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Victory Gardens Theater announces Directors Inclusion Initiative assistant directors
Chicago, IL— Victory Gardens Theater announces the 2019/20 Season Directors Inclusion Initiative Assistant Directors including Alexander ( Lex ) Turner ( Tiny Beautiful Things ), Lanise Antoine Shelley ( The First Deep Breath ), Christina Casano ...
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Critics' Picks
Ghost Quartet, Black Button Eyes Productions @ Stage 773, through Aug. 17—Dazzling vocal and instrumental musicianship in the town's most unique musical; a mash-up of fantasy, gothic horror and fairytale with Dave Malloy's melodic and diverse ...
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Underscore Theatre plans Chicago Musical Theater Festival and musicals
CHICAGO ( August 13, 2019 ) — Underscore Theatre Company is pleased to announce its full 2019-20 Season, featuring two fully-produced musicals, plus the 6th annual CHICAGO MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL. The season kicks off this fall ...
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Chicago Cabaret Professionals announces new Board
( Chicago, IL ) The Board of Directors of the Chicago Cabaret Professionals ( CCP ) is delighted to announce the appointment of seven new Board members, who officially joined in July 2019. They are Robert ...
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Ross Mathews brings bubbles and brunch to Chicago
Ross Mathews Presents Dragtastic Bubbly Brunch is a new endeavor for the television personality that combines local drag and a buffet brunch together in an intimate venue. Many will know Mathews from his numerous TV appearances ...
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THEATER REVIEW Boogieban
Playwright: D.C. Fidler At: none too fragile theatre at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave. ( entrance at May and Aberdeen streets ) Tickets: NoneTooFragile.com 330-962-5547; $35. Runs through: Aug. 31 The phenomenon we now ...
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Audra McDonald concert to benefit Steppenwolf Theatre Company Sept. 15
CHICAGO ( August 5, 2019 ) Historic six-time Tony Award Winner Audra McDonald reunites with Sirius XM Radio star Seth Rudetsky direct from their critically acclaimed performances at Town Hall in New York City this past ...
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Victory Gardens Theater to present Tiny Beautiful Things
Chicago, IL— Victory Gardens Theater kicks-off its 45th Anniversary season with the Chicago Premiere of Tiny Beautiful Things, based on the book by Cheryl Strayed, adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos and co-conceived by Marshall ...
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SPOTLIGHT Violet Surprise, A Femslash Parody Festival
We love the title, Violet Surprise, A Femslash Parody Festival, at Otherworld Theatre, 3914 N. Clark Street, Aug. 9-11 only. Otherworld specializes in science fiction and fantasy theater so director Iris Sowlat—who has a self-proclaimed "passion ...
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THEATER REVIEW The Spitfire Grill
Playwright: James Valcq and Fred Alley, based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff At: American Blues Theatre at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets: $19-49; stage773.com/showspitfiregrill. Runs through: Aug. 17 Female-driven musicals are ...
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THEATER REVIEW Much Ado About Nothing
Playwright: William Shakespeare At: Oak Park Festival Theatre, 167 N. Forest Ave, Oak Park. Tickets: OakParkFestival.com . Price: $15-35. Runs through: Aug. 31 It's Shakespeare versus an army of cicadas at Oak Park Festival's Much Ado ...
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THEATER REVIEW Come From Away
Authors: Book, music & lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein At: Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St. Tickets: 800-775-2000; BroadwayInChicago.com; $35-$105. Runs through: Aug. 18 With the United States flush with bigotry, mendacity, megalomania ...
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Writers Theatre opens 2019/20 Season with Into the Woods
Glencoe, IL— Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, opens its 2019/20 Season with Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical masterpiece Into the Woods, directed by Gary ...
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About Face at Unity Park on Aug. 16
The Chicago Park District Night Out in the Parks program is celebrating 2019 as The Year of Chicago Theatre—and About Face Theatre will provide an LGBTQ-themed performance at Unity Park, 2636 N. Kimball Ave., on Friday, ...
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Critics' Picks
Ghost Quartet, Black Button Eyes Productions @ Stage 773, through Aug. 17—Dazzling vocal and instrumental musicianship in the town's most unique musical; a mash-up of fantasy, gothic horror and fairytale with Dave Malloy's melodic and diverse ...
