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The Chicago Reader

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Arts & Culture, Theater Preview Jan 10, 2020
Rhino Fest provides a theatrical horn of plenty

In its 31st year, Chicago's longest-running alternative theater festival celebrates old friends and new voices.
- By Kerry Reid
- Tags: Theater Preview, Rhinoceros Theater Festival, Rhino Fest, Curious Theatre Branch, Prop Thtr, Jenny Magnus, Beau O'Reilly, Julie Williams, Olivia Lilley, Cleveland Public Theatre, Mickle Maher, Sue Cargill

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Nov 6, 2019
Recommended
A Packet of Holiness and Joy Will Come to You? (A Fable) is a fun house for grim times

Beau O'Reilly's latest play for Curious Theatre Branch celebrates weirdness as resistance.
- By Max Maller
- Tags: Theater Review, A Packet of Holiness and Joy Will Come to You? (A Fable), Curious Theatre Branch, Beau O'Reilly, Vicki Walden, Recommended

Blogs, Bleader Nov 26, 2018
Goodbye to Tony Adler, the best weekly theater critic Chicago's ever had

His retirement after 38 years will leave a void both at the Reader and in Chicago's theater scene.
- By Max Maller
- Tags: Arts, Behind Our Scenes, Media, Theater, Tony Adler, theater criticism, Michael Lenehan, Beau O'Reilly, Jenny Magnus, Lefty Fizzle, Tal Rosenberg, Actors Gymnasium, Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, Encyclopedia of Chicago, Chicago theater history, Curious Theatre Branch, Lookingglass Theatre, Prop Thtr, fringe theater, off-Loop theater

Arts & Culture, Theater Review May 11, 2018
Crossing Aviva might be enjoyable if it left any room to breathe

There are so many narratives the show requires an LED crawl to keep them straight.
- By Dmitry Samarov
- Tags: Theater Review, Curious Theatre Branch, crossing aviva, Matt Rieger, Salet the Messenger, Cat Jarboe, David Mamet, David Milch, Tarantino, Rick Paul, Persephone, Jenny Magnus, Beau O'Reilly, prop thtr

Blogs, Bleader Feb 8, 2018
The best and rest of Rhinofest

The Reader critics' guide to the annual fringe festival
- By Oliver Sava, Irene Hsiao, Max Maller, Marissa Oberlander, Justin Hayford, and Dan Jakes
- Tags: Arts, Performing Arts, Theater, Rhinofest, Jenny Magnus, Beau O'Reilly, Josephine the Mouse Singer, These Violent Delights, Subjective is Beauty, Joan of Arc, King Arthur: The Fall of Camelot, The Near Future, Bad Boy World, The Disconnected

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Jan 10, 2018
Everyone's favorite fringe fest is back

The 29th annual Rhinoceros Theater Festival presents a full slate of plays that are “new, local, and good” (or not).
- By Justin Hayford
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Rhinoceros Theater Festival, Curious Theatre Branch, Rhinofest, Jenny Magnus, Beau O'Reilly, fringe theater, A Well, Triangle Collective, Ripple, Shalaka Kulkarni, The Unbelievable Beauty of Being Human, Interplay Chicago, The Official Theater Company of. ThyssenKrupp AG, Direct My Woyzeck, Georg Büchner, Karen Fort, Accidents, Lon West, Heartbleed, Lee Peters, The Institution, The Threepenny Opera, Nonsense Company, Rick Burkhardt, Carrie Biolo, Jack the Dog, icelophone

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature May 3, 2017
Chicago, Lady X: The Musical, and seven more new theater reviews

The hometown return of an iconic show and the tuneful reboot of a camp classic are among this week's best bets.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Cabaret, Kander and Ebb, No Stakes Theater Project, Erin Shea Brady, Mollyanne Nunn, Emilie Modaff, Erick Rivera, Joe Masteroff, Cory Hardin, Chicago musical, Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace, William Osetek, Kelly Felthous, Aléna Watters, Rivendell Theatre, The Firebirds Take the Field, Lynn Rosen, Jessica Fisch, Forty-Two Stories, Douglas Post, City Lit Theatre, Scott Westerman, Gloria, Hell in a Handbag Productions, David Cerda, Scott Lamberty, Lady X: The Musical, Chazie Bly, Promethean Theatre Ensemble, The Liar, Pierre Corneille, Josh Hambrock, David Ives, Ed Rutherford, Underscore Theatre, My Name Is Annie King, Krista Pioppi, Alex Higgin-Houser, Aaron Albert, Katy Rea, Raven Theatre, Not About Nightingales, Tennessee Williams, Michael Menendian, Breon Arzell, Chuck Spencer, Brandon Greenhouse, Sophia Menendian, Curious Theatre Branch, Tattered and Wincing, Beau O'Reilly, Ryan Wright, Kelly Anchors

