Reviews

Shattered Globe Theatre: Lobby Hero Review
Shattered Globe Theatre presents Lobby Hero now through March 8, 2025. When a rudderless security guard is caught in the middle of a police investigation and conflicting morals, he must decide what he stands for and which path to follow.

Open Space Arts: Mr. Parker Review
Open Space Arts presents Mr. Parker now through March 2, 2025. We follow a middle-aged man’s journey as he deals with his new relationship with a younger man while trying to work with his sister-in-law to remember his late husband.

Chicago Magic Lounge: Trent James: Static Magic Review
The Chicago Magic Lounge presents Trent James: Static Magic as the newest Wednesday Signature Show in the Harry Blackstone Cabaret Theater. James frames his show as a reminiscent trip to the 90s and involves the audience at every turn.

Saint Sebastian Players: The Man Who Came To Dinner Review
Saint Sebastian Players present The Man Who Came To Dinner now through February 16, 2025. In this classic early 20th century farce, shenanigans ensue after the uppity and particular critic Sheridan Whiteside injures his hip and must stay with the Stanley family for a few weeks causing chaos and hijinks.

City Lit Theater: Glassheart Review
City Lit Theater Company presents Glassheart now through February 23, 2025. A modern retelling of Beauty and The Beast has us grounded in the original story, but this version expands it to look deeper and differently.

Trap Door Theatre: The Mannequin’s Ball Review
Trap Door Theatre presents The Mannequin’s Ball now through March 1, 2025. One night a year the mannequin’s escape their movement-free lives as atelier workers and display models to move freely at their ball. When one finds himself at a human ball, it dives deeper into political commentary.

Goodman Theatre: Fat Ham Review
Goodman Theatre presents Fat Ham extended through March 9, 2025. In this adaptation of Hamlet, we’re taken to a family’s backyard barbeque wedding reception where we get this modern retelling exploring being Black, queer, and your community around you.

Porchlight Music Theatre: Fun Home Review
Porchlight Music Theatre presents Fun Home now through March 2, 2025. While writing and drawing her graphic novel of the same name, current day Alison explores the past with her past selves to try and find any reason or resolution behind her father’s death.

Jackalope Theatre Company: The Smuggler Review
Jackalope Theatre Company presents The Smuggler for a limited run now through January 25, 2025. In this one man show, we’re taken on this Irishman’s journey as he battles his internal conflicts and a giant rat to provide for his family.

Chicago Shakespeare Theatre: JaJa’s African Hair Braiding Review
Chicago Shakespeare Presents Jaja’s African Hair Braiding now through February 2, 2025. Sit down and make yourself comfortable in your seats because we’re in for a long day at Jaja’s African Hair Braiding salon in Harlem, New York City. The cast brings the different personalities of the women who work in the shop to life and give us a snapshot of what it looks like to work there.

Broadway In Chicago: Shucked Review
Broadway in Chicago presents the North American Broadway tour of Shucked now through January 19, 2025. Filled to the brim with puns, one-liners, and innuendos Shucked is a good fit for anyone looking for a light hearted night out.
Black Ensemble Theater: HITT Records Review
Black Ensemble Theater presents Hitt Records now through January 26, 2025. Visiting the Hitt brothers vintage record shop, they’ve got nothing but hits in stock. The cast delivers on those hits transforming the shop into a concert stage and take us through decades of famous hits from R&B to disco to everything in between.

Music Theater Works: Legally Blonde: The Musical Review
Music Theater Works presents Legally Blonde: The Musical now through December 29, 2024. Fans of the movie will rejoice and musical theatre lovers in search of an uplifting show will be thrilled at this production following our favorite blonde in her journey of self-discovery.

Hell In A Handbag Productions: Rudolph The Red-Hosed Reindeer Review
Hell In A Handbag Productions presents Rudolph The Red-Hosed Reindeer, now through January 5, 2024. Like the original story, Rudolph bands together with other misfits on his journey to discover who he is. But like all Hell in a Handbag productions, this parody gives the story a campy and gay twist full of pop culture references, musical numbers, and plenty of laughs as Rudolph and friends go on their journey of self-love and discovery.
Redtwist Theatre: The Totality Of All Things Review
Redtwist Theatre presents their world premiere of The Totality of All Things now through January 19, 2024. When an anti-gay hate crime rocks waves through a small town high school, a journalism teacher who prides herself on integrity finds herself being swallowed by a sea of red.

American Blues Theater: It’s a Wonderful Life: Live In Chicago! Review
American Blues Theater Presents their holiday classic, It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! now through December 22, 2024. Become part of the live studio audience of this live radio play rendition of the classic Francis Capra film.

Theater Wit: Who’s Holiday Review
Who’s Holiday now playing at Theater Wit is back for the fourth year and starring Veronica Garza. A 40-year old Cindy-Lou Who let’s us in on the tea about what happened after the fateful Christmas Eve when she met the Grinch all those years ago.

PrideArts: Throbbin Wood Review
PrideArts presents Throbbin’ Wood. Carrying on their holiday tradition of parodying a British pantomime, this year’s show takes on the fairy tale of Robin Hood and stuffs the show with plenty of dirty jokes, call and responses, and throbbin’ bulges.

Drury Lane Theatre: Disney’s The Little Mermaid Review
Drury Lane Theatre presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid. This musical retelling of the classic Disney film is sure to please fans of the movie as it has all your favorite characters and songs. Playing through January 12, 2024 this would be a great family show over the holidays.

Edge Of The Wood Theatre: The Language Archives Review
Edge of the Wood Theatre presents The Language Archives. After a marriage abruptly ends, it sends this couple on their own growth journeys, expanding their own relationships with others along the way.