Oct 23, 2020 – 3:31 pm
Lawrence B. Johnson
Chicago On the Aisle
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Report: Lyric Opera of Chicago’s lamentable, if not terribly surprising, announcement that it has canceled the entire remainder of its 2020-21 season comes with a poignant promise of renewed life much as we once knew it: detailed and quite enticing plans for 2021-22, a full season projected to start in the customary month of September.
Read the full story »
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Chicago Wine Journal
CD review: Beethoven sonatas, with polish and affection
Sep 24, 2011 – 9:25 pm
Lawrence B. Johnson
Chicago On the Aisle
user
Ingrid Fliter’s fresh take on three favorite masterpieces. 4 stars!
A journey into the daunting forest of arms diplomacy
Sep 24, 2011 – 8:21 pm
Lawrence B. Johnson
Chicago On the Aisle
user
“A Walk in the Woods” at TimeLine.
Cold War contretemps. 4 stars!
As the Lyric Opera’s poster girl, Fleming proves pitch-perfect
Sep 24, 2011 – 7:41 pm
Lawrence B. Johnson
Chicago On the Aisle
user
In a chat with high school singers picked for a new Lyric collaboration with the Merit School of Music, the soprano diva Renée Fleming admits she struck out twice competing in the Met auditions — and taking her driver’s exam.
Protecting the old neighborhood, but redefining the threat
Sep 24, 2011 – 3:36 am
Lawrence B. Johnson
Chicago On the Aisle
user
“Clybourne Park” at Steppenwolf. Bias on the block. 5 stars!
Worth A Visit
Role Playing: Actors Inside Their Characters
- Abdullah Khan in 'Blood and Gifts' – Kareem Bandealy
- Aggie in 'A Catered Affair' – Rebecca Finnegan
- Ahab in 'Moby Dick' – Christopher Donahue
- Alice in 'Still Alice' – Eva Barr
- Alice in 'The Dance of Death' – Shannon Cochran
- All seven characters in 'The Amish Project' – Sadieh Rifai
- Anna in 'City of Dreadful Night' – Justine C. Turner
- Anya Botvinnik in 'A Walk in the Woods' – Janet Ulrich Brooks
- Arley in 'The March' – Ian Barford
- Benjamin Stone in 'Follies' – Brent Barrett
- Beth in 'Mud Blue Sky' – Natalie West
- Bev/Kathy in 'Clybourne Park' – Kirsten Fitzgerald
- Blanche DuBois in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' – Tracy Michelle Arnold
- Bo Decker in 'Bus Stop' – Michael Stegall
- Caroline in 'Luna Gale' – Mary Beth Fisher
- Catherine in 'Proof' – Chaon Cross
- Catherine Parr in 'The Last Wife' – AnJi White
- Charlesetta in 'East Texas Hot Links' – Tyla Abercrumbie
- Clown in 'Burning Bluebeard' – Dean Evans
- Clytemnestra in 'Agamemnon' – Sandra Marquez
- Davies in 'The Caretaker' – Bill Norris
- Donel in 'The Opponent' – Kamal Angelo Bolden
- Eddie Carbone in 'A View From the Bridge' – Ramón Camín
- George in 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' – Brian Parry
- Gruach in 'Dunsinane' – Siobhan Redmond
- Harry Hope in 'The Iceman Cometh' – Stephen Ouimette
- Helen in 'The Cripple of Inishmaan' – Baize Buzan
- Ian in 'The Herd' – Francis Guinan
- Jimmy Porter in 'Look Back in Anger' – Joseph Wiens
- John Starr in 'Charles Ives Take Me Home' – Dave Belden
- Julia Child in 'To Master the Art' – Karen Woditsch
- Julianna in 'The Other Place' – Lia D. Mortensen
- Julio in 'The ________ With the Hat' – Gary Perez
- Larry in 'The Dream of the Burning Boy' – Darrell W. Cox
- Lincoln in 'The Heavens Are Hung in Black' – Lawrence Grimm
- Marc Antony in 'Julius Caesar' – Dion Johnstone
- Mark in 'Accidentally, Like a Martyr' – Steve Haggard