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Feb 1, 2017
Rhinofest isn’t just an experimental theater festival, it’s a community

”Chicago’s longest running fringe” event is back for its 28th year.
- By Tony Adler
- Tags: Theater Review, Rhinofest, fringe theater, Curious Theatre Branch, Prop Thtr, Beau O'Reilly, Jenny Magnus, Rhinoceros, Eugen Ionesco, Salvador Dalí, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, This Is a Movie of a Report I Am Making to the 3rd Grade, Hatchet Lady, Savannah Reich, Carrie Nation, Olivia Lilley, Runaways Lab Theatre, Hawkeye Plainview, Disney Pixar Beers, Rory Jobst, Michael Martin, Martin on Hinckley on Foster: The Home Visit, Emmy Bean, You're His Child, On Loss, Mark Chrisler, Stefan Brün, Last Week, Karen Orendurff Fort, Groundswell, global warming

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Nov 17, 2016
After the Dance, End of the Rainbow, and ten more new theater reviews

A Chicago premiere from Runcible and another success from Porchlight are among this week's best bets.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, After the Dance, Terence Rattigan, Runcible Theatre Company, Layne Manzer, Andrew Root, The Amish Project, Charles Roberts, Nickel Mines, Jessica Dickey, Sarah Gise, David Connelly, Interrobang Theatre Project, First Floor Theater, Deer and the Lovers, Emily Zemba, Jesse Roth, Dirty Butterfly, Halcyon Theatre, Leah Raidt, Debbie Tucker Green, Genevieve VenJohnson, Reginald Robinson Jr., Azar Kazemi, Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, Eclectic Theatre, David Belew, Kirk Osgood, Peanuts, End of the Rainbow, Judy Garland, Porchlight Music Theatre, Angela Ingersoll, Jon Steinhagen, Peter Quilter, About Face Theatre, I Am My Own Wife, Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, Doug Wright, Andrew Volkoff, Delia Kropp, In De Beginnin', Oscar Brown Jr., Fania Bourn, Kemati J. Porter, Barton Fitzpatrick, ETA Creative Arts, La Gringa, Carmen Rivera, Miranda Gonzalez, UrbanTheater Company, Sofia Tew, The Nutcracker, The House Theatre of Chicago, E.T.A. Hoffman, Ariana Burks, Curious Theatre Branch, Beau O'Reilly, One Boppa: Two Acts, Julia Williams, Vicki Walden, Meredith Lyons, Matt Reiger, Las Piedras, Puerto Rico

Blogs, Bleader Feb 4, 2016
At Rhinofest, the Rhinoceros stampede continues—Ionesco's classic included

Reviews of three prime-time shows at Rhinofest, which runs through February 28.
- By Aimee Levitt and Max Maller
- Tags: Arts, Theater, Rhinofest, Prop Thtr, Curious Theatre Branch, Rhinoceros, fringe theater, Eugene Ionesco, absurdist drama, the Side Project, Adam Webster, Ted Hoerl, Hippopotamus, Meaning Is Tricky, Barrie Cole, Diana Slickman, Darren Stephens, T-Roy Martin, Julia Williams, Beau O'Reilly, Sue Cargill

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Jan 28, 2016
The rules have changed at Rhinofest

Has Chicago's longest-running fringe theater festival abandoned the fringe?
- By Tony Adler
- Tags: Theater Review, Rhinofest, Curious Theatre Branch, Beau O'Reilly, Jenny Magnus, Eugène Ionesco, Rhinoceros, Rick Paul, Runaways Lab Theater, Logan Breitbart, Billy Goat Experiment Theatre, Karen Yates, Justin Botz, Julie Cowden, Theatre Y, Imre Kertész, Prop Thtr, Benjamin Holliday Wardell

Blogs, Bleader Jan 14, 2016
It's Rhinofest time again: Chicago's fringe theater festival returns

