Spotlight on Reviews

I really enjoyed the Beatniks’ production of “Communicating Doors”, a time-traveling comedy/murder mystery with a rather complicated plot.  people are jumping through time – but the talented cast handled it well - and with credible British accents!  3 Spotlights

***RECOMMENDED*** Pretty soon the artistic and executive directors of Porchlight Music Theatre may have to add a newly minted moniker to the list of credits printed in the Playbill that they distribute at each performance: casting by Divas Central Management. Last autumn, Porchlight presented a highly-lauded production of "Gypsy" starring E. Faye Butler -- a performance which saw a very busy Butler finally return to a Chicago stage after quite a lengthy absence. She was greeted with open arms by critics and Porchlight audiences alike and won a coveted Jeff Award for her efforts. Now the elusive local star returning to the stage is Hollis Resnik in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Sunset Boulevard," which is the first Webber show that Porchlight has ever produced as they enter their Silver Anniversary season. To keep the diva trend going, avid musical theatre lovers can only dream that next October Porchlight will launch their season with Paula Scrofano as Aurora in "Kiss of the Spider Woman". Or, how about Barbara E. Robertson in the title role of "Mame"? They both would be sensational.  3 SPOTLIGHTS

*** Recommended *** “Kentucky” is a quirky little play about a very dysfunctional family.  “Kentucky” is an odd, eccentric play.  It’s funny until it’s not.  It has music, but it’s not a musical.  It’s a poignant story about going home, with a moral (if there is a moral) – no matter what you think you know, you can’t know – or decide - what’s best for someone else.  3 Spotlights

****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED**** Hubbard Street Dance Chicago has launched its 42nd season with an evening of three bold and exciting works, collectively titled "Forge Forward." The title is appropriate. These edgy and slightly risky works prove once again that Hubbard Street is clearly Chicago's best modern dance company and they have consistently established a reputation for constantly looking toward the future. Two of the pieces presented here are world premieres -- one by New York-based choreographer Kyle Abraham and the other by Hubbard Street Choreographic Fellow Rena Butler.  4 BIG SPOTLIGHTS