Paul W. Thompson - Page 25

Veteran Chicago theatergoers will recall the long-running production of the musical called simply 'Phantom,' at the now-razed Candlelight Dinner Playhouse in southwest suburban Summit, Illinois. The show, written in the 1980s by composer/lyricist Maury Yeston and bookwriter Arthur Kopit as a follow-up to their Tony-winning musical 'Nine,'...

That roar you heard in Chicago's Loop Monday evening, June 30th, was the enthusiastic opening night audience at the Goodman Theatre, where the volcanic excitement generated by a summertime, homegrown production of the 'Fats' Waller musical 'Ain't Misbehavin' will very nearly blow the roof off the place for the next month or so.

'Gutenberg! The Musical!' is a fun night out, delivering more laughs than many a big budget show...

Now on tour in celebration of more than 50 years as a recording artist, the legendary Johnny Mathis showed the kids how it's done on Saturday night, May 31st.

Simply put, 'Avenue Q' is a brilliant musical comedy, written, staged and performed by brilliant people, saying brilliant, insightful things about young adulthood and life in general-and the actors are having a fantastic time on stage every single night.

Multicultural story theater, with a touch of romance and a large dollop of stage fights, is on display now at the Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago...

The current national tour of the Stephen Sondheim/Hugh Wheeler musical 'Sweeney Todd' blew into the Windy City for a two-week engagement at the Cadillac Palace Theatre this week, revealing that the show is so strong as originally written that almost any style of storytelling will reveal its truths. If this fact doesn't mark the show as a true performing arts masterwork, then I don't know how anything else could. This show, and this metaphor-laden production of it, are miraculous in their revealing of the human condition.

Now that the 50th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony is history, and before the Tony Awards season sneaks up on us, it might be a good time to do a little investigating into the relationship between the category that both award shows recognize-Best Musical, of course.

Now that the 50th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony is history, and before the Tony Awards season sneaks up on us, it might be a good time to do a little investigating into the relationship between the category that both award shows recognize-Best Musical, of course.

Now that the 50th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony is history, and before the Tony Awards season sneaks up on us, it might be a good time to do a little investigating into the relationship between the category that both award shows recognize-Best Musical, of course.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater has mounted a truly state-of-the-art production of one of the Bard's greatest tragedies, Othello, in its mainstage Courtyard Theater on Navy Pier. Everything, from the acting to the designs to the elocution to the pacing, is top-notch and exemplary. Now if they could just find a script worthy of all that theatrical expertise!

The 1969 Broadway musical 1776 a great choice for revival almost anytime, but especially during a hard-fought Presidential primary season like the one facing us now.

William Bennett's software product, 'Velvet Singer' has features that classical singers, and those aspiring to join them, will love.

Shining City, the celebrated contemporary drama by young Irish playwright Conor McPherson, is now playing its Chicago premiere in a stunning and fascinating production at the Goodman Theatre

The no-holds-barred production of the classic stage musical Cabaret, which has been running at the No Exit Café in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, deserves many kudos for bringing this show to life. And what a life!