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THEATER REVIEW
Roast
Author: Harry Wood Directed by: Derek Bertelsen. At: The Comrades Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.. Tickets: $15-20; GreenhouseTheater.org. Runs through: Aug. 18 The Comrades team is presenting Derek Bertelsen's production Roast—a play about the ...
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Pride Films and Plays to produce A Man of No Importance
Chicago, IL - Pride Films and Plays will stage the first Chicago production in more than a decade of A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, the heartwarming musical created by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, and Terrence McNally, ...
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THEATER Queer actor Heath Saunders leads 'Darling Grenadine'
A year after his electrifying performance in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Lyric Opera House, actor/musician Heath Saunders is back in the Chicago area at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire for the summer as the lead ...
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THEATER REVIEW The Recommendation
Playwright: Jonathan Caren At: Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Rd. Tickets: WindyCityPlayhouse.com and 773-891-8985; $80-$100 ( includes food, etc. ). Runs through: Sept. 22 Don't be too quick to assign a genre to Jonathan ...
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Critics' picks
King Lear, Redtwist Theatre, through Aug. 4. Shakespeare's tragedy of intergenerational family conflict is rendered timely, coherent and swift by Redtwist's intimate storefront space and a vigorous performance by Brian Parry as western drama's worst parent. ...
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SPOTLIGHT on Now and Then
Now and Then is a new romantic relationship musical that follows lovers Daniel and Greg over 40 years of their lives, from meeting in college to middle age. The show uses three actors for each character, ...
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Steppenwolf Theatre Co. 44th Season jumps off with The Great Leap
CHICAGO ( July 30, 2019 ) — Steppenwolf Theatre Company's 2019/20 season of complex, beautiful and maddening theater kicks off with a thrilling Chicago premiere by in-demand playwright, Lauren Yee, directed by Jesca Prudencio. Set in ...
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THEATER Teatro ZinZanni: Love, Chaos & Dinner
Script and score: Improvisation by the cast and song standards At: Spiegeltent Zazou on the 14th floor of Cambria Hotel, 32 W. Randolph St.. Tickets: 312-488-0900 or zinzanni.com/chicago; $124-$19 Booking through: Sept. 29 Seattle-based Teatro ZinZanni ...
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The Facts of Life, Satan's School for Girls to open Sept. 29
CHICAGO ( July 25, 2019 ) — Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to announce castings for its world premiere of THE FACTS OF LIFE — Satan's School for Girls, a musical parody of the ...
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Second City Divas In Concert for Season of Concern
In a one-night-only opportunity to see Chicago's leading ladies of musical theatre on stage together, Season of Concern ( SOC ) presents "Second City Divas—In Concert," a benefit performance Monday, September 9 at 7:30 p.m. at ...
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Steppenwolf Announces Casting for First Four Shows of 2019/20 Season
CHICAGO ( July 23, 2019 ) — Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces casting for the first four productions of the 2019/20 season featuring previously announced ensemble members Audrey Francis, Tim Hopper, Caroline Neff, Yasen Peyankov and Karen ...
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Bernadette Peters at Paramount Theatre Aug. 17
Aurora, Ill., July 25, 2019 — Throughout her amazing career, multi-talented megastar Bernadette Peters has dazzled audiences and critics on stage, film and TV, in concert and on recordings. Best known for her work on stage, ...
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THEATER REVIEW Ghost Quartet
Playwright: Dave Malloy ( book, music & lyrics ) At: Black Button Eyes Productions, Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets: 773-327-5252 and Stage773.com; $30. Runs through: Aug. 17 The Music Man at Goodman Theatre is ...
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THEATER REVIEW Wolf Play
Playwright: Hansol Jung At: The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets: $20-$40; https://www.thegifttheatre.org .Runs through: Aug. 18 The Gift Theatre's midwest premiere of Hansol Jung's Wolf Play is like nothing I've ever seen. Directed by ...
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Critics' Picks
The Music Man, Goodman Theatre, through Aug. 18—Mary Zimmerman's buoyant, festive staging of one of America's most festive musicals celebrates a more optimistic and big-hearted USA; it's a perfect summer show and antidote for today's inglorious ...