- Masha in 'Three Sisters' – Lindsey Gavel
- Mick in 'The Seedbed' – Adam Bitterman
- Miriam in 'The Good Book' – Hollis Resnik
- Mr. van Daan in 'The Diary of Anne Frank' – Lance Baker
- Musa in 'Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo' – Anish Jethmalani
- Oliver Kilbourn in 'The Pitmen Painters' – Dan Waller
- Puck in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' – Cristina Panfilio
- Queen Elizabeth in 'Elizabeth Rex' – Diane D'Aquila
- Queen Katherine in 'Henry VIII' – Ora Jones
- Richard Harkin in 'The Seafarer' – Brad Armacost
- Richard in 'Richard III' – James Ridge
- Sam in 'The Flick' – Danny McCarthy
- Serafina in 'The Rose Tattoo' – Eileen Niccolai
- Seta in 'Beast on the Moon' – Sophia Menendian
- Sylvia in 'Broken Glass' – Jacqueline Grandt
- Terry in 'If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet' – Shane Kenyon
- Trinket Dugan in 'The Mutilated' – Mierka Girten
- Victor Franz in 'The Price' – Chuck Spencer
- West in 'Two Trains Running' – A.C. Smith
- Witch in 'Into the Woods' – Hillary Marren
Closed Shows 2015-2016
- ★★ Bruise Easy at American Theater Co. thru Feb. 14
- ★★★ 2666 at Goodman Theatre thru March 20
- ★★★ King Lear produced by Belarus Free Theatre at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru Feb. 14
- ★★★ Mothers and Sons at Northlight Theatre thru Feb. 27
- ★★★ Posh at Steep Theatre extended thru March 26
- ★★★ Satchmo at the Waldorf at Court Theatre extended thru Feb. 14
- ★★★ The Realization of Emily Linder at Redtwist Theatre thru May 22
- ★★★★ Der Rosenkavalier at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru March 13
- ★★★★ Gem of the Ocean at Court Theatre thru Oct. 11
- ★★★★ Jerusalem at Profiles Theatre thru May 22
- ★★★★ Nabucco at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru Feb. 12
- ★★★★ Romeo and Juliet at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru March 19
- ★★★★ Sunset Baby at TimeLine Theatre thru April 10
- ★★★★ The Drawer Boy at Redtwist Theatre thru Feb. 28
- ★★★★ The Flick at Steppenwolf Theatre thru May 8
- ★★★★ The Marriage of Figaro at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru Oct. 24
- ★★★★ The Matchmaker at Goodman Theatre thru April 10
- ★★★★ The Mutilated at A Red Orchid Theatre extended thru March 13
- ★★★★★ 'Cinderella' at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru Oct. 30
- ★★★★★ Agamemnon at Court thru Dec. 6
- ★★★★★ Arcadia at Writers Theatre thru May 1
- ★★★★★ Cabaret presented by Broadway in Chicago at PrivateBank Theatre thru Feb. 21
- ★★★★★ Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf at Writers Theatre thru July 31
- ★★★★★ Long Day's Journey Into Night at Court Theatre thru April 10
- ★★★★★ Mary Page Marlowe at Steppenwolf Theatre thru June 5
- ★★★★★ Othello at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru April 10
- ★★★★★ The King and I at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru May 22
- ★★★★★ The Tempest at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru Nov. 8
- ★★★★★ Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at Redtwist Theatre extended thru Oct. 31
Closed Shows 2014-2015
- ★★ First Wives Club presented by Broadway in Chicago at the Oriental Theatre thru March 29
- ★★ That Hopey Changey Thing and ★★★★ Sorry at TimeLine Theatre thru April 19
- ★★ The Who & The What at Victory Gardens thru July 12
- ★★★ Airline Highway at Steppenwolf Theatre thru Feb.11
