CHICAGO – It is Chicago where New York City native Harry Wood is debuting his first play, entitled “Roast,” through The Comrades theater company at the Greenhouse Theater Center. The comic drama, about a gathering of stand up comics and relatives to “roast” – rather than eulogize – a deceased fellow comedian, is a World Premiere that runs through August 18th, 2019. For tickets and more information, click here.
HollywoodChicago.com Theater Reviews & Interviews
Podtalk: Frank Carr of ‘YippieFest,’ at the Prop Theatre in Chicago, Aug. 16-18, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 16, 2019 - 4:50pmCHICAGO – It’s the 3rd annual YippieFest in Chicago at the Prop Thtr (Theatre), and the three days of Theater, Performance, Music, Film, Comedy and more kicks off with its 2019 edition on Friday, August 16th (7pm), and runs through Sunday, August 18th. The Fest evolved from the spirit of Mary-Arrchie Theater’s Abbie Hoffman Fest, which began 30 years ago (1989), and ended in 2016. The Fest also celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Woodstock music festival, which coincides with the weekend. For more information on YippieFest, including tickets, click here.
Interview: Local Band whitewolfsonicprincess Releases ‘The Alternate Boot’ on Jan. 8, 2019
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 7, 2019 - 4:12pmCHICAGO – The album premiere is a cause for celebration, and the local Chicagoland band whitewolfsonicprinces (wwsp) is debuting their third album, a double set release called “The Alternate Boot Vols. 1 & 2” on January 8th, 2019. For more on the album release and all things wwsp, click here.
Podtalk: Desiree Burcum of ‘Yippie Fest,’ at the Prop Theatre in Chicago, Aug. 17-19, 2018
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 17, 2018 - 9:06amCHICAGO – It’s the 2nd annual Yippie Fest in Chicago at the Prop Thtr (Theatre), and the three days of Theater, Performance, Music, Film, Comedy and more kicks off with the 2018 Opening Ceremonies on Friday, August 17th, and runs through Sunday, August 19th. The Fest evolved from the spirit of Mary-Arrchie Theater’s Abbie Hoffman Fest, which ran from 1989 to 2016. The Fest also celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Yippies (Youth International Party) in Chicago, during the Vietnam protests in August of 1968. The whole world was watching. For more information on Yippie Fest, including tickets, click here.
Theater Review: Brown Paper Box Company Hosts a Monumental ‘Speech & Debate’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 19, 2018 - 3:07pmCHICAGO – “Speech & Debate,” the latest production from the mighty Brown Paper Box Company, continues their tradition of thinking outside that “box” in presenting storefront theater that makes a statement and a difference. “Speech” goes inside America by showcasing the outsiders… those who create art because they can’t get it right in real life. This non-equity Chicago stage play premiere is finely tuned and wonderfully acted, and runs through March 4th, 2018. Click here for more details, including ticket information.
Theater Review: American Theater Co.’s ‘We’re Gonna Be Okay’ Seeks Identity in Early 1960s
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 3, 2018 - 8:07pm- Adithis Chandrashekar
- American Theater Company
- Avi Roque
- Basil Kreimendahl
- Brittany Love Smith
- Cuban Missile Crisis
- Diversity
- Gay
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Identity
- John F. Kennedy
- Kelli Simpkins
- Patrick McDonald
- Penelope Walker
- Sarai Rodriguez
- Theater
- We’re Gonna Be Okay
- Will Davis
- Theater, TV, DVD & Blu-Ray
CHICAGO – The 1960s were a time of historical social transition. The movements – civil rights, feminist, gay rights – all had roots in that tumultuous decade. The Chicago premiere of Basil Kreimendahl’s “We’re Gonna Be Okay” echoes all of those movements in its characters, and collides them against the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. The show has a Thursday-Sunday run at the American Theater Company through March 4th, 2018. Click here for more details, including ticket information.
Film Review: Authentic Coming-of-Age in Expressive ‘Lady Bird’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 13, 2017 - 1:39pmCHICAGO – In one of the best American films of 2017, Greta Gerwig went behind the camera to write and direct an autobiographical overview of her Senior Year in high school, within a directionless town and family. The result is enlightening truth, told with laugh-out-loud directness and connective empathy. The film is a total winner.
