Sunday, 24 May 2026 14:07
Whammy, Indeed: Koechner’s Stand‑Up Evolves at The Den
Written by Ken Payne
David Koechner stormed into The Den Theatre’s Mainstage this weekend with the kind of unruly, big‑hearted presence that instantly reminded audiences why he had been a comedy fixture for more than two decades. People knew him as the blustering Champ Kind from Anchorman, the delightfully inappropriate Todd Packer on The…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Spaceman, presented by [producingbody], touches down at The Edge Off-Broadway with a quiet, unnerving force, pulling audiences into the fragile headspace of an astronaut drifting far from home and even farther from certainty. Under Eric Slater’s beautifully calibrated direction, playwright Leegrid Stevens’ one‑woman odyssey becomes less a sci‑fi spectacle than…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- SPACEMAN
- [producingbody]
- The Edge OffBroadway
- Leegrid Stevens
- Eric Slater
- Ashley Neal
- Allyce Torres
- Taylor Dalton
- Angela Joy Baldasare
- Garrett Bell
- scifi
- space adventure
- interstellar
- psychological drama
- Mars travel
- spacecraft
- Amy Carpenter
- chicago theatre
- live theatre
- on stage
- Chicago events
- Chicago plays
- Now playing
- outer space
- astronaut
Friday, 22 May 2026 11:49
Inside a Real ‘Fire House’ You Are Immersed in Phantasmic Lives of Firefighters
Written by Bill Esler
Set in Chicago’s oldest fire station (now Firehouse Art Studio) the immersive play "Fire House” is only loosely tethered to a realistic portrayal of what fire fighters do. What it conveys is an impressionistic vision of the experience that fire fighters may undergo. Produced by Chicago Shpatz, an experimental theater company…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
Thursday, 21 May 2026 12:58
Spamalot Is Every Monty Python Fan’s Dream Come to Life
Written by Angelo Campos
Spamalot rides into the Windy City courtesy of Broadway In Chicago, inviting theatergoers to join King Arthur’s quest now through May 31 at the CIBC Theatre. Fans of Monty Python and the Holy Grail - the 1975 cult classic - will find plenty to adore in this musical, which, as…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- Spamalot
- CIBC Theatre
- Monty Python
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail
- King Arthu
- John Du Prez
- Eric Idle
- Major Attaway
- Amanda Robles
- Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
- Sean Bell
- Broadway in Chicago
- Josh Rhodes
- on stage
- live theatre
- chicago theatre
- Chicago events
- Chicago plays
- Musical theatre
- comedy theatre
- comedy
- hilarious
Monday, 18 May 2026 13:34
A Red Orchid’s The Targeted Builds a Case for Compassion
Written by John Accrocco
If you’ve ever worked in an urban coffee shop, chances are you’ve encountered at least one ultra-paranoid kook who believes the government is spying on them. Often they’re filling out long journals or manifestos. Or perhaps that one crazy uncle we all seem to have who believes in way too…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 16 May 2026 11:02
No Dialog, Yet Strongly Affecting, Trap Door's 'Le Bal' Is Like Nothing You've Seen
Written by Bill Esler
Can you have a play run 90 minutes with no dialog? Indubitably, as Trap Door Theatre demonstrates with its new production, “Le Bal.” Adapted to the stage by Stephen Buescher, it is inspired by a 1983 French film of the same title. Of the absence of dialog, one Trap Door…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 17 May 2026 00:30
Rocky in Concert Delivers a Knockout Night Despite Technical Stumbles
Written by Ken Payne
Marking Rocky’s 50th anniversary, Rocky in Concert arrived at the Auditorium Theatre in a highly anticipated Auditorium Philms presentation featuring the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra performing Bill Conti’s score live. The setup is simple but effective: the film plays above the stage while the Philharmonic brings new clarity and presence to…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- Rocky in Concert
- Rocky Balboa
- Rocky
- Chicago Philharmonic
- Auditorium Theatre
- Boxing
- Oscar Winner
- classic film
- Auditorium Philms
- Sylvester Stallone
- Carl Weathers
- Burgess Meredith
- Talia Shire
- orchestra
- orchestra with film
- movies
- live orchestra
- Bill Conti
- James Olmstead
- Chicago events
- things to do in chicago
Friday, 15 May 2026 13:34
A New Home, A Necessary Warning: Timeline’s Enemy Lands Hard
Written by John Accrocco
Timeline Theatre unveils their chic, new Uptown home with its inaugural production–Henrik Ibsen’s ever-relevant “An Enemy of the People”. A streamlined text by acclaimed playwright Amy Herzog cuts right to the bone in this fast-paced version straight from Broadway. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Timeline chose to open…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- Timeline Theatre
