Monthly Archives: December 2021
Born To Boogie
Billy Elliot – Music Theater Works
Based upon A.J. Cronin’s The Stars Look Down, “Billy Elliot” began life as a 2000 English film. It tells the story of a motherless boy from a working class background who discovers, purely by accident, that he was born with a gift for ballet. Set during the 1984-85 UK miners’ strike in Northeast England, amidst Maggie Thatcher’s turbulent reign as Britain’s Iron Lady Prime Minister, Billy and his family struggle to survive. His father and brother slave away down in the mines, barely scraping together enough to make ends meet. The boy attends school, helps care for his elderly, often befuddled grandmother and, once a week, pays for boxing lessons at the local hall. When he accidentally wanders into the abrasive Mrs. Wilkinson’s ballet class a light begins to shine. Billy suddenly discovers a hidden talent and his unknown passion for dance.
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A Pursuit of the American Dream
Dishwasher Dreams – Writers Theatre
Every so often a story comes along that really makes you feel deeply and think about who you are and how you got to that place in life. Alaudin Ullah, an actor and stand-up comic, whose parents immigrated to America from Bangladesh in the early 20th century, is currently performing his one-man show at Writers Theatre. And Mr. Ullah’s very touching, often humorous performance, is such a story.
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Someone’s Murdered Charles Haversham!
The Play That Goes Wrong – Broadway in Chicago
Anyone who’s ever performed in or worked on a play, or even sat in the audience of a production, knows that in theatre, from time to time, anything that CAN go wrong—WILL go wrong. Theatre is rife with unforeseen possibilities. Lines can be dropped, the set might create a problem, a prop may be misplaced, a light or sound cue could malfunction, a costume might rip, and so on. The three clever Brits who penned this hysterical farce know of what they write. They’ve incorporated into this mock murder melodrama every conceivable boo boo and blunder that’s ever challenged the cast of a play. The result is two hours of unstoppable mayhem and riotous laughter. Remember, as you’re watching this insanity, that just when you think it can’t get any funnier, another unbelievable incident is going to top what you’ve just witnessed.
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A Modern Twist on an Old Fairy Tale
Pretty Woman: The Musical – Broadway in Chicago
Garry Marshall had always envisioned his 1990 hit romantic comedy as a musical. He’d actually been writing the script for a theatrical version at the time of his death. Producer Paula Wagner promised Marshall that work would continue on his dream project, and she kept her word. Returning to Chicago, where the musical had its 2018 pre-Broadway tryout, the Windy City is fondly embracing the show that went on to play over 400 performances in NYC, as well as around the world. The musical also won several Broadway.com Audience awards a year later.
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Memories Are Made of This
8-Track: The Sounds of the ’70’s
All I can say is, “Everything is Beautiful” during this 80-minute blast from the past, now playing throughout most of January at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre. The electrifying sounds of the 1970’s, filled with all those pleasantly pulsating rhythms and brilliant, tightly-blended harmonies, is currently filling this revered Evanston venue with unbridled joy. I defy anyone to remain serene and motionless while sitting through this marvelous production. Every audience member will be bopping their heads, snapping their fingers, tapping their feet, clapping their hands and singing along throughout this enchanting musical revue.
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A Bright(man) Start to Christmas
Sarah Brightman – A Christmas Symphony – Auditorium Theatre
Sarah Brightman–the world-renowned soprano–is currently ringing in the holidays all around the country as part of her “A Christmas Symphony” tour. Many may already be familiar with her iconic renditions of Christmas classics. Others may know her as the Christine Daaé from Phantom of the Opera. But even if you are not familiar with Sarah Brightman this is a must-see performance.
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You Can Chris-My-Ass-Miss!
Q Brothers Christmas Carol – Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
Yay, hooray! It’s back once again at Chicago Shakespeare’s Yard Theater. This dynamic, mega-popular, high spirited and endlessly creative retelling of the Charles Dickens classic makes for an animated reopening of the venue and a welcome to the holiday season. This zippy one-act, written by the Q Brothers Collective, displays so much creativity and sheer energy, coupled with its finesse and fleetness of presentation, presents a constant source of abundant entertainment. The cleverness of the script and songs, makes for a joyful evening at the theatre. While the show might be aimed at younger theatergoers, savvy audiences of all ages will delight in the imaginative retelling of a familiar story.
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A Live Musical Radio Play
Miracle on 34th Street – BrightSide Theatre
Last holiday season, Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass and Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak, much like every other venue, were simply trying keep BrightSide Theatre afloat during the pandemic shutdown. This year it’s a different story. Although we’re still dealing with Covid-19, it’s become a little more under control. The virus, however, has made health and safety demands on most restaurants and entertainment venues. BrightSide is one of hundreds of theatres that demand proof of vaccination from their patrons and insist upon their wearing masks throughout the evening. But the best news is that BrightSide Theatre is back again. And with its return, the company has resurrected a very popular classic holiday story for the reopening of its doors. The story, set to original music, asks the question, Is there really a Santa Claus?
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Fun Facts Amid Fearlessness
When Harry Met Rehab – Greenhouse Theatre
An affable, long-time Chicago sports radio personality attends a meeting with his lawyer, only to discover it’s actually an intervention. He’s told, in no uncertain terms, that if he doesn’t enter a rehabilitation center to cure his uncontrolled drinking, he’s going to lose his job…and maybe more. Hiding behind jokes, lies and denial, Harry tries to beat the disease and come out on top. Based upon real-life events shared by Windy City on-air sports celebrity Harry Teinowitz, this world premiere 90-minute one-act drama, written by Teinowitz and Spike Manton, is a roller coaster ride of emotions. While there are many sobering moments of deep sadness and sincere sentiment, the play is tempered with lots of laughter and lighter moments. Hope, determination and the strength they draw from each other help guide the way for the individuals of this rehab facility.
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Santa, Won’t You Come?
Christmas Dearest – Hell in a Handbag
Just when you think you’ve experienced every possible version of A Christmas Carol, David Cerda, that talented theatrical actor, singer, dancer, playwright, composer and lyricist, comes up with a new riff on the story. In this campy treatment of the Dickens classic, Scrooge is 1930’s movie queen, Joan Crawford. She’s filming a musical biopic of Jesus, in which she plays (what else?) the Virgin Mary. True to form, Joan’s not simply crabby and miserly; she’s working her cast and crew late on Christmas Eve and demands that everyone report to work early the following morning on Christmas Day.
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