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THEATER REVIEW 20/20
Playwrights: About Face Youth Theatre members At: Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St. Tickets: 773-784-85665 or AboutFaceTheatre.com; $20 or pay-what-you-can. Runs through: July 28 The About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble is celebrating its 20th year ...
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THEATER REVIEW Pomona
Playwright: Alistair McDowall At: Steep Theatre, 1115 W. Berwyn Ave. Tickets: SteepTheatre.com and 773-649-3186; $27-$38. Runs through: Aug. 24 In the course of our 85-minute play, an enthusiastic gamer will instruct a cool-cookie tyro in the ...
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NUNN ON ONE COMEDY Chuck Norment, 'Grin' is in at Second City
The Second City e.t.c.'s 43rd Revue: Grinning from Fear to Fear continues an open run, with many sold-out shows on the second floor of 230 W. North Ave. The troupe consists of returning cast member Andrew ...
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THEATER The Music Man
Author: Meredith Wilson ( book, music & lyrics ) At: Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn. Tickets: 312-443-3800; GoodmanTheatre.org; $25-$142. Runs through: Aug. 18 Director Mary Zimmerman won a Tony Award and a MacArthur Fellowship for her ...
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About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble's 20th Anniversary, 20/20
CHICAGO — The About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the world premiere of 20/20, an exhilarating dive into recent queer history devised and performed by members of the About Face Youth ...
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Goodman Theatre announces 2019/2020 season
( Chicago, IL ) Goodman Theatre announces the casting and creative teams for its 2019/2020 "Theater That Moves" Season openers. The season kicks-off September 6 in the Owen Theatre with the world premiere of Lucas Hnath's ...
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Sideshow Theatre Company 2019-20 season to premiere X, Pro-Am
CHICAGO ( July 17, 2019 ) — Sideshow Theatre Company is pleased to announce its 2019-20 Season, launching this fall with the U.S. premiere of Alistair McDowall's mind-bending sci-fi thriller X, directed by artistic director Jonathan ...
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THEATER REVIEW Wolf Play
Playwright: Hansol Jung At: The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee, Chicago. Tickets: https://www.thegifttheatre.org. Runs through: Aug 18 The Gift Theatre's midwest premiere of Hansol Jung's Wolf Play is like nothing I've ever seen before. Directed by ...
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Barrel of Monkeys Presents Free Summer Workshops, Performances
CHICAGO ( July 16, 2019 ) — Barrel of Monkeys, one of Chicago's leaders in arts education, will present free creative writing workshops and public performances August 5 — 10, 2019 through the new Millennium Park ...
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Promethean's 14th season to explore status of women, societies past, imagined
The rights and roles of women in society will be examined in Promethean Theatre Ensemble's 2019-20 season via three plays all penned or adapted by women. The first two will revisit the early years of women's ...
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First Floor Theater to begin Season 8 with Sugar in Our Wounds
By Donja R. Love, Directed by FFT Company Member Mikael Burke, October 19, 2019 - November 23, 2019 On a plantation during the Civil War, a mystical tree stretches toward heaven. It protects James, a young ...
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THEATER True West
Playwright: Sam Shepard At: Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. Tickets: Steppenwolf.org. Runs through: Aug. 25 What is the "true west?" Deserts and prairies and stories about unassailable heroes and black-hatted villains? California, with Hollywood's fantasy ...
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THEATER Strange Heart Beating
Playwright: Kristin Idaszak At: Cloudgate Theatre at the Frontier, 1106 W. Thorndale Ave. Tickets: CloudgateTheatre.com; $5-$45. Runs through: July 28 There's potential for a nifty TV-movie in Kristin Idaszak's play—TWO movies, in fact. Whether they are ...
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Auditorium Theatre receives Outstanding Historic Theatre Award
( CHICAGO, IL ) On July 14, 2019, the Auditorium Theatre received the League of Historic American Theatres' ( LHAT ) Outstanding Historic Theatre Award, recognizing the Auditorium for its demonstrated excellence through its programs and ...
