Comic, Come-Hither Campiness

Cruel Intentions – Broadway in Chicago

If theatergoers are looking for high art, they should probably search elsewhere. Filled with camp comedy, come-hither characters and sexy setups, this jukebox musical by Jordan Ross, Lindsey Rosin and Roger Kumble is based on Kumble’s own popular 1999 movie. In fact, the musical replicates the hit film, while also parodying it. Kumble’s screenplay was a clever, contemporary adaptation of the 1782 French novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, which was adapted into a play by Christopher Hampton.

White Privilege

Admissions – Theatre Wit

In Joshua Harmon’s most recent play, by the factious author of “Bad Jews” and “ Significant Other,” we meet Sherri Mason and her family. She’s the Head of Admissions at Hillcrest, a highly-respected New England prep school. Ms. Mason’s husband Bill is the Dean of the school, and their 17-year-old son Charlie is a promising student, who attends tuition-free because his parents are in high administrative positions at Hillcrest. One of Sherri’s driving goals is to increase the percentage of minority students in her school’s population.

Oh, What a Night!

Jersey Boys – Broadway in Chicago

Time can’t diminish the pure entertainment value and power of this magnificent musical. Repeated viewings don’t lessen the drama and emotional impact of how a young phenom named Frankie Valli, and his buddies, the Four Seasons, evolved into the most popular singing group of their era. And the music—Oh, What a Night! Every song is wonderful. Each inspires the audience to bop their heads, shake their shoulders, tap their toes, snap their fingers and even sing along. These are the tunes that evoke such fond memories of our teenage years, a more innocent time, when pop music stirred our souls and made everyone simply want to just get up and dance!

The Sins of the Past

A Number – Writers Theatre

Set in the sparsely-decorated living room of a home that could easily be anywhere along Chicago’s North Shore, Salter is discovered sitting in his leather club chair as he meets and has a pithy conversation with his son. Perhaps, “sons” would be a more accurate term because, in successive scenes, Salter speaks with three different young men who are, genetically speaking, his progeny, as the result of cloning.

Love is Easy But Relationships Require Work

Afterglow – Pride Films & Plays

The climax is just the beginning. That was the tagline used for the original New York Off-Broadway production, a show that piqued the theatergoer’s interest two years ago and promised a provocative, unusual story. This is a play that begins where others might end, exploring the physical and emotional connection between three young men. David Zak’s Chicago premiere of S. Asher Gelman’s bold, contemporary drama offers audiences the same exploration, while putting his own stamp on this production.

Another Disney Princess

Based upon both the 1997 animated film, as well as the 1956 live-action film, which earned Ingrid Bergman an Academy Award, playwright Terrence McNally write the book for this charming musical that, when reduced to its basics, is a story about another Disney princess. With a lush score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, this musical version, which plays fast and loose with Russian history, opened on Broadway two years ago, but Chicago is finally enjoying this National Tour after five months on the road. It’s a glossy production well worth the wait.

Not For the Squeamish

Yen – Raven Theatre

In Anna Jordan’s prize-winning play about a dysfunctional family, Raven Theatre presents a drama that’s difficult to watch, yet, in the end, mesmerizing to experience. As the story slowly unfolds, and we come to know and understand these four characters, the audience finds a certain tenderness buried inside, along with the strength of brotherly love and a final moment of redemption.

Struggling to Survive

Landladies – Northlight Theatre

Marti is an resourceful woman who decided to leave her job as a nurse’s aide to develop her power as a strong businesswoman. She purchases a couple run-down apartment buildings, in sketchy neighborhoods and becomes an enterprising landlady. In Sharyn Rothstein’s world premiere, commissioned by Northlight Theatre, the story opens as Marti is about to seal the deal in renting an apartment to Christine, a young, single mother, struggling to survive.

The Beginning of the End

The Doctor’s Dilemma – ShawChicago

In May of 1994, Robert Scogin, a lifelong devotee of the works of George Bernard Shaw, had the great idea to produce and star in the playwright’s 1906 black comedy, as a pilot production for a prospective new theatrical comedy. The gifted Mr. Scogin knew exactly what he was doing and understood that there was an audience out there waiting to see and hear Shaw’s works brought to glorious life. Well, it turns out that the comedy would be the illustrious beginning of a company called ShawChicago. Therefore, it’s only fitting that, as expenses have grown and audience attendance has dwindled, “The Doctor’s Dilemma,” sadly, will be the company’s final production.

What Could Be Better

Bright Star – Boho Theatre

Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, both during the 1920’s and in the mid-1940’s, this emotionally charged musical was somewhat based upon a true story. Although the show isn’t historically accurate, it was inspired by a rural legend called “The Iron Mountain Baby.” Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, who collaborated on the book, music and lyrics for this new musical, used the story as their springboard, asking themselves, “What if…?” The resulting musical is filled with everything that audiences love:  beautiful music; an engaging story; tragedy, suffering and remorse; an emotional roller coaster; redemption and a happy ending.