Rob Silverman Ascher

A man gestures dramatically on stage under colorful lights, while a woman with long hair stands behind him. The set includes painted trees and artwork, evoking an artistic or theatrical scene.

by Rob Silverman Ascher | September 8, 2026

“Sunday in the Park With George” Shares the Downsides of the Art Life Kokandy's intimate staging focuses less on the grandeur of Seurat’s pointillist magnum opus and more on the cerebral tortures of being an artist.

Three people sit on the floor around a bed, laughing and drinking together in a cozy, colorful room with rugs, pillows, and a dresser. Empty chairs line the wall, and a photo is taped to a white door in the background.

by Rob Silverman Ascher | August 31, 2026

The Teenagers in “Adolescent Salvation” Are Not Just Kids The Chicago premiere of Tim Venable's play starts as a Zoomer screwball and ends as an indictment of the way adults fail to protect their children.

Three people in white lab coats examine a small animal cage. One person reaches inside the cage, while another holds a clipboard. The background is covered in layers of newspaper pages.

by Rob Silverman Ascher | August 27, 2026

Jackalope’s Living Newspaper Festival Brings Today’s Headlines to the Stage Jackalope's seventeenth edition of the festival turned five recent news stories into short plays, accompanied by filmed commentary from two news anchors.

Three actors perform on stage; one reclines on a bed in a blue coat, holding a map and gazing at another in green, while a third sits nearby in pink, watching the interaction. The setting suggests a theatrical, possibly comedic, scene.

by Rob Silverman Ascher | August 6, 2026

“yo ho.” Is a Queer Love Story Set on the High Seas The world premiere from Babes With Blades Theatre Company is a comic twist on the fabled romance between the noted pirates Mary Read and Anne Bonny.

A man in a black tank top holds a knife above another man who is kneeling with his eyes closed and hands clasped in prayer, set against a blue-lit background with arches and draped curtains.

by Rob Silverman Ascher | July 10, 2026

“Hamlet” Plays Under the Oak Park Skies The Oak Park Festival Theatre's take on Shakespeare's classic, directed by Peter G. Andersen, is a blend of modernization and appreciation.

Two people in heavy jackets stand close together in the cold, with one person embracing the other from behind. Their faces are illuminated against a dark, misty background, creating a dramatic atmosphere.

by Rob Silverman Ascher | June 15, 2026

“Brokeback Mountain” Brings Queer Intimacy to a Grand Wyoming Setting Chicago Shakespeare Theater stages the U.S. premiere of Ashley Robinson’s adaptation, presenting Annie Proulx’s love story as a play with music.