Chicago Theatre Review

Monthly Archives: June 2021

He Works Hard for the Money

June 28, 2021 Comments Off on He Works Hard for the Money

Ride Share – Writers Theatre

In the third of three exceptionally fine virtual productions from Writers Theatre, this riveting, powerful one-man drama is the shining jewel on their crown. It’s a heartbreaking story told by Marcus, a 33-year-old African-American man, who’s just trying to make ends meet, earning a decent living and attempting to survive the hardships of the modern world. This 80-minute one-act, written by talented playwright Reginald Edmund, will captivate and hold your attention until the very last gut-wrenching moment.

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What Did You Do To My Script?

June 26, 2021 Comments Off on What Did You Do To My Script?

Dingleberries – Interrogbang Theatre

Interrobang Theatre Project aptly describes their Season 11, entitled Off the Record, as “what happens when the world stops and life becomes viral.” With the quarantine imposed upon us by Covid-19, all live theatre and musical performances were, of course, halted. Theatres discovered new ways to share their stories with audiences, usually offering tickets to viral productions on the internet.

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A Smash Triumph for Music Theater Works

June 21, 2021 Comments Off on A Smash Triumph for Music Theater Works

Legends of the 50s and 60s: Greatest Hits – Music Theater Works

The joint is jumpin’ and rockin’ and rollin’ up in Skokie because a new era is about to begin. Maybe it’s because, after well over a year, this was (to my knowledge) the first live production in the Chicago area. Maybe it’s the fact that this entertaining pop musical revue features so many wonderful hit songs that spark youthful memories for the majority of the audience. Or maybe because this is simply a superbly talented cast performing their hearts out in a beautifully sung and professionally staged production. In any case, we heartily welcome back live theatre and exciting performances, as exemplified by this fantastic celebration of the past!

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Are We Alone?

June 21, 2021 Comments Off on Are We Alone?

We Are Out There! – Chicago Shakespeare Theatre

Next year Chicago Shakespeare gets lost in space, as they present a live production of an original, sci-fi musical. Based loosely upon the classic B-horror film of the 1950’s, “It Came From Outer Space,” this hilarious 45-minute prologue offers a taste of what we can expect from this world premiere musical comedy about extraterrestrial life arriving on earth. It’s a delightful sampler, professionally produced and absolutely tantalizing. After viewing this preview, audiences will be standing in line to see the full production in 2022!

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An Inherently Evil Act

June 18, 2021 Comments Off on An Inherently Evil Act

Ohio State Murders – Goodman Theatre

A well-known author, Suzanne Alexander is revisiting the university she attended between 1949 and 1952. As one of the few African-American students during that turbulent time, Sue found campus life to be a lonely existence. She was forced into living a quiet, segregated, almost isolated life at Ohio State. Despite her appetite for reading classic literature and a gift for excellent writing, acknowledged by her English professor, Suzanne finds that declaring English as her major is met with derision and scorn. 

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What Was Old Is New Again

June 18, 2021 Comments Off on What Was Old Is New Again

The New Classics (A Virtual Broadway Cabaret) – Lyric Opera

Those of us who have been attending live theatre in Chicago long enough to remember The Civic Theatre, which was attached to the Lyric Opera House of Chicago such that they were both part of the same edifice, still quietly mourn the loss of that famous, intimate space through gritted teeth. We all understand that Lyric Opera needed more room backstage if they were going to retain their status as one of the greatest opera companies in the world, and as the world of stage production allowed for larger and more complex sets, there was simply not enough room to keep all the flying horses and swan boats behind the scenes. So, Lyric bought the smaller house, virtually gutted it, (a bit of the proscenium remains, a stark remembrance of one of Chicago’s most renown playhouses), and now the giant dragon-puppets have somewhere to graze between flights. We “get it.” We “understand.” And we grind our teeth.

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