Theater Archives

“The Dinner Detective” is an audience-interactive phenomenal entertainment option

April 20, 2025April 20, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

“The Dinner Detective” is an audience-interactive phenomenal entertainment option If you are looking for entertainment that is unusual, fun, and immersive, The Dinner Detective is a perfect choice to enjoy. Dinner, a murder mystery, and audience involvement, it offers everything. Check it out at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Lisle Naperville By Ray Hanania A…

Comedy, Crime, Entertainment, Features, News, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

Inherit the Wind performance extended through Oct. 20 at The Goodman Theatre

September 23, 2024September 23, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Inherit the Wind performance extended through Oct. 20 at The Goodman Theatre It’s Opening Night and the verdict from Chicago audience is in: Inherit the Wind extended through Oct. 20 The jury of its peers finds Inherit the Wind at Goodman Theatre worthy of a one-week extension, adding six more performances of Henry Godinez’s major revival of Jerome Lawrence and Robert…

Chicago, Entertainment, Features, News, NewsWire, Theater

7th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival opens Oct. 11

August 28, 2024August 28, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

7th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival opens Oct. 11 Subtext Studio Theatre Company’s Que Te Vaya Bien, Part of Destinos: 7th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival Opens October 11th at Greenhouse Theater Center Subtext Studio Theatre Company (SSTC) announces the first production of Season Two: Generations featuring the world premiere play Que Te Vaya Bienby Artistic…

Chicago, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Features, News, Theater

WHY ENGLAND SLEPT releases “House of Pizza”

April 26, 2024April 26, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

WHY ENGLAND SLEPT releases “House of Pizza” “House of Pizza,” an eclectic 12-song mix of post-rock, new age, jazz and prog, has been independently released by WHY ENGLAND SLEPT, a musical recording project led by Salem, MA singer-songwriter (and UIC alumnus/former Chicagoan) Don Hammontree. Hammontree, the guitarist, vocalist and chief songwriter for the local band…

Books & Films, Entertainment, National, News, Theater

Jeremy Piven kills it at Chicago Improv comedy club in Schaumburg

February 10, 2024February 10, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Jeremy Piven kills it at Chicago Improv comedy club in Schaumburg By Ray Hanania One of entertainments most absorbing television comedy-dramas series was Entourage, which ran eight seasons from 2004 until 2011. The series portrayed the character-driven world of Hollywood and Los Angeles, and glowed brightly with compelling and must watch entertainment scripts and scenarios….

Comedy, Culture, Entertainment, Humor, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Television, Theater

Unveiling Wonder: Andi Gladwin’s “SHUFFLED” Delivers an Unforgettable Night of Magic at The Rhapsody Theater in Chicago

November 13, 2023November 13, 2023 Aaron Hanania No Comments

Unveiling Wonder: Andi Gladwin’s “SHUFFLED” delivers an unforgettable night of magic at The Rhapsody Theater in Chicago Andi Gladwin’s new intimate magic show unveils a mesmerizing fusion of storytelling, technology, and your very own deck of cards! An electrifying evening of magic awaits you for this brand-new show, developed exclusively for performances at The Rhapsody Theater….

Aaron Hanania, Blogger, Comedy, Commentary, Entertainment, Features, News, Opinion, Review, Theater

Was Cleopatra Black or White and why it matters

April 29, 2023April 29, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Was Cleopatra Black or White and why it matters By Ray Hanania It was bad enough when White racists would lie about the physical attributes of African Americans to justify maintaining the dual system of segregation. Just as bad is the reverse racism that grew from the suffering many African Americans faced as a consequence…

Blogger, Commentary, Culture, Entertainment, Movies, Opinion, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Theater

Pekau’s attacks: A personal letter from Columnist Ray Hanania

April 4, 2023April 4, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pekau’s attacks: A personal letter from Columnist Ray Hanania By Ray Hanania I have covered Chicagoland politics since 1975 when I was honorably discharged from active duty service in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. I served 12 years in the Illinois Air National Guard and believed strongly in military service. I followed…

Blogger, Commentary, elections, Fire, Opinion, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Orland Township, Police, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

Tony Award Winner Robert Falls returns to Goodman Theatre to direct his adaptation of “The Cherry Orchard”

March 6, 2023March 6, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tony Award Winner Robert Falls returns to Goodman Theatre to direct his adaptation of “The Cherry Orchard” It’s at once a farewell and a homecoming for Robert Falls, who recently stepped down as Goodman Theatre Artistic Director after 35 years, when his major revival of The Cherry Orchard takes the stage this spring. The production…

Chicago, Entertainment, Features, News, NewsWire, Theater

Tickets on sale for Christina Anderson’s “The Ripple, The Wave That Carried me home” performance

