BROADWAY IN CHICAGO (312) 902-1400, Broadway Playhouse, formerly Drury Lane Water Tower Working. This terrific new musical is based on the book by Chicago’s own, Pulitzer Prize winner, Studs Terkel about everyday people and their jobs; from a waitress to a firefighter and all kinds of work in between. The songs and gentle humor show how making a living is one of the biggest parts of life.
At The Cadillac Palace Jeff Beck with the Imelda May Band 4/1 & 2, pay tribute to his mentor, Les Paul. Also, Cirque Eloize iD 4/26-5/8 is a blend of modern circus arts, urban dance, multi-media and new music. The Merchant of Venice at The Bank of America Theatre until 3/27 is Shakespeare’s tragi-comedy starring Oscar winner, F. Murray Abraham as Shylock. The story has always been controversial and still causes debates today as it takes on religion, race sexuality and of course the currency of humans. It will be followed by Next to Normal 4/26-5/8 from the director of Rent. This winner of the 2010 Pulitzer for drama is a tale of a family trying to take care of each other with a new contemporary score.
At The Chicago Tribune Freedom Center North, 4/29-6/19 Peter Pan features live actors, puppets, music, flying sequences and so much more-all in a tent in a theatre in the round experience in which cast and audience fly over olde London. Yes, its in a tent which has been described as the Ford-Oriental Theatre under a white cape, with Tinkerbell, Captain Hook and the whole gang.
God of Carnage at The Goodman Theatre (312) 443-3800 until 4/17 is one of our personal don’t misses. In this triple Tony Winner two couples get together to discuss their young sons’ fight. From the opening scene, hold on to your sides and your seat and get ready for a hilarious evening’s ride. A winner all the way through and through. Coming 4/30-6/15 Stage Kiss, a new comedy that features a former “couple” who both land roles in a 1930’s romantic comedy. When they share a kiss, guess what happens? Also, El Nogalar 3/26-4/24 a drama-comedy set in present day Mexico that asks the question: does one have to change or be left behind?
At Timeline Theatre (773) 281-8463 The Front Page runs 4/16-6/12. This classic comedy set in a Chicago 1920’s pressroom at the criminal courts building, is fast paced and peppered with Chicago’s history of corruption and scandal.
At Steppenwolf Theatre (312) 335-1650 Sex With Strangers runs until 5/15. The edgey modern romance told with lots of humor, is the story of a blogger who shares his life, including his sexual exploits, with his online audience. He begins a romance with a slightly older woman writer, who in the beginning, doesn’t even know what blogging is. It’s right on target with today’s world of high tech, and begs the question when is too much information too much? In our opinion, it’s a unique, brilliant, real-life believable don’t miss. It will be followed by The Hot L Baltimore 3/24-5/29. This story is about a hotel which used to be grand, but over the years has fallen on hard times and now the wrecking ball will force the residents to move. This tale tells their stories, and the story of living on the edges of society. Also, at the Garage, until 4/24 Garage Rep 2011 three productions are performed in rotating reperatory by three of Chicago’s theatre companys.
Circle Mirror Transformation at Victory Gardens’ (773) 871 -3000 until 4/17 is a comedy drama with six very different people taking an acting class; at first no one thinks that they have anything in common, but as the story is told they all learn differently. This Chicago premiere was voted one of the top ten plays of 2009 by the New York Times. Opening 4/1 the Chicago premiere Tree by Julie Hebert. Three generations living together, an aging mother, her caregiver son, and his daughter are confronted with family secrets that promise to implode the family, when a white suburban woman shows up one day.
Lookingglass Theatre Company’s (312) 337-0665 Ethan Frome until 4/17 is the tragic story of love and loss in a cold and gray rural area. This is a new adaptation of the American classic, the mystery that the whole town knows is told as a narrative and captivates from the first scene. The life lessons of selflessness, selfishness and a love that can endure is the theme of this tragedy.
At The Black Ensemble Theater (773) 769-4451, another show written and directed by the talented Jackie Taylor, a musical comedy All in Love is Fair, features the music of Luther Vandross.
