Theater
The best theater in Chicago, including play and musical critical reviews
‘Trevor’ is an upbeat, optimistic new musical about getting past junior high
The new musical at Writers Theatre has an eye on bigger stages
Children's theater and family-friendly plays in Chicago
Chicago is a theater town, and stage shows meant for kids and families are as robust as the grown-up offerings. Some companies, like Chicago Children’s Theatre and Emerald City Theatre, dedicate their whole missions to entertaining and educating little ones; others, like Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Lifeline Theatre, make chldren’s theater part of a varied programming mix. With so many options, it’s never to early to get kids invested in the arts.
Latest theater reviews
Trevor
With an optimistic eye and a healthy dose of Diana Ross, a new musical about a gay kid’s coming-of-age shows strong promise
Shockheaded Peter
The cult favorite musical, about naughty children meeting grisly deaths, feels rather lifeless despite fine performances
Luzia
For Cirque du Soleil’s latest spectacle, the French-Canadian circus troupe looks south to Mexico for inspiration
Fight City
Power corrupts in Factory Theater’s action-packed dystopian-future tale
Latest theater & performance news
Time Out loves
At the Table
A blazing young ensemble brings its best to the table in this prickly portrait of friends and enmities
Fight City
Power corrupts in Factory Theater’s action-packed dystopian-future tale
Moby Dick
A powerful, thrilling and acrobatic new adaptation that, like Ahab, just can’t quite capture the whale
Luzia
For Cirque du Soleil’s latest spectacle, the French-Canadian circus troupe looks south to Mexico for inspiration
Spamilton
Musical-satire mastermind Gerard Alessandrini’s latest follows its source material into an open Chicago run
Aladdin
Disney unleashes its lavish magic as the Broadway musical kicks off its national tour in Chicago
