Profile for MidWestTheater

For all of those coming to Chicago for Death Becomes Her over the next month, do yourself a favor and while in town check out the new Brandon Jacob-Jenkins play Purpose at Steppenwolf. It has been extended into May and it is another really fantastic play from one of this countries best playwrights. You know when you step into a Steppenwolf play and see a dining room set-up, ****'s gonna go down. And does it indeed go down, one of the most tense, funny, exciting, brutal dinner scenes

I caught this show this past Friday and really went in with no expectations...and I was thoroughly charmed with this whole production. Yes, it has book issues, especially in the second act, but I didn't care. Jerry Mitchell knows how to stage a big production number and there are quite a few in this, and that is when the show just soars. I also agree with everyone here, Jasmine Amy Rogers is giving a "star is born" performance and not just in her singing and dancing, but in her

I totally agree that Jonathan Groff's performance was fantastic and as of now, it is the lead male performance (musical) to beat. The only performance that I can see coming in next season that could be a major contender is James Monroe Iglehart for A Wonderful World. Supposedly, it is on track to come in next season, but we'll see. I saw it in Chicago and it is a phenomenal performance in the vein of Audra McDonald as Lady Day or Jessie Mueller as Carole King, where it goes beyond imp

I too saw this in Chicago and agree with everyone that this is a big old mess, but I think there could be some salvation here. I really hope they keep Javiar Munoz, who was hands down the best part of the show. Not just him the actor, but the role of Nigel was the most thought out and fully realized character. He got the two best songs of the show, and it's almost like this was the character Elton John and Shaina Taub were the most interested in. Ironically, kind of like that documentary

I was there last night and was blown away, defintley by the first Act. I always felt the second act kinda loses momentum after the come to my house number. But, that’s a quibble with the show itself, but this production is a stunner. 
I loved the look of this show creating kind of a kubreckian mod 60’s black and white feel with pops of color from different items in Tommy’s life was a brilliant choice, it’s almost like we are watching Tommy’s memory. And

I saw the show off-broadway last November and fell in love with it. I found it so charming, funny, and adorable, with a really lovely score. I'm seeing it again a few days after the show opens in November. Who's to say if this show will be a huge hit or flop. I'm sure the reviews will be great, just like they were off-bway or even better depending on changes made. I think who ever is behind the marketing of this show, should really focus on Justin Cooley. Not only is he fantastic

So over the weekend me and my partner ventured out to the Lyric Opera in Chicago to see a new production of Fiddler on the Roof...and holy cow this may be the most epic production of this classic musical I will probably ever see. With a cast of over 60 people and an orchestra of over 50, I don't think I've ever heard this score more powerful and transcendent. Like most of the Lyric Opera musical productions of the past couple years, this production originated in Berlin with artistic d