Profile for MidWestTheater

That's interesting that this production seems to be ignoring the "audience participation" element from the movie. (Who's to say, the show hasn't started yet) I remember seeing the last revival, and I was a fan of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, but I wasn't super as familiar with audience participation script. There was a guy next to me, who knew everything to say, and he was yelling it out, as were others. But let's also remember it's not just y

Kokandy Productions is putting on "Hair" in July at the Chopin Theatre. They are hands down one of the best musical companies here in Chicago. What they are able to do with with so little is kind of incredible. Their phenomenal Jekyll and Hyde is actually going to be a part of the Broadway in Chicago theater season in the fall. 

If you can get out to Aurora. Paramount Theatre is putting on South Pacific. They are the opposite of Kokandy in that they put on huge productio

I wouldn't be surprised if it does, it is the last play of Richard Greenberg I believe. I saw it a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. He's updated the setting to now and it's not the zany madcap romance of the film it's based on. It actually feels like a long episode of succession, but if some of the characters actually had a heart and cared. The set design is fabulous and Chicago cast is fantastic. If it does transfer I'm sure they will replace quite a few of them with

Last night, I had the chance to attend a preview of Revolution(s), a new musical from Tom Morello, guitarist of Rage Against the Machine—and this show just might have serious legs. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a genuine rock musical (maybe not since Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), and this absolutely fits the bill. The story’s relevance—especially with everything happening in Chicago right now—could help turn this into a breakout h

We saw it a few weeks ago and thought it was excellent. I'm becoming a fan of Rajiv Joseph, because I also really enjoyed Describe the Night. I thought all the performances were excellent, especially the young girl at the center of the show. Seriously, Caroline Neff can do no wrong, her performance in last year's Fool for Love was one of my favorites. My only complaint is that Namir Smallwood, my favorite Chicago actor, didn't have as meaty a character, but apparently he was

I think when it's in the moment it can be really fun and special.

I remember seeing Chicago with Marilu Henner and after Bebe Neuwirth finished "I can't do it alone", Marilu asked if she could see the last part again, and Bebe did the end of the dance with the cartwheel, which was very cool.

My favorite one was the revival of Rocky Horror, where they encouraged the audience to yell back from the Audience Script, but one moment broke Tom Hewitt. It was right bef

I saw this production at Steppenwolf back in early 2020 and I was blown away. The Thriller/Horror genre is so difficult to pull on stage and David Cromer did it with this production. Carrie Coon as always is amazing. I remember just being totally wowed by her monologue. But the real secret weapon of this production is Namir Smallwood, who IMO, is one of Chicago's best actors. I've seen him in so many shows and he has always delivered, even if the show is not great. I'm actually ab

I saw it at Steppenwolf and it is a wonderful play, that is kind of about bonding through television. I'm curious if they will expand the set, at Steppenwolf it was just a leather recliner sofa, with a very imposing wooding backdrop, that felt like you were at the bottom of a cliff. Also, as someone who goes to a ton of Chicago Theater, I love to see Chicago actors making their broadway debuts, both John Drea ( who was an excellent Chagall in "Chagall at School") and Meghan

Last night I caught a preview performance of The Color Purple at the Goodman Theater directed by Lili-Ann Brown and it's a stunner. I was a little hesitant about seeing The Color Purple again. (The only time I had seen the show was in London in 2013 at the Menier Chocolate Factory with a then, unknown, Cynthia Erivo directed by John Doyle) It seems the Doyle production has become the stamp for so many productions since then. Yes, the set design is primarily wood planking and sparse p

I remember Audra getting pretty much universal raves for her performance in Porgy and Bess, the actual show itself was more mixed. I also remember the Ben Brantley writing an article about actors or actresses taking on legendary roles in theater and declaring Audra the best Bess he's ever seen. I saw her performance and it was spectacular, especially in the act 1 closer with Philip Boykin, the only one in the cast who seemed to match her operatic prowless. She totally deserved the tony fo

I'm thinking the show is going to begin with a riff on "Sunset Boulevard" street walk with either Tom Francis or Cynthia Erivo doing it, or both together. But I think their tony performance will feature Nicole singing one of the two big numbers. If the producers of Gypsy were smart they would have Audra do "Rose's Turn" especially after that nytimes article. I would love to see both Jasmine and Johnathan perform. Personally, I would love to see some scenes from the

I loved Bust, it's one of the best shows I've ever seen on the Goodman main stage in the past few years. ( There more daring and exciting works are in their smaller theater)  I love the fact that you think you know what this will be about, especially from the first 15 minutes and then something so different happens, it goes into a whole other space, that is quite beautiful. Also the end is an on your edge moment, it's also surprisingly quite funny that deals with a scary

I saw this last night and interesting that this show has an Australia connection because it reminded me a lot of another bio musical, The Boy From Oz. And just like that one you have a star who doesn’t really sound or look much like the person he’s portraying, but my god is he giving it is all, and giving showmanship, bravura performance. 
 

I didn’t mind the Groff being himself at the beginning, because I think it does gave the audience the expect

Bwaygurl2 said: "sbflyfan said: "Apologies in advance if this has been mentioned earlier in the thread.

I saw Andrew Lloyd Webber last Wednesday as part of the Speaker Series in Pittsburgh. He talked about Jamie Lloyd's production of "Sunset Boulevard" and briefly touched on him directing "Evita" in London. He said Lloyd's vision of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" is to have Eva perform it from the Palladium's front facad