>> Second City is getting ready for the grand opening of its new venue, UP Comedy Club, a “new hybrid performance venue with an eclectic blend of comedy.” The 300 seat space occupies the area where Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding played for several years. I’m planning to attend the fancy opening night celebration next Friday [...]
Drury Lane’s by-the-numbers ‘Gypsy’ is missing a few layers
There is one moment in William Osetek’s otherwise by-the-numbers production of Gypsy that gave me those rare theatrical chills. It’s during a crucial act two turning point when, moments before she’s to step onstage for her first strip, Louise (the ideally cast Andrea Prestinario) catches herself in the mirror. The lifelong tom boy and wallflower realizes [...]
The jury’s mostly out in Mamet’s ‘Race’
“Everyone’s a little bit racist,” sing the puppets of Avenue Q. Then there’s sh*t white girls say to black girls. And what about anything comedienne Lisa Lampanelli says? Racism, in all its forms, is such a force in our nation (as grody as that statement sounds) that, at times, we just have to, well, laugh [...]
London diary: ‘Crazy for You’ and ‘Ghost the Musical’
Sharon D. Clarke in “Ghost the Musical” Spit-spot, cheerio and all that other rubbish. I’ve just arrived from London! While my primary purpose there was work-related, I carved out some time for a two shows. Lucky for me, the TKTS booth was just a five minute stroll from my hotel, so most of my theatre [...]
A sobering ‘Love and Money’ at Steep
Pay grades, insurmountable credit card debt, recession, excessive consumerism, love. One of these things is not like the other. However, in Dennis Kelly’s efficient and horrific 90-minute play, he examines the danger of having all these themes play together, and the catastrophe that ensues. As a shop-a-holic wife (Julia Siple) fills her emotional voids with stuff [...]
This and that
Remy Bumppo’s only halfway through their season, and newly appointed artistic director Timothy Douglas has suddenly called it quits, much to the surprise of the theatre company’s board of directors and artistic associates. It seems like only yesterday he was saying things like, “It is with gratitude, humbleness and divinely guided purpose with which I [...]
Red Orchid’s ‘Megacosm’ is a product under development
As we take our seats at A Red Orchid Theatre’s production of Brett Neveu’s new play, Megacosm, a high-strung inventor (Larry Grimm) nervously twitches and blinks as he prepares for some sort of secret meeting. He has a new product that will change the face of the world as we know it (or so he [...]
Flimflam phantasm: Vitalist Theatre’s ‘The Ghost is Here’ is haunting, but hesitant
Death is a scary thing, and scary things make us vulnerable. And as any salesperson will attest, a vulnerable person is the ideal customer. Just look at the funeral home business model: “What type of tribute do you want? Basic Package A, Super Package B, Delux Package C or Platinum Package D? Keep in mind, [...]
Chicago Like a Local: ‘Come Fly Away’ Brings Swank, Sass and Sinatra to Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre
The freakish 50 degree January weather may be over, but things are just getting heated up at the Bank of America Theatre where Come Fly Away is playing through January 22. Sinatra. We know that voice. It’s sexy, confident and masculine. After hours bars, cigars and tumblers of scotch. Romance, heartbreak and overcoming obstacles with [...]
Hollywood heads ‘Into the Woods.’ Again.
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that director Rob Marshall is reteaming with Disney for a film adaptation of Into the Woods, the classic Broadway musical written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine that explores what happens after “happily ever after.” And the twittersphere has been blowing up with casting ideas. After all, for my [...]
How was Chicago theatre in 2011? One word: Phenomenal
I love doing the Chicago Theatre Off Book podcasts with my friend Katy Walsh and her partner in podcasting crime, Josh Volkers. This go round, Katy, Kris Vire (theatre editor of Time Out Chicago) and I discuss the shows that made our individual top 10 lists, as well as what shows we’re salivating to see [...]
Chicago Like a Local: Four shows to look forward to in 2012
Last year proved phenomenal for Chicago theater, with many outstanding productions capturing our hearts and minds (read my roundup of the best of 2011 Chicago theater), and 2012 promises to be no different. Perhaps you’ve made a resolution to see more theatre in the new year? (And if you haven’t made this resolution, maybe you [...]
National tour of ‘The Addams Family’ — third time’s (almost) a charm
“Da-da-da-DUM! *snap, snap!* Da-da-da-DUM! *snap, snap!*” You know the tune. You know the characters. But you might be surprised by this charming (yes, charming!) and unexpected musical based on the Charles Addams cartoons. And, for those who caught the first iteration of the musical when it premiered at the Oriental in 2009 prior to its [...]
Chicago Theatre Addict’s TOP TEN of 2011
Hollis Resnik in Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s “Follies” Why, yes! It’s yet *another* top 10 list! This year I was actually on top of shit and maintained an honest-to-god spreadsheet of all the shows I’ve seen in 2011. In total, I saw 104 plays and musicals — nearly all of them in Chicago. And next to [...]
One star-making turn barely keeps this lackluster ‘La Cage’ afloat
If there’s one reason to see the tour of La Cage Aux Folles, which is playing at the Bank of America Theatre through January 1, it’s for Christopher Sieber’s ovation-worthy turn as Albin, the campy, drag-tastic dynamo who, as his alter-ego Zaza, stars in the nightly revue at La Cage. Sieber, who’s had the opportunity [...]
Welcome to [CTA]
- Hi. My name's Bob Bullen and I'm a Chicago Theatre Addict [CTA]. Learn more here. Please leave comments — I'd love to hear what you think, and promise to do my best to reply.
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