Theater

Ondřej Pšenička in 52 Lovers. Michael Brosilow Photo.jpg

Theater

There's plenty to like in magician Ondřej Pšenička's '52 Lovers'

The Czech performer, who has fooled Penn and Teller, engages his audiences with a show of personality and interactive tricks.

By Steve Heisler | For the Sun-Times

Nambi E. Kelley (from left), TayLar, Dexter Zollicoffer and A.C. Smith star in the Goodman Theatre's production of August Wilson's "Joe Turner's Come and Gone." Liz Lauren Photo

Theater

Timeless ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’ richly acted by Goodman Theatre's all-Chicago cast

The ensemble storyline captures not just a time and place, but a core theme playwright August Wilson continued to express throughout his Century Cycle.

By Steven Oxman | For the Sun-Times

MAMMA-MIA-2.jpeg. Christine Sherrill (Donna Sheridan), and the Company of MAMMA MIA! 25th Anniversary Tour
Photo by Joan Marcus

Things To Do

Things to Do in Chicago April 25-May 1: The Mix

‘Mamma Mia!’ at the Nederlander Theatre, the spring One of a Kind Show at the Mart, and the Joffrey Ballet’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” are among some of the entertainment highlights in the week ahead.

By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times

Loop

Loop's weekend foot traffic exceeds level before pandemic, but retail vacancies still at record high

The Chicago Loop Alliance released its latest report on the Loop, finding that it offered some signs of a revival.

By Amy Yee

HARRY LENNIX as AUGUST WILSON- in "How I Learned What I Learned" at The Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place." 3.jpeg

Theater

Sublime ‘How I Learned What I Learned’ delves into life lessons that shaped August Wilson the writer and his works

Actor Harry Lennix wears August Wilson’s persona with ease and grace. As he weaves together anecdotes from the playwright’s eventful life, the audience gets a direct look at the power within the man behind the pen.

By Catey Sullivan | For the Sun-Times

Theater

Eddie Izzard delivers solo 'Hamlet' with range, directness of a stand-up comedian

English actor’s straightforward take on the tragedy at Chicago Shakespeare Theater prizes clarity above all.

By Steven Oxman | For the Sun-Times

Laundromat owner Owen (Mark Montgomery) asks out his client Fran (Cassidy Slaughter-Mason) in "Brooklyn Laundry."

Theater

Frayed duo of Northlight's heartwarming 'Brooklyn Laundry' tumbles into romance

Mark Montgomery, Cassidy Slaughter-Mason display great chemistry in John Patrick Shanley’s love story about hurt people.

By Sheri Flanders | For the Sun-Times

Pepe Nufrio and Erica Stephan in Guys and Dolls. Photo by Brett Beiner.jpg

Theater

'Guys and Dolls' delivers plenty of camp, comedy and the usual lovable characters in Drury Lane staging

Director/choreographer Dan Knechtges pushes the show to the outermost boundaries of broad comedy.

By Catey Sullivan | For the Sun-Times

1_CST_JUDG_Liz Lauren.jpgJason Alexander makes his Chicago stage debut in the world premiere comedy Judgment Day at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel. Performances begin April 23, 2024. Photo by Liz Lauren.

Theater

Jason Alexander's latest role plumbs the meaning of life and beyond in 'Judgment Day'

Alexander plays a sleazy lawyer who gets a lifechanging wakeup call in the world premiere comedy at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

By Courtney Kueppers | WBEZ

Columnists

Joffrey production of "Midsummer Night's Dream" includes humble dried plant in a starring role

The play uses “hay” — actually raffia, derived from palm leaves — to cover the stage for each performance.

By Neil Steinberg

Theater

To be or not to be Hamlet (and everybody else)? Eddie Izzard answers the question in solo show

The veteran stand-up comedian, activist, marathoner stars as the title — and every — character in Shakespeare’s iconic work.

By Selena Fragassi - For the Sun-Times

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Alvin Ailey's Revelations. Photo by Dario Calmese_012.jpg

Things To Do

Things to Do in Chicago April 11-18: The Mix

Expo Chicago, a Kane Brown concert and the Chicago Latino Film Festival are among the entertainment highlights of the week ahead.

