Theater – Page 4 –

Isis Elizabeth and James Lewis in August Wilson's play "King Hedley II" by City Lit Theater Company. (Steven Townshend)

Review: ‘King Hedley II’ at City Lit is August Wilson’s drama, intense and up close in a storefront theater

By Emily McClanathan

October 26, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Under Manny Buckley’s direction, rage relentlessly simmers in this “Century Cycle” play about a formerly...

Issachah Savage and the company of "Omar" at Lyric Opera of Chicago. (Cory Weaver)

Review: ‘Omar’ at Lyric Opera tells the extraordinary story of an enslaved scholar

By Chris Jones

October 25, 2026 at 2:23 p.m.

This Pulitzer-winning opera by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels is inspired by the memoir of...

Crystal A. Dickinson, Bill Irwin and Rachel Bloom in "The Imaginary Invalid" on Broadway at the Todd Haimes Theatre in New York City. (Joan Marcus)

Review: In ‘The Imaginary Invalid’ on Broadway, Bill Irwin clowns it up as Molière’s hypochondriac

By Chris Jones

October 22, 2026 at 9:00 p.m.

Had an enema recently? Did it leave you laughing? Medical humor is at the core...

Patina Miller, Denée Benton, Lucia Aremu, Erin Morton, Nia Otchere-Sarfo, Jasmine Amy Rogers, and Jordan Rice in "School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play" on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in New York. (Matthew Murphy)

Review: ‘School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play’ on Broadway finds its life in the girls

By Chris Jones

September 28, 2026 at 8:30 p.m.

"School Girls" is a cumbersomely titled moral comedy from Jocelyn Bioh that the director Whitney...

Glenn Davis and Namir Smallwood in Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s new production of "Topdog/Underdog." (Michael Brosilow)

Review: ‘Topdog/Underdog’ at Steppenwolf Theatre reveals itself as an American tragedy

By Chris Jones

September 28, 2026 at 2:20 p.m.

Director Kenny Leon has essentially brought his Broadway staging of Suzan-Lori Parks' "Topdog/Underdog" to Chicago,...

Eldon Warner-Soriano as Ricky, with Peyton Owen as Noel, Rylee Michelle as Constance, Amelia Tam as Jane Doe, Alex Merkel as Ocean and Eric Amundson as Mischa in "Ride the Cyclone" at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights. (Jennifer Heim)

Review: With ‘Ride the Cyclone,’ the Metropolis in Arlington Heights is back on track

By Chris Jones

September 25, 2026 at 5:10 a.m.

This deliciously macabre musical is especially popular with teenage audiences, and this new production is...

Johnny Galecki, Ellie Ricker and Jacob Moskovitz in "Kowalski" at Lookingglass Theatre in the Water Tower Water Works. (Michael Brosilow)

Johnny Galecki has been down on the farm for years. Why has he come to Chicago to play Tennessee Williams?

By Chris Jones

September 24, 2026 at 5:30 a.m.

Since the CBS sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" ended seven years ago, the actor Johnny...

“Downstate” at Steppenwolf Theatre in 2018, with Tim Hopper and K. Todd Freeman in the cast. (Michael Brosilow)

Top 10 for Broadway this fall, including Billy Crystal and Steppenwolf actors in ‘Downstate’

By Chris Jones

September 23, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Celebrity names on New York stages this season also include Bradley Whitford in “A Few...

Tyler Meredith, Alexandra Royer and cast in "The Attic" at the Goodman Theatre. (Todd Rosenberg)

Chicago Theater Report: Gary Sinise back at Steppenwolf and a trio of Broadway-worthy shows in Chicago

By Chris Jones

September 22, 2026 at 1:07 p.m.

These four-star shows could all be headed to Broadway next, so don't miss them in...

Tim Kazurinsky, Timothy Edward Kane and Kate Fry in "The Front Page" at Northlight Theatre in Evanston. (Michael Brosilow)

Review: ‘The Front Page’ is Northlight Theatre’s old-school welcome home

By Chris Jones

September 21, 2026 at 12:21 p.m.

Northlight Theatre opens its new Evanston home with an all-star Chicago cast, directed by BJ...

Jacob Moskovitz, Johnny Galecki and Ellie Ricker in "Kowalski" at Lookingglass Theatre in the Water Tower Water Works. (Michael Brosilow)

Review: Johnny Galecki channels Tennessee Williams in ‘Kowalski’ at Lookingglass Theatre

By Chris Jones

September 20, 2026 at 2:12 p.m.

This story of a first meeting between Tennessee Williams and a young Marlon Brando is...

Krystal Joy Brown in "Play On!" in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier. (Kyle Flubacker)

Review: A classy, retro ‘Play On!’ brings Duke Ellington swing to Chicago Shakespeare

By Chris Jones

September 19, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Sheldon Epps' combination of the song stylings of Duke Ellington and the plot twists of...

Chupacabrón (Gustavo Martinez) and Yamel (Diana Guizado) in a previous production of Glass Half Full Theatre’s “Yamel Cucuy.” (Lens of Athena)

Review: The spooky Destinos play ‘Yamel Cucuy’ asks, who benefits the most from fear?

By Emily McClanathan

September 18, 2026 at 12:25 p.m.

For theatergoers looking to kick off the spooky season, Glass Half Full Theatre’s “Yamel Cucuy”...