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THEATER REVIEW The Drag Seed
Author: David Cerda Directed by: Cheryl Snodgrass. At: Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. Tickets: : $20-44; BrownPaperTickets.com. Runs through: Aug. 24 Hell in a Handbag is presenting The Drag Seed, by David Cerda. This is ...
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Teen performer talks Jimmys, being on Broadway
By Joshua Irvine
He was standing on an escalator in the lobby of a Times Square theater when the magnitude of what Jacob Simon was experiencing hit him. "It was surreal," Simon said. "I was, like, 'Wow, we're in ...
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Critics' Picks
Six, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, through Aug. 4—This acclaimed and proudly feminist British fringe musical smartly reimagines the six wives of King Henry VIII as contemporary pop song contestants in a flashy sing-off. SCM The Ballad of ...
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THEATER REVIEW The Tempest
Author: William Shakespeare At: Lincoln Park and various other Chicago public parks. Tickets: MidsommerFlight.com; Tickets are free, no reservations required. Runs through: Aug 25 Producing the ideal Shakespeare in the park is a choose-your-own-adventure undertaking with ...
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THEATER REVIEW The Flower of Hawaii
Authors: Paul Abraham ( composer ); Alfred Grunwald & Fritz Lohner-Beda ( librettists ). At: Chicago Folks Operetta, Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets: FolksOperetta.org; $30-$40. Runs through: July 14 The music is the only ...
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THEATER REVIEW Head Over Heels
Songs: The Go-Go's; Conception and original book: Jeff Whitty; Book adaptation: James Magruder At: Kokandy Productions at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.. Tickets: 773-975-8150 or KokandyProductions.com; $35-$40. Runs through: Aug. 25 Who knew that Sir ...
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THEATER REVIEW King Lear
Playwright: William Shakespeare At: Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Tickets: Redtwist.org and 773-728-7529; $35-$40. Runs through: Aug. 4 What comes to mind first when we hear "Shakespeare's King Lear" is grandeur: scenery-chewing by a ...
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Patricca play to be performed July 21
Promethean Theatre Ensemble will perform An Uncertain Hour, a work by gay playwright Nick Patricca, on Sunday, July 21, at 6 p.m. at The Lincoln Loft, 3036 N. Lincoln Ave. According to a press release, the ...
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'Ms. Blakk' now running thru July 21
Due to popular demand, Steppenwolf Theatre Company has added seven more performances to the run of Ms. Blakk For President. Now playing through July 21 at Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., this new work ...
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THEATER REVIEW GRINDR The Opera (An Unauthorized Parody)
Book, music and lyrics by: Erik Ransom At: The Buena, Pride Arts Center, 4147 N. Broadway. Tickets: pridefilmsandplays.com; $20-40. Runs through: July 28 Looking for an easy way to chat with and meet other gay/bisexual men ...
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Renee Taylor lives her Life on a Diet
Renee Taylor will always be remembered as Sylvia Fine, the mother in the TV series The Nanny, but her accomplishments are many. She created 22 plays, four films and nine TV movies and series with her ...
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THEATER Sean Masterson's Timeless Magic
Playwright: Sean Masterson At: Chicago Magic Lounge, 5050 N. Clark, Chicago. Tickets: https://www.chicagomagiclounge.com/ . Runs through: Oct 2 How has the Chicago Magic Lounge existed since 2015 without my having been aware of it? This old ...
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City of Chicago to give $1.3M support to local theater community
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced more than $835,750 in financial grants to 116 theater and dance artists, nonprofit theaters and other community organizations as part of ...
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Lakeside Pride takes part in Loop musical parade
By Joshua Irvine
Performers from the LGBTQ organization Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles marched through the Loop with close to 100 other volunteer musicians in commemoration of Goodman Theatre's revival of The Music Man. The 30-minute parade marched from the ...
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Raven Theatre names new artistic producer
Raven Theatre has announced the promotion of Cole von Glahn to the position of artistic producer, effective immediately. He had previously served as the company's production manager since January 2018. Outside of Raven, he has been ...
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THEATER Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Playwright: text by John Cameron Mitchell, music and lyrics by Stephen Trask At: Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre at the Howard Street Theatre, 721 Howard Street in Evanston. Tickets: theo-u.com 773-347-1109; $25-$30. Runs through: July 28 We ...