American Theatre Co. (773) 409-4125 in their 26th Season presents The Big Meal until 3/27. A great feast of a family’s life story told by eight actors in the same suburban restaurant over a span of five generations. It’s all there: birth, death, marriage, divorce and every important moment that life holds. It’s a terrific show, with great staging, incredible acting and a wonderful story. It will be followed by the restored, revised original R-rated Grease which comes home to Chicago. After two movies, and three Broadway plays this is the original with some new music but the same great story not seen here since 1971.
White Noise a Cautionary Musical at Royal George Theatre (312) 988-9000 4/1-6/5 is a new rock musical that pits White Noise, a pop band with coded hateful lyrics against hip-hop-gansta-rap duo, Bloodbrothas each willing to do anything for million dollar success, the record labels, the shock, the spin and more meet head on in this new musical with Whoopie Goldberg as one of the producers. In the Cabaret, Dixie’s Tupperware Party, sure sounds like lots of fun with your ‘hostess’ Dixie. Grab a cocktail at the bar and you can even buy Tupperware at the back of the theatre-after all it is a Tupperware party!
Provision Theater (866)811-4111 runs Wonders Never Cease 4/27-6/5. Fate and a car accident bring together a famous movie star and a med school drop-out. He dreams up a way to make a lot of money with a best seller, but some real angels show up with some ideas of their own.
Virginia Woolf’s Orlando at Court Theatre (773) 753 4472 until 4/10 is a Sarah Rule adaptation of the story of an English nobleman who lives for hundreds of years then falls asleep and wakes as a woman. The classic is directed by Jessica Thebus with lots of humor and imagination.
At their approximately 60 seat intimate space, Profiles Theatre (773) 549-1815 presents the Midwest premiere of Fifty Words 4/15-6/6. The story is about a modern day couple, on the evening of their son’s first sleepover, exploring marriage on the verge, told with passion and humor.
At Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier (312) 595-5600 their World’s Stage Presentation The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh until 3/27 brings Ireland’s celebrated Druid Theatre Company to Chicago in this tale of a poor cripple and the humor and tragedy of his life (Fantastic!). It will be followed by The National Theatre of Scotland’s Black Watch 3/29-4/10 at The Broadway Armory. Also, The Madness of George III runs 4/13-6/12.
At The Greenhouse Theatre Centre (773) 404-7336 Remy Bumppo (773)) 404-7336 presents one of our personal favorites, Edward Albee’s The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? until 5/8. And on their multiple stages there’s lots more.
At Redtwist Theatre (773)728-7529 in their Season of Fear, Man From Nebraska runs until 4/24, by award-winning author, Tracy Letts. The story, a dramedy, about a man trying to ‘find himself’, leaving his family and a great job and heads for the hip side of London and nothing in his world will be the same again.
The Chicago premiere at American Blues Theater (312) 725-4228 of Rantoul & Die 4/22-5/22 by Mark Roberts (“Two and a Half Men”) is a dark ‘take no prisoners’ comedy.
At Auditorium Theatre (312) 922-2110 the Miles Davis Festival runs 3/31, 4/12, 4/14, & 4/16. Also, River North Dance Chicago 4/16 is a world premiere tribute to Miles Davis; and Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg 4/21 &23 presents Don Quixote.
At Theater Wit (773) 975-8150 Bohemian Theatre Co. (BoHo) (773) 791-2393 presents Dirty Blonde , a story of Mae West 4/1-5/1. Also, A Twist of Water by Route 66 Theatre Co. is a world premiere about a gay widowed history teacher raising his adopted African-American daughter.
Just a hop, skip and a jump from the city:
At Light Opera Works (847) 869-6300 Evanston, Brigadoon 6/4-12 is the beloved musical of the Scottish town that comes alive only once every 100 years.
At Northlight Theatre (847) 673-6300 a world premiere adaptation of Jane Austen’s first novel, Sense & Sensibility, the classic tale of financially strapped sisters seeking marriage with gentle humor and flirting. The talented cast of 13, make this show a winner. It will be followed by another world premiere, Outgoing Tide 5/12-6/19. The story involves a family planning to gain a fortune, it is dark with drama and humor.
