No Strings Attached

Pinocchio – House Theatre

Although there have been many versions and incarnations of Carlo Collodi’s 1883 children’s novel, The Adventures of Pinocchio, probably the most familiar is the groundbreaking 1940 animated version by the Walt Disney Studios. Because of this full-length cartoon, everyone’s pretty familiar with the story. They know about the lonely woodcarver named Geppetto who creates a little wooden puppet who eventually becomes a real boy. Audiences remember Jiminy Cricket, the cunning Fox and Cat, the evil puppeteer Stromboli, Lampwick, Pleasure Island and Monstro the whale. And, of course, they remember the beautiful Blue Fairy and how “When You Wish Upon a Star” made everything end happily ever after.

A Children’s Tale of Loss and Recovery

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane – Filament Theatre

Filament Theatre, the little Portage Park center for children and family entertainment and education, is known for its exciting, incredibly inventive productions of kid’s stories. But this magnificently moving adaptation of Kate DiCamillo’s 2006 children’s novel about self-discovery may be the company’s finest production in a long line of great theatre.

A Solo Performance That Dazzles

The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey – American Blues Theater

When this unique mystery story begins, New Jersey Detective Chuck DeSantis gets word from his receptionist that a lady and her teenage daughter have been waiting to see him. When the two women burst into the gumshoe’s office, DeSantis learns from Ellen Hertle that Leonard, her 14-year-old adopted nephew, has been missing for almost 24 hours. When Ellen breaks down, Phoebe, her teenaged daughter, continues providing DeSantis with details about the boy.

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.