Theater – Page 18 –

Jonathan Lee-Rey, executive artistic director of Asian American comedy troupe Stir Friday Night, center, and the audience watch Tony Castro perform stand up comedy during a showcase called hAAPI hour, a play on happy hour and Asian American/Pacific Islander, at HAIBAYÔ, 1132 W. Argyle St., on Oct. 23, 2026, in Chicago. The team will be performing during iO's 45th anniversary festival, IO45. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Improv teams old and new celebrate 45 years of iO Theater

By Ryan P. C. Trimble

October 30, 2026 at 8:03 a.m.

iO Theater, Chicago's home for longform improv, is turning 45 this year and throwing a...

The cast of "A Few Good Men" at the conclusion of a preview performance at the Vivian Beaumont Theater in the Lincoln Center for the Arts in New York. (Emilio Madrid)

Review: Potent ‘A Few Good Men’ on Broadway needs a lawyer we can believe in

By Chris Jones

October 29, 2026 at 10:00 p.m.

"You can't handle the truth" is writer Aaron's Sorkin's most famous line in his play...

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020 file photo, Patrick Stewart attends the LA Premiere of "Star Trek: Picard," in Los Angeles. The award-winning actor best known as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard of "Star Trek" has a deal with Gallery Books for a "revealing and heartwarming look" into his life and times, the publisher announced Tuesday, June 30. A title and release date will be determined later. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)

Patrick Stewart, stage giant also of ‘Star Trek’ and ‘X-Men’ fame, dies at 86

By Mark Kennedy

October 29, 2026 at 3:15 p.m.

Patrick Stewart, the classically trained stage actor who scaled the Shakespearean canon and added gravitas...

Liz Chidester in "Always ... Patsy Cline" at American Blues Theater. (Michael Brosilow)

Review: ‘Always … Patsy Cline’ is a jukebox musical with a friendship story to win you over

By Emily McClanathan

May 12, 2026 at 5:30 a.m.

This 1988 musical about country star Patsy Cline at American Blues Theater has wonderful leads...

Allsun O'Malley and cast in "South Pacific" at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora. (Boris Martin)

Review: A lush, sensory ‘South Pacific’ at the Paramount Theatre

By Chris Jones

May 13, 2026 at 8:35 a.m.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's 1949 golden age masterpiece gets a gorgeous and expansive production in Aurora.

Bryce Pinkham (The Arbiter) and the cast in "Chess" on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre in New York. (Matthew Murphy)

Our guide to all the current Broadway shows

By Chris Jones

May 11, 2026 at 2:21 p.m.

From the newest Tony award contenders to the long-running old favorites, here are all 40...

Neala Barron and cast in "Octet" at Raven Theatre. (Joe Mazza)

Review: ‘Octet’ is an astonishing first musical for Raven Theatre

By Chris Jones

May 10, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Dave Malloy's "Octet" is an a capella musical that tells the stories of eight people...

The entrance to the National Museum of Mexican Art on Sept. 23, 2025, in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Bayless family gifts $1M for the National Museum of Mexican Art renovation

By Eva Remijan-Toba

May 22, 2026 at 7:46 p.m.

The renovated West Wing performance space will be renamed Foro de Artes Bayless and is...

Eddie Mujica (from left), Bill Letz, Preston Parker, Yazmin Ramos, Zoe McKee and Cat McDonnell in "Pandemonium, Please Hold" on the Second City Mainstage. (Timothy M. Schmidt)

Review: Second City’s ‘Pandemonium, Please Hold’ is hilarious and oh, so true

By Chris Jones

May 7, 2026 at 2:24 p.m.

With jokes about A.I. and Disney cruises and an unsettling song about soul-crushing jobs, the...

Jeff Rodriguez (left) as Sven and Carl Hallberg as Ole in "Eelpout!" by Shattered Globe Theatre at Theater Wit. (Michael Brosilow)

Review: In ‘Eelpout!’ by Shattered Globe, ice fishing buddies find they have a lot on the line

By Chris Jones

May 6, 2026 at 3:33 p.m.

Tomorrow is Ole's bachelor party. What will that mean for a couple of buddies whose...

Kristin Chenoweth and cast in "The Queen of Versailles" on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in New York. (Julieta Cervantes)

Column: What the Tony Award nominations got right, and where they blew it

By Chris Jones

May 6, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Here are two Tony Awards truths, as confirmed by the 2026 nominations: It’s better to...

Christiani Pitts, left, and Sam Tutty appear during a performance of “Two Strangers” in New York on Oct. 31, 2025. (Matthew Murphy via AP)

Select list of nominees for 2026 Tony Awards

By Associated Press

May 5, 2026 at 9:27 a.m.

Tony Award nominations have been announced, and the five shows competing for best musical are...

Maria Wirries and LJ Benet in "The Lost Boys" on Broadway at the Palace Theatre in New York. (Matthew Murphy)

‘The Lost Boys’ and ‘Schmigadoon!’ earn 12 Tony nominations each to lead the field

By Mark Kennedy

May 5, 2026 at 8:53 a.m.

“The Lost Boys” and “Schmigadoon!” each earned a leading 12 Tony Award nominations Tuesday, as nominators also made June Squibb the...