Switch to the mobile version of this page.

- Username
- View Profile
- Edit Profile
- Log Out
- Log in
- Create Account

The Chicago Reader

Articles

Loading...

Arts & Culture, Theater Review May 2, 2019
Recommended
Reverse Gossip, a polyphonous portrait of city life, brings theater to Bridgeport

Walnut Spaceship Studio in the Bridgeport Art Center makes its debut.
- By Dmitry Samarov
- Tags: Theater Review, Reverse Gossip, Walnut Spaceship Studio, Bridgeport Art Center, Barrie Cole, Jen Moniz, CTA, Rhinofest, Recommended

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 Feb 15, 2017
The Scottsboro Boys, The Ghoul Exhibition, and nine more new theater reviews

A powerful Chicago premiere from Porchlight and a searing solo show on gun violence are among this week's best bets.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, The Arrow, The Arrow Cleans House, Neo-Futurists, Kurt Chiang, Lily Mooney, Red Theater Chicago, Beowulf: An Epic Quest of Music, Monsters, and Mead, Aaron Sawyer, Pavi Proczko, Brindin Sawyer, Brenda Scott Wlazlo, Beowulf, Grendel's mother, Lyric Opera, Georges Bizet, Carmen, Ekaterina Gubanova, Joseph Calleja, Rob Ashford, Eleonora Buratto, New American Folk Theatre, Deep in the Heart of Tuna, Ed Howard, Joe Sears, Jaston Williams, Greater Tuna, A Tuna Christmas, Tuna, Texas, Derek Van Barham, Anthony Whitaker, Grant Drager, Héctor Álvarez, The Ghoul Exhibition, Theatre Y, Melissa Lorraine, gun violence, Rhinofest, Runaways Lab Theatre, Gannon Reedy, Nathaniel Shane, Goddamn Geniuses: Legacy of Brillians, 1927 Solway conference, Niels Bohr, Erwin Schrödinger, Albert Einstein, Eclectic Full Contact Theatre, The History Boys, Alan Bennett, Laura Carney, Katherine Siegel, I Left My Heart: A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett, Mercury Theater, Jim DeSelm, Robert Hunt, Evan Tyrone Martin, Kevin Bellie, David Grapes, Todd Olson, Quest, The Actors Gymnasium, 500 Clown, Leslie Buxbaum Danzig, Leo Tolstoy, The Three Questions, Amanda Crockett, Kevin O'Donnell, Porchlight Music Theatre, The Scottsboro Boys, Kander and Ebb, John Kander, Fred Ebb, Samuel G. Roberson Jr., Florence Walker-Harris, Breon Arzell, David Thompson, Doug Peck, BoHo Theatre, Urinetown, Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis, Aubrey Adams, Ariana Burks

Blogs, Bleader Feb 10, 2017
The Chicago League of Lady Arm Wrestlers, Strip Joker, and more things to do in Chicago this weekend

Merce Cunningham, Love Dose, and more happenings from February 10-12.
- By Jack Ladd
- Tags: Arts, Do This, Love Dose 2017, Morgan Manufaturing, Rhinofest, Prop Thtr, CLLAW XXVI, Logan Square Auditorium, MCA, Museum of Contemporary Art, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Maurer Hall, Old Town School of Folk Music, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Broadway, Thelonious Martin, 19 East, Strip Joker, Uptown Underground

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Feb 9, 2017
Ballet, bad dates, and ‘The Bowman Brothers Radio Hour’: Notes from the fringe at Rhinofest

The 28th iteration of Curious Theatre Branch’s annual festival continues through February 26.
- By Tony Adler
- Tags: Theater Review, Rhinofest, Curious Theatre Branch, Prop Thtr, fringe theater festival, fringe festival, Best of The Bowman Brothers Radio Hour, MItch Salm, Brian Byrne, Adam Webster, Footnotes for an Apology, Eileen Tull, Bad Dates, or What Killed That Monkey in Indiana Jones Only Makes Me Stronger, Harrison Ford, Penultimate Mohicans, .44 Cromagnum, Organic Theater Company, Mine-Haha, or On the Bodily Education of Young Girls

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Feb 8, 2017
The Nether, The Book of Joseph, and seven more plays to see now

