‘Company of Men’ hauntingly disturbing, yet irresistible
HEDY WEISS: Neil LaBute’s revision of his 1997 movie stars an ideal cast at Profiles Theatre.
Court’s ‘Misanthrope’ mocks eternal quirks of human behavior
HEDY WEISS: A skilled and stylish group of actors delivers a scintillating translation of the Moliere comedy.
‘Ganesh’ a chilling theatrical experience
At one point in “Ganesh Versus the Third Reich” — the wholly astonishing and deeply provocative work by Australia’s Back to Back Theatre, at the MCA through Sunday only — Luke Ryan, who plays the role of a tyrannical theater director, shatters the fourth wall. …
ACT II: A second look at area stages — ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’
Neil Simon might not be the darling of the avant-garde theater crowd. But anyone who doubts the enduring power of his plays to generate a surefire mix of tears and laughter should pay a visit to Raven Theatre’s revival of his 1983 drama “Brighton Beach …
Eifman Ballet finds inspiration in Rodin’s figures
The Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg, Russia has visited Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre on a regular basis since 2000. With its astonishing company of more than 50 dancers backed by lavish, almost cinematic design, it is a grand showcase for the unique vision of its founder …
Out of the shadows: How ‘Smokey Joe’s Cafe’ dancer picks a partner
On this night, the woman plucked from the audience for a “Loving You” slow dance is a 70-year-old from Munster, who says the songs take her back to high school homecoming.
Harris Theater to celebrate 10th anniversary in grand style
This fall will mark the 10th anniversary of the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, that 1,500-seat venue adjacent to Millennium Park that has made its mark by presenting an audacious array of performances by world class artists from both Chicago and around the globe. …
Savage and devastating, ‘Roadkill’ upends Greek tragedy
HEDY WEISS: In a dimly lit apartment in Bucktown, Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents a story of human desecration that stays with you long after you leave.
Rhea Perlman, Francis Guinan save tavern tale from its routine plot
HEDY WEISS: Bruce Graham’s “Stella & Lou,” now in its world premiere at Northlight Theatre, depends on the skills of its stars in an otherwise average story of lonely people connecting at a bar.
Ordinary men, extraordinary circumstances craft decisions that shape history in ‘Blood and Gifts’
For years the most nagging question in U.S. foreign policy was this: How did we get into Vietnam? In more recent times, that question (among many, many others) has been replaced by this one: How did we get into Afghanistan, and what kind of dirty …
Robert Sickinger, ‘father of Chicago’s Off Loop theater movment’ (1927-2013)
Robert “Bob” Sickinger, widely considered “the father of Chicago’s Off Loop theater movement,” and the man instrumental in the founding of the hugely influential Hull House Theater at Broadway and Belmont that blossomed throughout the 1960s, died of congestive heart failure Thursday morning in Delray …
ACT II: A second look at area stages — ‘Tea with Edie & Fitz’
Lucky timing or a shrewd bet on synergy? Thanks to this weekend’s release of Baz Luhrmann’s new film version of “The Great Gatsby,” the Dead Writers Theatre Collective might just get a little extra buzz for its production of “Tea With Edie and Fitz.” Set …
Oh, ‘Henry’! Chicago Shakespeare stages a gem of a production
England’s King Henry VIII is familiar to us as the man who had six wives, who severed ties with the Roman Catholic Church in order to divest himself of one of them, had another beheaded, and along the way fathered the daughter who would become …
Neil Patrick Harris to return as Tony Awards host
NEW YORK — Neil Patrick Harris will be back for his fourth turn as host of the Tony Awards. The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, joint producers of the show that honors the best of Broadway, said Thursday the 67th annual awards will …
Falling Man tells tales of love and identity
Four men and a teenager deal with their sexuality in “Falling Man,” five monologues by Will Scheffer.
Shane Abbott, who runs Gorilla Tango’s Skokie Theatre, directs the show Friday nights through May at the theater. He also performs the title monologue.
Abbott decided to produce …
