Bottom 5 of 2019 (Or, Here’s How We Can Do Better in the New Year)
Every piece of theatre is perfect for a particular audience member, no matter what critics may say. This is one reason we at Theatre By Numbers usually hesitate to “punch […]
Maggie’s Picks: Top 5 Shows of 2019
#1 Show: “Othello” Company: Babes with Blades Venue: Factory Theater (1623 Howard St) DICE RATING: d20 –– “One of the Best” TEN WORD SUMMARY: Shakespeare gets a much needed transfusion […]
Review: “Grace and the Hanukkah Miracle ” (Chicago Immersive Theatre)
Because Chicago audiences are unlikely to have seen Chicago Immersive Theater’s brand of collaborative problem solving theater, I want to be careful not to divulge too much about their “Grace […]
Review: “Always … Patsy Cline” (Firebrand Theatre)
We’re encroaching on feel-good theater season; when the days get shorter, temperatures drop, and theater companies swap their usual biting fare for something a little more marshmallowy. Firebrand Theatre’s production […]
Review: “Beast Women Fall Series” (Beast Women)
“Beast Women” is a long-running revue in Chicago, dedicated to the showcasing of women performers, whose talents range from burlesque to stand-up comedy to hula hooping. Curated by Jill Erickson […]
Review: “A Man of No Importance ” (Pride Films & Plays)
Sometimes a musical gives you a terrific slice of local talent, with inspired staging, and unfailing enthusiasm to smooth over any rough bits. That’s Pride Films and Plays’ production of […]
Review: “Proxy ” (Underscore Theatre Company)
Underscore Theatre’s newest non-equity world premiere musical “Proxy” by Alexander Sage Oyen (music and lyrics), Austin Regan (book) and Rachel Franco (book and lyrics) has gone to great lengths to […]
Review: “Sugar in Our Wounds ” (First Floor Theater)
Simple. Beautiful. Haunting. This is exactly what author Donja R. Love’s Chicago premiere production of “Sugar in Our Wounds” is in the hands of director Mikael Burke. The harrowing and […]
Review: “P.Y.G. or The Mis-Edumacation of Dorian Belle” (Jackalope Theatre Company)
“P.Y.G or The Mis-Edumacation of Dorian Belle” has a lot to say about appropriation and authenticity, alongside covering a metric ton of other subjects and theatrical styles. Beyond acting as […]
Review: “The Effect” (Strawdog Theatre Company)
Before the action gets going in Strawdog’s “The Effect,” a projection at the back of the stage helpfully informs the audience that an experiment is about to begin. Said experiment […]