Theater Review: Nothing Without a Company’s ‘Bobby Pin Girls’ Plays on Millennial Angst
Submitted by PatrickMcD on November 5, 2017 - 11:27amCHICAGO – The “breeder years” are difficult on everyone, as the biological imperative becomes overwhelming and the couplings that result yield both discovery and misadventure. Nothing Without a Company’s new play “Bobby Pin Girls” highlight two such Millennial women, roommates who are having man trouble, although the argument can be made that it’s eternally “boy trouble.” The show has a Thursday-Sunday run at the Chicago Mosaic School through December 10th, 2017. Click here for more details, including ticket information.
Theater Review: Brown Paper Box Co.’s ‘They’re Playing Our Song’ is Bright Entertainment
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 28, 2017 - 7:48amCHICAGO – During the late disco era of the 1970s, an unusual musical opened on Broadway. Essentially a two person stage play, “They’re Playing Our Song” involved a songwriter and a lyricist who develop a stronger connection than just writing partners. The always passionate Brown Paper Box Co. of Chicago has unearthed this chestnut with a bright and fun revival at the Rivendell Theatre through August 20th, 2017.
Podcast Talk: Allison Tolman & Lucas Neff of ABC-TV’s ‘Downward Dog’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 17, 2017 - 5:12pm- ABC-TV
- Allison Tolman
- Barry Rothbart
- Downward Dog
- Fargo
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Interview
- Kirby Howell-Baptiste
- Lucas Neff
- Ned
- Patrick McDonald
- Pittsburgh
- Podcast
- Raising Hope
- Samm Hodges
- Steppenwolf Theatre Company
- Sundance Film Festival
- The Second City
- Theater
- University of Illinois-Chicago
- Web Series
- Theater, TV, DVD & Blu-Ray
CHICAGO – From “Mr. Ed” to “Dog with a Blog,” talking animals have had their place on TV. The latest has origins as a web series, with the clever title “Downward Dog.” The show premieres on Wednesday, May 17th, 2017 (9:30pEST/8:30pCST), on ABC TV, and features Ned the Dog as Martin, and human companions portrayed by Allison Tolman and Lucas Neff.
Theater Review: Nothing Without a Company’s ‘The Kid Thing’ is Fulfilling & Authentic
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 18, 2017 - 11:35am- Alaina Moore
- Anna Rose ii-Epstein
- Berger Mansion
- Donor
- Gabriel Fries
- Hannah Ii-Epstein
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Jake Fruend
- LGBTQ
- Nothing Without a Company
- Patrick McDonald
- Samantha Michelle Nava
- Sarah Gubbins
- Shalyn Welch
- Taylor R. Craft
- The Kid Thing
- Theater
- Theater Review
- Theater, TV, DVD & Blu-Ray
CHICAGO – Like the awesome Engine Who Could, the mighty Nothing Without a Company stage crafters have constructed another triumph at their new home in Berger Mansion on Chicago’s north side. “The Kid Thing” – written by Sarah Gubbins – is a terse, convincing and emotional play about fear, identity and breeding, and it is performed by its cast of five with utter authenticity. The show has a Thursday-Sunday run at the Berger North Mansion through April 15th, 2017. Click here for more details, including ticket information.
Theater Review: Ease on Down to Kokandy’s Sensational ‘The Wiz’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 15, 2017 - 6:31amCHICAGO – When stage theater can cause outbreaks of elation, celebration and joy, then it must be due to Kokandy Productions’ revival of “The Wiz.” The urban reinterpretation of “The Wizard of Oz” story – told through tuneful euphoria and jubilant dance – is ecstatically produced, in every morsel of its stagecraft.
Theater Review: John Michael is Really Cooking in ‘Meatball Seance’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 6, 2017 - 10:33amCHICAGO – Currently, one of the best monologists in Chicago – and certainly one of the nuttiest – is John Michael. After notorious and successful runs of his last two one-man shows, “John Michael and the Order of the Penix” and “Dementia Me,’ Michael is taking on his dating life once again in the fun and hilarious “Meatball Seance.” The show has a Thursday night slot at Mary’s Attic in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood through April 6th, 2017. Click here for more details, including ticket information.
