VR expands the limits of Chicago comedy and improv
By Grace Austin Virtual reality is arriving on to the Windy City’s sketch scene, as iO Chicago launched pioneering technology designed to bring the outside viewer into the decidedly low-tech, interactive form of comedy. In a cozy theater in Goose Island last Sunday, amongst a small but warm crowd of about 20, ceiling microphones and […]
Acro-Cats Purrform Fantastic Feline Feats
By Nora Younkin It’s not every day that the cat circus comes to town. Samantha Martin and her cadre of cats hit the Vittum Theater stage in West Town last week for a night filled with tricks and (cat) treats. Tuna and the Rock Cats filled the theater with original mew-sic that was pawsitively unfurgettable. […]
The Albany Park Theater Project exposes the soul of separated families
Text by Jenny Lee Video by Xiao Lyu Clad in orange jumpsuits, a group of high school students carrying large suitcases trudged onto the center stage. Heads down with hands, feet and waists shackled, they took a seat on their suitcases while two girls dressed as nuns slithered through the “criminals” and settled in front […]
Musical celebrating Chicago’s black cultural history to debut at the Chicago Theater
By Marisa Endicott For one night this Saturday, Bronzeville is taking over the Chicago Theater. “Bronzeville The Musical” tells the story of the Great Migration, the exodus of African-Americans from southern states to northern cities during the greater part of the 20th century. The musical, an original production by the Chicago-based Mahdi Theatre Company, celebrates the arrival […]
Jeanne Gang-designed Writers Theatre opens up in Glencoe
By Katina Beniaris A new theater building, designed by acclaimed Chicago architect Jeanne Gang and the centerpiece of a $34 million fundraising campaign by Writers Theatre, opened in the north suburbs on Friday. Writers Theatre officials cut the red ribbon Friday morning in an opening ceremony celebrating the theater’s new center at 325 Tudor Court […]
Disney’s musical ‘Aladdin’ will launch first national tour in Chicago
By Katina Beniaris The Disney Broadway musical hit “Aladdin” is going on a magic carpet ride through North America and its first stop is in Chicago. Based on the 1992 Disney movie of the same name, the musical’s tour will open at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., on April 17, 2017 with […]
London theater streams to Chicago
By Tim Rosenberger The lights dim, the curtains part and the eerie, gothic romance pairing the hard life of a young 19th century governess and her mysterious employer comes streaming in from the London stage to a legendary Chicago movie theater. Since 2009, National Theatre Live has broadcasted live and sometimes prerecorded plays from the […]