22 Feb 2024

The Wonder as I Wandered: “The Stacks: An Immersive Mystery,” at the Sound Conservatory through March 2

By Pamela Briggs

You're invisible to the characters; there's no interaction between performers and audience, and no talking between spectators. But you can prowl and eavesdrop at will. Everyone witnesses the happenings differently.

19 Feb 2024

Elle-ated: “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” at the Spotlight Theatre through February 25

By Pamela Briggs

Director Rebecca Casad and musical director Christine Rogers have wrangled a large, impressive cast, crew, and staff into an energetic singing, dancing, overall good time.

12 Feb 2024

Hoppin’ Mad: “Harvey,” at the Playcrafters Barn Theatre through February 18

By Alexander Richardson

It’s February, so love must be in the air – or at least affection. The Playcrafters Barn Theatre's first production of 2024, director Jake Ladd's Harvey, is a hoot, and a hearty helping of classic comedy.

12 Feb 2024

The Night the Chicagoan Died: “Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story,” at the Black Box Theatre through February 24

By Madeline Dudziak

Let it be known: I’m not a true crime kind of gal. As such, the opening night of Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story at the Black Box Theatre was perhaps the most unsettling theatrical experience I’ve had in recent memory. I couldn’t quite get past the fact this was a true story. While it has certainly been dramatized – and as a musical, for Pete’s sake! – I found this somber tale quite disturbing.

22 Jan 2024

Claws for Alarm: Haus of Ruckus’ “Punk Rock Lobster,” at the Black Box Theatre through January 28

By Madeline Dudziak

It’s actually difficult to know where to begin. What started as a fairly straightforward tale about rescuing a crustacean from an upscale restaurant tank evolved into an existentialist crisis for almost every character as they collectively grappled with their current realities. While that sounds potentially deeper than you’re perhaps expecting, please note that Haus of Ruckus' Punk Rock Lobster is a comedy, and never takes itself too seriously.

22 Jan 2024

Choo-choo-dunit: “Murder on the Orient Express,” at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse through March 2

By Pamela Briggs

Mysteries should surprise you. Murder on the Orient Express, the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse's current offering, did so for me in … well, surprising ways.

11 Dec 2023

A Short Review of a Short Revue: “The Ho Ho Ho Show,” at the Black Box Theatre through December 17

By Alexander Richardson

One last Christmas show for the season: The Black Box Theatre’s newest production, director Andrea Moore's The Ho Ho Ho Show, is a pleasant, quick evening out for those looking for a pleasant, quick Christmas fix.

04 Dec 2023

Presents Past and Future: “A Christmas Carol: The Musical,” at the Spotlight Theatre through December 10

By Roger Pavey Jr.

“Bah, humbug!” is the opposite reaction I had after attending Saturday's performance of the Spotlight Theatre’s A Christmas Carol: The Musical, which is arguably the cleanest, best-sounding, most visually pleasing presentation I've yet seen at the venue. Director Adam Sanders and his team of designers put together a sleek, refreshing production that makes me excited for future shows that can explore theatre-making in this space in similarly different ways.

04 Dec 2023

Cool Yule: “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas,” at the Timber Lake Playhouse through December 10

By Alexander Richardson

I don’t know about you, but I’m a Christmas-Music-After-Thanksgiving-and-Not-Halloween kind of person.. This isn't to say I’m a Grinch or a Scrooge; it's more that I find the charm of the holidays best enjoyed in smaller doses. Thankfully, the Timber Lake Playhouse’s most recent production Million Dollar Quartet Christmas, directed by Tim Seib, offers a rousing alternative to typical Christmas fare.

16 Nov 2023

Cinema Paradiso: “Nine,” at Augustana College through November 19

By Alexander Richardson

Augustana College’s latest production, directed and choreographed by multi-hyphenate Shelley Cooper, is an area debut and a pleasant surprise. While I knew nothing about Nine before the musical's Tuesday-night dress rehearsal, the show offers a slew of treats for anyone who chooses to attend, regardless of one's familiarity with the material.

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