Theater – Page 116 –

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...

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

Top 10 theater productions in Chicago for fall 2023: Destinos, a true-crime musical and the return of ‘Hamilton’

By Chris Jones

September 5, 2023 at 10:06 a.m.

From a true-crime musical to Mexican wrestling to Jim Henson-designed puppets, the fall season of...

Joffrey Ballet artistic director Gerald Arpino at rehearsal at the Joffrey studios in August 2005. Arpino co-founded the company and was responsible for its move to Chicago in 1995. He died in 2008.

Dance for fall 2023: Old tales, retold with Joffrey’s ‘Frankenstein’ and Akram Khan’s return

By Lauren Warnecke

September 5, 2023 at 5:30 a.m.

As I write this, the city is drenched in sweltering heat. Soon enough, tank tops...

Cast and crew gather for a group photo during the Beverly Theater Guild production of "Steel Magnolias."

Homer Glen actor’s 3 decade love affair with the stage fueled by personal experience, ‘passion for what I enjoy’

By Carol Flynn

September 1, 2023 at 5:15 a.m.

"Just tell the story." Those are the words of advice from a fellow actor that...

The audience departs after the final performance of "Hamilton" in Chicago on Jan. 5, 2020 at the CIBC Theatre.

‘Hamilton,’ coming back to Chicago, will have daily $10 ticket lottery

By Doug George

September 1, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

Along with the return of the musical "Hamilton" to Chicago is its #HAM4HAM ticket lottery....

Lucia Spina and Nathaniel Stampley in "Gypsy" at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire.

Review: ‘Gypsy’ goes straight for the heart at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire

By Chris Jones

August 31, 2023 at 2:24 p.m.

Here in the last days of summer, amid reams of bad news about the state...

Steppenwolf Theatre's campus on Halsted Street in Chicago on Oct. 25, 2021.

Steppenwolf Theatre announces major layoffs: ‘We’re not too big to fail’

By Chris Jones

August 31, 2023 at 11:22 a.m.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company, one of Chicago's most storied arts institutions and long a crucial part...

The cast and crew of Congo Square Theatre Company pose for a photo during the first rehearsal of "Welcome to Matteson!," which runs from Sept. 6 to Oct. 1 in Abbott Hall at Northwestern University's downtown campus.

Dinner party exposes biases in ‘Welcome to Matteson!’

By Myrna Petlicki

August 29, 2023 at 5:27 p.m.

Starting in 1995, the Cabrini-Green public housing project on Chicago's Near North Side was torn...

Chicago magician Dennis Watkins moves his show "Magic Parlour" to the basement of Petterino's restaurant.

A new Loop venue for Dennis Watkins’ long-running ‘Magic Parlour’

By Chris Jones

August 24, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

In a new partnership with the Goodman Theatre, the third-generation Chicago magician and former House...

Richard Cotovsky and Stephen Walker in the former Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co.'s 2016 production of "American Buffalo" by David Mamet.

Column: What happened to theater in Chicago?

By Chris Jones

August 17, 2023 at 5:30 a.m.

In March 2019, a group of Steppenwolf Theatre leaders gathered at the offices of Adrian...

Phylicia Rashad at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway in New York, when she was starring in "Gem of the Ocean."

Phylicia Rashad will direct at Steppenwolf Theatre next season

By Doug George

August 16, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.

Phylicia Rashad will direct a world premiere play at Steppenwolf Theatre next season, the theater...