November 17, 2022November 17, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tickets on sale for Christina Anderson’s “The Ripple, The Wave That Carried me home” performance BRIANNA BUCKLEY, CHRISTIANA CLARK, RONALD L. CONNER AND ANEISA J. HICKS CAST IN CHRISTINA ANDERSON’S THE RIPPLE, THE WAVE THAT CARRIED ME HOME, JANUARY 13 – FEBRUARY 12, 2023, IN THE OWEN THEATRE. TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY NOVEMBER 18…

Chicago, Entertainment, News, Theater

Live theater in suburbs offers alternatives to Chicago’s risky visits

October 6, 2022October 6, 2022 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Live theater in suburbs offers alternatives to Chicago’s risky visits As gun violence increases in Chicago, more and more suburbanites are reconsidering visits to the crime plagued city and turning to alternative options for business, school and entertainment in the surrounding suburbs. Although the Chicago Theater offers some great performances, the exposure before and after…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Culture, DuPage, Entertainment, News, Opinion, rayhanania, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

St. Xavier to host Chicago Immigrant Orchestra performance Oct. 7

October 3, 2022October 3, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

St. Xavier to host Chicago Immigrant Orchestra performance Oct. 7 Also performing with Chicago Immigrant Orchestra is East Loop at the Southwest Suburban university Chicago Immigrant Orchestra performance at St. Xavier College Oct. 7, 2022 Pre-concert Interactive Demo at 5:30pm! The performance is at St Xavier University, 3700 W. 103rd Street in Oak Lawn Tickets…

Culture, Entertainment, Features, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

Beverly Arts Centers hosts play on Ann Landers Oct. 6 – 9

October 2, 2022October 2, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Beverly Arts Centers hosts play on Ann Landers Oct. 6 – 9 Beverly Arts Center’s electrifying 2022/2023 theatre season, BOLD VOICES, opens Thursday, October 6th with the hit play, The Lady With All the Answers. Ann Landers was many things: columnist, icon, even 1978’s “most influential woman in the US’“. This intimate play takes audiences…

Chicago, Culture, Entertainment, Events, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

Steppenwolf Theatre Company postpones world premiere of 1919 due to COVID-19 surge

January 7, 2022January 7, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Steppenwolf Theatre Company postpones world premiere of 1919 due to COVID-19 surge All other Steppenwolf productions proceeding as planned, with Seagull opening the new Ensemble Theater April–June 2022 Due to the COVID-19 surge driven by the Omicron variant, and out of an abundance of caution for public health, Steppenwolf Theatre Company has postponed its Steppenwolf for Young…

Chicago, Entertainment, Features, News, Theater

8th Grader who founded Non-Profit to Further Tolerance will join Panel at Film Festival

January 6, 2022January 7, 2022 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

8th Grader who founded Non-Profit to Further Tolerance will join Panel at Film Festival Thirteen-year-old Steven Hoffen, whose father and family are from Chicago, has made an award-winning documentary Growing Peace in the Middle East that has earned wins and nominations in over 70 film festivals globally, including the prestigious London Independent Film Festival and International…

Cook County, Entertainment, Movies, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

Goodman Theatre cancels all remaining performances of A Christmas Carol because of COVID

December 28, 2021December 28, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Goodman Theatre cancels all remaining performances of A Christmas Carol because of COVID Goodman Theatre cancels all remaining performances of A Christmas Carol. Ticket Holders to impacted performances will receive free access to high quality video stream of the 2021 production and a full refund (or Goodman Credit or Tax Deductible donation). Starting Tuesday (Dec. 28)…

Chicago, coronavirus, News, Theater

Goodman Theatre suspends A Christmas Carol performance through Dec. 24

December 21, 2021December 21, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Goodman Theatre suspends A Christmas Carol performance through Dec. 24 In unprecedented offering, ticket holders to the impacted performances will receive exclusive access to a new high-quality video stream of the 2021 production. In addition, partnership with Chicago Public Media makes the play available on-air for all WBEZ and Vocalo to broadcast A Christmas Carol…

Chicago, coronavirus, Entertainment, News, Theater

Goodman Theater begins rehearsals for Nightwatch and Layalina

November 24, 2021November 24, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Goodman Theater begins rehearsals for Nightwatch and Layalina Rehearsals have begun for the two centerpiece “developmental productions” featured in Goodman Theatre’s 17th annual New Stages Festival, a free celebration of new works by some of the country’s finest established and emerging playwrights. Cast is listed below. The two plays—Nightwatch by Max Yu, directed by Chay…

Books & Films, Chicago, Cook County, Entertainment, News, Theater