VERY SLIGHTLY RECOMMENDED Where: Goodman Theatre Owen Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St. When: through March 3 Tickets: $14-$45, students $10 Phone: 312-443-3800 The world premiere of Christopher Shinn‘s “Teddy Ferrara” in Goodman Theatre’s Owen Theatre raises some thought-provoking issues, but the poorly focused two-hour-and-40-minute play needs serious pruning. And despite some strong acting, the shortcomings […]
RECOMMENDED Where: American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron St. When: through March 10 Tickets: $38-$43 Phone: 773-409-4125 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic American Theater Company’s world premiere of the revised version of “columbinus” is a powerful documentary-style performance piece and a call to step up efforts to stop the horrible violence plaguing our schools and […]
SLIGHTLY RECOMMENDED Where: Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. When: through Feb. 24 Tickets: $20-$50 Phone: 773-871-3000 With a story line suited to a television sitcom and dialogue worthy of a Second City skit, Anapama Chandrasekhar’s “Disconnect” isn’t the ideal vehicle for heavy observations about consumerism and cultural differences or for the rather tragic, […]
RECOMMENDED Where: Northlight Theatre, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie When: through Feb. 24 Tickets: $25-$72 Phone: 847-673-6300 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic The Whipping Man” at Northlight Theatre tackles such an intriguing and unfamiliar subject that it’s relatively easy to forgive a few shortcomings. Ignoring the old injunction to […]
SLIGHTLY RECOMMENDED Where: A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells St. When: through March 3 Tickets: $25-$30 Phone: 312-943-8722 If you think of Annie Baker’s “The Aliens” as a trio of interconnected character studies, the two-hour-long Chicago premiere at A Red Orchid Theatre may be tolerable. But if you’re expecting a play with anything resembling […]
RECOMMENDED Where: Goodman Theatre Albert Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St. When: through Feb. 17 Tickets: $25-$86 Phone: 312-443-3800 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic Family secrets are at the core of “Other Desert Cities,” but what drives Jon Robin Baitz’s old-fashioned well-made play are the political and personal conflicts among the characters and a potent moral […]
RECOMMENDED Where: Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Ave. When: through March 10 Tickets: $25-$59 Phone: 773-325-1700 The Mercury Theater is kicking off its first subscription season of musicals with “A Grand Night for Singing,” the Rodgers and Hammerstein revue that made its Broadway debut in 1993. Directed and choreographed by Kevin Bellie, this is a […]
RECOMMENDED Where: Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. When: through Feb. 10 Tickets: $45-$65 Phone: 773-753-4472 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic The last scene of David Hare’s “Skylight” at Court Theatre is so touchingly funny, sweet and sad that it would be worth waiting for even if the tumultuous two hour-plus encounter between ex-lovers beforehand […]
RECOMMENDED Where: Steppenwolf Theatre Company Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. When: through March 3 Tickets: $20-$86 Phone: 312-335-1650 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic If you’re captivated by damaged, self-deluded, dysfunctional urban characters, then Stephen Adly Guirgis’ “The Motherfu**ker with the Hat” is one for you. Savvily staged for Steppenwolf Theatre by ensemble member Anna […]
RECOMMENDED Where: Bank of America Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St. When: through Sept. 8 Tickets: $45-$115 Phone: 800-775-2000 By ANNE SPISELMAN Theater Critic I’ve been trying to figure out what has made “The Book of Mormon” such a phenomenal hit. Sure, the multiple-award-winning musical with book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and […]