Steppenwolf Theatre

CHICAGO – To stand out in the crowded “Christmas Romance” TV movie genre, it starts with a strong script (by Rebecca Weaver) and the right lead actor. “Christmas with Felicity,” now available on the AMC+ app, features Sarah Brooks (“Chicago Med”) as the title character, a burnt-out city dweller looking to find solace back in her small Wisconsin home town.

CHICAGO – When the world stopped in March during the pandemic quarantine, there was an online kids-and-play concept invented by two sisters that really took off. “Paper People Play” is a deceptively simple website that evolves the paper doll form, bringing it to 21st Century children. Kristin and Brooke Broadwell were the co-creators, and the story of the concept is fascinating.

CHICAGO – The actor John Mahoney, the son of Chicago that came here from England, died on February 4th, 2018 at his home in nearby Oak Park. He was 77. He had a varied career of stage and screen roles, but he is best remembered as Dad Martin Crane to sons Niles and “Frasier,” on that long running series.

CHICAGO – There are few civil rights events shrouded in mystery like the Stonewall Inn Riots – a June night in 1969 in New York City, when gay liberation was born. Witnesses and participants in the riots have grown exponentially over the years (“I was there.”) and the who, what and how the riots began have also been in dispute as time goes by. All of that perspective is realized in Ike Holter’s incendiary stage play “Hit the Wall,” presented by the Chicago Commercial Collective at the Greenhouse Theater in Chicago.

CHICAGO – Amy Morton says she’s afraid of Virginia Woolf, but she’s actually terrorized violently – and masterfully – by her stage husband, Tracy Letts.

Play Rating: 4.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Chicago theatre often surprises its audiences in the notorious fizzling summer months by providing us what I like to call “Christmas in July”. In this case, though, it’s August and Santa has hopped onto Route 66.

Rating: 3.0/5.0

CHICAGO – I wouldn’t have wanted to be Tracy Letts on Saturday afternoon. After winning both the Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for his opus “August: Osage County,” he had to have been feeling the tremendous pressure being placed on his newest work and first comedy “Superior Donuts”.

CHICAGO – Brothers Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein of The Weinstein Company are becoming just as big on Broadway as they have been in the movies.

CHICAGO – The 62nd-annual Tony Awards, which were held on Sunday night, reflect a diverse but weak year for original theatre. Revivals bested originals nine to two.

CHICAGO – Following the popularity of our HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film offering (free advance-screening movie passes!), we’ve had numerous requests from readers to offer the same kind of deals for local theater and comedy, too. We are now pleased to bring you the HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Theater & Comedy as a result of a new partnership with Goldstar.