- ★★★ Carousel at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru May 3
- ★★★ Grand Concourse at Steppenwolf Theatre thru Aug. 30
- ★★★ Isaac's Eye at Writers Theatre extended thru Dec. 21
- ★★★ King Lear at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru Nov. 9
- ★★★ Pippin presented by Broadway in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre thru Aug. 9
- ★★★ Pride and Prejudice at American Players Theatre thru Sept. 26
- ★★★ Rapture, Blister, Burn at Goodman Theatre thru Feb. 22
- ★★★ Sondheim on Sondheim, produced by Porchlight Music Theatre at Stage 773 thru March 15
- ★★★ The Cryptogram at Profiles Theatre extended thru Dec. 6
- ★★★ The Humans at American Theater Company thru Feb. 1
- ★★★ The Whaleship Essex produced by Shattered Globe Theatre at Theater Wit thru Oct. 11
- ★★★ Yankee Tavern produced by American Blues Theater at Greenhouse Theater Center thru March 22
- ★★★★ All Our Tragic produced by The Hypocrites at The Den extended thru Aug. 16
- ★★★★ Antigonick produced by Sideshow Theatre at Victory Gardens Theater thru April 5
- ★★★★ Balm in Gilead produced by Griffin Theatre at The Den Theatre thru April 19
- ★★★★ Beast on the Moon at Raven Theatre thru June 6
- ★★★★ Capriccio at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru Oct. 28
- ★★★★ Don Giovanni at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru Oct. 29
- ★★★★ Genius at Profiles Theatre thru May 3
- ★★★★ Goldfish, produced by Route 66 Theatre at the Greenhouse Theater Center thru July 12
- ★★★★ Good People at Redtwist Theatre, extended thru Aug. 23
- ★★★★ Ionesco Suite at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru Oct.19
- ★★★★ Martyr at Steep Theatre thru May 23
- ★★★★ Red at Redtwist Theatre, extended thru March 29
- ★★★★ Sense & Sensibility at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru June 14
- ★★★★ Tannhäuser at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru March 6
- ★★★★ The American Clock at Redtwist Theatre thru May 17
- ★★★★ The Night Alive at Steppenwolf Theatre thru Nov. 16
- ★★★★ The Passenger at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru March 15
- ★★★★ The Rose Tattoo produced by Shattered Globe Theatre at Theater Wit thru Feb. 28
- ★★★★ Three Sisters produced by The Hypocrites at The Den Theatre thru June 6
- ★★★★★ A Streetcar Named Desire at American Players Theatre thru Sept. 5
- ★★★★★ Accidentally, Like a Martyr at A Red Orchid Theatre, extended thru March 15
- ★★★★★ An Iliad at American Players Theatre thru Oct. 18
- ★★★★★ Dunsinane, produced by National Theatre of Scotland at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru March 22
- ★★★★★ Moby Dick at Lookingglass Theatre thru Aug. 28
- ★★★★★ Porgy and Bess at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru Dec. 20
- ★★★★★ Side Man, produced by American Blues Theater at Greenhouse Theater Center thru May 24
- ★★★★★ Smokefall at Goodman Theatre thru Oct. 26
- ★★★★★ Sweeney Todd produced by Porchlight Music Theatre at Stage 773, extended thru Nov. 16
- ★★★★★ The Diary of Anne Frank at Writers Theatre extended thru Aug. 16
- ★★★★★ The Good Book at Court Theatre thru April 19
- ★★★★★ The Herd at Steppenwolf Theatre, extended thru June 14
- ★★★★★ The Other Place by Sharr White at Profiles Theatre thru April 5
- ★★★★★ Two Trains Running at Goodman Theatre, extended thru April 19
- ★★★★★ Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Goodman Theatre extended thru Aug. 2.