By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times

Vegas Cirque Show Closure. Beatles member John Lennon is projected on the screen during the preview of "Love," a new Beatles-themed Cirque du Soleil show, in Las Vegas, June 27, 2006. On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, it was announced that the final curtain will come down July 7 on Cirque du Soleil's long-running show “The Beatles Love," a cultural icon on the Las Vegas Strip that brought band members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr back together for public appearances throughout its 18-year run.

Entertainment and Culture

Cirque du Soleil's 'The Beatles Love' ending Las Vegas run after 18 years

Cirque announced on Tuesday that the show housed at the Mirage will end on July 7, part of the iconic hotel-casino’s major renovation plan to rebrand itself into the Hard Rock Las Vegas.

By Rio Yamat | AP

Entertainment and Culture

Latino artists audition for casting directors in push to promote diversity on stage and screen

Participants in the open casting call in Chicago had three minutes to perform anything they wanted in front of representatives from local theater and talent agencies.

By Mitch Dudek

In "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead," the title characters (Erik Hellman, left, and Nate Burger, right) banter with the leader of a traveling acting troupe (Lorenze Rush Jr.).

Theater

In riveting Court production, 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern' captures worries, wit of Hamlet's stooges

Nate Burger and Erik Hellman have a chemistry that crackles in Charles Newell’s staging, which plays up the meta-theatrics of Tom Stoppard’s absurdist take on Shakespeare.

By Catey Sullivan | For the Sun-Times

Marc Akinfolarin (from left), George Knapper, Mark Loveday, Ifan Gwilym-Jones and Cal T King are among the ensemble cast of "The Choir of Man." Michael Brosilow Photo.jpg

Theater

'Choir of Man' is a rollicking good time filled to the brim with song, suds and sentimentality

The atmosphere is part after-hours St. Patrick’s Day celebration, part frat party, and — once the music starts — part cover-band concert.

By Catey Sullivan | For the Sun-Times

Things To Do

Things to do in Chicago April 4-10: The Mix

A Matthew Sweet concert, a one-man show about Chopin and exhibitions by Chicago artists Robert Earl Paige and Christina Ramberg are among the city’s entertainment highlights in the week ahead.

By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times

2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones - Arrivals

Theater

Helen Hunt, 'The Color Purple' heading to Goodman Theatre for 2024-2025 season

Four world or Chicago premiere productions are among the lineup for the theater’s 99th season.

By Miriam Di Nunzio

“I’m Flying.” (from L) Micah Turner Lee as John, Reed Epley as Michael, Hawa Kamara as Wendy, Nolan Almeida as Peter Pan in the national touring non-Equity production of "Peter Pan" at the Nederlander Theatre. Photo: Matthew Murphy

Theater

For the youngest of theatergoers, 'Peter Pan' remains a magical experience

Many kids in the audience came dressed up. I would recommend parents encourage it, as their youngsters will undoubtedly make new friends at intermission finding others who love the characters they do, or who identify with other ones.

By Steven Oxman | For the Sun-Times

Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny performs at the Crypto.com Arena during his "Most Wanted" tour in Los Angeles, March 13, 2024. (Photo by Valerie Macon / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)

Things To Do

Things to do in Chicago March 28-April 3: The Mix

Bad Bunny in concert at the United Center, “Churchill,” the one-man show, Percival Everett in conversation about his new book, and the return of Chicago Architecture Center River Cruises are among the highlights in the week ahead.

By Mary Houlihan

PT_Streetcar_A740638_credit LIz Lauren.jpeg

Theater

'Streetcar Named Desire' remains definitive, searing war of wills in solid Paramount production

The strength of this production at the Paramount’s intimate Copley Theatre isn’t that it’s especially atmospheric, or sexy, or theatrical; instead it focuses on and succeeds at providing a resolute narrative and thematic clarity.

By Steven Oxman | For the Sun-Times

013_William Anthony Sebastian Rose II and Patrick Newson Jr.jpg William Anthony Sebastian Rose II and Patrick Newson Jr. in Refracted Theatre Company’s production of “Tambo & Bones” . Photo by Ricky Kluge

Theater

Refracted Theatre Company's 'Tambo & Bones' tops list of 2024 Non-Equity Jeff Award winners

“Tambo & Bones” received eight awards overall on Monday night in a ceremony that also marked the 50th anniversary of honoring excellence in Chicago’s Non-Equity theater community.

By Miriam Di Nunzio