Author: Colin Douglas
Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum
Stereophonic
While listening to your favorite vinyl record album, have you ever wondered what it was like to write and record all that music? STEREOPHONIC is a play with music, written by playwright David Adjmi and featuring original songs by Will Butler. It detailed a fictional band’s recording of their second album, following the amazing popularity of their first record. On the heels of a critically acclaimed Off-Broadway run, Directed by Tony Award-winner Daniel Aukin, the play opened on Broadway in 2023. It went on to make theatre history by garnering the most Tony nominations ever for a play (13, in all) with five wins, including Best Play. And for that reason alone, theatergoers should drop everything and hurry to see this extraordinary production before it leaves Chicago.
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Don’t Feed the Plants!
Little Shop of Horrors
Hey there, Chicagoland! Look who’s back at the Marriott. Kicking off the theatre’s exciting new season of polished, professional, top-notch musicals, the critically acclaimed Lincolnshire Theatre is starting the New Year with another hit show on their hands. For the seasoned theatergoer, this LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS will provide a welcomed reunion; but for anyone newly meeting Audrey, Seymour, Mr. Mushnik, Orin and all the other crazy Skid Row characters from this 1982 comic book horror rock musical, it’s a big welcome! It’s guaranteed that every audience member, both old and new, will leave the Lincolnshire venue with their sides aching from laughter and a sound warning to take with them: “Don’t Feed the Plants!”
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Dancing Toward His Dream
My Life As a Cowboy
Although some Brits call it “Little Manhattan,” the South London Borough of Croydon is no New York City. The hamlet is anything but bright and exciting, and it’s especially boring to Connor. He’s a seventeen-year-old gay kid, living with his Mum and feeling weird, stuck and stagnating in this tiny town. But Connor has an unexpected secret dream and a plan of how to make it come true. He wants to enter the local talent contest as a dancing Country-and-Western cowboy. But in order to achieve his goal and begin dancing toward his dream, Connor needs to solicit the help of his friends.
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Group Chats
Eureka Day
Welcome to the beginning of a new school year at Eureka Day, a fictional, privately run, very liberal elementary school in California. As the curtain rises, five parents who comprise this year’s Advisory Board are discussing the concerns of another parent. It seems they have offered some suggestions for changing the wording in the school’s admission form. As always, the group’s consideration is always for equality, inclusion and diversity in every element of the school. The decision for amending the document must be a unanimous vote, as dictated by Eureka Day’s bi-laws. The school prides itself on showing respect and offering open arms to one and all. There’s a promise that the voice of every staff member, parent and student will always be heard and respected in every situation.
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Melodie de Paris
Phantom in Concert
Gloriously incandescent singing voices and soaring orchestral accompaniment are the hallmarks of Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass’ incredible concert production of Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit’s PHANTOM. Sadly, playing for just two weeks at Naperville’s BrightSide Theatre, this musical is based on the Gothic horror novel by Gaston Leroux. It tells the same story as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s more visually spectacular PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, now playing in Broadway in Chicago’s touring production at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. But the greatest difference is that BrightSide’s harmonic, highly enjoyable version of this book musical focuses far more on the characters and their story. It’s a production filled with soaring strains of music that doesn’t simply impress with bravado, as in the other version. The songs further the plot and define each character in a way that often brings the audience to laughter or tears. This is truly a captivating production, filled with Yeston’s “Melodie de Paris,” that absolutely should not be missed.
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Leapin’ Lizards!
Annie
Music Theater Works, under the fine Direction of Kyle Dougan-LeBlanc, assisted by Andrew Lund, is joyfully celebrating the holiday season with this lovable, tuneful, heart-warming family musical. It’s an appropriately spirited and Christmasy finale to the company’s 2025 season. And, Leapin’ Lizards! It’s hard to believe that this beloved musical classic, that’s become a part of theatre history, is now almost 50 years old!
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A Holiday Gift
Much Ado About Nothing
You know how every once in a while you receive an unexpected present that feels like it was created especially for you? It’s the perfect color, size and style that you would’ve chosen for yourself, but your Secret Santa knew it was exactly what you wanted. It’s like a cup of warm cocoa or a warm hug from a friend—something that only the theatre can give. Well, that’s the very special holiday gift that the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre has waiting for every theatergoer. For several reasons, I was late to this party. But I’m so very glad that, despite the bitter cold and snow, I finally made it to Navy Pier. This delightful, delectable production of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING delivers so much joy, laughter and music that theatergoers may want to return to enjoy it again…and again…and again…
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Deck the Halls With Desperate Divas
The Real Housewives of the North Pole
Every year, theatergoers familiar with the work of Hell in a Handbag’s multitalented Artistic Director, David Cerda, anxiously anticipate his holiday productions. It may be either a revisit to one of their happy holiday classics, or an exciting, brand new production. This year, in celebration of the company’s 24th season, Mr. Cerda has created another original and campy Christmas confection. And this fresh and hilarious holiday production is as au courant and astonishing as it is gaudy and goofy.
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Merry Almost Christmas
A Year with Frog and Toad
Two best friends and next door neighbors, Frog and Toad share a whole year of everyday adventures that children will both identify with and enjoy watching. From baking cookies to frolicking at the beach, from raking Autumn leaves to sledding down the hillside, Frog and Toad, plus their other forest friends, enjoy their lives in the woodland together. As the year goes by lessons are learned and problems are solved because these two devoted friends care so much about each other. Children (and their grownups) will definitely be warmed by the joy and comradery found in their close friendship.
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Footsteps in the Night
Gaslight
A melancholy gloom hangs heavily over the upscale, three-floor flat in Turn-of-the-Century New York City (a beautifully Designed Set by Collette Pollard and Lighted with wavering gaslight and shadow by JR Lederle). Suave, overbearing Victorian gentleman, Jack Manningham, acts as husband and caretaker for his wife, Bella. But Jack is an abusive man, and he’s quietly tormenting his wife, slowly and methodically driving her mad. He flirts with Nancy, the household’s saucy young maid, while accusing his wife of losing things and playing childish pranks on him. Bella simply can’t recall any of this. Since her mother was declared mentally ill, Bella is now questioning her own sanity.
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