**** Recommended The Towle Theater’s production of "Little Shop of Horrors" wowed northwest Indiana audiences for just two short weekends. What a shame! Although their space is tiny for a show of this size, they made it work using minimal props and scenery. I really enjoyed this one. 4 Spotlights
**** Recommended After the opening performance of "Paranormal Activity" at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, a group of us were talking about the performance, which we had enjoyed. Somebody said that it had been way too long since we’d seen a good suspense-filled play – maybe since "Wait until Dark." At any rate, if you love shows about things that go bump in the night, you’ll love this one. 4 Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended Why revive "Sound of Music" for a national tour? Simply put – it’s one of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic musicals, it’s family friendly, the love story is timeless and it’s the 65th anniversary of "The Sound of Music" on stage. This production is enchanting. 4 BIG Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended The Q Brothers Collective – GQ, JQ, Jax and Pos – are back at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre with their unique take on Julius Caesar. "Rome Sweet Rome" is fresh, cheeky, fun and very original. Loved it! 4 Spotlights
**** Recommended TimeLine Theatre’s production of Sandra Delgado’s new play, "Hundreds and Hundreds of Stars," at Lookingglass Theatre, is really timely, since the central character, Clara, artfully played by Delgado herself, is part of the sandwich generation – and dealing with immigration. The story is poignant and thought-provoking. Since it’s set in an earlier, more friendly time, Clara has time to get a lawyer and plead her case in court. 4 Spotlights
**** Recommended "Revolution(s)" is a rock musical, combining punk, hip-hop and metal – with decibel levels to match – but it’s not a jukebox musical. Although there are some familiar tunes, most of the music is new. Zayd Ayers Dohrn’s play has an actual plot, even though it was a bit convoluted and therefore confusing to me what with two different timelines with somewhat parallel experiences. 4 Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended When your entire life has imploded – for whatever the reason – can you go back? How do you put the pieces of your life back together? How do you adjust to the changes in people, places and situations that happened while you were gone? These questions are at the center of Shattered Globe Theatre’s gripping and thought-provoking new play, "Ugly Lies the Bone." 4 Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended The audience was clearly ready and waiting for the much anticipated return of " Lion King," judging by the cheers that greeted the first notes sung by Rafiki the Mandrill (Mukelisiwe Goba). I could see expressions of sheer awe on people’s faces as animals – everything from giraffes to elephants to birds in the sky – walked up the aisles toward the stage. Everything about "The Lion King" is larger than life and because it’s a Disney production, everything is perfect! I give it 4 Spotlights.
****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED**** Perhaps the most famous double bill that exists within the operatic repertoire -- and, surprisingly, there are more than you might initially imagine -- has returned to Lyric Opera of Chicago. "Cavalleria rusticana" and "Pagliacci," often lovingly referred to as "Cav/Pag," are once again thrilling audiences with their compact storylines, richly melodious scores and morally conflicted characters who, undeterred by their individual fates, end up shining brightly from their rural Calabrian villages. One of the reasons why this production is so special is the fact that it features the Lyric debuts of two exciting new performers: mezzo-soprano Yulia Matochkina as Santuzza and tenor SeokJong Baek as Turiddu, the conflicted lovers at the heart of "Cavalleria rusticana." 4 SPOTLIGHTS
"Godspell" is currently livening up the stage at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie courtesy of Music Theatre Works.
