Profile for JohnnyOTrib

Chris Jones spent some time in the rehearsal room of "The Last Ship," which is about to open its pre-Broadway tryout here in Chicago. Here are interviews with Sting, Joe Mantello and John Logan. I was most happy to read that Sting is willing to cut and add songs on a whim -- and a lot of the album is not included in the actual show. http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-sting-last-ship-preview,0,6831253.column

I had the pleasure of putting together this video gallery of some of Jessie Mueller's performances in Chicago — at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Goodman, Marriott Theatre and Drury Lane Theatre. There's some really lovely clips in there. http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/video/chi-videos-tony-nominee-jessie-mueller-chicago,0,1936109.story

Just announced in the Chicago Tribune -- a revival of Kenneth Lonergan's "This Is Our Youth" starring Michael Cera and Kieran Culkin will open first at Steppenwolf Theatre in June, and then at the Cort Theatre in August. Anna D. Shapiro directs. http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-michael-cera-this-is-our-youth,0,7451983.column

GilmoreGirlO2, I'm posting this reply to your point about star ratings on behalf of my Tribune theater colleague, Chris Jones. "Not true at all. At the Tribune, the critic decides." --Chris Jones

This week's Chicago Tribune Theater Loop Showcase video features actor Stuart Ward from the national tour of "Once" performing "Say It To Me Now." Enjoy! http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/theaterloop/chi-video-a-song-from-once-20131013,0,3223612.story

Check out Tribune critic Chris Jones' picks for the fall. http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/theaterloop/ct-ae-0908-fall-theater-preview-picks-20130905,0,7256445.column "The Normal Heart" is sure to be one of the more exciting events of the fall. TimeLine's terrific production of "A Raisin In The Sun" plays through mid-November. I also caught "Appropriate" -- coming up at Victory Gardens -- during its world premiere at the Humana Festival. That's a really exhilarating play. H...