What's happening on the arts scene – on stage, in museums and at fairs and festivals
Highly Recommend Seeing “Jersey Boys” is about having a great time watching a “jukebox” musical. “Jersey Boys” must be the hardest working cast on stage in Chicago. This nearly three-hour production, now at the Mercury Theater, is a physical workout for the four primary characters. They perform over 30 musical numbers while walking us … Continue reading “Oh what a night with Jersey Boys”
The Lyric Opera showcased their superb chorus and orchestra in an all Mozart program including two dramatic works, “Incidental Music from Thamos, King of Egypt” and the ever popular “Requiem.” Conducted by Enrique Mazzola, performances were presented Friday March 22 and Sunday March 24, 2024, with soloist Heidi Stober, soprano, Elizabeth DeShong, mezzo-soprano, Matthew Polenzani, … Continue reading “All Mozart Program at Lyric Opera”
OO7 – James Bond at MSI (Photo Reno Lovison) Fantasy and reality merge in the world of fictional espionage as seen in “007 Science- Inventing the world of James Bond” now at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. You don’t have to be a James Bond movie fan to enjoy this latest … Continue reading “Inventing the World of James Bond”
‘Aida’ at Lyric Opera of Chicago (Photo by Todd Rosenberg) Highly Recommended “Aida” by Giuseppe Verdi has returned to the Lyric Opera of Chicago after more than a decade. Under the direction of Francesca Zamnello and conducted by Enrique Mazzola, it is opera in the grand tradition but interpreted through a nontraditional lens. … Continue reading “Love Jealousy War in Aida”
If you are turning on TV this week, the news is all about Super Tuesday and politics but if you want something else to think about here is where we are regarding the 96th Academy Awards, or what we call the Oscars. First, settle down with a tray of nibbles and libations, then enjoy. … Continue reading “Oscars party”
(L to R) Manny Buckley and Jon Hudson Odom in “The Reclamation of Madison Hemings” at American Blues Theater. (Photo by Michael Brosilow) 4 Stars Can you free yourself from the past, particularly if your past was filled with unhappiness? Can you find the good times you remembered? Can you shake loose the pain … Continue reading “Reclamation of Invisible Lives”
See Chicago in a whole new way. Flyover Chicago is part thrill ride and part immersive three-dimensional multi-sensory video experience that utilizes cutting edge drone technology featuring impressive aerial views allowing visitors to see Chicago in a whole new way. Located in the former IMAX theater at Navy Pier. The attraction’s designers say they … Continue reading “Exciting Flyover ‘ride’ comes to Chicago”
(Maddy Shilts, Whitney Wolf, Ben Isabel, Ben Paynic, Luis Del Valle, Elizabeth Bushell, Madelynn Oztas) Recommended Directed by Wayne Mell, this Madkap Production of “A Chorus Line” at the Skokie Theatre, is on pointe. It taps into the essence of love and dedication to the art of dance. “A Chorus Line” is an anthology of … Continue reading “For the Love of Dance”
Highly Recommended Music Theater works brings Pippin to the North Shore Center for Performing Arts in a production that is a feast for the senses and uses the entire spectrum of theater craft. Explaining the plot of Pippin is as useful as trying to recall the details of a dream. What exactly happened is not … Continue reading “Music Theater Works does justice to the Pippin dreamworld”
Highly recommended For a professional theater experience in Chicago this month you can’t do much better than West Side Story at the Lyric Opera. This Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim musical deemed cutting edge and somewhat avantgarde when first introduced, is now a classic. The story by Arthur Laurents is a rather faithful mid-century … Continue reading “A tragic love story and cautionary tale of intolerance”