Theater

Things to Do in Chicago April 11-18: The Mix

Expo Chicago, a Kane Brown concert and the Chicago Latino Film Festival are among the entertainment highlights of the week ahead.

By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times

Vegas Cirque Show Closure. Beatles member John Lennon is projected on the screen during the preview of "Love," a new Beatles-themed Cirque du Soleil show, in Las Vegas, June 27, 2006. On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, it was announced that the final curtain will come down July 7 on Cirque du Soleil's long-running show “The Beatles Love," a cultural icon on the Las Vegas Strip that brought band members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr back together for public appearances throughout its 18-year run.

Entertainment and Culture

Cirque du Soleil's 'The Beatles Love' ending Las Vegas run after 18 years

Cirque announced on Tuesday that the show housed at the Mirage will end on July 7, part of the iconic hotel-casino’s major renovation plan to rebrand itself into the Hard Rock Las Vegas.

By Rio Yamat | AP

Artistic designer Marquis Lewis, aka RETNA, brings a calligraphy motif to the sets of "Aida."

Theater

Lyric Opera's latest 'Aida' looks weird and sounds monotonous

With its baffling design and costumes, and singing that lacks nuance, production has little new to say about Verdi’s princess.

By Kyle MacMillan - For the Sun-Times

Theater

Lookingglass Theatre announces new artistic director, plan for upcoming productions

Also revealed on Wednesday was a rendering of the theater’s new lobby area, and the addition of Atra Asdou, Wendy Mateo, Ericka Ratcliff and Matthew C. Yee as ensemble members.

By Miriam Di Nunzio

5 Celeste Williams, Cindy Gold, Meg Thalken.jpeg

Theater

Hope springs eternal at all stages of life in Rivendell Theatre Ensemble's poignant 'Wipeout'

Three women share the laughter and tears that come with surviving seven decades of all that life can dish out in Aurora Real de Asua’s drama.

By Catey Sullivan | For the Sun-Times

A Streetcar Named Desire-photo by Amy Nelson.jpeg

Things To Do

Things to do in Chicago March 7-13: The Mix

Lyric Opera’s ‘Aida,’ a dance version of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and a Juanes concert are among the highlights of the week ahead.

By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times

Theater

Sting's music, Kate Prince's electrifying choreography weave mesmerizing tale of hope and survival in 'Message in a Bottle'

In shaping this combination of dance concert/juke-box musical, director-choreographer Kate Prince uses everything from break dancing to ballet to tell the story of a family forced into a perilous journey.

By Catey Sullivan | For the Sun-Times

A divorced dad (Rob McClure) disguises himself as a female nanny in order to see his kids (from left: Axel Bernard Rimmele, Giselle Guiterrez and Kennedy Alexandra Pitney) in "Mrs. Doubtfire."

Theater

'Mrs. Doubtfire' show succeeds more as movie tribute than as musical

Despite unmemorable songs, touring production stays true to the film and showcases an energetic star.

By Steven Oxman | For the Sun-Times

Zach Bryan performs Feb. 9 in Las Vegas.

Things To Do

Things to do in Chicago Feb. 29-March 6: The Mix

A trio of Zach Bryan concerts, the Goodman Theatre’s fresh take on Homer and a monster truck demo are among the week’s entertainment highlights

By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times

Manny Buckley, Jon Hudson Odom. Photo by Michael Brosilow (1).jpg

Theater

Two lives intersect amid one president's legacy in the searing 'Reclamation of Madison Hemings’

American Blues Theater’s taut, troubling tale de-deifies a nearly mythic figure in U.S. history while giving voice to the millions the Founding Fathers didn’t include as equals.

By Catey Sullivan | For the Sun-Times

The Shindellas photo by Ezelle Franklin.jpeg

Things To Do

Things to Do in Chicago — The Mix: Feb. 22-28

The Shindellas in concert, ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ the stage musical, and three world premieres at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago are among the highlights in the week ahead.

By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times

Entertainment and Culture

Bayless Family Foundation issues more than $500,000 in latest round of grants to Chicago theaters

Definition Theatre and Timeline Theatre Company were each awarded $180,000; Chicago Children’s Theatre received $100,000 and Remy Bumppo Theatre Company $50,000.

By Kade Heather

MagicFlute_1.jpeg. Tina Muñoz Pandya, Lauren Molina, Monica West and Russell Mernagh (standing, left to right) and Billy Rude are among the stellar cast of "Matchbox Magic Flute" at the Goodman Theatre.

Theater

'Matchbox Magic Flute' transforms Mozart's classic, taking it to fabulous new heights

It’s important to realize that this is not so much a version of Mozart’s opera but something new, with its own libretto adapted by Mary Zimmerman.

By Kyle MacMillan - For the Sun-Times

Café owner Dina (Sophie Madorsky, with Rom Barkhordar and Armand Akbari) is among the people in a remote Israeli town showing hospitality to stranded Egyptian musicians in "The Band's Visit."

Theater

In moving musical 'The Band's Visit,' strangers from distinct Mideast cultures find harmony

Magnificent Writers Theatre production of the Tony-winning show pulls you in to the characters’ world and you don’t want to leave.

By Steven Oxman | For the Sun-Times

Entertainment and Culture

Inside the Ramova Theatre — A look at the newly remodeled South Side venue

Chance the Rapper, an investor in the project, will play an all-ages show Friday — the first major event at the restored theater.

By Courtney Kueppers | WBEZ

(L-R) Aidan Wharton, David Benoit, Jennifer Blood and Jeremy Webb in the GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY North American tour (photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade).jpeg

Theater

'Girl from the North Country': How does it feel when the downtrodden sing Dylan songs? Captivating

Artist’s classic tunes deepen the characters in Conor McPherson’s melancholy musical now at CIBC Theatre.