Thought-provoking productions at A Red Orchid and Chicago Shakespeare Theater are among this week's best bets.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, The Assembled Parties, Richard Greenberg, Raven Theatre, Cody Estle, Loretta Rezos, JoAnn Montemurro, Niko Kourtis, The Book of Joseph, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Joseph Hollander, Every Day Lasts a Year: A Jewish Family's Correspondence From Poland, Barbara Gaines, Sean Fortunato, Francis Guinan, the Holocaust, Bootycandy, Windy City Playhouse, Robert O'Hara, Travis Turner, Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller, Redtwist Theatre, Steve Scott, Brian Parry, Jan Ellen Graves, Matt Edmonds, Faceless, Selina Fillinger, Northlight Theatre, BJ Jones, Ross Lehman, Susaan Jamshidi, Timothy Edward Kane, Joe Dempsey, Hobo King, Congo Square Theatre, Kyle Smith, Lionel Gentle, Velma Austin, Lyle Miller, Javon Johnson, Manual Cinema, The Magic City, Chicago Children's Theatre, the Station, The Nether, A Red Orchid Theatre, Jennifer Haley, Karen Kessler, Guy Van Swearingen, pedophilia, Starrs Is Getting Up There, John Starrs, Rhinofest, Doug Chamberlin

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

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 15, 2016
Sketchbook Festival's final year, Run the Jewels at the MCA, and more things to do in Chicago this weekend

RhinoFest, The Year of the Rooster, and other weekend happenings in Chicago from January 15-17.
- By Brianna Wellen
- Tags: Arts, Do This, Sketchbook Festival, Chopin Theatre, The Year of the Rooster, Red Theater, Few Were Happy With Their Condition, Gallery 400, Run the Jewels, Museum of Contemporary Art, RhinoFest, Prop Thtr, Laugh Your Face Off, Laugh Factory

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, 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

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 Feb 2, 2012
The latest Reader performing arts reviews

A roundup of fresh reviews by Reader critics
- By Sharon Lurye
- Tags: Onstage, Performing Arts, Comedy, Dance, Arts, Enron, The Hunchback Variations, Rhinofest, 6 Pleasant Avenue, In/Corporate, The Girl in the Yellow Dress, Hedda Gabler, Homeland, The Houdini Box, Motion, Quake, Residue, Time Stands Still, The Feast: In Intimate Tempest, Long Gone Lonesome, National Theatre of Scotland, Never Been to Paris, Stranded! The Lost Sketches of Brain Freeze, The Seldoms, Chicago Children's Theatre, Harry Houdini, Sean Flannery, football, Super Bowl, Shakespeare Theater Company

Blogs, Bleader Jan 27, 2012
The latest Reader performing arts reviews

Fresh performing arts reviews from Reader critics
- By Tony Adler
- Tags: Inside the Reader, Performing Arts, Arts, Behind Our Scenes, Rhinofest, Invisible Man, Race, Court Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Accidental Rapture, Jennifer Biddle, An Aspect of God and Next and Her Savior, Black Pearl Sings, Civil War Dad, Clutter, Dark Play or Stories for Boys, Collaboraction, Carlos Murillo, Love and Money, Steep Theatre, On Loss, Mark Chrisler, Punk Rock, Simon Stephens, Griffin Theatre, Hawkeye Plainview, Tennyson Spade, A Woman's Path, Annoyance Theatre, Totally Adequate Scone, Dance Colective, Built by Fault

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 Feb 12, 2010
Dinner & a Show: Friday 2/12

Recommended events paired with nearby restaurants.
- By Whet Moser
- Tags: Chicagoland, Food Chain, Lit & Lectures, Film, Music, Food & Drink, Performing Arts, Arts, Books, Congorock, Smart Bar, Matsuya, Keith Jarrett, Symphony Center, The Gage, Still Bill, Facets, Kith & Kin, Singin' in the Rain, Gene Siskel Film Center, La Madia, Jay Ryan, Joe Meno, Book Cellar, Dorado Restaurant, Determination, Prop Thtr, RhinoFest, Red Apple, Wiggerlover (White Boy + Black Dad = Grey Areas), South Water Kitchen, Chicago Cultural Center

Blogs, Bleader Jan 31, 2010
Dinner & a Show: Sunday 1/31

Recommended events paired with nearby restaurants.
- By Whet Moser
- Tags: Chicagoland, Food Chain, Film, Music, Food & Drink, Performing Arts, Arts, Michael Attias, Magda Mayas, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Frank Rosaly, Dana Jessen, Hungry Brain, El Tinajon, No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson, Steve James, Gene Siskel Film Center, Xoco, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Chilam Balam, the Vic, Rhinoceros Theater Festival, RhinoFest, Prop Thtr, Kuma's Corner

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

Issue Cover

Browse by Issue

Other Searches