Theater – Page 134 –

Eddie Weaver and cast in "A Strange Loop" at Raven Theatre in a co-production with About Face. (Joe Mazza)

Review: ‘A Strange Loop’ at Raven Theatre is very off-Loop, and breathtakingly good

By Chris Jones

October 15, 2026 at 12:45 p.m.

Michael R. Jackson's musical won the Pulitzer and Tony Awards, but it's just now being...

Highland Park native Marina Franklin, who has TV and film credits, including HBO’s “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” is one of the headliners at the Funny is Female Comedy Festival, Oct. 22-25, at Comedy Plex in Oak Park. (Ashley Chappell)

‘Now there’s a girls’ club’: Funny is Female fest draws 50 comedians to Oak Park

By Myrna Petlicki

October 15, 2026 at 10:20 a.m.

More than 50 comics from around the country will be performing at the Funny is...

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...

The Milwaukee Repertory Theater on Wells Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Milwaukee Rep’s 70th anniversary season includes new musical by Violent Femmes singer

By Doug George

February 13, 2023 at 7:15 p.m.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater, the biggest professional theater in our neighboring city to the north, has...

The Witch (Natalie Weiss, right) casts her spell on the Mysterious Man (Larry Yando) in "Into the Woods" at Paramount Theatre in Aurora.

Review: ‘Into the Woods’ at Paramount Theatre: There is much to see and enjoy in this forest

By Chris Jones

February 13, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

Barely had the audience sat down Friday night at Aurora's Paramount Theatre when hundreds of...

Producer Cameron Mackintosh at Prince Edward Theatre in London in December 2013.

Don’t forget the old faves: Producer Cameron Mackintosh knows why shows like ‘Les Misérables’ endure

By Chris Jones

February 12, 2023 at 5:30 a.m.

"We are in an irreplaceable industry" says theater producer Cameron Mackintosh, speaking from Australia. "As...

Danny Burstein (Larry Sultan), Zoë Wanamaker (Jean Sultan), and Nathan Lane (Irving Sultan) in "Pictures From Home" on Broadway at Studio 54.

Review: In ‘Pictures From Home’ on Broadway starring Nathan Lane, family stories are told in photos

By Chris Jones

February 9, 2023 at 9:00 p.m.

Artists sacrifice their families all the time. And although it sucks to be related to...

Felicia Oduh in "Alaiyo" at Definition Theatre.

Review: Black Americans wrestle with their identity in ‘Alaiyo’ at Definition Theatre

By Emily McClanathan

February 9, 2023 at 5:15 a.m.

In the opening scene of Definition Theatre's current production, "Alaiyo," budding young writer Ariel is...

Norman Garrett, singing, and co-creator Will Liverman, center in white, star in the world premiere production of "The Factotum" by Lyric Opera of Chicago at the Harris Theater.

Riffing on Rossini, Lyric Opera’s ‘Factotum’ started as a South Side Chicago comic opera. But its creators had bigger ideas.

By Michael Phillips

February 8, 2023 at 11:56 a.m.

Sometime around his fourth "The Barber of Seville," Chicago-based operatic baritone Will Liverman realized he'd...

Tracy N. Bonner in Lydia R. Diamond's original play "Toni Stone" at the Goodman Theatre.

Review: In ‘Toni Stone’ at Goodman Theatre, both tension and joy in story about baseball and racism

By Chris Jones

February 8, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

"We win," says Toni Stone, "and we bring the show." Stone, the first of three...

Martin Ortiz Tapia and cast of "A Chorus Line" at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace.

Review: ‘A Chorus Line’ at Drury Lane Theatre embraces 1970s Broadway — and why we love musicals

By Chris Jones

February 7, 2023 at 5:58 p.m.

Is there anything more fun than an opening night for "A Chorus Line?" When the...

Nick Bowling and Vanessa Stalling will co-direct "The Lehman Trilogy" for TimeLine Theatre in a Chicago premiere.

TimeLine Theatre will stage ‘The Lehman Trilogy’ this fall, a coup for the theater

By Chris Jones

February 7, 2023 at 12:55 p.m.

TimeLine Theatre, a midsized, nonprofit theater company in Chicago, will partner with Broadway in Chicago...

Patrons take their seats for a performance of "And Neither Have I Wings to Fly" at the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook on Feb. 1, 2023. The play is First Folio Theatre's final production.

After more than 25 years, a fond farewell and a final show for First Folio Theatre in Oak Brook

By Emily McClanathan

February 7, 2023 at 5:45 a.m.

After more than 25 years in residence at the historic Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak...