Theater – Page 19 –

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...

Matt DeCaro, standing at right, with Jabari Khaliq (from left), Al’Jaleel McGhee, Cedric Young and Kelvin Roston Jr. in "Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom" at the Goodman Theatre. (Justin Barbin)

Chicago actor Matt DeCaro, part of the cast of ‘Ma Rainey,’ dies at 70

By Chris Jones

April 29, 2026 at 10:10 a.m.

Chicago actor Matt DeCaro died at home in Bridgeport. He was 70.

Joshua Grosso and the company of "The Great Gatsby" at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. (Evan Zimmerman)

Review: ‘The Great Gatsby’ arrives at Cadillac Palace with a strong cast but simplified set

By Chris Jones

April 28, 2026 at 1:24 p.m.

The new touring version of this Broadway musical has been trimmed down from the Gotham...

Brendan Hunt in his solo show "The Movement You Need: An Evening With Brendan Hunt" at Steppenwolf Theatre. (Jenn Udoni)

Review: Brendan Hunt shares his love of The Beatles in an only-in-Chicago story

By Chris Jones

May 4, 2026 at 1:52 p.m.

The actor famous for "Ted Lasso" spent his formative years here, and it shows. His...

Enrico Colantoni (as Jerry), Rebecca Spence (Lucy) and Nick Marini (Sean) in "Fault" in the Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. (Justin Barbin)

Review: Little to like in the dark marital comedy ‘Fault’ at Chicago Shakespeare

By Chris Jones

April 27, 2026 at 3:37 p.m.

Scooter Pietsch's play is filled with the most loathsome trio of characters that you're likely...

LJ Benet, Ali Louis Bourzgui and company in "The Lost Boys" on Broadway at the Palace Theatre in New York. (Matthew Murphy)

Review: ‘The Lost Boys’ on Broadway goes for special-effects dazzle

By Chris Jones

April 26, 2026 at 10:01 p.m.

This new musical adaptation of the 1987 vampire movie has a young cast of heartthrobs...

John Marshall Jr., Anastasia Arnold, Anthony Rapp and Angela Ingersoll in a concert staging of "Follies" by Porchlight Music Theatre at the Studebaker Theater. (Michael Brosilow)

Review: Chicago greats, emerging from the shadows for ‘Follies’ at the Studebaker

By Chris Jones

April 26, 2026 at 1:33 p.m.

Porchlight Music Theatre's concert-style staging of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's musical had a glorious...

Cedric the Entertainer, Taraji P. Henson, Joshua Boone, Nimene Sierra Wureh and Savannah Commodore in "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York. (Julieta Cervantes)

Review: ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’ is August Wilson’s essential American story

By Chris Jones

April 25, 2026 at 9:00 p.m.

August Wilson’s play, now in a revival starring Joshua Boone, Taraji P. Henson and Cedric...

Goodman Theatre cancels ‘Ma Rainey’ performance due to death of actor Matt DeCaro, 70

By Chris Jones

April 25, 2026 at 9:32 p.m.

The longtime Chicago actor Matt DeCaro died early Saturday at home. He worked across the...

"Going Bacharach: The Songs of an Icon" with Adrian Galante, Ta-Tynisa Wilson, Hilary Kole and John Pagano, at Chicago’s Apollo Theater. (Russ Rowland)

Review: ‘Going Bacharach’ at Apollo Theater is fabulous way to celebrate his songs

By Chris Jones

April 24, 2026 at 1:27 p.m.

This is a sophisticated, don't miss experience with the songs of Burt Bacharach — "What...

Juliette Lewis (as Magenta) with Larkin Reilly, Caleb Quezon,
Paul Soileau and Boy Radio (as Phantoms) in "The Rocky Horror Show" on Broadway at Studio 54 in New York. (Joan Marcus)

Review: ‘Rocky Horror Show’ on Broadway is a show stuck in its own time warp

By Chris Jones

April 23, 2026 at 8:30 p.m.

How to handle a musical that is no longer shocking, and an audience that wants...