**** Recommended "Jump," Shattered Globe’s final production of the season, is a gripping and poignant drama about grief, loss and the fallout from suicide with a couple of surprising twists to keep it interesting. It’s beautifully done, but kind of heavy going. In fact, I found myself tearing up several times. A warning - some characters vape and/or smoke. 3 ½ Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended Congo Square Theatre’s stellar production of "How I Learned What I Learned" wasn’t what I expected, it was much better! I guess I thought this autobiographical one-man show would have more of the conflict and sense of place, not to mention the woo-woo factor, found in August Wilson’s plays. Instead, it’s filled with anecdotes about growing up in Pittsburgh’s Hill District and other hard-learned life lessons. Don’t miss this tour de force performance by Harry Lennix. 4 Spotlights
**** Recommended Drury Lane Theatre’s revival of "Guys and Dolls" is a throwback to the ‘50s. The score is pure nostalgia, filled with songs I remember my mom singing – songs like "Luck Be a Lady," "A Bushel and a Peck" and "Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat." The characters are over-the-top – especially Miss Adelaide (Alanna Lovely) who totally steals the show! The gamblers – sinners all – are a hoot. Can these sinners be saved? Probably not, but that’s half the fun! 4 Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended "The Music Man" is back in town! You don’t want to miss Marriott’s fresh new production of this musical classic, it’s a gem! Kudos to Director/Choreographer Katie Spelman, the cast is terrific and the choreography is not to be missed. The turn-of-the-century story might seem a bit dated but the music is timeless. 4 Big Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended Don’t miss Hersey Felder’s "Monsieur Chopin – A Play with Music!" As we’ve come to expect from the longtime Chicago favorite, Felder gives a tour de force performance. In developing his biographical scripts, Felder does extensive research. The resulting performances show meticulous attention to detail. Combining acting with concert-level piano performance, Hersey Felder literally became Fryderyk Chopin. It was a cozy and intimate picture of a very talented, complicated man. 4 Spotlights
**** Recommended Although the Court Theatre has mounted an outstanding production, some of you – like my guest, Helen – might find "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" heavy going. Indeed, I felt like I was watching Waiting for Godot, one of the most boring plays ever written! The questions of the day - who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and why should we care? Tom Stoppard’s absurdist play, a riff on a line from the final scene in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, tries to answer those questions. 3 ½ Spotlights
**** Reommended I didn’t expect to like "Inanimate" as much as I did, but it pulled me in and wouldn’t let go! This quirky little comedy has interesting and somewhat eccentric characters who live in a small town with a thriving Walmart and empty storefronts in a dying downtown. "Inanimate" explores something called objectum sexuality (a sexual attraction to inanimate objects), with wit and grace. 3 ½ Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended When I first saw "The Choir of Man" back in 2019, I really enjoyed it, but always felt there was something missing. Turns out it needed to be in a different kind of venue - a more intimate one – Chicago’s Apollo Theater to be exact. The Apollo’s stage is surrounded by the audience rather than set apart as in a more traditional theater. Before "The Choir of Man" even begins, the audience is invited into the pub to enjoy a beverage or two. After a bit, everyone grabs a seat, the guys start singing "Welcome to the Jungle", and you know you’re in for something special! "The Choir of Man" is one of the best shows I’ve seen in ages! 4 BIG Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended Mercury Theater’s production of "Jersey Boys" absolutely rocks! The first Chicago produced version of the show is a rock and roll masterpiece! "Jersey Boys" is the ultimate jukebox musical and the mostly true story of four young men from New Jersey who became rock and roll royalty. Mercury’s smaller space brings the audience closer to the stage giving the production a more intimate feel. I’ve seen Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in concert several times. The music in this show was spot on! 4 BIG Spotlights.
**** Highly Recommended Often when I see a play about families, I think about a Dickens quote about the best of times, and the worst of times. Family can be the best, but it can also be the absolute worst. So, family angst is at the center of "Purpose", a must-see world premiere at Steppenwolf. Sometimes a family occasion – mom’s birthday, Thanksgiving, Sunday brunch – becomes a command performance. "Purpose" is all about a command performance for a brother’s homecoming – from prison! It’s an amazingly good play – funny, fraught, fiery – and there’s a food fight! 4 BIG Spotlights
