Making Problems Easier to Swallow

Darling Grenadine – Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre

Harry is a talented, charismatic song writer who shares his Manhattan apartment with Paul, a Labrador Retriever that he rescued from a shelter. Harry’s made a fortune writing a simple jingle for a chain of burger restaurants, and he’s still doodling around composing other songs. But for months Harry’s creativity has stalled, suffering from the musical equivalent of writer’s block. Then one day, following her matinee performance, he meets Louise outside the stage door. She’s a talented youthful musical actress who stands out in the ensemble of her show. But, like Harry, Louise has bigger aspirations. The two hit it off from the start, partially because Harry’s dog is also taken with her.

Redtwist Closes an Excellent Season with a Classic

King Lear – Redtwist Theatre

Redtwist Theatre is closing out its 2018-19 season with a production of Shakespeare’s King Lear, the tragic tale of the king whose ego leads him to divide his kingdom between two of this three daughters because the third will not engage in the fawning and flattery her sisters do. Meanwhile, the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester is plotting to get rid of his father and elder brother and take his father’s title, if not more, for himself.

They’ve Got the Beat

Head Over Heels – Kokandy Productions

Whoever would’ve imagined that a new, surprisingly entertaining musical comedy, based upon a lengthy 16th century poem by Sir Philip Sidney, conceived and fashioned into a script by Jeff Whitty, and adapted for the Broadway stage by James Magruder, would evolve into a toe-tapping jukebox musical? With a score adapted from the songs of popular 80’s girl band, The Go-Go’s, this perky show not only feels original but   groundbreaking. And, in many ways, it is. The musical follows in the footsteps of other unlikely tune-filled Broadway hits, such as “Spring Awakening” and “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” Debuting in 2015 at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the show ran for a month in San Francisco; but its next stop was a dazzling 2018 Broadway production, which just closed this past January.

“One Flea Spare” with Connective Theatre Company

Connective Theatre Company has debuted on the Chicago storefront theatre scene with its inaugural production of One Flea Spare by Naomi Wallace. For this production, Connective Theatre Company has partnered with RefugeeOne (a local refugee resettlement organization) to raise awareness about refugee displacement. Co-directed by Brian Zane (who also treads the stage in this production) and Ashley Joy, the play takes place in 17th century London and unfurls over the course of 28 days. If this first show is indicative of the work to come from this company, then it’s a plague that I’ll gladly get infected by. 

Force Fed Food; Force Fed Beliefs

Hitler’s Tasters – North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie

The second in the lineup for North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie’s Feature Series Summer 2019 Season, “Hitler’s Tasters” runs from July 5th to July 14th. Written by Michelle Kholos Brooks, the show is a dark comedy inspired by true stories and directed by Sarah Norris. Four women take the stage as they are tasked with the stressful order of tasting Adolf Hitler’s food before he consumes it himself to make sure that it is safe and unpoisoned. After completing its run in Chicago, this production will travel to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. This incisive look at how young women aren’t treated well in any age or country only runs for two weekends, so get your tickets NOW.