The Rhinoceros Theater Festival returns for its 27th year.
- By Tony Adler
- Tags: Comedy, Theater, Rhinofest, Rhinoceros Theater Festival, Beau O'Reilly, Curious Theatre Branch, Eugene Ionesco, Rhinoceros

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Nov 20, 2015
Court Theatre's Agamemnon, Ibsen's Ghosts, and ten more new theater reviews

There's preholiday gloom galore on Chicago stages.
- By Reader staff
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Agamemnon, Court Theatre, Animals Commit Suicide, First Floor Theater, Ibsen's Ghosts, Mary-Arrchie Theatre, Greg Allen, The Long Christmas Ride Home, Strawdog Theatre, The Merry Widow, Lyric Opera, Renée Fleming, Franz Lehár, Leopold and Loeb case, Never the Sinner, John Logan, Victory Gardens, Playing God, Curious Theatre Branch, Beau O'Reilly, Pocatello, Griffin Theatre, Samuel D. Hunter, Repairing a Nation, Nikkole Salter, ETA Creative Arts, Tales of Fated Love, Clock Theater, You Can't Take It With You, Northlight Theatre

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Jan 21, 2015
Recommended
At Rhinofest, theater nobody sent for is a good thing

A weekend at Curious Theatre Branch's long-running fringe festival turns up both old favorites and potent new investigations.
- By Tony Adler
- Tags: Theater Review, Rhinofest, Prop Thtr, Curious Theatre Branch, Jenny Magnus, Beau O'Reilly, Lena Luna Magnus Brün, Jerry Garcia, To Relax and Laugh, Jen Moniz, KellyAnn Corcoran, Carolyn Hoerdemann, J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan, Laurel Cohen, Niki Dee, Kathi Kaity, Greg Allen, Neo-Futurist, Ira S. Murfin, Our Theatrical Future: A Talk Between Hong Kong & Chicago (Re-PerformedToo Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, Aaron Kahn, Our Theatrical Future, Welcome to Beautown, The Beautown Monologues, John Fante, Nelson Algren, Matt Test, Julie Cowden, A Week Later, 1989, Antitheatrical Prejudice, The Beautiful World of Princess Broccoli, Paradise Los, Lollipop Polly, Zelma O'Reilly, Recommended

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Jan 14, 2015
This year's Rhinofest salutes a homegrown king of fringe theater

Curious Theatre Branch's 26th annual extravaganza features six plays and a concert by cofounder Beau O'Reilly.
- By Tony Adler
- Tags: Theater Review, Rhinofest, Prop Thtr, Curious Theatre Branch, experimental theater, Jenny Magnus, Beau O'Reilly, Rhinoceros Theater Festival, Sherry Antonini's All Ears, Louise Cloutie, I Have No Bleeping Clue, Ira S. Murfin, Terkelogues: The Snow-in Show, Literary Lunatics, Octagon, Our Theatrical Future, Whiskey Rebellion's The 236th Annual Summit of the Moose Scouts of America, Sex and Minutia

Blogs, Bleader Mar 21, 2014
Reader's Agenda Fri 3/21: Our Spring Cocktail Challenge, Lunice, and Sixty Story Animal

What's on the Reader's Agenda for Friday, March 21
- By Taylor Tolbert
- Tags: Do This, Arts, Spring Cocktail Challenge, Paul McGee, Three Dots and a Dash, Mark Brinker, Barrelhouse Flat, Canadian, Lunice, The Mid, Cashmere Cat, Wave Racer, Obey City, Zebo, Beau O'Reilly, Samuel Beckett, Tony Adler

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Jan 22, 2014
Recommended
The 25th annual Rhinofest helps define fringe theater

A quarter century of the festival that keeps theatrical perversity in Chicago.
- By Tony Adler
- Tags: Theater Review, Rhinoceros Theater Festival, Curious Theatre Branch, Jamie Black, Curious, Beau O'Reilly, Jenny Magnus, Jessica Peri Chalmers, Let's Copy Each Other So We Can Be Copycats, Barrie Cole, Elevator Tours, Colm O'Reilly, Carolyn Hoerdemann, Boygirlboygirl, Cremes & Jellies, Shit Where You Eat, Edward Thomas-Herrera, Adam Webster, The Dangling Conversation, Jennifer Roehm, Realize Theater Group, America, Inc, It's My Penis and I'll Cry If I Want To, Somewhere Under the Table, Recommended

