*** Recommended *** For their first show in three years, Marian Theater Guild wanted to do a show that would make people laugh. They picked the right show! Young Frankenstein is a Mel Brooks show, so it has lots of throwaway lines. If the 1974 movie starring Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle made you laugh, you’ll love this musical adaptation. "Young Frankenstein" is a Northwest Indiana must-see.
**** Recommended **** Done to Death, a laugh-out-loud comedy perfect for the Halloween season, was written by Fred Carmichael, author of more than 50 plays, most with a comedy-murder theme. Done to Death parodies some of the most famous mystery plots written by some of the most famous mystery writers. I could see bits of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot, Dashiell Hammett’s Sam Spade and Nick and Nora Charles, Ian Fleming’s James Bond, even TV’s Jessica Fletcher. I laughed till I cried! You’ll love this must-see comedy! 3 ½ Spotlights
*** Recommended The Towle Theater is open again! It was wonderful to return to one of my favorite theaters where I got to catch up with friends and see the world premiere of quirky little musical mystery called “Night Tide” - kind of a Creature Feature/Beach Boys mash-up.
Chicago Street Theatre is welcoming audiences back into the theater with their production of “Heathers: The Musical.”
Summer’s here, so it must be time for Dunes Summer Theatre – and it’s outdoors! Bring your blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy the bucolic setting, as well as the quirky quartet known as the Plaids. “Forever Plaid” is a must-see for the summer!
Beatniks' production of "Making God Laugh" is a comedy hit! Don’t miss it! 3½ Spotlights
Finally, kudos to the brave actors cast in Beatniks' charming production of “Arsenic and Old Lace”!!!
The Towle Theater's production of “Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End” was their last before the pandemic hit. Good news, they'll be back soon!!! In fact, the Towle Youth Theater Ensemble return to the stage with "subText" August 20th-22nd, followed by the adult production of "Night Tide" September 17th-October 3rd.
Footlight Players current production of the musical GYPSY opened on Friday to great applause. The show is listed as a memoir of the great burlesque queen, Gypsy Rose Lee, but we really see the story of the epitome of bound and determined stage mothers. Mama Rose is expertly played by newcomer to Footlight Caroline Rau. Her voice is strong and exhilarating from her first song, Small World up to the dramatic conclusion, Rose’s Turn. Let me preface this critique with acknowledgement of the many cast and crew members that it took to expertly put on this epic of a musical. THIS SHOW SAHOULD NOT BE MISSED!