By Steven Oxman | For the Sun-Times

Chance the Rapper performs at EBONY FWD in December in Miami Beach, Florida.

Things To Do

Things to do in Chicago Feb. 15-21: The Mix

Chance the Rapper at the Ramova and a Presidents Day celebration at the Chicago History Museum are among the highights in the week ahead.

By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times

_Mark David Kaplan and Company. Brett Beiner Photo.jpg

Entertainment and Culture

Minimalist 'Fiddler on the Roof' eschews traditional staging and loses too much of its charm

For starters, there’s no fiddler.

By Catey Sullivan | For the Sun-Times

The title character of "Antigone" (Aeriel Williams, right) disagrees with sister Ismene (Ariana Burks) about whether to bury their late brother, in defiance of the ruler.

Theater

Intimate 'Antigone' staging amplifies the Greek tragedy's big ideas

Court Theatre production strikes ideal balance between personal stories and Sophocles’ views on family vs. law and other issues still relevant.

By Steven Oxman | For the Sun-Times

Theater

‘Richard III’: Dark comedy dominates the tragedy in Chicago Shakes’ new take

Star Katy Sullivan demonstrates extraordinary physicality in director Edward Hall’s imaginative, sometimes overwhelming production.

By Steven Oxman | For the Sun-Times

“The Band’s Visit” photo by Wesley Hitt, Courtesy of TheatreSquared

Things To Do

Things to do in Chicago Feb. 8-14: The Mix

Mary Zimmerman’s ‘Magic Flute,’ a concert by Nashville’s Sarah Jarosz and the Chicago Botanic Garden’s orchid show are among the entertainment highlights in the week ahead.

By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times

Prince performs at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., on Feb. 18, 1985.

Theater

Stage musical of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ to debut in Minneapolis next year

The musical will be staged in the late singer’s hometown at the State Theatre.

By Associated Press

William Anthony Sebastian Rose II and Patrick Newson Jr. in Refracted Theatre Company’s production of “Tambo & Bones”

Theater

‘Tambo & Bones,’ ‘American Psycho,’ ‘The SpongeBob Musical’ top the 2024 Non-Equity Jeff Awards nominations

The accolades mark the 50th anniversary of the Chicago theater awards, which recognize excellence in non-Equity productions on local stages.

By Miriam Di Nunzio

A former translator for the U.S. military (Owais Ahmed, left) goes into hiding at the home of his sister (Aila Ayilam Peck) in “Selling Kabul”

Theater

‘Selling Kabul’ a breathless thriller, meticulously rendered by Northlight

Tight-knit Afghani family faces agonizing choices in wartime drama set in 2013.

By Catey Sullivan | For the Sun-Times

Theater

Exuberant ‘Illinoise’ blends the historical and the personal

Sufjan Stevens’ album becomes a highly emotional dance theater piece at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

By Steven Oxman | For the Sun-Times

Linda Reiter and H.B. Ward portray a husband and wife caught up in Mashuq Mushtaq Deen’s absurdist “Flood” at Shattered Globe Theatre.

Theater

Solid cast treads absurdist waters amid allegory-fueled ‘Flood’

Director Kenneth Prestininzi’s canny production is also tinged with a sliver of ominousness.

By Catey Sullivan | For the Sun-Times

Nina (Addie Morales) and Benny Yasir Muhammad are drawn to each other “In the Heights” at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire.

Theater

Powerhouse cast brings down the house in Marriott Theatre’s sizzling ‘In the Heights’

It’s evident from the thrilling opening sequence that director James Vasquez has captured the brimming, crowded heart of the musical.

By Catey Sullivan | For the Sun-Times

Dana Delany is shown onstage performing the play “Highway Patrol” at the Goodman Theatre.

Theater

‘Highway Patrol’ deepens as Dana Delany’s social media play grows more complex

The veteran TV actress delivers a hugely real and hugely personal — albeit mysterious — tale as she performs in the play at the Goodman Theatre.

By Steven Oxman | For the Sun-Times

Katy Sullivan plays the title role in “Richard III.”

Things To Do

Things to do in Chicago Feb. 1-7: The Mix

‘Richard III’ at Chicago Shakespeare, Madonna at the United Center and ‘Circusville’ at Chicago Children’s Museum are among the highlights in the week ahead.

By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times

Theater

‘Illinoise’ team puts dancers up front in adapting Sufjan Stevens’ album for stage

Director Justin Peck says it took some five years of lobbying for the singer-songwriter to allow use of music from his acclaimed 2005 set ‘Illinois.’

By Courtney Kueppers | WBEZ

Chita Rivera llega a la 72ª edición de los Premios Tony en 2018, en Nueva York. Rivera, la bailarina, cantante y actriz ganadora del premio Tony que abrió un camino para las artistas latinas, falleció a los 91 años.

Entertainment and Culture

Chita Rivera, pioneering Tony-winning dancer and singer, dies at 91

Rivera first gained wide notice in 1957 as Anita in the original Broadway production of “West Side Story.”

By Mark Kennedy | AP Entertainment Writer

Boxer Emile Griffith (Justin Austin, center) tries to make sense of his knockout of Benny “Kid” Paret (Sankara Harouna) in Lyric Opera’s production of “Champion.”

Theater

Jazz-flavored boxing opera ‘Champion’ scores many points in Lyric co-production

Composer Terence Blanchard’s work effectively pairs young and old versions of fighter Emile Griffith, who struggled with male identity and the aftermath of a knockout that proved deadly.

By Kyle MacMillan - For the Sun-Times