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News. Criticism. Gossip. The shows not
to be missed — and the shows to avoid at all costs. The Theater Loop is hosted by
Chris Jones, chief theater critic for the Chicago Tribune. We're the online destination for breaking news and reviews of Chicago-area theater, from the downtown shows to suburban theaters to the off-Loop scene. Stop here often to feel the pulse of America’s most vibrant theater city. Plus coverage of Broadway and beyond, and reviews from Tribune writer
Nina Metz and contributor
Kerry Reid.
About Tribune theater critic Chris Jones |
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"SPIDER-MAN TURN OFF THE DARK" has been the talk of Broadway for all the wrong reasons. With opening night delayed yet again, it was
CRITICS GONE WILD.
The review of
"LES MIZ" ★★★½ has been generating plenty of reader feedback. Read
YOUR COMMENTS.
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TRIBUNE STAGE GUIDE: Reviews and photos for theater in Chicago and suburbs, including critic's picks from Chris Jones, Nina Metz and Kerry Reid.
Left, Sally Murphy and Stephen Louis Grush in "Sex with Strangers"
"STARSHIP" at Center on Halsted is a phenomenon. It's also 3 hours, 40 minutes.
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JOYCE SLOANE, 1930~2011: Read the obituary of the Second City producer, maternal figure and discoverer of talent. Plus
YOUR COMMENTS.
Shows are rated on a ★★★★ scale
"As You Like It" ★★★ ½ Through March 6 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
"The Beauty Queen of Leenane" ★★★ Through Feb. 27 at Athenaeum Theatre Studio 2
"The Big Meal" ★★★★ Through March 20 at American Theater Company
"Guys and Dolls" ★★★ Through March 27 at the Marriott Theatre
"In Darfur" ★★★ Through March 20 at TimeLine Theatre
"Jackie and Me" ★★★½ Through March 27 by Chicago Children's Theatre
at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts
"Jailbait" ★★★ Through Feb. 27 by Profiles at the Second Stage
"Les Miserables" ★★★½ Through Feb. 27 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre
"Madagascar" ★★★ Through Feb. 27 at Next Theatre
"Million Dollar Quartet" ★ ★ ★½ Open run at the Apollo Theater
"Monty Python's Spamalot" ★★★★ Through March 6 at Drury Lane Theatre, Oakbrook Terrace
"Port" ★★★½ Through Feb. 26 by Griffin Theatre Co. at Raven Theatre
"reasons to be pretty" ★★½ Through March 13 at Profiles Theatre
"Sex with Strangers" ★★★ Through May 15 at Steppenwolf Theatre
"Travels With My Aunt" ★★★ Through April 10 at Writers' Theatre
"The Wedding" ★★★ Remounted production through March 6 by TUTA at the Chopin Studio
"Iphigenia Crash Land Falls on the Neon Shell That Was Once Her Heart (a rave fable)" and "Feet of Clay"
"Sketchbook Reverb" at the Flat Iron Arts Building
"Dead Pile" by XIII Pocket at Stage 773
"Starship" by StarKid at Center on Halsted
"The Moonstone" at Lifeline Theatre
"Church/Pullman, WA" and "Closer"
"Blithe Spirit" by First Folio at Mayslake Peabody Estate
"Short Shakespeare! Macbeth" at Chicago Shakespeare
"Ghosts of Atwood" at Greenhouse Theater
"Shining City" and "Geek Show"
"Bordello" at Chicago Dramatists
"Laika Dog in Space" at the Neo-Futurarium
"Trouble in Mind" at The Artistic Home
"the tim&micah; project: VERSUS" and The Katydids and The Good Time Gang at iO Theater
"A Doll's House" at Greenhouse Theater Center
"The New Electric Ballroom" at A Red Orchid Theatre
"Do the Hustle" at Writers' Theatre
"Mary" at the Goodman Theatre
"Odradek" by House Theatre at the Chopin Theatre
"Trickster" by Halcyon Theatre at the Greenhouse
"Hamletmachine" at the Trap Door Theatre
"Spoiler Alert: Everybody Dies" at Second City
"The Addams Family" at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
"American Idiot" at the St. James Theatre
"Avenue Q" at the Golden Theatre
"Billy Elliot" at the Imperial Theatre
"In the Heights" at the Richard Rodgers Theatre
"Memphis" at the Shubert Theatre
"Million Dollar Quartet" at the Nederlander Theatre
"Next to Normal" at Booth Theatre
"Rock of Ages" at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre
"Time Stands Still" at the Friedman Theatre
Kerry Reid reviews 'The Franklin Expedition' and 'A Delicate Balance'
'Ring Cycle' at The Building Stage is everything but the horned helmet
"August: Osage County"
"Billy Elliot the Musical"
"Million Dollar Quartet"
"White Noise"
16th Street Theatre
500 Clown
A Red Orchid Theatre
About Face Theatre
Actors Theatre Company
Albany Park Theatre Project
American Blues Theater
American Musical Theatre Project
American Players Theatre
American Theater Company
Annoyance Theatre
Apple Tree Theatre
Arie Crown Theatre
Artistic Home
Athenaeum Theatre
Auditorium Theatre
BackStage Theatre Company
Bailiwick Chicago
Black Ensemble Theatre
Blair Thomas & Co.
Blue Man Group
Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
Broadway
Broadway in Chicago
Broadway Playhouse
Building Stage
Chicago Children's Theatre
Chicago Dramatists
Chicago Muse
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Chicago Theatre
Circle Theatre
Cirque du Soleil
City Lit Theater
Collaboraction
Congo Square Theatre Company
Court Theatre
Dog & Pony Theatre Company
Drury Lane Theatre
Eclipse Theatre
Elephant Eye Theatricals
eta Creative Arts
Factory Theater
First Folio Theatre
Gift Theatre
Goodman Theatre
Greenhouse Theater Center
Griffin Theatre
Hell in a Handbag Productions
Hoover-Leppen Theater
House Theatre of Chicago
Hypocrites
i.O. Theater
Infamous Commonwealth
Joseph Jefferson Awards
Just For Laughs Festival
Lifeline Theatre
Light Opera Works
Live Bait Theater
Lookingglass Theatre Company
Marriott Theatre
Mary Arrchie Theatre
Mercury Theatre
MPAACT
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Neo-Futurists
New Colony
Next Theatre
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts
Northlight Theatre
Obituaries
Paramount Theatre
Pegasus Players
Piven Theatre Workshop
Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago
Profiles Theatre
Provision Theatre
Raven Theatre
Ravinia Festival
Red Tape Theatre
Redmoon Theater
Redtwist Theatre
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Rosemont Theatre
Route 66 Theatre Company
Royal George Theatre
Second City
Shattered Globe
Side Project
Sideshow Theatre Company
Signal Ensemble Theatre
Silk Road Theatre Project
Stage 773
Stage Left Theatre
StarKid Productions
Steep Theatre
Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Stratford Festival
Strawdog Theatre
Teatro Vista
Teatro ZinZanni
Theater Oobleck
Theater Wit
Theatre at the Center
Theatre Building Chicago
Theatre Seven
Theatre-Hikes
Theo Ubique Theatre Company
TimeLine Theatre
Tony Awards
Trap Door Theatre
TUTA Theatre
Uptown Theatre
Victory Gardens
Writers' Theatre
XIII Pocket
Archives