Comedic, compelling and varied works make up Young Playwrights Festival - By Eloise Marie Valadez
Theater fans have the opportunity to enjoy four engaging works by young playwrights currently in Chicago.
ANNIE - A Review by Bob Rubin For TSP News
I think that “Annie” is my all-time favorite musical. It is no wonder that I have seen it about 10 times, including the film versions. I am going to get up on a pedestal and tell you…this is the best production I have ever seen, including the one I saw on Broadway.
Introduce Your Youngster to Live Theater with "Annie" - Review by Carol Moore
**** Highly Recommended Music Theater Works’ production of "Annie" was delightful. The show was even more enjoyable when I heard delighted laughter from my grand-niece Maeve, who just turned eight. Although I’ve seen many productions of this perennial holiday favorite, this is the first time I’ve been able to share the joy with a little girl. Maeve was definitely into the show, laughing at all the ‘little girl’ jokes. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - "Annie: is the perfect show to introduce young people to live theater. 4 Spotlights
'Charles Dickens Begrudgingly Performs A Christmas Carol Again' lights up Theater Wit stage - By Eloise Marie Valadez
"Charles Dickens Begrudgingly Performs A Christmas Carol Again" is being presented through Dec. 28 at Theater Wit. It's a humorous production starring Blake Montgomery as Dickens. This solo show is a Jeff Award-winning production and for good reason.
I really enjoyed "Charles Dickens Begrudgingly Performs A Christmas Carol" - Review by Carol Moore
Highly Recommended I really enjoyed "Charles Dickens Begrudgingly Performs A Christmas Carol, Blake Montgomery’s Jeffrey Award-winning one-man show. The genial Montgomery, wearing reindeer ears and a battle worn tail-coat, greeted and welcomed us as we claimed our seats, even offering candy canes before he began the program. 4 Spotlights
The Joffrey Ballet's "Chicago-centric" version of The Nutcracker is outstanding - Review by Carol Moore
***** Highly Recommended ***** The Joffrey Ballet’s “Chicago-centric” version of The Nutcracker, choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, is quite simply magnificent. By setting The Nutcracker amidst Chicago’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, Wheeldon gave the city a unique gift. It’s become a holiday tradition at my house! No matter how many times I see The Nutcracker, I never get tired of the feeling of anticipation and excitement before a performance, waiting for that first chord of Tchaikovsky’s glorious music! 4 BIG Spotlights
Towle's "White Christmas" is Charming - Review by Carol Moore
**** Recommended The Towle Theater’s production of Irving Berlin’s "White Christmas" is charming. Despite their space limitations, they managed to put together a complete show, tap dancing and all! I was humming along with Irving Berlin’s wonderful melodies. What can I say – I love Irving Berlin’s "White Christmas!" 4 Spotlights
A Really Funny "Much Ado about Nothing" will Charm You - Review by Carol Moore
**** Highly Recommended I absolutely LOVED Chicago Shakespeare’s production of "Much Ado About Nothing." It’s fresh, frolicsome and very, very funny. As the title indicates, the characters are reacting – and over-reacting – to what they think they know about something that actually never happened. In his comedies Shakespeare often set up situations in which the supposedly ‘wise’ men are fools and the fools are wise men. It’s certainly true in "Much Ado about Nothing." 4 BIG Spotlights
"The Taming of the Shrew" is gorgeous - Review by Carol Moore
**** Highly Recommended Marti Lyons, Remy Bumppo’s Artistic Director, had a vision – a new look at Shakespeare’s most chauvinistic play. Her new adaptation of "The Taming of the Shrew," now on stage at the Court Theatre, brings a modern, tongue-in-cheek twist to an old story. In addition to the outstanding cast of ten, I loved the staging, the costumes, the set – and the six silent shrews! 4 BIG Spotlights
Salieri's "Falstaff" delights - Review by Jeffrey Leibham
***RECOMMENDED*** Mention the name "Salieri" and most people will instantly think of his alleged rivalry with a much younger composer -- Mozart -- and his supposed all-consuming jealousy of the boy genius' prodigious output. But Italian composer Antonio Salieri (1750-1825) was already a highly-successful composer and mentor by the time that Mozart arrived at the royal court in Vienna. In fact, Salieri composed more than 35 operatic works during his lifetime. Thanks to the highly resourceful folks at Chicago Opera Theater, especially General Director Lawrence Edelson, local opera lovers should be thrilled to have the opportunity to separate the myth from the man and actually get to hear his glorious music firsthand. In its Chicago premiere, Salieri's "Falstaff" delights the curious nearly 227 years after it was created. 3 SPOTLIGHTS