Deanna Myers

Review: A Creepy ENOUGH TO LET THE LIGHT IN At Contemporary American Theater Festival

As a vehicle for making things go bump in the night, I’m not sure this show consistently hits the target. It is a bit too much of a human interest story for that, but a bit too bump-filled to work smoothly as a human interest story either. Yet there are some legitimate skin-crawling moments, and the story reaches as reasonable a conclusion as it can, taking into account the subject-matter and the indeterminacy of the ending I mentioned. Theatergoers may walk out arguing about that ending, which is probably a good thing. But it will in any event have been an entertaining ride reaching that point.

Photos: The Contemporary American Theater Festival's 2024 Season

The Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University opened its 2024 season on July 5. Get a first look at photos below!

Review: Suspense & Horror at CATF with ENOUGH TO LET THE LIGHT IN

With her play Enough to Let the Light In, Paloma Nozicka has crafted one of those great psychological thrillers; the build-up is slow but steady, the characters finely drawn, and the climax will make you jump.  But there’s no need for blood, it’s all in your head.  And if you are looking for an evening that gives you a few of those none-too-subtle psychological shocks, this year’s Contemporary American Theater Festival has just the ticket.

Review: THE GOOD JOHN PROCTOR at Trinity Repertory Company

What did our critic think of THE GOOD JOHN PROCTOR at Trinity Repertory Company?

THE GOOD JOHN PROCTOR and BECKY NURSE OF SALEM Come to Trinity Repertory Company

Trinity Repertory Company opens its 60th Anniversary Season with two plays performed in rotating repertory, both dark dramedies with thematic ties to gender, power, and Arthur Miller's The Crucible.  

PlayMakers Laboratory to Present 25 YEARS OF STUDENTS' STORIES in December

PlayMakers Laboratory will celebrate its 25th anniversary of arts education in Chicago schools with 25 Years of Students’ Stories, two public performances featuring stories written by Chicago youth on Monday, December 5 at 6:30 pm & 8:30 pm at the Neo-Futurist Theater.

Video: First Look at TIGER STYLE! at the Writers Theatre

All new video footage has been released for Tiger Style!, now playing at Writers Theatre through October 30th in Glencoe.

Writers Theatre to Open 2022/23 Season With TIGER STYLE! by Mike Lew in September

Writers Theatre will debut its 2022/23 Season with Tiger Style! by Mike Lew, directed by Brian Balcom. The production runs September 29, 2022 – October 30, 2022 in the in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre.

PlayMakers Laboratory Launches GoFundMe Following Near Shutdown Due To COVID-19

PlayMakers Laboratory, one of Chicago's leading arts-education organizations for more than 25 years, has launched an emergency GoFundMe campaign after facing a near shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

PlayMakers Laboratory Celebrates 20th Anniversary Of THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA

PlayMakers Laboratory will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its popular sketch comedy revue That's Weird, Grandma with a free digital special on Thursday, August 5 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. PML will host an in-person viewing party at The Annoyance Theater, 851 W. Belmont Ave. (proof of vaccine required) in Chicago or guests may stream the show on Facebook Live.

PlayMakers Laboratory's THAT'S QUEER, GRANDMA - Three Live Streaming Performances!

PlayMakers Laboratory celebrates Pride Month virtually with a FREE presentation of That's Queer, Grandma, a hilarious romp through student-written stories that at the heart are centered on inclusivity, equality and what it means to be authentic. Directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd and production managed by Cedar Larson, the virtual production will stream live on Mondays at 8 pm CDT via Eventbrite from June 22 a?" July 6, 2020. Please RSVP at pmlthatsqueergrandma.eventbrite.com. Donations are welcome. All proceeds support PML's arts education programs.

About Face Theatre Presents THE GULF Chicago Premiere Beginning Next Month

On a muggy summer evening somewhere down in the Alabama Delta, Kendra and Betty troll the flats looking for redfish. Six years into their relationship, tensions and passions flare as the couple clash over past infidelities, life-choices, and job struggles. When their motor breaks, stranding them in open water under darkening skies, the couple are forced to grapple with the growing space between them and where their life together will go next. 

Photo Flash: PlayMakers Laboratory's THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA

PlayMakers Laboratory, formerly Barrel of Monkeys, continues its 2019-20 season with THAT'S WEIRD GRANDMA: Travels Through Time, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing Sundays at 3 pm from January 19 – February 16, 2020 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.playmakerslab.org or by calling (773) 506-7140. The press opening is Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 3 pm.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble Presents World Premiere of THE TASTERS

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago's only Equity theatre dedicated to producing new work with women at the core, presents the world premiere of The Tasters by Meghan Brown, directed by RTE member Devon de Mayo. The Tasters runs January 10 a?" February 16, 2020 at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5779 N. Ridge Avenue in Chicago.  The press opening is Monday, January 20 at 7:00pm

About Face Theatre Announces Cast of THE GULF

About Face Theatre continues its 2019-2020 season with the Chicago premiere of Audrey Cefaly's award-winning drama THE GULF, running January 9 through February 15, 2020, at Theater Wit. THE GULF is a riveting look at how partners in a long-term relationship change over time, and what it takes to keep love alive. Directed by About Face Artistic Director Megan Carney, the production will feature AFT Artistic Associate Kelli Simpkins and Deanna Myers. Press opening is Friday, January 17 at 7:30 pm.

Photo Flash: PlayMakers Laboratory Presents THAT'S WEIRD GRANDMA: Holiday Extravaganza

Grandma is back with holiday classics and new family favorites as PlayMakers Laboratory (formerly Barrel of Monkeys) presents THAT'S WEIRD GRANDMA: Holiday Extravaganza, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing December 9 – 21, 2019 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.playmakerslab.org or by calling (773) 506-7140. 

Photo Flash: PlayMakers Laboratory Presents THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Travels Through Time

PlayMakers Laboratory, formerly Barrel of Monkeys, is pleased to continue its 2019-20 season with THAT'S WEIRD GRANDMA: Travels Through Time, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing Sundays at 3 pm from January 19 – February 16, 2020 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets go on sale Thursday, December 6 at www.playmakerslab.org or by calling (773) 506-7140. 

Photo Flash: THE GREAT LEAP Celebrates Opening Night at Steppenwolf

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's 2019/20 season of complex, beautiful and maddening theater kicks off with a thrilling Chicago premiere by in-demand playwright, Lauren Yee, directed by Jesca Prudencio.

BWW Review: THE GREAT LEAP at Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's season opening production of Lauren Yee's THE GREAT LEAP combines the energy of the final moments of a major sporting event alongside moments of great intimacy and intensity for which the company is largely known.

Photo Flash: First Look at Steppenwolf's THE GREAT LEAP

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's 2019/20 season kicks off with a Chicago premiere by Lauren Yee, directed by Jesca Prudencio. Set in 1989, The Great Leap tells the story of Manford Lum, a local star of the sidewalk basketball courts of San Francisco's Chinatown who strongarms his way onto an American college team travelling to Beijing for a “friendship” game. Set amidst the friction of the post-Cultural Revolution era, The Great Leap keeps tensions high right up to the final buzzer.