Closed Shows 2013-2014
- ★ Juno at TimeLine Theatre thru July 27
- ★ Lay Me Down Softly produced by Seanachaí Theatre at The Den thru May 25
- ★ The Great God Pan at Next Theatre thru May 11
- ★★ Good Boys and True at Raven Theatre thru May 3
- ★★ In the Garden: A Darwinian Love Story at Lookingglass Theatre thru June 15
- ★★ Queenie Pie at Chicago Opera Theater thru March 23
- ★★★ A Tale of Two Cities at Lifeline Theatre thru April 13
- ★★★ Ain't Misbehavin' at Porchlight Music Theatre thru March 9
- ★★★ Ain't Misbehavin' by Porchlight at 773 thru March 9
- ★★★ Buyer & Cellar at Broadway Theatre thru June 15
- ★★★ Death and the Maiden at Victory Gardens thru July 20
- ★★★ Gidion's Knot at Profiles Theatre thru March 9
- ★★★ Happy at Redtwist Theatre thru March 16
- ★★★ Henry V at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru June 15
- ★★★ Maskarade by Vox3 Collective at Vittum Theatre thru Jan. 25
- ★★★ Otello at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru Nov. 2
- ★★★ Our Country's Good produced by Shattered Globe Theatre at Theatre Wit thru Feb. 22
- ★★★ Solstice at A Red Orchid Theatre thru Feb. 23
- ★★★ The How and the Why at TimeLine Theatre thru April 6
- ★★★ Tristan & Yseult produced by Kneehigh theater company at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru April 13
- ★★★★ A Raisin in the Sun at TimeLine thru Nov. 17
- ★★★★ Assassins by Kokandy Productions at Theater Wit thru July 20
- ★★★★ Brigadoon at Goodman Theatre thru Aug. 17
- ★★★★ Charles Ives Take Me Home at Strawdog Theatre thru June 21
- ★★★★ Detroit '67 at Northlight thru Dec. 15
- ★★★★ Golden Boy produced by Griffin Theatre at Theatre Wit thru April 6
- ★★★★ Grounded produced by American Blues Theater at Greenhouse Theater Center thru July 13
- ★★★★ If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet at Steep Theatre thru June 7
- ★★★★ Look Back in Anger at Redtwist Theatre extended thru June 28
- ★★★★ Madama Butterfly at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru Jan. 26
- ★★★★ Motortown at Steep thru Nov.23
- ★★★★ Mud Blue Sky at A Red Orchid Theatre thru June 29
- ★★★★ Other People's Money produced by Shattered Globe at Theater Wit thru Oct. 19
- ★★★★ Peter and the Starcatcher at Bank of America Theatre thru April 13
- ★★★★ Playboy of the Western World at Raven Theatre thru April 5
- ★★★★ Pullman Porter Blues at Goodman Theatre thru Oct. 27
- ★★★★ Romeo and Juliet at American Players Theatre thru Oct. 4
- ★★★★ Russian Transport at Steppenwolf Theatre thru May 11
- ★★★★ The Importance of Being Earnest at American Players Theatre thru Sept. 27
- ★★★★ The Last Ship presented by Broadway in Chicago at Bank of America Theatre thru July 13
- ★★★★ The Merry Wives of Windsor at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru Jan. 19
- ★★★★ The Mountaintop at Court Theatre thru Oct. 13
- ★★★★ To Master the Art at Broadway Playhouse thru Oct. 20
- ★★★★ Venus in Fur at Goodman Theatre thru April 13
- ★★★★ Vieux Carré at Raven Theatre thru June 28
- ★★★★★ A View From the Bridge produced by Teatro Vista at Victory Gardens thru May 18
- ★★★★★ American Buffalo at American Players Theatre thru Nov. 8
- ★★★★★ Gypsy at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru March 23
