Profile for Hyde Park Hildy

The Court Theatre in Hyde Park is doing a revival of A Raisin in the Sun in February. Their productions are almost always quite good and their current one, a revival of Falsettos, is excellent. The Trib critic said it's better than the recent Broadway revival.

Fat Ham which will also be at the Goodman at that time is probably worth a look. Definition Theatre, the  theatre company that's doing it in conjunction with the Goodman, has done some fine work.

I saw Gospel at Colonus over the weekend and it is indeed amazing. It retells the Oedipus story via African-American gospel music, an inspired approach because it takes a story that could seem dry, distant, and academic and turns it into overwhelmingly emotional, intensely moving experience.

The Court's take is vividly theatrical, with beautiful costumes and sets. The music, which includes a variety of gospel genres, is soul-stirring and exciting, and includes some of the best

I know it’s semantics, but two out of the four theatres you mention are not in the “Loop.” Correct. I was using "the Loop" as shorthand for the downtown, touristy part of Chicago.

Bummed I didn't see the recent Churchill cause that looked really interesting. It was! Churchill's Fen is a brilliant play--a socialist feminist masterpiece. Even though the Court's production was flawed (performances were uneven and actors didn't even attempt to authentic accent

Some of you sound like your impressions of Chicago come from Fox News.

As a long-time resident, I can assure you that Hyde Park, the neighborhood where I live and where the Court is located, is reasonably safe. I mean, *obviously* excercise all the caution you normally would in any urban neighborhood. But Hyde Park is the location of a posh, elite university (the University of Chicago), and the university has a vested interest in maintaining safety here--if only because they want t

There's been some outstanding stuff here lately, including The Cherry Orchard at the Goodman and the dark Stalin-era Russian farce Dying for It at the Artistic Home. But unfortunately those productions just closed. 

For May, I've got my eye on a revival of the musical The Gospel at Colonus at the Court Theatre and a new play from Poland, Bowie in Warsaw, at the Trap Door Theatre. The Trap Door is an outstanding storefront theater troop that specializes in experimental and

Julie Benko is subbing for Lea Michele this afternoon. But I thought Ephie Aardema was the understudy who is supposed to sub for Lea if she's ill, while Benko only performs regularly on Thursday nights.

I saw the show on Monday, during my annual sojourn to New York, and I am another satisfied customer. Yes, Lea Michele is really all that and a bag of chips. She nails every aspect of this demanding role, from the vocals (she is a very exciting singer) to the comedy to the drama

I went to Southern Gothic alone and I didn't find it awkward. I wasn't terribly impressed with the play, however.

Kokandy's production of Sweeney Todd is wonderful, as is Porchlight's revival of Rent, which I just saw tonight. I also liked Timeline's production of the Alice Childress play, Trouble in Mind, which I saw in previews this week.

I've had excellent luck this year with digital lotteries for Chicago shows. I was able to score $30 tickets