Chicago Theatre Review
A Mighty Maiden With a Mission
Princess Ida
As Lindsey Baer, the talented musical director and orchestra conductor of PRINCESS IDA, launches into the operetta’s rousing Overture, theatergoers are treated to an informative dramatic prologue to the story. Director Kingsley Day’s delightful production cleverly begins with a pantomime depicting Ida, as a little girl. After she gleefully discovers some books, discarded by her three doofus brothers, young Ida resigns herself to the bad behavior of the young men. This ingenious opening scene lays the ground for who the Princess will ultimately become as an adult: a “Mighty Maiden With a Mission.”
Read MoreMove Toward the Darkness
The Addams Family
Fall has arrived and there’s a definite chill in the air—especially at BrightSide Theatre. Celebrating the company’s 15th Anniversary, the theatre kicks off their 2026-27 season with a musical that’s not only perfect for Halloween, but a show that began its life in Chicago. In 2009, THE ADDAMS FAMILY had its preBroadway tryout. Despite a star-studded cast it opened to mixed reviews. Following a much-needed script revision, by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (JERSEY BOYS, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER), and some changes, additions and deletions to the score, with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa (BIG FISH, THE WILD PARTY), the musical opened on Broadway the following year.
Read MoreA Brilliant Musical Comedy
Operation Mincemeat
From the unusual title to the bizarre television commercials advertising the show, OPERATION MINCEMEAT certainly wasn’t on my list of must-see musicals. Well, it most definitely is now! Anywhere this show is playing, I will be in the audience. And may I recommend that OPERATION MINCEMEAT should be on the must-see list of 1.) every musical theatre lover, 2.) all fans of wacky British humor and 3.) for every true history aficionado in Chicagoland. OPERATION MINCEMEAT is absolutely a brilliant musical comedy, and it should definitely not be missed.
Read MoreSibling Rivalry and Resentment
Topdog/Underdog
The American Dream is a joke for many, especially if you’re a member of a minority. In this commanding production, moments of dark, adult comedy are offset by sudden, knee-jerk periods of violence in this 2002 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Suzan-Lori Parks. The two-act play takes a deep, probing look at the sibling rivalry and resentment that’s been building and festering for years between two African American brothers.
Read MoreA Multitude of Mayhem
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
A little Boy decides that he’d rather stay at home and read his new comic book, while his Mom spends the afternoon visiting his Aunt Polly. Just as he begins enjoying his Jungle Man magazine, the generous, kind and polite young man receives a surprise visit from a rascally rodent who has more requests than the Boy could ever imagine. After the courteous kid offers the hungry Mouse a delicious chocolate chip-and-oatmeal cookie, the rodent politely asks for a glass of milk. But since he’s so tiny and the glass is so tall, the Mouse hints that a straw would be useful. And so begins an afternoon of requests that result in a multitude of mayhem and messes for the little Boy to clean up, before Mom gets home.
Read MoreBustin’ Out
You Can’t Fake the Funk
They often say that everything old is new again. Well, in celebration of Black Ensemble Theater’s dazzling and impressive 50th anniversary this exuberant, exciting musical revue has rediscovered, refreshed and recast to become a much-applauded, brand new production all over again. While a company of gloriously gifted singers, dancers and musicians were pouring their hearts out to entertain the audience, most of the theatergoers were leaping out of their seats, clapping, singing and dancing along. The performance was like being at a huge, happy block party, where the fun never stops “Bustin’ Out”!
Read MoreFanatic Fandom
I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire
Teenage obsession turns into a sad and sinister fetish in Samantha Hurley’s absurdist, over-the-top, one-act comic drama. Meet young Shelby Hinkley. She’s a petite, 14-year-old eighth-grader who’s pretty intense and rabidly obsessed with movie star, Tobey Maguire. Did I say obsessed? Shelby is consumed, fixated on and dominated by the handsome young actor. It’s 2004 and being the self-proclaimed president of the Tobey Maguire Fan Club is pretty much Shelby’s entire existence.
Read MoreTake the A Train
Play On!
In 1996, a cleverly written musical version of Shakespeare’s classic, TWELFTH NIGHT, conceived and directed by Sheldon Epps, featured a clever update in a book by Cheryl L.West. She shifted the comedy to Harlem during the 1940’s. Because we’re suddenly in New York at the famed Cotton Club during the Swing Era, the musical score dictates it be based upon the iconic music of Duke Ellington. All the characters in this musical are based upon original Shakespearean characters, but with names that reflect the originals, that were given by the Bard. But the basic story is essentially the same and it’s quite delightful.
Read MoreThe Kindness of Strangers
Kowalski
Anyone who has ever read about an event, and thought to himself, “What would it have been like to be there,” will fall in love with KOWALSKI. The highly anticipated one-act play by Gregg Ostrin nicely continues Lookingglass Theatre Company’s 2026-27 season. For theatergoers who relish the kind of fictionalized historical scenarios captured in such plays as HENRY V, THE CRUCIBLE or AMADEUS, this is a great evening of theatre. And for audiences who can’t get enough of the backstories behind great plays, their gifted authors and the talented stars of the original Broadway productions, KOWALSKI will be like mothers’ milk to them. But actually, anyone who simply enjoys a well-written, beautifully directed and professionally performed drama, liberally laced with comedy, will love this new play.
Read MoreDivine Contract Killing
Prayer Circle
Most people have probably known someone who has made their lives miserable, if not completely unlivable. It’s a sad fact of life. We wish, hope and pray for that person to just vanish and leave us alone. It would be great if, somehow, we could get rid of that individual, without breaking the law or dirtying our hands. Playwright Erik Gernand’s full-length, 90-minute one-act is about a prayer group at a small country church whose members discover that their invocations to God have far greater consequences than they ever imagined possible. Essentially, this gathering of seemingly innocent parishioners discover they can and will unite every week in a spate of divine contract killing.
Read MoreRECOMMENDED SITES
