Theater – Page 6 –

The grand salon inside The Hand & The Eye in Chicago on April 3, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/baiduhai)

Chicago Theater Report: Halloween bash at Hand & Eye, pressure mounts to reopen Mercury

By Chris Jones

October 27, 2026 at 1:06 p.m.

Also in theater news this week, a final extension for "Strange Loop" and a Cabaret...

Dancers Amanda Maraist, left, and Hanna DiLorenzo perform in the “Slow Dance” exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art on Oct. 13, 2026, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

‘Slow Dance’ show at the MCA is an invitation to just ‘be.’ Don’t mind the live bodies.

By Lauren Warnecke

October 27, 2026 at 5:30 a.m.

Depending on when you walk through the new exhibition at the MCA, you're likely to...

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...

Adeline Rosenthal, Asha Dale Hopman and cast in "Leopoldstradt" at Writers Theatre in Glencoe. (Hugo Hentoff)

Winners of the 2026 Equity Jeff Awards include ‘Leopoldstadt,’ ‘Octet’ and Brendan Hunt’s ‘The Movement You Need’

By Chris Jones

September 15, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

Major acting awards were also won by Al’Jaleel McGhee, Gwendolyn Whiteside, Cody Comb, Allsun O'Malley,...

Janet Ulrich Brooks and María Victoria Martínez in "The Birth of the Pill" at TimeLine Theatre. (Brett Beiner)

Review: ‘The Birth of the Pill’ at TimeLine Theatre has serious issues with the book it is adapting

By Chris Jones

September 14, 2026 at 12:48 p.m.

Jessica Huang’s “The Birth of the Pill,” is not so much an adaptation of Jonathan...

Tania Richard in "Black Girl from a White Suburb" at American Blues Theater. (Michael Brosilow)

Review: ‘Black Girl from a White Suburb’ tells a different kind of story of Black experience

By Emily McClanathan

September 14, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Tania Richard’s new solo play now onstage at American Blues Theater is warmly interactive and...

Broadway producer Jeffrey Seller outside the then-PrivateBank Theatre on Monroe Street on Dec 8, 2015, before the opening of "Hamilton" here. His next big project in Chicago is the pre-Broadway tryout of "Princess Bride: The Musical," he told the Tribune in an exclusive. (Phil Velasquez/baiduhai/TNS)

‘Princess Bride’ is becoming a Broadway musical, premiering in Chicago

By Chris Jones

September 14, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

A new Broadway musical version of "The Princess Bride" will premiere in Chicago next summer,...

Annalese Starzec (as Frances “Baby” Houseman) and Blake Zelesnikar (Johnny Castle) in "Dirty Dancing: The Musical," in Chicago at the Nederlander Theatre. (Matthew Murphy)

Review: Classy new tour gives ‘Dirty Dancing: The Musical’ quite a lift

By Chris Jones

September 13, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

The director Lonny Price has worked a minor miracle with "Dirty Dancing: The Musical." On...

Midnight Circus member Nate Armour dives through hula hoops held by fellow members at Humboldt Park on Oct. 1, 2022, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Chicago Theater Report: Steppenwolf snags a Broadway star, and 20 years of Midnight Circus

By Chris Jones

September 8, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

Big anniversaries for Midnight Circus and Arcada Theatre of St. Charles.

This undated image provided by Matthew Murphy on Friday, Sept. 5, 2026, shows Sherri Shepherd holding a lamp from the Broadway production of “Aladdin.” (Matthew Murphy via AP)

Sherri Shepherd to join Broadway’s ‘Aladdin’ as the Genie, and she’s ‘beyond thrilled’

By Mark Kennedy

September 8, 2026 at 7:45 a.m.

Sherri Shepherd plans to join the hit musical “Aladdin” as the Genie.

Kirsten D'Aurelio and Heather Dennis in "Blood of the Lamb" by Promethean Theatre Ensemble. (Steven Townshend)

Review: ‘Blood of the Lamb’ imagines a dark future for reproductive rights

By Emily McClanathan

September 6, 2026 at 12:54 p.m.

Arlene Hutton’s thriller about reproductive rights is now making its Chicago premiere with Promethean Theatre...

Director Sheldon Epps talks to the cast of the musical "Play On!" during a rehearsal at Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier, Aug. 25, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/baiduhai)

Sheldon Epps is bringing ‘Play On!’ to Chicago for a jazzy encore

By Chris Jones

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

His musical, based on Duke Ellington’s music and Shakespeare’s "Twelfth Night," opens soon on Navy...

The Oakton College "Performing Tribute 9/11: Ordinary People, Remarkable Stories" cast rehearsing for their Sept. 10-13 performances.(Oakton College)

‘It’s about resilience:’ Oakton play gives voice to 9/11 victims, survivors, on 25th anniversary

By Phil Rockrohr

September 9, 2026 at 12:31 p.m.

Oakton College play gives voice to 9/11 victims, survivors, responders on 25th anniversary.