Reviews
Strawdog Theatre Company Presents: Much Ado: The Ides REunion Episode Review
Strawdog Theatre Company presents Much Ado: The Ides Reunion Episode now through March 26, 2025. The company has adapted Shakespeare’s classic work into a modern setting where the actors play in Burke’s Public House and create a reality show vibe complete with cameramen and live streaming.
Black Ensemble Theater: Elvis Presley Was A Black Man Named Joe Review
Black Ensemble Theater presents Elvis Presley Was A Black Man Named Joe now through April 20, 2025. Written by BET’s founder, this show weaves together Jackie Taylor’s memories of her brother and how she saw the parallels between him and their favorite artist, Elvis Presley with lots of rock ‘n roll classics in between.
Music Theater Works: Guys and Dolls Review
Music Theater Works presents Guys and Dolls now through March 30, 2025. Directed by Sasha Gerritson, the cast finds the laughs that makes this version of the classic feel refreshed.
Redtwist Theatre: Titus Andronicus Review
Redtwist Theatre presents Titus Andronicus now through April 6, 2025. Shakespeare’s bloodiest tragedy is masterfully handled by both actors and production design that has us gripped from beginning to end.
Jackalope Theatre: Dummy In Diaspora Review
Jackalope Theatre presents Dummy in Diaspora now through March 23, 2025. A one man show about the writer and performer’s, Esho Rasho's, experience growing up being gay as a child of immigrant parents and significant people and moments throughout his life.
Citadel Theatre: I And You REVIEW
Citadel Theatre presents I And You now through March 23, 2025. Two teenagers, one a homebound and chronically ill and the other a star student and athlete, form an unexpected relationship bonding over a Walt Whitman lit project that develops into something greater.
The Artistic Home: Hedda Gabler Review
The Artistic Home presents Hedda Gabler extended through March 30, 2025. The actors develop their characters’ strong personality quirks that are highlighted when they interact with each other in this fairly traditional rendition of Ibsen’s classic.
Goodman Theatre: Betrayal Review
Goodman Theatre presents Harold Pinter’s Betrayal now through March 30, 2025. Working backwards from the end of an affair, we watch the relationship between married couple Robert and Emma and Robert’s best friend and Emma’s lover, Jerry evolve and devolve.
Lookingglass Theatre: Circus Quixote Review
Lookingglass Theatre presents Circus Quixote now through March 30, 2025. Their adaptation of Don Quixote incorporates their signature acrobatics while creating an epic world for Don Quixote’s journey.
Theatre Above The Law: The Pyg Hypothesis Review
Theatre Above the Law presents The Pyg Hypothesis now through March 9, 2025. A modern day Pygmalion has two queer researchers wondering if they can make their Elijah Doolittle an ally for women and the LGBTQ+ community.
Shattered Globe Theatre: Lobby Hero Review
Shattered Globe Theatre presents Lobby Hero now through March 8, 2025. When a rudderless security guard is caught in the middle of a police investigation and conflicting morals, he must decide what he stands for and which path to follow.
Open Space Arts: Mr. Parker Review
Open Space Arts presents Mr. Parker now through March 2, 2025. We follow a middle-aged man’s journey as he deals with his new relationship with a younger man while trying to work with his sister-in-law to remember his late husband.
Chicago Magic Lounge: Trent James: Static Magic Review
The Chicago Magic Lounge presents Trent James: Static Magic as the newest Wednesday Signature Show in the Harry Blackstone Cabaret Theater. James frames his show as a reminiscent trip to the 90s and involves the audience at every turn.
Saint Sebastian Players: The Man Who Came To Dinner Review
Saint Sebastian Players present The Man Who Came To Dinner now through February 16, 2025. In this classic early 20th century farce, shenanigans ensue after the uppity and particular critic Sheridan Whiteside injures his hip and must stay with the Stanley family for a few weeks causing chaos and hijinks.
City Lit Theater: Glassheart Review
City Lit Theater Company presents Glassheart now through February 23, 2025. A modern retelling of Beauty and The Beast has us grounded in the original story, but this version expands it to look deeper and differently.
Trap Door Theatre: The Mannequin’s Ball Review
Trap Door Theatre presents The Mannequin’s Ball now through March 1, 2025. One night a year the mannequin’s escape their movement-free lives as atelier workers and display models to move freely at their ball. When one finds himself at a human ball, it dives deeper into political commentary.
Goodman Theatre: Fat Ham Review
Goodman Theatre presents Fat Ham extended through March 9, 2025. In this adaptation of Hamlet, we’re taken to a family’s backyard barbeque wedding reception where we get this modern retelling exploring being Black, queer, and your community around you.
Porchlight Music Theatre: Fun Home Review
Porchlight Music Theatre presents Fun Home now through March 2, 2025. While writing and drawing her graphic novel of the same name, current day Alison explores the past with her past selves to try and find any reason or resolution behind her father’s death.
Jackalope Theatre Company: The Smuggler Review
Jackalope Theatre Company presents The Smuggler for a limited run now through January 25, 2025. In this one man show, we’re taken on this Irishman’s journey as he battles his internal conflicts and a giant rat to provide for his family.
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre: JaJa’s African Hair Braiding Review
Chicago Shakespeare Presents Jaja’s African Hair Braiding now through February 2, 2025. Sit down and make yourself comfortable in your seats because we’re in for a long day at Jaja’s African Hair Braiding salon in Harlem, New York City. The cast brings the different personalities of the women who work in the shop to life and give us a snapshot of what it looks like to work there.