SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED Where: Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, 721 Howard St., Evanston When: through Jan. 26 Tickets: $42-$57 (optional dinner $29) Phone: 773-347-1109 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic Working” isn’t quite working anymore despite the best efforts of Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre’s talented six-person cast and the spirited musicians led by music director/keyboardist Jeremy Ramey. The […]
RECOMMENDED Where: TimeLine Theatre Company, 615 W. Wellington Ave. When: through Jan. 12 Tickets: $42-$57 Phone: 773-281-8463 x 6 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic TimeLine Theatre Company’s knack for staging interesting, historically significant plays that few people have heard about continues with Githa Sowerby’s “Rutherford and Son.” Originally produced at London’s Royal Court Theatre in […]
RECOMMENDED Where: Lookingglass Theatre Company, Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. When: through Jan. 26, 2020 Tickets: $45-$85 Phone: 312-337-0665 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic Back for its second year at Lookingglass, “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” already is justifiably a classic. My feelings about it remain pretty much the same, so I’m reprinting […]
RECOMMENDED Where: Firebrand Theatre at The Den Theatre’s Janet Bookspan Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. When: through Jan. 4, 2020 Tickets: $40; $50 VIP cabaret table Tickets available at firebrandtheatre.org. Phone:773-697-3830 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic When I saw “Always…Patsy Cline” five years ago, I was less than impressed by Ted Swindley’s 1988 musical about […]
SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED Where: Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. When: through Jan. 5, 2020 Tickets: $20-$114 Phone: 312-335-1650 By Anne Spiselman Theater Critic The world premiere of “Lindiwe” at Steppenwolf Theatre promised to be one of the most exciting shows of the season. Steppenwolf had teamed up twice before with famous South African a […]
RECOMMENDED (Editor’s note: This story has been updated.) Where: Chicago Shakespeare’s Courtyard Theater, Navy Pier When: through Dec. 22 Tickets: $35-$90 Phone: 312-595-5600 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic Purists, be warned: Artistic Director Barbara Gaines takes great liberties with “Romeo and Juliet” in her first stab at directing Shakespeare’s early tragedy for Chicago Shakespeare Theater. […]
Where: Northlight Theatre, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie When: through Dec. 22 Tickets: $30-$89 Phone: 847-673-6300 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic The world premiere of “The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley” at Northlight Theatre could be subtitled “Lydia finds her inner feminist.” Building on the success of the premiere of […]
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Where: Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. When: through Dec. 8 Tickets: $37.50-$84 Phone: 773-753-4472 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic If classics scholar and Court Theatre founding artistic director Nicholas Rudall were still alive (he died in 2018), I think he would be very proud of what the theater has done with his […]
Recommended Where: Writers Theatre Nichols Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. When: Through Dec. 8 Tickets: $35-$80 Phone: 847-242-6000 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic A flyer inserted into the program for Writers Theatre’s production of Eleanor Burgess’ 2018 “The Niceties” advises viewers not to take sides in the debate between an esteemed, white, Baby Boomer college […]
RECOMMENDED Where: Writers Theatre, Gillian Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe When: through Dec. 15 Tickets: $35-$80 Phone: 847-242-6000 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic What do you do when a classic becomes rather archaic, but its message remains relevant? That’s the dilemma facing anyone who wants to stage Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House,” which premiered […]
SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED Where: Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5779 N. Ridge Ave. When: through Dec. 8 Tickets: $38 Phone: 773-334-7728 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic Sometimes the idea of a play is more interesting than the actuality. That’s the case with Kate Tarker’s “Laura and the Sea,” at least in its world premiere at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble. […]
SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED Where: Artemisia Theatre at The Den Theatre, 3A, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. When: through Nov. 24 Tickets: $20-$30 Phone: 773-697-3830 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic Artemisia Theatre is celebrating the centennial of women getting the vote in the U.S. with a trio of plays from the British women’s suffrage movement of 1907 to […]
SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED Where: Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. When: through Nov. 24 Tickets: $35 Phone: 773-327-5252 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic To borrow a favorite metaphor from one of the characters, a flower shop owner, “TRU” contains the seed of a good idea. The self-produced musical with book, music, and lyrics by David Gosz […]
RECOMMENDED Where: Porchlight Music Theatre at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. When: through Dec. 8 Tickets: $39-$66 Phone: 773-777-9884 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic I’ve been looking forward to Porchlight Music Theatre’s “Sunset Boulevard” ever since casting was announced for the company’s 25th anniversary season opener months ago. Andrew […]
SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED Where: The Royal George Cabaret Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St. When: through Dec. 1 Tickets: $69-$79 Phone: 312-988-9000 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic More sad than funny, the aptly titled “I’m Not A Comedian…I’m Lenny Bruce” begins with the ending, as if to make the point. The first thing we see in this […]