Category: 2015 Reviews

Top 10 Chicago Plays of 2015

 

Matthew Sherbach and Armand Fields star in Northlight Theatre's "Charm". John Mahoney and Audrey Francis star in Steppenwolf's "The Herd". Charli Williams, Anna Dauzvardis and Katrina D. Richards star in Raven Theatre's "Direct from Death Row: The Scottsboro Boys". Bernard White, Nisi Sturgis, Zakiya Young and J. Anthony Crane star in Goodman Theatre's "Disgraced." Becca Savoy, Michael McKeough and Sandy Elias star in Griffin Theatre's "Pocatello".Larry Yando and Eva Louise Balistreiri star in Chicago Shakespeare's "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare. Eunice Woods stars in American Theater Company's "The Project(s)" by PJ Paparelli and Joshua Jaeger. Mike Nussbaum stars in TimeLine Theatre's "The Price" by Arthur Miller.  Brian Parry and Jacqueline Grandt star in Redtwist Theatre's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" by Edward Albee. Brendan Connelly and McKenna Liesman star in Red Theater and Oracle Productions' "R + J: The Vineyard.

Another year, another 12 months of great Chicago theater! 2015 blessed Chicagoland with inspired new works and riveting revivals from a wide range of companies – the largest equity houses to the smallest of the city’s storefronts. Taking into account the 700+ productions that were produced in the Windy City over the last year, here are our reviewer’s picks for the best of the best. Bravo!!

See our picks below the fold

January 1, 2016 | 0 Comments More

Chicago’s Best Theater of 2015

 

Carmen Molina, Claudia DiBiccari, Mykele Callicutt, Paula Ramirez, Preston Tate Jr., Deanna Reed-Foster and James McGuire in Cold Basement Dramatics' "Heat Wave".Scott Danielson, Garrett Lutz and George Toles star in Kokandy Productions' "The Full Monty".Laura Osnes as and Steven Pasquale star in Lyric Opera's "Carousel" by Rodgers and Hammerstein.John Mahoney and Audrey Francis in Steppenwolf Theatre's "The Herd".Sarah Lynn Robinson, Anthony Whitaker and Greg Zawada in Porchlight's "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Form" by Steven Sondheim. Monica West, Kasey Foster and Emma Cadd in Lookingglass Theatre's "Moby Dick".Mariann Mayberry and Brittany Uomoleale star in Steppenwolf Theatre's "Grand Concourse".Steve Haggard and Karen Janes Woditsch star in Writers Theatre's "Doubt: A Parable".Charli Williams , Anna Dauzvardis, Katrina D. Richard, Brandon Greenhouse, and Kevin Patterson star in Raven Theatre's "Direct from Death Row: The Scottsboro Boys".Bernard White and Nisi Sturgis in Goodman Theatre's "Disgraced".Rafael Davila and Bradley Smoak star in Lyric Opera of Chicago's "Bel Canto".Drury Lane Oakbrook presents "Billy Elliot: The Musical," music by Elton John. Becca Savoy, Michael McKeough and Sandy Elias star in Griffin Theatre's "Pocatello".Larry Yando and Eva Louise Balistreiri star in Chicago Shakespeare's "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare.Matthew Sherbach and Armand Fields star in Northlight Theatre's "Charm".Brendan Connelly, Chris Schroeder and Brenda Scott Wlazlo star in Red Theater and Oracle Productions' "R + J: The Vineyard".Melanie Brezill and Patrick Budde star in Chicago Children’s Theatre’s "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane." Colte Julian as Curly and Allison Sill as Laurey in Paramount Theatre's "Oklahoma!". Mike Nussbaum stars in TimeLine Theatre's "The Price" by Arthur Miller. Eunice Woods stars in American Theater Company's "The Project(s)" by PJ Paparelli and Joshua Jaeger.Luce Metrius and Ashley Neil star in A Red Orchid Theatre's "Red Handed Otter." Kelsey Brennan and Greg Matthew Anderson star in Remy Bumppo's "Travesties" by Tom Stoppard.Johanna McKenzie Miller and Alex Goodrich star in Northlight Theatre's "Shining Lives," directed by Jessica Thebus.Brian Parry and Jacqueline Grandt star in Redtwist Theatre's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" by Edward Albee.Eileen Niccolai and Daniela Colucci star in The Shattered Globe's "The Rose Tattoo" by Tennessee Williams. , Shattered Globe Theatre, Brosilow