- An Enemy of the People
- Maren Robinson
- Will Allan
- Behzad Dabu
- Campbell Krausen
- Amy Herzog
- Ron OJ Parson
- John Culbert
- on stage
- live theatre
- Chicago plays
- Chicago events
- Now playing
- henrik ibsen
- TimeLine Uptown
- Chi Theatre
- Uptown Chicago
- Public Health Crisis
- Political Drama
- Civic Responsibility
Friday, 15 May 2026 20:31
C'est Drôle: Tartuffe, or, The Charlatan brings classic humor to Wrigleyville theatre
Written by Kendall Royzen
While many of my classmates were signing up for Spanish classes, I thought it would be terribly useful to sign up for French. French? In Southern California? What good would that possibly do? A degree and several trips to French-speaking countries later, and I’m proud to say French is not…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Tuesday, 12 May 2026 14:47
Everybody Got a Secret: York Walker’s Covenant Haunts The Goodman
Written by Wesley David
The Goodman Theatre’s Covenant announces York Walker as a playwright ascending rapidly into the highest tier of American theater. This is not simply an impressive new work; it is the kind of play that reminds audiences why live theater remains uniquely capable of unsettling the spirit. Walker has written something…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 11 May 2026 14:15
Raven Theatre Delivers a Revelatory, Unmissable Octet
Written by Maddie Burroughs
There’s a rare kind of theatrical experience that transcends personal taste. Even if a genre is not typically your first choice, the sheer level of artistry on display is impossible to deny. That is exactly what director Keira Fromm’s production of Octet accomplishes: a vocally astonishing, emotionally resonant, and meticulously…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 11 May 2026 20:33
The Real Crime Would Be To Miss This: Crime and Punishment at TUTA Theatre
Written by Kendall Royzen
Real Chicagoans don’t gatekeep hidden gems. Whether it’s hidden bars behind laundromats, the best Billy Goat location (under Mag Mile), the best desserts or street tacos, the best place to catch a local game (insert season + sport), or a must-see show or concert, real Chicagoans share the hidden gems…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 11 May 2026 13:15
Satire With a Sword: City Lit’s Spirited New Musical 'Scaramouche'
Written by Ken Payne
City Lit Theatre is currently bringing the swordplay world of Scaramouche to vivid life, offering audiences a rare chance to experience this spirited tale of wit, rebellion, and theatrical daring onstage. With its blend of political intrigue, romance, and commedia‑dell’arte flair, City Lit’s production captures the adventurous sweep of the…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tagged under
- SCARAMOUCHE
- City Lit Theatre
- Rafael Sabatini
- Jean Sibelius
- Ethan Smith
- Henry Michael Odum
- Laura Michele Erle
- Conor Ripperger
- Kent Joseph
- Alicia Berneche
- Shea Lee
- Ed Rutherford
- ndia Huy
- Rushil Byatnal
- Edgewater Presbyterian Church
- Edgewater
- live theatre
- on stage
- Events Chicago
- plays Chicago
- Musical theatre
- Now playing
- Kevin Zhou
- terry mccabe
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Latest Articles
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Whammy, Indeed: Koechner’s Stand‑Up Evolves at The Den
Written by Ken PayneDavid Koechner stormed into The Den Theatre’s Mainstage this weekend with the kind of unruly, big‑hearted presence that instantly reminded audiences why he had been a comedy fixture for more than two decades. People knew him as the blustering Champ… -
Spaceman: Into the Quiet Terror of the Void
Written by Ken PayneSpaceman, presented by [producingbody], touches down at The Edge Off-Broadway with a quiet, unnerving force, pulling audiences into the fragile headspace of an astronaut drifting far from home and even farther from certainty. Under Eric Slater’s beautifully calibrated direction, playwright…
-
Inside a Real ‘Fire House’ You Are Immersed in Phantasmic Lives of Firefighters
Written by Bill EslerSet in Chicago’s oldest fire station (now Firehouse Art Studio) the immersive play "Fire House” is only loosely tethered to a realistic portrayal of what fire fighters do. What it conveys is an impressionistic vision of the experience that fire… -
Spamalot Is Every Monty Python Fan’s Dream Come to Life
Written by Angelo CamposSpamalot rides into the Windy City courtesy of Broadway In Chicago, inviting theatergoers to join King Arthur’s quest now through May 31 at the CIBC Theatre. Fans of Monty Python and the Holy Grail - the 1975 cult classic -…
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