Theater Reviews

Four musicians perform on stage; one sings and plays guitar in front, with a drummer, guitarist, and upright bassist behind. A bright neon APOLLO sign and red curtains are in the background.

by Tristan Bruns | September 11, 2026

Rock Around With “Buddy” at Drury Lane Theatre Joey Chelius resurrects the hitmaker and teen heartthrob in “The Buddy Holly Story.”

Seven actors on stage, some standing and some kneeling, appear engaged in a dramatic scene. One woman with red hair gestures passionately, while others look at her intently. A cross and simple set pieces are in the background.

by Mary Wisniewski | September 10, 2026

“The Man Who Fell With the Rain” Sells an Angel for Parts Trap Door Theatre puts on a simple yet powerful play based on a short story by magical realist master Gabriel García Márquez that makes one wonder if there's anything humans won't exploit.

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.

A man dressed as a cowboy kneels on stage holding a revolver, wearing a brown coat and black hat, with a wooden saloon backdrop and dramatic lighting.

by Mary Wisniewski | September 3, 2026

City Lit’s “Shane” Brings the Western Novel to the Stage Mark Pracht's adaptation of the 1949 book rewrites masculinity in a Western setting, with a phenomenal performance by lead Michael B. Woods.

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.

A person in a red shirt and jeans sits thoughtfully on a black armchair on stage next to a lamp and books, with large windows and stage lights in the background.

by Amanda Finn | August 26, 2026

Siblings Struggle To Connect in “Sisters” at Writers Theatre The production, which shows the relationship between a human woman and her AI sister over decades, does little to push any conversation of this technology forward.

A large crowd gathers at an outdoor amphitheater in a city, seated and standing near the stage under a steel canopy, with skyscrapers and trees in the background.

by Dennis Polkow | August 19, 2026

Broadway in Chicago’s Millennium Park Summer Concert Previews Their 2026-27 Season The evening of performances gave Chicago audiences a sampling of the productions that will appear on the company's stages in the year to come.

Two men in suits stand in a room with arched ceilings, facing a seated woman. Another person sits in the background at a table. The scene is dimly lit with lamps and chandeliers.

by Hugh Iglarsh | August 7, 2026

Gift Theatre’s “Marble” Starts Strong Before Going Cold and Hard Endings are never easy, but rarely does a play that begins so well move so decisively in the wrong direction as does Marina Carr’s 2009 work, an Irish dramedy that’s almost salvaged by a quartet of powerful performances.

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 woman in a light pink suit stands on stage holding a microphone, smiling, with dramatic red curtains and spotlight behind her.

by Christine Trevino | July 30, 2026

“Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares,” A Show Starring One of Broadway’s Favorite Leading Ladies Benanti bridges the gap between Broadway and stand-up in this playful one-woman show.

Six young people sit closely together on a table under dramatic blue stage lighting, looking in different directions with concerned or apprehensive expressions.

by Hugh Iglarsh | July 29, 2026

“The American Project” Translates Hard-Won Truth into Heartfelt Beauty Presented by the youth and community-focused Albany Park Theater Project, the production is completely sold out for good reason: this is drama that glows red hot with passion and authenticity.

A group of actors in period costumes perform a dramatic scene on an outdoor stage with green steps and medieval-style banners; one man stands in front, looking pensive, while others watch or kneel behind him.

by Mary Wisniewski | July 24, 2026

American Players Theatre’s Wondrous “As You Like It,” Staged in the Woods In Shakespeare's comedy, the characters go to the forest and become more fully human. The same thing happens when you see theater in the woods at Spring Green, Wisconsin.

Actors on stage in period costumes perform a dramatic scene in a restaurant setting; two dine at a table left, while four others hide behind a privacy screen on the right, some crouching on the floor.

by Mary Wisniewski | July 20, 2026

“The Matchmaker” Is the Play That Became “Hello, Dolly!” On stage at American Players Theatre, Wisconsin native Thornton Wilder's play is an old-fashioned but well-made farce that was later adapted into the 1964 Broadway hit.

Four actors wearing animal masks perform dramatically on stage under orange spotlight, striking expressive poses. The background is dimly lit with posters and props, creating a mysterious atmosphere.

by Robert Eric Shoemaker | July 16, 2026

“Safe Landing: Coyote Embrace” Is Caught Between Genres Authentic Chicago Ensemble production spans everything from coyote-masked interpretive dance to a thriller with hitmen, trapping itself in too many conflicting choices.