In a theater community as diverse and talented as Chicago’s, every aspect and genre of stage productions can be found throughout the city on a given week.  2015 was no exception to this fact, as one can see from our reviewers’ picks of the year’s greatest and most memorable works.

See our picks below the fold

December 31, 2015 | 0 Comments More

Review: Gotta Dance (Broadway in Chicago)

Ande De Shields and Georgia Engel star in the pre-Broadway world premiere of "Gotta Dance", directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. (photo credit: Matthew Murphy)         
      
Gotta Dance

Book by Chad Beguelin, Bob Martin
Music by Matthew Sklar, Marvin Hamlisch
Bank of America Theatre, 18 W. Monroe (map)
thru Jan 17  |  tix: $38-$105  |  more info
       
Check for half-price tickets    
  

December 30, 2015 | 0 Comments More

Review: Guys and Dolls (Light Opera Works)

Justin Adair stars as Sky Masterson in Light Opera Works' "Guys and Dolls" by Frank Loesser, directed by Rudy Hogenmiller. (photo credit: Mona Luan)         
      
Guys and Dolls
   
Music, Lyrics by Frank Loesser 
Book by Jo Swerling, Abe Burrows
at Cahn Auditorium, Evanston (map)
thru Jan 3  |  tix: $34-$94  |  more info
       
Check for half-price tickets   
    

December 28, 2015 | 0 Comments More

Review: My Way – A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre)

Carl Herzog stars in Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre's "My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra", directed by Fred Anzevino, music-directed by Jeremy Ramey. (photo credit: Cody Jolly)         
      
My Way 

Conceived by Todd Olson, David Grapes
No Exit Café, 6970 N. Glenwood (map)
thru Jan 31  |  tix: $29-$34   |  more info
       
Check for half-price tickets   

December 23, 2015 | 0 Comments More

Review: Dynamite Divas-A Tribute to Women of Soul (Black Ensemble Theater)

Shari Anderson stars as Aretha Franklin in Black Ensemble Theater's "Dynamite Divas" by Jackie Taylor, directed by Rueben D. Echoles. (photo credit: MIchael Brosilow)         
      

   
Dynamite Divas

Written by Jackie Taylor 
Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark (map)
thru Jan 24  |  tix: $55-$65  |  more info
       
Check for half-price tickets    
    

December 22, 2015 | 1 Comment More

Review: The Nutcracker (Joffrey Ballet Chicago, 2015)

Hansol Jeong stars in Joffrey Ballet's "The Nutcracker," conceived and directed by Robert Joffrey. (photo credit: Cheryl Mann)         
 

       
The Nutcracker

Conceived & Directed by Robert Joffrey
Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress (map)
thru Dec 27  |  tix: $35-$136  |  more info
       
Check for half-price tickets   
    

December 18, 2015 | 1 Comment More

Review: Baritones Unbound (Royal George Theatre)

Nathan Gunn stars in Hershey Felder's "Baritones Unbound", created by Marc Kudisch, Merwin Foard, Jeff Mattsey and Timothy Splain; directed by David Dower. (photo credit: Chuck Osgood)     

        
      
Baritones Unbound

Created by Marc Kudisch, Merwin Foard,
    Jeff Mattsey and Timothy Splain
Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted (map)
thru Jan 3  |  tix: $60  |  more info
       
Check for half-price tickets   
    

December 18, 2015 | 0 Comments More
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