- ★★★★★ Into the Woods produced by The Hypocrites at Mercury Theatre thru April 5
- ★★★★★ Luna Gale at Goodman Theatre thru Feb. 23
- ★★★★★ Rusalka at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru March 16
- ★★★★★ Seminar produced by Haven Theatre at Theatre Wit thru April 13
- ★★★★★ Seven Guitars at Court Theatre thru Feb. 16
- ★★★★★ Smokefall at Goodman thru Nov. 3
- ★★★★★ The Barber of Seville at Lyric Opera thru Feb. 28
- ★★★★★ The Dance of Death at Writers Theatre extended thru Aug. 3
- ★★★★★ The Seafarer produced by Seanachai Theatre at The Den extended thru Feb. 8
- ★★★★★ Water by the Spoonful at Court Theatre thru April 6
Chicago Arts Links
Global Arts Links
Closed Shows 2011-2012
- A Behanding in Spokane (3 stars) at Profiles thru Dec. 4
- A Catered Affair (4 stars) by Porchlight Music Theatre at Stage 773 thru April 1
- A Christmas Story, The Musical! (5 stars) at Chicago Theatre thru Dec. 30
- A Little Night Music (4 stars) at Writers' Theatre thru Aug. 12
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (5 stars) at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru April 8
- A Walk in the Woods (4 stars) at Timeline thru Nov. 20
- Aida (3 stars) at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru Mar. 25
- Aida (4 stars – new cast) at Lyric Opera thru Mar. 25
- AMERICAN PLAYERS: "Richard III" by Shakespeare (4 stars) thru Sept. 28
- Ameriville (3 stars) at Victory Gardens thru Feb. 26
- An Iliad (4 stars) at Court Theatre thru Dec. 11
- Angels in America (5 stars) at Court Theatre thru June 3
- Ann (4 stars) at Bank of America Theatre thru Dec. 4
- Ariadne auf Naxos (4 stars) at Lyric Opera thru Dec. 11
- Burning Bluebeard (4 stars) at Neo-Futurists thru Dec. 30
- Bus Stop (3 stars) at Raven Theatre thru Dec. 11
- Camino Real (3 stars) at Goodman Theatre thru April 8
- Chesapeake (3 stars) produced by Remy Bumppo at Greenhouse Theatre thru April 29
- Cirque du Soleil's Dralion (4 stars) at United Center thru July 1
- Clybourne Park (5 stars) at Steppenwolf thru Nov. 13
- Disgraced (5 stars) at American Theater Co. thru Mar. 11
- Doyle & Debbie Show (4 stars); Royal George thru May 27
- Elizabeth Rex (5 stars), Chicago Shakespeare thru Jan. 22
- Fish Men (3 stars) produced by Teatro Vista at Goodman Theatre thru May 6
- Follies (5 stars) at Chi. Shakespeare Theater thru Nov. 13
- Freud's Last Session (3 stars) at Mercury Theater thru June 3
- Her Naked Skin (4 stars) by Shattered Globe Theatre at Stage 773 thru June 3
- Hesperia (4 stars) at Writers' Theatre thru Mar. 18
- Hunger (4 stars) at Lifeline Theatre thru Mar. 25
- In a Forest, Dark and Deep (4 stars) at Profiles Theatre thru June 3
- It's A Wonderful Life: The Radio Play (4 stars) at American Theater Co. thru Dec. 30
- Maestro: The Art of Leonard Bernstein (3 Stars), Royal George thru Dec. 30
- Melancholy Play (2 stars) by Sarah Ruhl, Grey Ghost Theatre thru May 13
- Memphis (5 stars) at the Cadillac Palace thru Dec. 4
- Moscow, Cheryomuski (4 stars) at Chicago Opera Theater thru April 25.
- Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting (3 stars) thru Feb. 19
- My Kind of Town (4 stars) at TimeLine Theatre thru July 29
- Penelope (3 stars) at Steppenwolf thru Feb. 5.
