Elizabeth Stenholt

Review: FALSETTOS presented by Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company

FALSETTOS, originally written as two-one act musicals set in 1979 and 1981, respectively, feels simultaneously dated and prescient. In this co-production from Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company, director Nick Bowling leads a first-rate ensemble that preserves the musical as a period piece but also makes it feel utterly alive. Lauren Nichols’s set design evokes a 1970s retro roller rink and Theresa Ham’s costume designs also use extremely ‘70s colors (and each character wears a signature color). But many of the show’s central themes hit now as ahead of their time and eerily relevant. In particular, the musical’s reverence for Jewish culture and tradition and its unabashed embrace of queer love are especially moving at a time when anti-Semitism and homophobia seem tragically on the rise in America.

Photos: Inside The Beautiful City Project's THAT'S WHAT SHE SANG

The Beautiful City Project's October cabaret, THAT’S WHAT SHE SANG, was held at the picturesque Den Theatre, the evening featured an all-femme cast, singing comedy songs from the musical theatre canon. Check out photos from the event. 

Cast Set For FALSETTOS at Court Theatre

Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company will present William Finn and James Lapine’s Falsettos, a tribute to family and its many forms; a playful interrogation of faith and identity; and a celebration of the beauty, complexity, and necessity of love.

FALSETTOS to be Presented by Court Theatre & TimeLine Theatre This November

Court Theatre and TimeLine Theatre announced their collaboration on FALSETTOS, set to run this November. The production will bring the Tony Award-winning musical to Chicago audiences.

Cast Set for THAT'S WHAT SHE SANG All-Femme Cabaret at The Den Theatre

The Beautiful City Project revealed the cast for THAT'S WHAT SHE SANG, an all-femme cabaret at The Den Theatre. Learn more about the event and see how to purchase tickets.

Photos: First Look at Blank Theatre Company's THE MAD ONES

Blank Theatre Company is now presenting the second show of their 2024 season, THE MAD ONES, by Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk. Check out all new photos here!

Photos: The Beautiful City Project's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

The Beautiful City Projected presented JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR on Monday evening, raising funds for the Chicago organization Intentional Sports. See photos from the show. 

Photos: Inside The Beautiful City Project's A SECRET GARDEN PARTY

The Beautiful City Project's May Fundraiser, a A SECRET GARDEN PARTY, was a memorable Memorial Day event, held at the home of Dan Ratner & Genevieve Thiers.

Review: ASSASSINS at Theo

Although it debuted off-Broadway more than thirty years ago, Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s ASSASSINS remains a thrilling, bone chilling, brilliant, and immensely taut musical. Drawing on the United States history of successful and would-be presidential assassins, ASSASSINS is an astounding exploration of disillusionment and infamy. The musical feels remarkably prescient in the era of TikTok influencers and an epidemic of mass shootings in America; ASSASSINS unnervingly pre-dates both of these phenomena and yet is a real immediate reflection of them. When the ensemble sings in “The Gun Song” that “all you have to do is move your little finger/ and you can change the world,” it’s absolutely terrifying in a 2023 context. Sondheim and Weidman present a cast of historical characters that feel disenfranchised and disillusioned by American ideals, and modern America certainly hasn’t been disabused of this notion.

Goodman Theatre's THE WHO'S TOMMY and More Take Home Equity Jeff Awards; Full List of Winners!

At the 55th anniversary celebration of Equity theater excellence, the Jeff Awards recognized 46 award recipients selected from among 214 theater artist nominees. Find out who took home Equity Jeff Awards in the full list of winners here!

Photos: The Beautiful City Project's OSCAR NIGHT, Honoring A Year's Worth Of Charities & Non-Profits

The Beautiful City Project's OSCAR NIGHT was an evening of songs that have won the coveted award of 'Best Song' at the Oscars, and paid tribute to the numerous organizations that TBCP have raised funds an awareness for over the past year. Hosted by Stephen Schellhardt & Devin DeSantis, the show featured performances across a span of 9 decades, and included top Chicago musical theatre talent, a 12-piece orchestra, and 12-person choir.

Goodman Theatre, Paramount Theatre & More Nominated for Equity Jeff Awards

Discover the nominations for the 55th Anniversary Jeff Awards for Equity Theater! Find out who made the cut and get ready for the highly anticipated awards ceremony.

Photos: GREASE Opens 2023-2024 Season At Drury Lane Theatre

Drury Lane Theatre opened its incredible 2023-2024 season with the song and dance spectacular Grease, with book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. See photos from the production!

Cast Announced for GREASE at Drury Lane Theatre

Drury Lane Theatre will open its 2023-2024 season with the song and dance spectacular Grease, with book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.

Photos: A NOT-SO-SILENT NIGHT, The Beautiful City Project's Fundraising Party For Season Of Concern

The Beautiful City Project held it's Holiday fundraising event A NOT-SO-SILENT NIGHT, with proceeds to benefit Season of Concern, on Friday, December 19th at Floating World Gallery.

Review: FUN HOME at Copley Theatre

The third production at the Copley Theatre in Aurora is the 3 time Tony winning musical (2015 Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score) Fun Home. It was adapted from the 2006 memoir of Alison Bechdel. It is the story of Alison's journey discovering her own sexuality and her relationship with her closeted gay father Bruce as she tries to discover the truth about his mysterious life.

Paramount Theatre to Present FUN HOME as Part of the New BOLD Series

Paramount Theatre will present the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Fun Home – book and lyrics by Lisa Kron, music by Jeanine Tesori, based on the popular graphic novel of the same name by Alison Bechdel – as the third production in its inaugural four-show BOLD Series.

A KIND OF LOVE STORY Comes to Oil Lamp Theater

Executive and Artistic Director, Keith Gerth and Associate Artistic Director, Stephen Smith of the Oil Lamp Theater in Glenview announce their next production, the witty and heartwarming romantic comedy A Kind of Love Story by Jenelle Riley. This endearing tale of true love almost missed is directed by Oil Lamp's Executive and Artistic Director Keith Gerth and will be performed from July 25th through September 8th 2019 at 1723 Glenview Road in Glenview.

Cast & Design Team Revealed For THE WIZARD OF OZ at The Paramount Theatre

Acclaimed Chicago director Amber Mak dazzled audiences with Paramount's production of Disney's The Little Mermaid. She made kids of all ages believe in Santa again with Elf The Musical. Now she's taking audiences over the rainbow and into another fantastical world with The Wizard of Oz, November 14, 2018-January 6, 2019 at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in Aurora. Press opening is Saturday, November 17, at 8 p.m.

BWW Review: Chicago Shakespeare Theater's PETER PAN Provides High-Flying Fun

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's summer family musical PETER PAN is chock full of dazzling moments that will delight children and adults alike. With music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe with a new book by Elliot Davis (based upon the book by Willis Hall), this production captures all the magic of the classic story of the boy who refuses to grow up in just 75 minutes. Adult audience members who are fans of J.M. Barrie's original novel or the iconic Disney animated film will find this PETER PAN a refreshing mix of the familiar and the new. And of course, young audiences seeing the story of PETER PAN for the first time will be altogether surprised and amazed by this telling.