Where Do We Go From Here? A Review of “Tango” at Pride Arts
“Tango” addresses the social stigmatization toward gay people in the context of modern-day Singapore.
Sleep Warrior: A Review of “The Dream King” from Teatro Vista
It is in sleep that everything happens, and an office drone becomes a hero and a warrior. His quest is figuring out how to bring his dream life into his real one.
No “Problem” With Hari: A Preview of Hari Kondabolu at the Den Theatre
Comic Hari Kondabolu brings his unique point of view to life to his beloved Chicago audiences at the Den Theatre
An Oedipus Not Complex: A Review of “The Gospel at Colonus” at Court Theatre
Court Theatre continues their series of plays by Sophocles about the last days of Oedipus reimagined as a Pentecostal church service. There is lots of singing, with each cast member displaying tremendous vocal power and range.
Through Grief and Frustration, Joy: A Review of Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre
Known for dances made alongside original music, CRDT presents an evening of work by choreographer Monique Haley. The program, centered around the world premiere of the now-complete “Soul Remedy,” bears the fruits of long-term cultivation.
Dance Top 5: June 2023
Dance puts a toe into the great outdoors this month
Where We Find Ourselves Now: A Review of “What the Constitution Means to Me” at TimeLine Theatre Company
Heidi Schreck’s play showcases our narrator regaling us with her complicated love story. This romance between an American teen circa the 1980s and the United States Constitution circa the 1780s demonstrates just how much can change in a lifetime.
Loveless Truths: A Review of “The Whistleblower” at Theater Wit
Eli is a TV writer who has become sick of writing fictional stories about fantasy heroes, and instead decides to speak only hard, personal truths designed to free himself and others from the grip of life-limiting self-deceptions. Honesty will be his superpower.
All In Good Fun: A Review of “Aztec Human Sacrifice: A Musical about Love, Death, and the End of the World” at City Lit
Parental sacrifice figures large in this original musical.
The Fear of Change: A Review of “The October Storm” at Raven Theatre
The Raven Theatre is transformed into the basement apartment of a three-flat in the 1960s on the South Side of Chicago, where a Black grandmother works tirelessly to protect her home and granddaughter from a wave of change that threatens to destroy their peaceful lives.
Favorites, New and Newer: A Preview of Hubbard Street Dance’s “Facets” at the Harris Theater
Rennie Harris’ new piece, a tribute to Chicago House music and legendary DJ Frankie Knuckles, will appear alongside recent commissions from Hope Boykin, Randy Duncan, and a world premiere from former Hubbard Street company member Rena Butler.
A Modern Muslim Love Story: A Review of “Hatefuck” at First Floor Theater
A show that portrays “real” Muslim characters who spend half the show in their undergarments, twisting and contorting in all manner of sexual positions, and the other half having deep conversations about the damaging depictions of Islamic characters in popular media.
We’re On Our Way! A Review of “Ernest Shackleton Loves Me” by Porchlight Music Theatre
What does an early twentieth-century Arctic explorer and a modern-day single mother/struggling musician have in common? Almost nothing! And yet they make for the most charming companions in a tale of existential grief and nautical adventure.
The Burger King of Comedy: A Preview of Ian Edwards at Zanies
Edwards owes his impressive comedy career to working at a drive-thru.
We Come into Parenthood Fully Formed: A Review of “Antonio’s Song/ I Was Dreaming of a Son” at Goodman Theatre
Antonio Edwards Suarez puts in a career defining performance in this insightful meditation on race and identity.
