Monthly Archives: May 2026
Unsung Moments of Everyday Life
Do Something Pretty
Melissa Ross is a gifted young playwright who really appreciates those quiet, unsung moments of everyday life. She certainly knows how to focus on and celebrate them. Most writers ignore or shy away from such commonplace incidents, but Ms. Ross employs them to her advantage. In THINNER THAN WATER, the playwright boldly looked at a family of siblings, all with their own individual problems, as they dealt with the death of their father. In A LIFE EXTRA ORDINARY, Ms. Ross took a sweeping look at both the good and the bad moments of Annabel’s life, narrated by the young woman from her grave.
Read More
The Devil’s in the Details
Covenant
A term frequently used in a religious context, someone who makes a contract, a solemn commitment or an agreement with another individual is entering into a covenant. It recalls the promises made by Noah, Abraham or David with God. But in COVENANT, a one-act horror-thriller, a rumor persists that a local young man once made such an unbinding contract with Satan. And, let me tell you, in Chicago playwright York Walker’s frightening new Southern Gothic, the devil is in the details.
Read More
Feeling the Itch
The Hula Hoopin’ Queen
“Today is the day I’m going to beat Jamara Johnson at hooping. Then I’ll be THE HULA HOOPIN’ QUEEN of 139th Street!” Young Kameeka is bound and determined to prove to her friend, Jamara, that she’s no longer holds the title of champion hula hooper. Kameeka is finally going to win the crown today. Then suddenly Kameeka feels the itch, the Hula Hoopin’ itch. Her fingers start snappin,’ her feet start tappin’ and her hips start swingin.’ But Kameeka’s challenge to her hoopin’ friend, Jamara, will just have to wait. Today’s Miss Adeline’s 80th birthday and Kameeka’s planned a special party for the lovable woman who’s been like a grandmother to both her mother and her for many years. But today is also the day Kameeka has planned to win the title of THE HULA HOOPIN’ QUEEN.
Read More
Fanciful Adventures in Space, Friendship, and the Most Unlikely of True Loves
moonwatchers
Taking the tradition of tall tales into science fiction, moonwatchers is a light-hearted romp about opposites in friendship and star-crossed soulmates. The whimsical story written by Nigel Berkely and Corey Farrell, as Directed by Nealie Tinlin, and presented by Lazy Susan Theatre Co. is a high-energy evening of escapism that will lift your spirits. And how better to celebrate the historic Artemis II mission to the far side of the moon than taking in this far out adventure.
Read More
You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught
South Pacific
Spring has finally blossomed in Chicagoland. And with the bounty of beautiful flowers comes an abundance of new shows, both original, Broadway-bound hopefuls and timeless classics of the musical theatre. Paramount’s latest offering is a polished, beautifully directed, acted and, especially, sung production that harkens from Broadway’s Golden Era. This fine presentation is visually stunning and very entertaining, but a few tiny hitches keep this production of SOUTH PACFIC from totally being “Some Enchanted Evening.”
Read More
Facing The Monster
Octet
In what may be the most original, imaginative and unbelievably creative musical I’ve ever had the pleasure to experience, OCTET is enjoying its magnificent Midwest debut. And this utterly fascinating, superbly electrifying, totally mesmerizing musical is guaranteed to rock you to your very core. It’s very different, fresh and unusual, sometimes funny, very often affecting and supercharged by its honest humanity. This may seem contradictory because the 95-minute one-act musical is about a group of people who are all addicted to the internet. It’s a beast, who they collectively refer to as the Monster.
Read More
Fire and Ice
Loki—The End of the World Tour
The gods and goddesses, as well as many of the legendary creatures, heroes and events from Norse mythology, all come to life on the intimate Lifeline stage. Often spilling out into the house and up the aisles, sometimes even including members of the audience, this epic, ambitious and brilliantly spectacular rock musical may be one of the best shows of the year.
Read MoreRECOMMENDED SITES