- Pride and Prejudice (4 stars) at Lifeline thru July 8
- Race (4 stars) by Mamet at the Goodman thru Feb. 19
- Red (5 stars) at the Goodman Theatre thru Oct. 30
- Rent (4 stars) at American Theater Co. with About Face Theatre thru July 1
- Rick Bayless in Cascabel (4 stars) at Lookingglass thru April 29
- Rinaldo (4 stars) at Lyric Opera thru Mar. 24
- Show Boat (5 stars) at the Lyric Opera thru Mar. 17
- STRATFORD: "Cymbeline" by Shakespeare (4 stars) thru Sept. 30
- Ten Chimneys (3 stars) at Northlight thru April 15
- Teseo (4 stars) at Chicago Opera Theater thru May 2
- The Amish Project (5 Stars) at ATC thru Oct. 30
- The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead (4 stars) at Writers' Theatre thru July 29
- The Butcher of Baraboo (2 stars) at A Red Orchid thru May 20
- The Caretaker (4 stars) at Writers' Theatre thru Mar. 25
- The Cripple of Inishmaan (4 stars) at Redtwist Theatre thru July 1
- The Duchess of Malfi (3 stars) at Strawdog Theatre thru May 26
- The Girl in the Yellow Dress (4 stars) at Next thru Feb. 26
- The Great Fire (2 stars) at Lookingglass thru Nov. 20
- The Iceman Cometh (5 stars) at Goodman thru June 17
- The Magic Flute (3 stars) at the Lyric Opera thru Jan. 22
- The March (4 stars) at Steppenwolf thru June 10
- The Petrified Forest (4 stars) at Strawdog Theatre thru Mar. 31
- The Pitmen Painters (4 stars) at TimeLine thru Dec. 18
- The Price (3 stars) at Raven Theatre thru April 14
- The Real Thing (5 stars) at Writers' Theatre thru Dec. 4
- The Taming of the Shrew (4 stars) in Short Shakespeare! at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru April 7
- Tigers Be Still (2 stars) at Theater Wit thru June 3
- Time Stands Still (4 stars) at Steppenwolf thru May 13
- Timon of Athens (4 stars) at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru June 10
- We Are Proud to Present (4 stars) at Victory Gardens thru April 29
Closed Shows 2012-2013
- ★ Making Noise Quietly at Steep Theatre thru Nov. 10
- ★ The Gifts of the Magi, produced by Porchlight Music Theatre at Stage 773 thru Dec. 23
- ★★ By the Way, Meet Vera Stark at Goodman Theatre thru June 2
- ★★ Jekyll & Hyde at the Cadillac Palace Theatre thru March 24
- ★★ The Woman in White at Lifeline thru Oct. 28
- ★★★ 33 Variations at Stage 773 by TimeLine thru Oct. 21
- ★★★ A Body of Water at Redtwist Theatre thru April 7
- ★★★ A Soldier's Play at Raven Theatre thru March 30
- ★★★ Agnes of God at American Theater Co. thru Nov. 4
- ★★★ Big Fish at Oriental Theatre thru May 5
- ★★★ Broken Glass at Redtwist thru Nov. 18
- ★★★ La bohème at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru March 28
- ★★★ Purple Heart at Redtwist Theatre thru Jan. 27
- ★★★ QED at Collaboraction Theatre, co-produced by theatre4humanity thru Dec. 9
- ★★★ Rigoletto at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru March 30
- ★★★ The City & The City at Lifeline Threatre thru April 7
- ★★★ The Fall of the House of Usher at Chicago Opera Theater thru Mar. 1
- ★★★ The Magic Flute at Chicago Opera Theater thru Sept. 23
- ★★★★ A Christmas Carol at Goodman Theatre thru Dec. 29
- ★★★★ Boy Gets Girl at Raven Theatre thru March 2
