Laugh Factory books Russell Peters by Chris Jones

The Laugh Factory Chicago, the new comedy club located in the former Lakeshore Theatre, said Wednesday that it has booked comedian Russell Peters. The high-profile funnyman, who generally pl…

No room for attraction in heavy handed 'Yellow Dress' by Chris Jones

Practicing the subjunctive begets sexual attraction in Craig Higginson's "The Girl in the Yellow Dress," a talky, clunky and pretentious South African play wherein a French-Congolese studen…

No room for attraction in heavy handed 'Yellow Dress' by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "The Girl in the Yellow Dress" at Next Theatre in Evanston ★½ THEATER REVIEW: "The Girl in the Yellow Dress" at Next Theatre in Evanston ★½ ... In this tal…

Shatner beaming into Chicago with new show by Chris Jones

William Shatner is headed to Chicago.

Shatner beaming into Chicago with new show by Chris Jones

William Shatner is headed to Chicago. The former "Star Trek" star, Shakespearean, recently deceased Priceline.com spokesman, and all-around living iconoclast is to tour his upcoming Broadway…

Kicks are all in place in this classic 'Chorus Line' by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "A Chorus Line" at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora ★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "A Chorus Line" at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora ★★★ ... With it…

Kicks are all in place in this classic 'Chorus Line' by Chris Jones

Arguments in 'Race' fly fast, furious and recklessly close at the Goodman by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Race" at the Goodman Theatre ★★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Race" at the Goodman Theatre ★★★½ ... There is no shrewder scribe than that ide…

Arguments in 'Race' fly fast, furious and recklessly close at the Goodman by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Race" at the Goodman Theatre ★★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Race" at the Goodman Theatre ★★★½ ... There is no shrewder scribe than that ide…

New hire from NYC at Victory Gardens by Chris Jones

Victory Gardens Theater said Monday that it has hired Geoffrey Jackson Scott as its new director of new play development.

Shackled to a clunky story, 'Pearl' gets an occasional chance to sing by Chris Jones

Seeing E. Faye Butler — a Chicago musical-theater diva of the first and most ebullient rank — walk out on stage in prison stripes and headscarf, with a ball and chain around her …

Shackled to a clunky story, 'Black Pearl' gets chances to sing by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Black Pearl Sings" at Northlight Theatre in Skokie ★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Black Pearl Sings" at Northlight Theatre in Skokie ★★½ ... Seeing E. F…

City Lit eyes move to Evanston by Chris Jones

The City Lit Theatre Company, a long-established Chicago theater company that has been most recently performing in the Edgewater Presbyterian Church is eyeing a move to Evanston.

City Lit eyes move to Evanston by Chris Jones

The City Lit Theater Company , a long-established Chicago theater company that has been most recently performing in the Edgewater Presbyterian Church, is eyeing a move to Evanston.

An invisible man, visibly in pain by Chris Jones

Three and a half stars for Court Theatre's bold adaptation of the Ralph Ellison novel If Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man" comes to any conclusions down there in his basement after a lifetime…

An invisible man, visibly in pain by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Invisible Man" at Court Theatre ★★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Invisible Man" at Court Theatre ★★★½ ... If Ralph Ellison's anti-hero comes …

'Clutter' is an overstuffed play about the Collyer Brothers by Chris Jones

Even though they never really worked for a living and apparently never threw anything away, those pack rats known as the Collyer Brothers of New York City have cut a remarkably broad swath t…

'Clutter' needs to dig deeper into story of the Collyer Brothers by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Clutter: The True Story of the Collyer Brothers Who Never Threw Anything Out" at the Greenhouse Theater Center ★★ THEATER REVIEW: "Clutter: The True Story of th…

Gov. Quinn is praised for arts support by Chris Jones

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn was feted in Washington, D.C., Thursday morning for his support of the arts by Americans for the Arts , a nonprofit arts-advocacy group.

Gov. Quinn is praised for arts support by Chris Jones

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn was feted in Washington, D.C., Thursday morning for his support of the arts by Americans for the Arts , a nonprofit arts-advocacy group.

A trail of debt and broken hearts by Chris Jones

Production deftly traces paths of financial, romantic ruin Most of us know someone who has been laid off. And many of us are aware of someone else, if not ourselves, who subsequently had t…

A trail of debt and broken hearts by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Love and Money" at Steep Theatre ★★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Love and Money" at Steep Theatre ★★★½ ... Most of us know someone who has b…

Timothy Douglas resigns at Remy Bumppo by Chris Jones

Remy Bumppo Theatre Company said Wednesday that its new artistic director, Timothy Douglas, has resigned halfway into his first season.

Brett Neveu's imagined world in 'Megacosm' is well worth a closer look by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Megacosm" at A Red Orchid Theatre ★★★ THEATER REVIEW: "Megacosm" at A Red Orchid Theatre ★★★ ... "Megacosm" continues this writer's obse…

Profiles snags U.S. premiere of latest Neil Labute; announces plans for additional space by Chris Jones

Neil LaBute is the playwright who keeps on giving to the storefront Chicago company, Profiles Theatre.

NEA chair to visit Chicago, Evanston by Chris Jones

The National Endowment for the Arts released on Tuesday the schedule for the Thursday visit to Chicago and Evanston of NEA chairman Rocco Landesman.

'Chinglish' to close Jan. 29 by Chris Jones

The Goodman Theatre production of David Henry Hwang's "Chinglish," which transferred to Broadway this fall, will mis-translate its last phrase on Jan. 29.  

Authentic 'Blizzard '67' just needs to pick up the pace by Chris Jones

THEATER REVIEW: "Blizzard '67" at Chicago Dramatists ★★½ THEATER REVIEW: "Blizzard '67" at Chicago Dramatists ★★½ ... Down at Chicago Dramatists last Friday ni…

Lookingglass captures the ambiguity of baseball's barrier-shattering moment A shattered baseball barrier, but an ambiguous American moment by Chris Jones

There's a moment in "Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting," the terrific new show at the Lookingglass Theatre, when the caller of the 1947 meeting, Branch Rickey, president and general manager of the …

An invisible man, live on stage by Chris Jones

First adaptation of Ralph Ellison's novel debuts at Court Theatre Can you do a play about an invisible man? About an African-American whom others simply refuse to see?

'Porgy and Bess' on Broadway is missing the push and pull by Chris Jones

For all the controversy that has surrounded Diane Paulus' revisionist Broadway revival of "Porgy and Bess," or, as it now is billed, "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess," the considerable streng…