And at Centre East there’s always varied and wonderful entertainment.
Travels With My Aunt, a winner, at Writers Theatre (847) 242-6000 Glencoe, finds retired Henry leading a quiet life until his Aunt Augusta shows up. Over 25 characters appear in this play, performed by 4 actors who change gender, age, nationalities and identities. George Bernard Shaw’s personal favorite play, Heartbreak House 4/19-6/26 begs the ultimate question, should a young woman marry for love or money? A gathering of guests explore all kinds of relationships and romantic entangelments.
Metropolis Centre for the Performing Arts (847)577-2121 Arlington Heights, presents The Butler Didn’t and for the kids: Pinocchio 3/31-4/8 and much more.
Circle Theatre (708) 660-9540 Oak Park, in their 26th Anniversary Season in their new 150 seat space presents the very funny, The Man Who Came to Dinner until 4/3.It will be followed by Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music 4/27-6/5.
Next Theatre (847) 475-6763Evanston, presents the premiere of the sold out off-Bway show, The Metal Children 4/7-5/8. The drama involves the semi-autobiography by Adam Rapp, that deals with religion, censorship and book burning.
Last but not Least:
Second City’s (312) 337-3992 mainstage show, 99th Revue South Side of Heaven explores the delicate balances of life: is it the Cubs or the Sox, stripping or dancing? and on the etc. Stage; Spoiler Alert: Everybody Dies, from birth through the hilarious ups and downs of life what the most important thing for us to remember is that we’re all in this together; Gift Theatre (773) 283-7071 Night and Her Stars the quiz show scandals of 1950’s; Lifeline Theatre’s (773) 761-4477 Arnie the Donut a world premiere children’s musical. Piccolo Theatre’s Servant of Two Masters (847) 424-0089 until 4/9 (the only theatre in an operating train station, celebrating it’s 10th anniversary); Chicago Dramatists’ Milk, Milk Lemonade until 4/17; The Apollo Theatre’s (773) 935-6100 The Million Dollar Quartet, now in its 3rd year with over a 1000 performances extends the standing ovation through September. Treat yourself to a standing ovation! Raven Theatre’s (773) 338-2177 now showing August Wilson’s Radio Golf until 4/9;TheoUbique Cabaret Theater’s (773) 347-1109 Some Enchanted Evening with 6 singers, a baby grand piano and 36 Rogers & Hammerstein songs until 4/30. Red Orchid’s (312) 943-8722 Machiavelli’s The Mandrake 4/8-5/24. Briar Street Theatre’s (773) 348-4000; Blue Man Group (with new material); At Chopin Theatre, House Theatre’s (773) 769-3832 world premiere Star Witness runs until 5/7. Straw Dog Theatre Co.’s (773) 528-9696 The Master and Margarita until 4/2 a satire about Stalinist Russia. The New Colony’s (773) 413-0862 The Warriors a world premiere involving school shootings and gun violence; Polarity Ensemble’s (312) 834-2310 Ephemera until 5/1 a world premiere comedy sci-fi with a talking monkeys and the last defense of the planet Earth. Filament Theatre Ensemble’s Eurydice. Trap Door Theatre’s (773) 384-0494 First Ladies. Paramount Theatre’s (630) 896-7676 Aurora, Vagina Monologues, Flanagan’s Wake, and a whole lot more. Drury Lane Oak Brook’s (630) 530-0111 Aida.
And all the shows and great entertainment at Stage 773 (773) 327-5252 with their multiple stages; Bailiwick Repertory Theatre (866) 811-4111; The Artistic Home Theater (866) 811-4111; Red Moon (312) 859-8440; Rosemont Theatre (800)745-3000.
And, just in case you’re going to Las Vegas, Absinthe the new adult circus carnival burlesque show has opened in a maze of tents in the Roman Plaza in front of Caesars Palace.
Until next time, we invite you to call us at (312) 661-1976 with opinions, suggestions, or for other recommendations.