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Critics' Picks
The Ballad of Lefty & Crabbe, Underscore Theatre, through July 14—Jokes, puns and nonsense fly at you fast and furious in this lickety-split new musical about two comedians transitioning from vaudeville to Hollywood circa 1927. JA ...
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Critics' Picks
La Havana Madrid, Teatro Vista @ The Den, extended through 30 June—Last two weeks to see this thrice-remounted musical about Chicago's Latinx history, presented in the hottest performing arts multiplex in town. Arriba! MSB Four Places, ...
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THEATER REVIEW The River
Playwright: Jez Butterworth At: Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets: Bohotheatre.org Runs through: July 28 It's both simple and impossible to state exactly what The River is all about. The short, enigmatic 2012 play ...
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THEATER REVIEW Something Clean
Playwright: Selina Fillinger At: Sideshow Theatre and Rivendell Ensemble at Victory Gardens Biograph, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets: 773-871-3000; VictoryGardens.org; $20-$30. Runs through: July 21 My parents divorced after 24 years of marriage. No infidelity, no ...
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THEATER REVIEW Ada and the Engine
Playwright: Lauren Gunderson At: The Artistic Home, 1376 W. Grand Ave. Tickets: TheArtisticHome.org 866-811-4111; $34. Runs through: Aug. 4 "If we wanted melodrama, we would have gone to the opera!" snaps the only character without an ...
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THEATER SPOTLIGHT
A man, a plan, a canal … no, wait! A man, a plan, a meatball … Mother! In Meatball Séance queer writer and performer John Michael channels his late Mom through chopped meat so she can ...
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The Second City salutes Pride
The Second City's Salute to Pride is waving a welcoming flag this June with an all LGBTQ identifying cast. Head upstairs to UP Comedy Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and there you will find drag queen ...
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Steppenwolf Theatre Company Extends Ms. Blakk for President
CHICAGO ( June 21, 2019 ) — Due to popular demand, Steppenwolf Theatre Company has added seven more performances to the run of Ms. Blakk for President . Now playing through July 21, this new work ...
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Hell in a Handbag to present The Drag Seed world premiere July 5
CHICAGO ( June 19, 2019 ) — Hell in a Handbag Productions continues its 2019 season with the world premiere of THE DRAG SEED, an unauthorized parody of the 1956 psychological horror-thriller film The Bad Seed, ...
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THEATER 'Hedwig' director talks compassion, gender and music
Since its off-Broadway premiere, Hedwig and the Angry Inch has garnered a film adaptation, four Tony Awards and a substantial following. Initially, Toma Tavares Langston was not a fan. "I didn't get it," the director of ...
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MUSIC LeAnn Rimes goes from 'Blue' to a rainbow
Singer LeAnn Rimes career took off at the tender age of 13 years old with a Bill Mack song called "Blue." After reaching number one on the country album chart, she eventually moved toward pop music ...
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Critics' Picks
La Havana Madrid, Teatro Vista @ The Den, extended through 30 June—Last two weeks to see this thrice-remounted musical about Chicago's Latinx history, presented in the hottest performing arts multiplex in town. Arriba! MSB Four Places, ...
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THEATER SPOTLIGHT Free Street Theater to do 50 plays in all 50 wards
On Sunday June 23, Free Street Theater will mark its 50th anniversary—very few Chicago theaters are older—by performing a play in every Chicago ward in just one day! 50 IN 50 will spread the Free Street ...
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THEATER REVIEW Emma
Author: novel by Jane Austen, stage adaptation by Phil Timberlake At: Lifeline Theatre Company, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. Tickets: lifelinetheatre.com or 773-761-4477; $20-$40. Runs through: July 14 Lifeline Theatre's Emma is charming and ridiculous in the ...
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THEATER REVIEW Prophet$
Playwright: Anthony Tournis At: Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St. Tickets: TheFactoryTheater.com or 866-811-4111; $25. Runs through: July 22 Protestant Christianity's individualistic approach to its source material acknowledges a variety of interpretations, enabling virtually anybody to ...
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