Chicago Theatre Review
Soaring Beyond the Rooftops
Fiddler on the Roof
Jim Corti rings down the curtain of his second, highly successful season at Aurora’s beautiful Paramount Theatre with a robust, beautifully designed and professionally acted remounting of yet another classic from Broadway’s Golden Age. Joseph Stein’s dramatic adaptation of Sholem Aleichem’s stories about Tevye, a Jewish peasant milkman, his family, friends and neighbors, all trying to survive poverty, oppression and change in turn-of-the-century Russia, is one of the most often-produced and best-loved musicals of all time. Filled with beautiful music by Jerry Bock with lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, this show could simply be presented as written with confidence. But that’s not Mr. Corti’s style.
Read MoreMB FINANCIAL PARK AT ROSEMONT GOES MAD IN MARCH
Announcing St. Patrick’s Day, March Madness and Easter
Celebrations at MB Financial Park’s Restaurants and Attractions
This March, MB Financial Park at Rosemont’s unparalleled roster of restaurants and attractions will offer specials all month long in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, March Madness and Easter.
Between the weekend-long lineup of St. Pat’s festivities March 15 – 17 at Five Roses Pub, Hofbräuhaus Chicago’s Grand Opening celebration March 18, Kings Lanes, Lounge & Sports March Madness tournament March 27 and family-friendly packages for Easter Sunday, March 31 – not to mention Adobe Gila’s Margarita Fajita Cantina, Bogart’s Bar & Grill, Park Tavern and Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill – MB Financial Park at Rosemont has something for everyone this March.
For more information visit www.Rosemont.com.
FASHION OUTLETS OF CHICAGO ANNOUNCES RETAIL LINEUP
Bloomingdale’s The Outlet Store, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th
and 120 brands to open August 1, 2013
Premier U.S. outlet developer and manager AWE Talisman and Macerich (NYSE:MAC), one of the nation’s leading regional mall owners, operators and developers, today named the full slate of anchors and the list of specialty stores coming to Fashion Outlets of Chicago. The new property is set to open just outside of Chicago – minutes away from O’Hare International Airport – in Rosemont, Ill., on August 1, 2013.
Anchors opening at the two-level, 530,000 square-foot outlet mall include Bloomingdale’s The Outlet Store, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th and Forever 21.
Chalk Up Another One for Promethean Theatre Ensemble
By Lazlo Collins
Recommended
The Promethean Theater Ensemble’s “The Caucasian Chalk Circle “is a visual and auditory delight! The baby is never thrown out with the bathwater in this inventive telling of this well-trod Bertolt Brecht classic.
With lovely original music by Matt Kahler moving the tale along; this classic tale of a government’s fall, a servant’s journey, and love reunited is high energy fun. Director Ed Rutherford’s clever staging and new vision keep this story relevant.
The play is as relevant today as when it was written in 1944. Keeping all the socially relevant aspects, but keep the action moving was a great move for director and company. This is the story of an abandoned child of the wealthy rulers who is raised by a servant on the run. Ultimately, through time and troubles, the now toddler is brought to the court to determine who’s
child it REALLY is (or should be). Is it the one who bore the child, or the one who brought up the child? The results will “tug” at your heartstrings.
A strong beginning and pleasant thread through the play was the likeable Cary Davenport as the Lead Singer. He has a lovely voice and gets the ball rolling and keeps things moving.
The talented cast of young energy and commitment was impressive. I loved the multi-player and multi orchestral aspect of the show. I was impressed with the acting and the musicianship that was displayed throughout the show.
Sara Gorsky as “Grusha” was an exceptional stand out. With a just a few moments to breathe throughout the show, Ms. Gorsky moves through her songs and story with ease and admirable commitment.
Also, Teddy Lance as “Azdak” was another high energy stand out. His delivery of the judge and other characters was unique. His tongue twisting prose kept me engaged during his turn on stage. His confidence was palpable.
“Corporal”, Alex Mauney, was great to watch and fear.
All the designers of the show should be very happy with all their efforts. The puppetry, props, and set design worked well. The wall of goods was especially effective. My kudos to the actors on opening night who improvised a hilarious bit of replacing a coffee pot that had fallen off the wall; well done.
Although the show moved swiftly and with high energy, the second act feels a little slow. I hope this cast keeps up the pace throughout the run of this sweet inventive offering from Promethean.
“The Caucasian Chalk Circle” runs through 9 February 2012 at City Lit Theater Space. For tickets go to www.brownpapertickets.com or call 1-800-838-3006.
For more information on this and other shows please visit theatre in Chicago at www.theatreinchicago.com
‘Hänsel un Gretel’ at Lyric Opera Gives Audiences A Lot To Chew On
Most people are familiar with the Grimm brothers’ fairy tale ‘Hansel and Gretel’, with the sugary, enticing house and the evil witch who bakes children. But for the Christmas season, Chicago gets a special treat as Lyric Opera presents ‘Hänsel un Gretel’ as a coproduction with the Welsh National Opera.
The libretto was written at the very end of the nineteenth-century by Adelheid Wette, wife of opera composer Engelbert Humperdinck, as a Christmas present for her children. She asked him to write songs to go along with the story, and after many revisions, Humperdinck turned his work into a full opera, and it as first performed during the Christmas season in Weimar in 1893 conducted by Richard Strauss.
Read MoreTHE 79TH McDONALD’S® THANKSGIVING PARADE
Millions of parade-goers will kick off Thanksgiving Day amidst sky-high balloons, dazzling equestrian units, the nation’s top marching bands, talented dance troupes and the best in varied cultural entertainment. This year’s M
cDonald’s® Thanksgiving Parade will take place LIVE on State Street between Congress Parkway and Randolph Street in downtown Chicago on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (CST). For those not on the street for the cherished annual parade, the festivities will be broadcast live on WGN-9 Chicago and WGN America.
SHADES OF BLUES
reflective of an African-American blues aesthetic. Shades of Blues: A Conversation on the Classic Works of August Wilson and Lonn
e Elder III from a Blues (Music)
Perspective takes place Saturday, November 3rd from 4-6 pm at The Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th Street @ Drexel Blvd., Room 801.
This October and November at Mayne Stage
Mayne Stage proudly presents a full lineup of eclectic events this October and November featuring XRT welcomes Leon Russell, double bill with new wave bands Bow Wow Wow and Men Without Hats, Indian electronic pioneer
Karsh Kale and more. Tickets are currently on sale at (866) 468-3401 or www.maynestage.com
QUEST THEATRE CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF FREE CHICAGO THEATRE
Quest Theatre Ensemble celebrates ten years as “The People's Theatre” with THE PEOPLE’S EXHIBIT – A 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, running November 16th -18th, 2012. With events planned for everyone in the family, there's plenty of opportunity to
support the company that says, “We don’t care if you’re old, young, rich, poor, tall, small, skinny or fat. Art belongs to everyone. Theater should be free. Everyone is
welcome!”
Tickets available for purchase at www.questensemble.org
The Millionairess
A Hit from the Heart
(particularly) her dad and a floppy stuffed rabbit called Knuffle Bunny.
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