Alexandra GarfieldNov 16, 20173 minSome Kind of Wonderful MusicalBeautiful – The Carole King Musical is a jubilant celebration of the singer-songwriter’s life and work. Whether you can know every word of h
Alexandra GarfieldOct 29, 20173 minQuiet Show Wins Thunderous ApplauseOn the surface, the premise of Small Mouth Sounds seems like a recipe for disaster. Six modern people on stage for nearly two hours barely s
Alexandra GarfieldOct 25, 20173 minAn Enemy of the People… And Your TimeI hate to say it, but this is a show to skip. The Pear Theatre’s production of An Enemy of the People is not very good. The few good perform
Alexandra GarfieldOct 17, 20174 minPrince of Egypt Commands AttentionI won’t beat around the burning bush; you have to go to this show. If you have any interest in theater, you will be kicking yourself in a fe
Alexandra GarfieldSep 30, 20173 minHamlet Slays at A.C.T.If you love seeing Shakespeare productions or just want to see a really good production of Hamlet, you won’t be disappointed. But if you’re
Alexandra GarfieldSep 27, 20173 minLittle Mermaid Stands on its Own Two FeetThis show is more breathtaking than the original Broadway production in almost every way. The Little Mermaid is a show you do not want to mi
Alexandra GarfieldSep 25, 20173 minBig Top in a Little Theater is a Big WinThe Dragon Theater has put together a complex production that thoughtfully deals with life, death, love, loss, performance and reality in eq
Alexandra GarfieldSep 21, 20172 minTabard Theater (Star) Catches a HitThe Tabard Theater’s new production of Peter and the Starcatcher is sharp, witty and fun, never straying too far from the source material wh
Alexandra GarfieldApr 7, 20173 minDeconstructing the WoodsIf you’re willing to use your imagination, you’re in for a real treat with The Fiasco Theater's Into the Woods. This minimalistic produc
Alexandra GarfieldMar 20, 20172 minYOU FOR ME FOR YOU… FOR ME FOR YOU FOR ME…At its best, the show is clever and poignant, but more often it is convoluted and difficult to follow.The Crowded Fire Theater’s production
Alexandra GarfieldMar 9, 20173 minMATILDA SPELLS ENCHANTMENT FOR ALL AGESWhether you are five or ninety-five, I urge you to go see Matilda. This show, on tour now in San Jose, is a delight for the senses based on
Alexandra GarfieldMar 1, 20172 minTHE CEMETERY CLUB REDEEMS ITSELF IN THE SECOND ACTThe Cemetery Club is a decent night out, and that’s about all that can be said. It’s an okay play at a reasonable price. There are...
Alexandra GarfieldFeb 14, 20173 minGilbert & Sullivan’s Patience: or Bunthorne’s BrideLooking for an old-fashioned theater experience? A good first stop is Lamplighters Music Theater’s current show, Patience. With a...
Alexandra GarfieldDec 18, 20163 minA LETTER-PERFECT MUSICAL FOR THE HOLIDAYSThe heartwarming musical, Daddy Long Legs, returns home for the holidays after its successful runs in London, Tokyo and New York....
Alexandra GarfieldDec 9, 20153 minIROQUOIS THEATER FIRE ROARS BACK TO LIFE IN BURNING BLUEBEARDHeart-wrenching with a sprinkling of hope and a healthy serving of laughter, Burning Bluebeard intertwines two stories in one...
Alexandra GarfieldDec 2, 20153 minRIDE THE CYCLONE: CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER’S MUSICAL ROLLER COASTERYou may not think that a musical can start out with six deaths and still be uplifting and funny without negating the tragedy of loss. But...
Alexandra GarfieldDec 2, 20154 minLOOKINGGLASS THEATER SHARES A TREASURE WITH CLASSIC TREASURE ISLANDSet sail with the Lookingglass Theater for the best stage production of Treasure Island you may ever see. The swashbuckling adventure and...
Alexandra GarfieldNov 25, 20153 minYOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU, AND YOU MAY NOT WANT TOYou Can’t Take It With You takes us back to a depression-era classic that feels all too relevant today. The show centers around the...
Alexandra GarfieldNov 4, 20156 minFUN FOR THE HOLIDAYS: FIND THE PERFECT OFF-LOOP SHOW THIS DECEMBERThe trees are bare and shopping malls are crazy. Snow is brewing in the clouds and sugarplum fairies are pirouetting in store windows. So...
Alexandra GarfieldNov 2, 20151 minA Chicago-Centric Musical for the HolidaysFor a fun, historical and Chicago-centric musical, consider checking out The Christmas Schooner at the Mercury Theater. The musical tells...