Author: Colin Douglas
Out, Loud and Proud
TL; DR: Thelma Louise; Dyke Remix
Theo Ubique continues their praiseworthy mission to present and support new, groundbreaking musicals with this Midwest Premiere. This musical (with the strange title) is a riff on the iconic 1991 film, “Thelma & Louise.” The show features a book by EllaRose Chary, Music by Brandon James Gwinn, with Lyrics co-written by both Chary and Gwinn. The musical, which had its World Premiere at the Diversionary Theatre in San Diego just a year ago, is part Punk Rock concert and Garage Band performance, and partly an exploration of what it means to recognize who you are. The musical weighs in on a person having the courage to come out as gay, while still feeling comfortable in their own skin. In all, the show is an irreverent, dynamic, in-your-face piece that’s presented from a feminist viewpoint. It also looks at various representations of being queer, while also challenging who gets to enjoy a happy ending in their story. The musical’s most definitely out, loud and proud.
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You’ve No Idea What I’m Capable Of
Misery
Just in time for the Halloween season, Citadel Theatre presents this horrifying, tension-filled one-act drama. With its slow build, MISERY is almost relentless in its emotional terror. Written by Highland Park-born screenwriter and playwright, William Goldman (“The Princess Bride”), adapted from Stephen King’s acclaimed psychologically suspenseful novel and Rob Reiner’s tense 1990 film, this riveting ninety-minute thriller grabs hold of the audience and never lets go until the very end.
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Between Holding on and Letting Go
Ashland Avenue
Welcome to Pete’s Television and Radio. For forty years, Pete’s owned and managed fifteen branches of his popular business, in addition to the main branch which is located on Ashland Avenue, on Chicago’s North side of the city. Pete’s known for his homey friendliness and his over-the-top television commercials. Because the world turns and things continually change, progress has affected Pete’s business dynasty. New rival competition and the popularity of online shopping have resulted in the closure of the branch locations, leaving only his main store in operation. But the Ashland Avenue shop hasn’t seen a customer all week and so its future is in jeopardy.
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Let the Good Times Roll
Blue Heaven
And I guess that’s why they call it the Blues. This powerful genre of music, that we call the Blues, emerged from the oppressed and economically disadvantaged African-American communities in the rural South. This musical style’s often believed to have originated during the 19th century, following the end of the Civil War. Blues singers and composers were descendants of slaves, but elements of their music can be traced back to its origins in Africa.
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A Warm and Welcoming Sitcom
The First Lady of Television
From an autobiographical skit that portrayed a Jewish family living in a Bronx tenement, to the first 15-minute episode of a radio program called “The Rise of the Goldbergs,” Gertrude Berg blazed a trail in entertainment. It was 1929 and families who could afford a radio gathered together to listen to the adventures of a typical American family. Eventually in 1951, Ms. Berg convinced CBS to produce the popular radio show as one of TV’s first sitcoms. The television show, now simply titled “The Goldbergs,” turned into a long-running hit. It even won Gertrude Berg the first ever Emmy Award for Lead Actress in a Television Series, during its 20th year of programming.
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Mystery or Thriller
Dial M For Murder
To paraphrase Robert Frost, two roads diverge in the theatre. One is the Mystery and the other is the Thriller. But aren’t they the same, you may ask? Not exactly, although they’re definitely related. In a Mystery, a crime is presented and for the rest of the play, which is usually slowly paced, someone attempts to solve it. The Mystery lets the audience try to figure out whodunit, along with the characters. But in a Thriller, which is usually fast-paced and progresses in the here and now, the stakes are high. Thrillers are moody and provide heightened tension, suspense, fear, surprise and anxiety. There’s often an unexpected twist and usually much more action than in the Mystery. The Thriller is dark and gritty and explores the dangerous side of human nature. Also, the Thriller places the theatergoer inside the story, casting him or her as the worried observer.
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Wine With a Side Order of Absurdity
Things With Friends
Gloom and doom aside, here’s a little tidbit of unpleasant news to chill your blood. Last February, the Doomsday Clock, which signals how close we are to destroying our own world with the technologies we’ve invented, was reset to 89 seconds to midnight. In other words, we’re on a breakneck course of unprecedented danger and risk. Continuing along this course to destruction will be madness. The effects of these human activities on the earth are irreversible, although environmental scientists have pleaded for adjustments to help curb global warming and climate change. And therein lies a tale.
Read MoreThe Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree
Refracted Light
More and more, individuals of all ages are recognizing when they finally need some emotional help. They’re not ashamed to seek assistance after being diagnosed with mental health issues. In addition to talking with a therapist, medication is often prescribed for a patient. However, there are sometimes negative side effects that cancel the positive power of the drugs. This is one of the problems that playwright Dana Hall deals with in her new play, now being given a respectable world premiere at Eclectic Full Contact Theatre. But there are other complications within this drama and we soon discover that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
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Live in Living Color
Catch Me If You Can
It’s hard to believe, but every time we think we’ve seen the best musical that the marvelous Marriott’s Lincolnshire Theatre will ever produce, they prove us wrong. Along comes yet another fantastic show that takes the title. And to make this production even more amazing, the plot is based on real life. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, a stranger-than-fiction musical, is about a wily teenage con artist who will both mesmerize and move the audience. While laughing at the surprising but zany antics of the leading character, and applauding the artistic skill of the ensemble, theatergoers will find themselves caring for and empathizing with Frank Abagnale, Jr. He’s a young man pursuing a far-fetched fantasy life that is, as he sings, “Live in Living Color.”
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Welcome to the Rock
Come From Away
Once you’ve seen this extraordinary, exhilarating and life-affirming musical, now playing in a gorgeous production at the Paramount Theatre through October 12, you’ll be forever changed. First of all, this musical is not, as many have labeled it, about the 9/11 tragedy. Yes, the story is based upon how that horrific Islamist Al-Qaeda terrorist attack in 2001 affected so many lives, other than the almost 3,000 who died. But the musical isn’t about the actual tragedy. It’s a transforming, uplifting and brilliantly written and performed show that’s inspired by the appalling events of that day. COME FROM AWAY is a truly cathartic experience about the triumph of humanity over hatred. It’s an inspiring, joyful, sometimes funny and often heartbreaking true story that celebrates the goodness that lives within each of us. It reminds us what can happen when people put aside their fears, prejudices and hostility to embrace what it means to be human. So, as the cast sings, “Welcome to the Rock.”
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