**** Recommended Although I’d seen Dial M for Murder, a 1954 movie starring Grace Kelly, Ray Milland and Robert Cummings, many years ago, I don’t think I’d ever seen the play. Northlight Theatre’s production is clever, stylish and sophisticated but it’s also something of an anachronism, considering that at least a third of the audience has never used a dial telephone. 4 Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended American Blues Theater has a beautiful, brand new building. I was privileged to be there for the building’s opening as well as the press opening of their 22nd annual production of "It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!" This show is an opportunity to take your family on a nostalgic trip into the past and enjoy a ‘live radio’ broadcast. It’s a lot of fun to listen as the talented cast brings all the beloved characters to life. Since this is ‘live’, the actors do the commercials too. "It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago" always gets me in a holiday mood! 4 Spotlights!
**** Highly Recommended "BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical" is upbeat, exuberant and a throwback to the big old-fashioned Broadway extravaganzas of the ‘30s and ‘40s. "BOOP!" is sparkly and colorful – even in the black & white scenes. It’s also the perfect showcase for a brand new Broadway star, Jasmine Amy Rogers! No kidding, Rogers has it all – the look, the voice, the dancing feet, the personality – and the moxie to WOW the audience. This show is a must-see! 4 BIG Spotlights
**** Recommended You’ve been invited to a ball in the kingdom of Other, you and all the other single girls in the kingdom, because the prince is going to pick a bride! Is this another Cinderella story, you might ask? The answer would be no. This is Jackie Taylor’s magical musical version of the fairy tale, "The Other Cinderella". 4 Spotlights
***** 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! "The Nutcracker" is absolutely perfect in every way. 4 BIG Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended On Saturday, December 2, 2023, I saw “The Snow Queen,” a new musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s adventure, with my mom and two young children. It was excellent! The audience was filled with young girls and young boys, alike. All ages enjoyed this musical! I would give this play 5 out of 5 stars.
Although the professional theater hasn’t reopened since Covid, there are small signs of life at Theatre at the Center. "Christmas from the Farm with Phil Potempa" is a laid-back, welcome to the holidays, filled with stories, music and laughter. Although it’s kind of corny, I had a lot of fun.
***RECOMMENDED*** No one does fairy tales (pun intended) as well as PrideArts.
And no one does adult adaptations of children's fairy tales better than Tom Whalley. After a very successful run of Whalley's "Jack Off the Beanstalk" in December of 2022, PrideArts is once again presenting a holiday version of one of Whalley's very British pantomime interpretations with the hilarious "Sleeping with Beauty." 3 SPOTLIGHTS
**** Highly Recommended Mel Brooks’ hilarious musical, "Young Frankenstein", has returned to Chicago. You can catch the kids from Transylvania cavorting on the stage at Mercury Theater Chicago through December 31st. If the 1974 movie starring Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle made you laugh, you’ll love the musical adaptation. You don’t want to miss this production, it’s hilarious, in large part because Sean Fortunato is brilliant as the young doc. 4 BIG Spotlights
***RECOMMENDED "Power is the only fact."
No, this is not some sound bite from a certain politician who is seeking re-election but rather one of the many rantings of a former king of England nearing the end of his reign. In James Goldman's "The Lion in Winter," currently at Court Theatre, sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. Director Ron OJ Parson and his assured ensemble have clearly done a comprehensively thorough textual analysis of Goldman's witty yet sardonic script, which translates to a highly entertaining bit of fun. 3 SPOTLIGHTS
