Ok, let’s just get this out of the way: Brian Blankenship’s play, My Kinda Town (which is receiving its world premiere by Nothing Special Productions), simply needs work. But there’s potential. It starts off as an Odd Couple-esque comedy set in Chicago about two best friends — Tony (Joe Bianco), a struggling musical theatre actor,… Read More Nothing Special Productions’ ‘My Kinda Town’ needs less dildo, more bromance
Let X = one confounding play Let Y = one confused audience member Therefore, (X + Y) / (a talented cast desperately trying to hold things together) = one major headache Maybe I’m just stupid. I mean, I’ve never been good at math. But Gwydion Suilebhan’s 90 minute play takes us so deep inside his… Read More Nothing Special Productions’ chaotic ‘LET X’ just doesn’t add up
Competing for the longest title in the silly Halloween play category is Nothing Special Productions, with their wacky spoof play, Nightmare in Paradise 2: Another Nightmare in Paradise…in 3-D!, written and directed by Brian Rohde. Here’s the plot (generously lifted from their website): Dennis (Toph Enany) and Christine (Jenn Danielle Miller) have just returned home… Read More ‘Nightmare in Paradise 2: Another Nightmare in Paradise…in 3-D!’
Time to get my big boy theatre pants on and strap myself in for the next five days: Theatre-y thing #1: This evening I’m speaking with up-and-coming playwright Dana Lynn Formby — whose play, Inherit the Whole, proved a powerful kick start for Mortar Theatre‘s first season — about her latest work, Corazon de Manzana,… Read More Upcoming theatre-y things
The cast of Nothing Special Productions’ “The Armageddon Dance Party” What would you do if the world was apparently ending? Make out in a stairwell? Repent? Eat bags of Doritos and Crunch ‘N’ Munch in the nude? In David L. Williams’ dark comedy, The Armageddon Dance Party, you do just what the title suggests —… Read More The world is apparently ending. Let’s dance!
Show of hands for anyone who wants to spend a beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon in a dark theatre watching some musty Shakespeare? Ok, yeah, I’m sure there’s a few of you who would. But for the rest of us… In all honesty, I was kicking myself for accepting the invite to this show. Going into… Read More ‘The scottish play’ gets a powerful, minimalist reworking
Chicago Theatre Addict 