Bernadette Peters in Concert - Review by Carol Moore
My Saturday night was absolutely fabulous! Thanks to my friend Al Bresloff, I got to see Bernadette Peters in concert at the Paramount Theatre, Aurora.
"Come From Away" - Review by Alan Bresloff
★★★★★ The “Must See Musical” that we have been anticipating is here! The musical is “Come From Away”, a sort of “chamber piece” telling us the true story of a small town that hosted over 7,000 passengers of planes during the 9-11 trauma that we suffered.
“Teatro ZinZanni- Love, Chaos & Dinner” - Review by Alan Bresloff
★★★★★A new entertainment venue has been constructed in Chicago! It is right in the heart of our Theater District and is in the same building as the Nederlander. Yes, up on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel at 32 West Randolph is this new “theater” called The Spiegeltent ZaZou.
"Kiss" - Review by Alan Bresloff
Somewhat Recommended ** Most of you know that I am for the “little guy” and try to help them as much as humanly possible. Haven Theatre, recently rebranded as “HAVEN” and they are working out of The Den Theater complex on Milwaukee Avenue. They are concluding their 2018-2019 season with a “Chicago Premiere” entitled “KISS” that is more of a bold theatrical experience than an evening of pure entertainment.
"The Spitfire Grill" - Review by Carol Moore
**** Highly Recommended **** “The Spitfire Grill” is in my top ten list of favorite musicals because of its unique folk/bluegrass score. A microcosm of small-town life, “The Spitfire Grill” is a sweet, poignant story about starting over. Terrific voices, folksy music and a happy ending, what more could you ask for? American Blues Theatre has put together a delightful production! 4 Spotlights
"True West" - Review by Carol Moore
****Recommended **** “True West” is not a new play – in fact, it was written in 1976 – but for some reason, I’d never seen it. I’d heard about it of course, after all it is the play that rocketed Steppenwolf Theatre into the national spotlight. Now that I’ve seen it, I can tell you that it is one of those plays that you watch in a kind of horrified fascination, finding yourself thinking, “that can’t be good”. “True Love” will reach out and grab your attention. 4 Spotlights
"Cats" - Review by Alan Bresloff
Highly Recommended ***** In 1982, Andrew Lloyd Weber brought a musical to Broadway that was a unique blend of his musical abilities and the words of one T,S, Eliot. He took the “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” and with the stories contained therein, brought the world “Cats”. Now in its third re-incarnation, Chicago audiences will love the production now on the stage at The Nederlander Theatre (formerly the Oriental).
"My Life on a Diet" - Review by Alan Bresloff
★★★★★ Renee Taylor is a funny lady! Do not let the title of her one-woman show , now on stage at The North Shore Center For The Performing Arts in Skokie, “My Life on a Diet” scare you off. This is a true story-telling experience by a lady who has lived the life we hear. Now in her “eighties”, Ms Taylor spends the majority of the 95 minutes ( no intermission) sitting at a comfy desk where the book that she and her late husband Joe Bologna wrote, that details her life, from being a little girl until just “the other day”.
"Over the Tavern" - Review by Carol Moore
Recommended **** “Over the Tavern” is a nostalgic look at growing up Catholic in the ‘50s. Although the story is set is Buffalo, New York, it could be anywhere, as long as anywhere has a Polish – or Irish or Italian or … – community, a Catholic school, some old-fashioned nuns, and a tavern or two. I grew up in the ‘50s, so my life was a lot like theirs. Although I didn’t live over a tavern, I did live across the street from a Catholic church, school and Convent, so my brothers often got in trouble with the nuns for things they did outside of school. 4 Spotlights
"Henry V" - Review by Carol Moore
Recommended **** Shakespeare under the stars is one of my favorite summertime activities. First Folio’s outdoor stage set in the lush Mayslake Peabody Estate is the perfect place to watch “Henry V” and a mini-version of the war at Agincourt – and the action was not confined to the stage. Kudos to Director Hailey Rice on an exciting production! 4 Spotlights