A year- end look at Theater in Chicago
No question that the Chicago theater community is amazingly talented. However, critics are allowed to look back each year to consider their favorite productions – drama, comedy and/or musicals. You are welcome to disagree.
Scott Phelps as novelist Paul Sheldon and Ellen Phelps as his “captor,” Annie in “Misery” at Citadel Theatre (Photo by Ralph Durham)
Favorites – Jodie Jacobs
1. “Misery,” a play by William Goldman based on a Stephen King novel, was not scary audience theater. Instead, performed by Citadel Theatre’s founders Scott and Ellen Phelps, it was a beautifully acted short play that was fraught with nervous tension until it ended about 95 minutes later. See the review at Citadel Theatre does Stephen King.
2. Even though actor/pianist Hershy Felder tells the “Rachmaninoff and the Tzar” story at Writer’s Theatre may seem as much a concert as a theater production it is worth including here among best/favorite productions this year. It included excellent visuals and a fascinating bio of the famed composer and musician. I doubt many people know Rachmaninoff lived at one time in the Los Angeles, CA area.
Find the review at Hershy Felder pairs Rachmaninoff story with exceptional music – Chicago Theater and Arts
Reno Lovison favorite picks from 2025
I don’t like to think of theater performances as a competition so instead of “the best” I am going to offer “my favorites” from this past year’s reviews.
#1 – “Iraq but funny” at Lookingglass for favorite individual performer and favorite comedy. Playwright / performer Astra Asdou recalls the history of the Assyrian people through this semi-autobiographical story of five generations of the women in her family. Asdou, herself, takes on the persona of a ridiculous, uniformed, pith hat-wearing, mustachioed British army officer who, in stand-up comedy style, acts as narrator.
#2 – Kokandy’s Production of Amélie the Musical in September was my favorite musical. An extravaganza of a dozen singer musicians performing a dizzying array of Parisian characters to tell a sweet boy-meet-girl tale.
#3 – Tragic, hilarious, loud, energetic, fun and heartwarming, The Color Purple at Goodman was my favorite revival musical this year.
#4 – Favorite drama goes to Tom & Eliza at Tuta Theater in August. This is a play I keep thinking about. A brilliant example of absurdist theater, beautifully performed that focuses on ideas of existentialism with an attitude of absurd surrealism. Playwright Celine Song shows us the arbitrary and bizarre trajectory of life and relationships. “Galileo” by Bertolt Brecht at Trap Door deserves an honorable mention.
#5 – My favorite theater production company is Invictus where I enjoyed “The Winter’s Tale and “House That Will Not Stand.” There were several companies where I only reviewed one play this year but Invictus was chosen from among eight theater companies where I reviewed two or more plays in 2025.
#6 – My favorite costume designer is Rachel Sypniewski who worked on Annie, Jekyll & Hyde, Amelie, Galileo and more. Her thoughtful approach, attention to detail and impeccable tailoring bring life to the characters and in a historical context help in setting the time period.
#7 – Providing the right mood in terms of time and place, the luxurious and lush set design of Kevin Hagan for Hedda Gabler presented by Artistic Home at The Den Theatre is my favorite. Diminishing concentric panels that framed the space lent a sense of claustrophobia that enhanced Hedda’s feeling of being trapped. The repetitive nature initially made me think of a house of mirrors that gives you an uneasy feeling of infinite sameness and unknown escape.
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