Category: Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Theater – Best of 2008 (Chicago Sun-Times)
Hedy Weiss, theater-critic extraordinaire for the Chicago Sun-Times, has put together an excellent list of her 10 favorite plays of 2008. Along with the list, Hedy notes the wonderful year Chicago theater has had on the national stage:
…this was the year that Steppenwolf Theatre picked up five Tony Awards for its Chicago-bred Broadway production of Tracy Letts‘ “August: Osage County” before the cast crossed the pond to remount the show at London’s National Theatre, and when the Chicago Shakespeare Theater was feted with the “Best Regional Theater” Tony.
Continuing:
But that was just the beginning. Next Theatre‘s production of the new musical “Adding Machine,” was hailed in its Off Broadway incarnation, with director David Cromer racking up plaudits for his work on that show, as well as for his revelatory revivals of “Our Town” (at the Hypocrites) and “Picnic” (at Writers’ Theatre). Profiles championed the work of incendiary playwright Neil LaBute to grand effect. Remy Bumppo earned laughs with its tale of financial chicanery in a revival of an Edwardian classic, “The Voysey Inheritance.” And director Sean Graney experimented boldy with productions of “The Threepenny Opera” and Marlowe‘s “Edward II.”
Now here are Hedy Weiss’s favorite productions in 2008:
| 1. | Caroline or Change (Court Theatre) by Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori Standouts: Charles Newell (director), Doug Peck (musical director); performances: Malcolm Durning, E.Faye Butler |
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| 2. | Ruined (Goodman Theatre) by Lynn Nottage Weiss comments: Worthy of a Pulitzer Prize, the play will soon move to New York’s Manhattan Theatre Club. |
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| 3. | Gatz (Elevator Repair Service Theatre) by John Collins |
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| 4. | Our Town (The Hypocrites) by Thornton Wilder Standouts: David Cromer (director) |
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| 5. | Requiem for a Heavyweight (Shattered Globe) by Rod Serling Standouts: Lou Contey (director) |
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| 6. | Amadeus (Chicago Shakespeare) by Peter Schaffer Standouts: Gary Griffin (director), Daniel Ostling (set designer); performances: Robert Sella, Robbi Collier Sublett, Elizabeth Ledo, Lance Baker |
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| 7. | As You Like It (Writers’ Theatre) by William Shakespeare Standouts: William Brown (director), Performance: Larry Yando |
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| 8. | Drowsy Chaperone (Cadillac Palace Theater) by Laura Wade Standouts: Casey Nicholaw (director) |
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| 9. | Around the World in 80 Days (Lookingglass) Standouts: Laura Eason (adaptor/director); Performances: Philip R. Smith, Kevin Douglas, Joe Dempsey, Ravi Batista, Anish Jethmalani, Ericka Ratcliff, Nick Sandys and Rom Barkhordar |
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| 10. | Columbinus (Raven Theatre) by Stephen Karam and P.J. Paparelli Standouts: Greg Kolack (director); Performances: Matthew Klingler and Jamie Abelson |
To see the Hedy Weiss’s complete description and thoughts on her favorite plays, click here.
It’s a black (casting) thing
In 2004, the Goodman Theatre presented an amazing all-black cast production of “Proof”. Looks like Broadway is finally playing catch-up, including an all-black “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”. Hey Broadway – get with it!
A Red Orchid Theatre’s new Artistic Director: Kirsten Fitzgerald
Kirsten Fitzgerald has been a veteran ensemble member for A Red Orchid Theatre (based in Old Town) for many years. She now can add another title to her acting bio – that of artistic director. Kirsten Fitzgerald will replace Guy Van Swearingen, who has been the AD since the theatre’s founding in 1993. In an interview with Sun-Times’ theatre critic Hedy Weiss, Fitzgerald explained:
“We’ve been discussing a transition for a while…..It has been by sheer force of will, energy and devotion on the part of Guy and the ensemble that we’ve flourished all these years, and we want to keep that spirit going.”
And, regarding Guy Van Swearingen’s replacement by someone from within the theatre ensemble, Chris Jones, in his Trib blog “The Theater Loop“, adds:
“It’s unsurprising that A Red Orchid picked one its own. The long-standing company is known for its fiercely loyal company members, a group that includes the stage-and-screen actors Michael Shannon and Danny McCarthy.”
Congratulations Kirsten!!
