Lenin Izquierdo) in "Any Rebellion of Will" at Trap Door Theatre. (George Hudson)

Review: ‘Any Rebellion of Will’ is an absurdist breath of fresh air at Trap Door Theatre

By Chris Jones

October 14, 2026 at 1:24 p.m.

This world premiere, penned by S.L. Daniels and accurately billed as a dark, absurdist comedy...

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...

Anish Jethmalani (as Emanuel Lehman), Mitchell Fain (as Henry Lehman) and Joey Slotnick (as Mayer Lehman) in "The Lehman Trilogy" by TimeLine Theatre at the Broadway Playhouse.

Review: ‘The Lehman Trilogy’ is the story of a business across generations, told by TimeLine in Chicago

By Chris Jones

March 12, 2024 at 11:55 a.m.

Three main truths roll down from the stage of the Broadway Playhouse in "The Lehman...

Dustin Valenta as King Louis, Kasey Foster as Charles and Tony Carter as Mesmer in "Mesmerized: A Ben Franklin Science & History Mystery" at Chicago Children's Theatre.

Review: In ‘Mesmerized’ at Chicago Children’s Theatre, Ben Franklin solves a science mystery

By Jerald Pierce

March 12, 2024 at 11:55 a.m.

As one of science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke's adages goes: Any sufficiently advanced technology...

Tomasz Konieczny, Tamara Wilson, Mika Kares and Melody Wilson, and company, in "The Flying Dutchman" at Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Review: In ‘The Flying Dutchman’ at Lyric Opera, the storms are destined to win

By Chris Jones

September 28, 2023 at 12:01 p.m.

Few mariners would deny the possibility of Sisyphean ghost ships, forever sailing through tempest and...

Leslie Odom, Jr. in "Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch" at the Music Box Theatre in New York.

Review: ‘Purlie Victorious’ on Broadway is a romp both victorious and hilarious

By Chris Jones

September 27, 2023 at 9:00 p.m.

Satire is what closes Saturday night, George S. Kaufman famously said. So how about the...

E. Faye Butler, Demetra Dee, Shariba W. Rivers and Ora Jones in "The Nacirema Society" by Pearl Cleage at the Goodman Theatre.

Review: In ‘The Nacirema Society’ at the Goodman Theatre, an all-star cast leans into the laughter

By Chris Jones

March 12, 2024 at 11:54 a.m.

Thanks to shows such as "Blues for an Alabama Sky," "Bourbon at the Border" and...

Jasmine Amy Rogers will star in "Boop! The Betty Boop Musical," here in an image released by press agency Boneau/Bryan-Brown.

New Chicago-bound ‘Betty Boop’ musical has its Betty Boop, and other theater news

By Chris Jones

September 27, 2023 at 10:57 a.m.

"Boop! The Betty Boop Musical," the new show scheduled for a pre-Broadway tryout in Chicago...

Jocelyn Zamudio, Grant Kennedy Lewis and Brandon Rivera in "Sanctuary City" at Steppenwolf Theatre.

Review: In ‘Sanctuary City’ at Steppenwolf Theatre, the relationship between these young immigrants is the key

By Chris Jones

September 25, 2023 at 5:45 a.m.

Martyna Majok, a Polish émigré who graduated from the University of Chicago and is the...

Comedian Matteo Lane performs during the TBS Comedy Festival on Nov. 7, 2017, in New York.

Matteo Lane returns home with a sold-out ‘Al Dente Tour’ comedy show at the Chicago Theatre

By Jessi Roti

September 25, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

Get out of your own way and start posting your work online. Instagram, mostly. Trade...

Hyuma Kiyosawa (center) and Joffrey Ballet dancers in the Arpino Chicago Centennial Celebration at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago Sept. 23, 2023.

Review: Arpino Centennial is a glimmering reminder of the Joffrey Ballet’s huge legacy

By Lauren Warnecke

September 24, 2023 at 12:15 p.m.

Countless Joffrey Ballet alumni descended on Chicago this week to celebrate the company's co-founder, Gerald...

Erika Olson, Ian Littleworth and cast in "Run Bambi Run" at Milwaukee Repertory Theater.

Review: ‘Run Bambi Run’ at Milwaukee Rep tells the story of a female cop turned prison escapee — it’s a blast of a musical

By Chris Jones

September 23, 2023 at 9:39 a.m.

Heard of Lawrencia Ann "Bambi" Bembenek who, in 1982, was convicted under very dubious circumstances...