Theater – Page 52 –

Jacqueline Guillén, Ariana Burks and Carmen Berkeley in "Dead Girl’s Quinceañera" at the Goodman Theatre. (Justin Barbin)

Review: ‘Dead Girl’s Quinceañera’ at Goodman Theatre turns an apparent abduction into a teenage caper

By Chris Jones

October 6, 2026 at 2:57 p.m.

Phanésia Pharel's new play has a lively cast of adults playing teenagers, and is not...

The actor John C. Reilly is returning to Steppenwolf Theatre for a second engagement of his show, “Mister Romantic.” (Bobbi Rich)

Chicago Theater Report: John C. Reilly is back in Chicago, Baby heads to Broadway and how to get into the Uptown Theatre

By Chris Jones

October 6, 2026 at 1:46 p.m.

The national tour of “Dirty Dancing” in Chicago last month turned out to be a...

Martin "Tre" Dumas III and Bril Barrett of M.A.D.D. Rythms at the Harold Washington Cultural Center in Chicago on Aug. 6, 2026. (Kevin Serna/for Chicago Magazine)

Review: M.A.D.D. Rhythms hoofers from past and present shine, despite technical challenges

By Lauren Warnecke

October 7, 2026 at 2:24 p.m.

M.A.D.D. Rhythms co-founders Bril Barrett and Martin “Tre” Dumas III performed some of the finest...

Steve Carell at an event for the film "Despicable Me 4" on June 24, 2024, in London. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP, File)

Steve Carell will speak at Northwestern University’s 2025 commencement

By Doug George

June 10, 2025 at 2:15 p.m.

Along with addressing Northwestern’s class of 2025, he will receive an honorary degree of Doctor...

The audience watch as Grace Zieman and Molly Clementz perform with other opera singers during the Chicago Fringe Opera improv show at Borelli's Pizza, June 4, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

Whose libretto is it, anyway? Chicago opera company takes on improv

By Hannah Edgar

June 9, 2025 at 11:03 a.m.

What if you took that very Chicago comedy form and made it Mozart? Chicago Fringe...

Charlie McCullagh and ensemble in the musical "42 Balloons" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. (Kyle Flubacker)

The musical ’42 Balloons’ at Chicago Shakes is a producer’s bet on the unknown

By Chris Jones

June 9, 2025 at 5:45 a.m.

Producer Kevin McCollum's musical is based on the true story of “Lawnchair Larry” Walters, a...

Glenn Davis accepts the best play award for "Purpose" onstage during the 78th annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 8, 2025, in New York. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

2025 Tony Awards: Steppenwolf Theatre’s ‘Purpose’ wins best play, ‘Maybe Happy Ending’ is best musical

By Chris Jones

June 9, 2025 at 9:06 a.m.

"Purpose," a drama that was commissioned and first produced by Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company, has...

PHOTOS: Tony Awards 2025: Red Carpet Arrivals

By Rose Abuin

June 8, 2025 at 8:08 p.m.

Stars walk the red carpet at The 78th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music...

Jacqueline Echols McCarley as Rosa Parks in "She Who Dared" by Chicago Opera Theatre in the Studebaker Theater at the Fine Arts Building. (Michael Brosilow)

Review: ‘She Who Dared’ lovingly fact-checks civil rights history

By Hannah Edgar

June 7, 2025 at 11:58 a.m.

Chicago Opera Theater’s world-premiere about the 1950s Montgomery bus boycotts tells the real story, usually...

Justin Banks and Dennis Cockrum in "Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues" by American Blues Theater. (Michael Brosilow)

Review: ‘Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues’ at American Blues is a familiar kind of odd-couple story

By Chris Jones

June 7, 2025 at 5:30 a.m.

This latest collaboration between Charles and Chuck Smith concerns an aging white vaudevillian and an...

Victoria Jaiani and Amanda Assucena in "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland" by the Joffrey Ballet. (Cheryl Mann)

Review: ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ is Joffrey Ballet’s wacky and wonderful season closer

By Lauren Warnecke

June 7, 2025 at 11:36 a.m.

Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon's creation is now at the Lyric Opera House, with a few scary...

Elizabeth McGovern in a previous production of "Ava: The Secret Conversations," coming to the Studebaker Theater in Chicago's Fine Arts Building. (Jeff Lorch)

‘Downton Abbey’ star will bring her play about Ava Gardner to Chicago

By Chris Jones

June 6, 2025 at 2:56 p.m.

Elizabeth McGovern, best known for playing Lady Cora in “Downton Abbey," stars in the show...

Jean Claudio in "Memorabilia" by Teatro Vista at Filament Theatre. (Joel Maisonet)

Review: Powerful play ‘Memorabilia’ explores the hope and limits of memory through the eyes of a clown

By Chris Jones

June 5, 2025 at 2:46 p.m.

Jean Claudio has created a very potent, funny and moving solo show about an inventor...