**** Highly Recommended **** I didn’t know too much about “The Band’s Visit” before it came to Chicago, other than it had won 10 Tony Awards in 2018, including Best Musical. Just knowing that, I had pretty high expectations, and I’m happy to say that “The Band’s Visit” was even better than I expected. It’s not a huge Broadway musical, but it’s funny and poignant and heart-warming and I really enjoyed it. 4 Spotlights
**** Recommended **** What do you think when you hear a title like “Women of 4G”? Sounds like the title to a bodice ripper or a soap opera, right? Wrong! 4G is not an apartment/suite/office number. In fact, 4G is a space ship and “Women of 4G” is a space opera/whodunnit. Vaguely reminiscent of an episode from “Flash Gordon”, very dystopian, and the situation is dire. The captain’s been murdered so what should they do – complete the mission, or turn back and fail. 4 Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended **** When my friend Crista and I went to the second annual NEXUS Chamber Music Chicago Festival at a new Chicago venue, Guarneri Hall, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew that the musicians in NEXUS Chamber Music were all young and uber-talented, and I’d read that Guarneri Hall was designed specifically for chamber music, so I thought “Call of the Birds” would be a good concert but really, I had NO idea!!!! It was outstanding! My recommendation - hurry and get tickets for the last two concerts in the festival this weekend. 4 BIG Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended **** I love all of Agatha Christie’s books, but I do have some favorites, of which “And Then There Were None”, her ‘locked-door’ – actually an isolated island, but let’s not quibble – is one. Needless to say, I had high expectations for the Drury Lane production, so I’m very happy to report that it was practically perfect! It was mysterious, atmospheric and very, very elegant. 4 Spotlights
★★★★★ 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 **** “The Spitfire Grill” is in my top ten list of favorite musicals because of its unique folk/bluegrass score. A microcosm of small-town life, “The Spitfire Grill” is a sweet, poignant story about starting over. Terrific voices, folksy music and a happy ending, what more could you ask for? American Blues Theatre has put together a delightful production! 4 Spotlights
****Recommended **** “True West” is not a new play – in fact, it was written in 1976 – but for some reason, I’d never seen it. I’d heard about it of course, after all it is the play that rocketed Steppenwolf Theatre into the national spotlight. Now that I’ve seen it, I can tell you that it is one of those plays that you watch in a kind of horrified fascination, finding yourself thinking, “that can’t be good”. “True Love” will reach out and grab your attention. 4 Spotlights
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).
