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Perhaps you’ve heard about a little show taking the world over by storm. And Chicago is lucky enough to have it, eight nights a week for the foreseeable future, at the PrivateBank Theatre. But another show is also happening on that same stage during Hamilton’s off-hours – one that’s just as dynamic, and perhaps even… Read More #EduHam: Inspiring Young Minds Through the Power of ‘Hamilton’

Fun Home is a special show. The 2015 Best Musical Tony winner features a female, lesbian protagonist (the remarkable Kate Shindle playing graphic novalist Alison Bechdel), and an emotionally complex story conveyed through a refreshingly frank lens (book by Lisa Kron) and a sophisticated, counter-intuitive score by Jeanine Tesori (music) and Kron (lyrics). The fact… Read More “Fun Home” at Broadway in Chicago

They just don’t write ’em like that anymore. This phrase could be aptly applied to the classic musical comedy Wonderful Town, now getting a major revival at the Goodman Theater, under the direction of innovative director Mary Zimmerman. Wonderful Town, written by Joseph A. Fields and Jerome Chodorov, with lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green,… Read More ‘Wonderful Town’ at the Goodman

I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been salivating at seeing the new musical War Paint, which is based on the PBS documentary The Powder and the Glory celebrating makeup moguls and life-long rivals Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubenstein, as soon as the Goodman announced it as part of their trademark eclectic season. Not only did… Read More ‘War Paint’ at the Goodman Theatre

Gilded scenery, an exquisitely sung classic American songbook score, parades of hoop skirts and exotic Eastern textiles, and an unconventional love story. What’s not to adore in Lyric Opera’s The King and I? The draw, for me, was seeing one of the musical theatre stage’s brightest stars, Kate Baldwin, take on the iconic role of Anna Leonowens… Read More ‘The King and I’ at Lyric Opera

I almost skipped Dreamgirls at Porchlight. I’ve seen and enjoyed the movie, I saw a very decent (if emotionally neutral) touring production 6 years ago, I’ve watched Jennifer Holliday’s landmark performance of the titular first act closer in gay bars and YouTubes galore. I mean, I’ve *seen* Dreamgirls. Or so I thought. Following the first act of… Read More ‘Dreamgirls’ at Porchlight Music Theatre

When I visited London around five years ago, I made the grave mistake of choosing Ghost: The Musical over a newer show which I inaccurately assumed as a twee, commercial-friendly children’s spectacle – otherwise known as Matilda, the Musical. Last week, I righted my wrongs by catching the first-rate first National Tour of the show at the… Read More Thoughts on ‘Matilda the Musical’

Renee Fleming and Thomas Hampson star in Franz Lehar’s “The Merry Widow” Ooh-la-la! As John Oliver mentioned in response to the recent attacks on France’s capital, Paris will endure – largely due to its rich culture and passionate people. And the delightful comic operetta by Hungarian composer Franz Lehár, The Merry Widow, celebrates the very… Read More A Buoyant ‘Merry Widow’ at Lyric Opera of Chicago

Christopher Tierney and Gillian Abbott get their dirty on  I’m supposed to write a review about the stage version of Dirty Dancing, currently playing at the Cadillac Palace Theatre through August 30. However, I’m pretty sure that anything I say about this production won’t really add much value to your ticket buying decisions because a)… Read More ‘Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story Onstage’ can’t be blamed for false advertising