- ★★★★ Brighton Beach Memoirs at Raven Theatre thru July 14
- ★★★★ City of Dreadful Night at The Den Theatre thru March 16
- ★★★★ Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru March 3
- ★★★★ Doubt at American Theater Co. thru Nov. 4
- ★★★★ Elektra at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru Oct. 30
- ★★★★ Faith Healer at The Den Theatre thru Feb. 3
- ★★★★ Good People at Steppenwolf thru Nov. 11
- ★★★★ Hänsel & Gretel at the Lyric Opera thru Jan. 19
- ★★★★ Head of Passes at Steppenwolf thru June 9
- ★★★★ Hellcab at Profiles Theatre through Feb. 24
- ★★★★ Henry VIII at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru June 16
- ★★★★ In the Company of Men at Profiles Theatre thru July 28
- ★★★★ Iphigenia 2.0 at Next Theatre thru Oct. 14
- ★★★★ James Joyce's The Dead, a musical, at Court Theatre thru Dec. 9
- ★★★★ Julius Caesar at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru March 24
- ★★★★ Maria de Buenos Aires at Chicago Opera Theater thru April 28
- ★★★★ Measure for Measure at Goodman Theatre thru April 14
- ★★★★ Molly Sweeney at American Players Theatre thru Sept. 21
- ★★★★ Othello: The Remix at Chicago Shakespeare Theater through July 27
- ★★★★ Pal Joey produced by Porchlight Music Theatre at Stage 773 thru May 26
- ★★★★ Pedro Páramo at Goodman Theatre thru March 31
- ★★★★ Simon Boccanegra at the Lyric Opera of Chicago thru Nov.9
- ★★★★ Skylight at the Court Theatre thru Feb. 10
- ★★★★ Still Alice at Lookingglass Theatre thru May 19
- ★★★★ Sweet and Sad at Profiles Theatre thru Oct. 7
- ★★★★ Sweet Bird of Youth at the Goodman thru Oct. 28
- ★★★★ The Book of Mormon at Bank of America Theatre thru Oct. 6
- ★★★★ The Dream of the Burning Boy at Profiles thru April 28
- ★★★★ The Letters at Writers' Theatre thru March 17
- ★★★★ The Liar at Writers' Theatre thru July 28
- ★★★★ The Misanthrope at Court Theatre thru June 9
- ★★★★ The Opponent at A Red Orchid thru Dec. 15
- ★★★★ The Quality of Life at The Den Theatre thru Dec. 1
- ★★★★ The Whale at Victory Gardens thru May 5
- ★★★★ Two Gentlemen of Verona at American Players Theatre thru Oct. 6
- ★★★★ Wasteland at TimeLine thru Dec. 30
- ★★★★★ Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo at Lookingglass thru March 17
- ★★★★★ Big Lake Big City, world premiere, at Lookingglass Theatre through Aug. 25
- ★★★★★ Blood and Gifts at TimeLine Theatre thru July 28
- ★★★★★ Hamlet at American Players Theatre thru Oct. 4
- ★★★★★ Hamlet at Writers' Theatre thru Nov. 11
- ★★★★★ Jitney at Court Theatre thru Oct. 14
- ★★★★★ Krapp's Last Tape by Shattered Globe at Stage 773 thru May 12
- ★★★★★ Metamorphoses at Lookingglass thru Jan. 6
- ★★★★★ Oklahoma! at Lyric Opera of Chicago thru May 19
- ★★★★★ Proof at Court Theatre thru April 14
- ★★★★★ Sunday in the Park with George at Chicago Shakespeare Theater thru Nov. 11
- ★★★★★ The ______ With the Hat at Steppenwolf thru March 3
- ★★★★★ The Glass Menagerie produced by Mary-Arrchie Theatre at Theater Wit thru Aug. 25
- ★★★★★ The Happiest Song Plays Last at Goodman Theatre thru May 12
- A Christmas Carol (4 stars) at the Goodman thru Dec. 31
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