Chicago Reader | Culture | Theater | AAN.org

Flood Damage: You Need a Good Reason to Rewrite Historynew

Rebecca Gilman's A True History of the Johnstown Flood is shot through with fictions and omissions. Gilman owns up to taking one such liberty in her program note, acknowledging that she invented almost all her characters.

Chicago Reader | Justin Hayford | 03-29-2010 | Theater

Tags: A True History of the Johnstown Flood, Rebecca Gilman

Lisa Loomer's 'Distracted' Tries a Twist on the Old Theme of Addictionnew

Over the last half century or so, the family that self-medicates has become a trope of American literature. Hell — it's become a trope of America, and our theater's been the source of some of its most potent expressions.

Chicago Reader | Tony Adler | 02-16-2010 | Theater

Tags: American Theater Company, Distracted, Lisa Loomer, addiction, Drugs, alcohol

A New Crop of Scrappy Troupes is Making Opera Accessible in Chicagonew

Chicago has a new crop of stereotype-busting little opera groups playing at bargain prices in intimate venues -- including the neighborhood pub. Faced with the traditional opera world's shrinking ticket sales, dying audiences, and dearth of opportunity, these artist-entrepreneurs are looking to crack that world open and cozy up to the masses.

Chicago Reader | Deanna Isaacs | 07-27-2009 | Theater

Tags: Erin Thompson, Opera on Tap, theater, opera

Roberto Benigni Puts His Love for Dante's 'Divine Comedy' Onstagenew

The exuberant and very talkative Italian clown Roberto Benigni's one-man show In Tutto Dante is built around Benigni's passion for Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy, and -- though performed mostly in English -- culminates in a reading of a canto in Italian.

Chicago Reader | Tony Adler | 06-15-2009 | Theater

Tags: Dante Alighieri, In Tutto Dante, Roberto Benigni, theater, The Divine Comedy

Is It Funny Yet? Second City Enters the Obama Eranew

Hope versus fear, optimism versus skepticism -- that's the theme of Second City's smart, often hilarious response to this historic moment, America: All Better!

Chicago Reader | Albert Williams | 12-22-2008 | Theater

Tags: 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama, politics, comedy, Second City, theater, America: All Better!