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Jan 8, 2013
Rhinoceros? Imposserous—but true. Rhinofest is back

Curious Theatre Branch mounts the 24th annual Rhinofest
- By Jena Cutie
- Tags: Theater Review, Rhinoceros Theater Festival, fringe theater, Curious Theater Branch, R.J. Tsarov, Barrie Cole, Cornell Woolrich, Jenny Magnus, Beau O'Reilly, Paul William Brennan, Brain Surgeon Theater, Trash Vortex, Bruised Orange Theater Company, RhinoFest, Prop Thtr, Diana Slickman, Jeff Dorchen, David Isaacson, Greg Allen

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Sidebar May 16, 2012
Another pachyderm from the producers of Rhinofest

Curious Theatre Branch presents "The Other Side of the Elephant"
- By Rebecca Cohen
- Tags: Performing Arts Sidebar, Curious Theatre Branch, RhinoFest, The Other Side of the Elephant, Jayita Bhattacharya, Matt Test, Chris Bower, Vicki Walden, Beau O'Reilly, Jenny Magnus, Bryn Magnus, Jennifer Moniz, Matt Wilson, John Starrs

Blogs, Bleader Mar 15, 2012
Winifred O'Reilly: the mother of them all

A benefit for Winifred O'Reilly.
- By Tony Adler
- Tags: Theater, Arts, Music, Winifred O'Reilly, Beau O'Reilly, Jamie O'Reilly, James O'Reilly, Tom Amandes, Paul Amandes, the Rogues, Midnight Moxie, Jenny Magnus, the Crooked Mouth, Maestro Subgum and the Whole, Curious Theatre Branch. Colm O'Reilly, Rory Jobst, Rhinofest

Blogs, Bleader Jan 24, 2012
The latest Reader performing arts reviews

A roundup of new performing arts reviews
- By Sharon Lurye
- Tags: Onstage, Performing Arts, Comedy, Dance, Arts, The American Drink Book, Strangers, Daphne du Maurier, Flannery O'Connor, Mike McKune, Kelly Anchors, I Love You Permanently, Beau O'Reilly, Our Kate Takes a Trip, Blizzard '67, Devils Don't Forget, Tartuffe, Come Fly Away, In the Heights, Hubbard Street Dance, The Ghost is Here, I Am Saying This Right Now, The Legend of Buster Neal, Little Triggers, Megacosm, To Tree, Your Funniest Friends

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Sidebar Jan 12, 2012
The fringe comes to the fore

A month of edgy theater and performance at Rhinofest
- By Drew Hunt and Sharon Lurye
- Tags: Performing Arts Sidebar, RhinoFest, Curious Theatre Branch, Prop Theatre, Barry Cole, H.B. Ward, Beau O'Reilly, Jayita Bhattacharya, Michael Martin, Briused Orange Theater, Mark Chrisler

Blogs, Bleader Sep 23, 2011
Professor Irwin Corey at Prop Thtr

Ninety-seven-year-old comic Irwin Corey hits Chicago.
- By Tony Adler
- Tags: Onstage, Performing Arts, Comedy, Arts, Professor Irwin Corey, Prop Thtr, Aaron Freeman, Jimmy Pizzillo, Beau O'Reilly, Jenny Magnus, Silent Theatre

Columns & Opinion, On Culture Oct 28, 2010
Obamacare for Artists

What health care reform looks like for creative pros—and where to get help now.
- By Deanna Isaacs
- Tags: The Arts, Dr. David Hinkamp, Health in the Arts Program, Al Hirschfeld clinic, James Brown, Actor's Fund, Affordable Care Act, Beau O'Reilly, Margie Schaps, lifetime dollar limits, universal coverage, Career Transition for Dancers, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Medical Program for Performing Artists, Maryellen Langhout, Don Towne

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Sidebar Jan 28, 2010
Rhinoceros Theater Festival

Reviews of six shows from the annual fringe festival
- By Tony Adler
- Tags: Performing Arts Sidebar, RhinoFest, Prop Thtr, Idris Goodwin, Chris Bower, Beau O'Reilly, Barrie Cole, Mark Chrisler, Jonathan Putnam, Mark Handley, Matt Test, Brain Surgeon Theater, Andrew Schoen, Kate Teichman

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