★★★★ With age comes wisdom — at least that is the hope regarding the careers of our most relevant writers. Over the course of the past four decades, Harvey Fierstein has made a significant mark on the theatre world, not only as a playwright but also as an actor.
Somewhat Recommended ** Often, when one adapts a classic work, those familiar with the original have a difficult time following the new and modern version. On The Spot Theatre Company is a brave, fairly new company that dares to be creative with classic works. Their current production, now on the upstairs Studio at The Greenhouse Theater Center is a U.S. Premiere of “Sons and Lovers”, based on the novel by D.H.Lawrence. which has been adapted and directed by Mike Brayndick.
★★★★★ The “Must See Musical” that we have been anticipating is here! The musical is “Come From Away”, a sort of “chamber piece” telling us the true story of a small town that hosted over 7,000 passengers of planes during the 9-11 trauma that we suffered.
★★★★★A new entertainment venue has been constructed in Chicago! It is right in the heart of our Theater District and is in the same building as the Nederlander. Yes, up on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel at 32 West Randolph is this new “theater” called The Spiegeltent ZaZou.
Somewhat Recommended ** Most of you know that I am for the “little guy” and try to help them as much as humanly possible. Haven Theatre, recently rebranded as “HAVEN” and they are working out of The Den Theater complex on Milwaukee Avenue. They are concluding their 2018-2019 season with a “Chicago Premiere” entitled “KISS” that is more of a bold theatrical experience than an evening of pure entertainment.
Highly Recommended ***** In 1982, Andrew Lloyd Weber brought a musical to Broadway that was a unique blend of his musical abilities and the words of one T,S, Eliot. He took the “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” and with the stories contained therein, brought the world “Cats”. Now in its third re-incarnation, Chicago audiences will love the production now on the stage at The Nederlander Theatre (formerly the Oriental).
★★★★★ Renee Taylor is a funny lady! Do not let the title of her one-woman show , now on stage at The North Shore Center For The Performing Arts in Skokie, “My Life on a Diet” scare you off. This is a true story-telling experience by a lady who has lived the life we hear. Now in her “eighties”, Ms Taylor spends the majority of the 95 minutes ( no intermission) sitting at a comfy desk where the book that she and her late husband Joe Bologna wrote, that details her life, from being a little girl until just “the other day”.
★★★★★ As a young man, when I watched the film depicting the life of Hans Christian Andersen, starring Danny Kaye, I knew that somehow I wanted to be involved with show business. I fell in love with story-telling and music. This movie is currently on stage at Nortwestern University in Evanston at The Ethel M. Barber Theater, 30 Arts Circle Drive which is a part of the Wirtz Center. Because it is a college production and the actors and musicians are students, I am only at liberty to give you an overall picture, but I must tell you, I enjoyed every minute of this 80 minute production.
★★★★★Driving down to the Cadillac Palace Theatre last night Jane said, why are we seeing “Les Miz” again? It has been 12 times at least, and as I always say, every production ( or even performance) is new and exciting and very different than the others, so we parked, entered the theater, said hello to other reviewers and friends, and watched two hours- fifty-five minutes of the newly stage ( direction by Laurence Connor and James Powell) and re-imagined sets (Matt Kinley) with a full house that were up on their feet in recognition of this masterpiece getting even better! Thank you Broadway In Chicago for giving Chicago this treat!
Recommended *** Many of you are aware of the small storefront theater called Rivendell, next to the pizza joint on Ridge Avenue, near Senn High School. While Rivendell is doing their production at Victory Gardens, they are renting their space out to a new company, Dandelion Theatre, who is presenting a World Premier called “Bury Me” written by Brynne Frauenhoffer. According to the notes on the playwright, this is not her first play, BUT is the first one she ever finished.
