Articles by Patricia Simms
A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO THE ANDREWS SISTERS Review – Theo Ubique’s Pitch-Perfect USO Show
If you haven’t discovered Theo Ubique’s stunning musical magic, it’s time you did! And A Musical Tribute to the Andrews Sisters is a great place to start
Rivendell’s EAT YOUR HEART OUT Review –Stirring the Pot Fearlessly
EAT YOUR HEART OUT, Rivendell's gutsy season climax, lays bare the pain and fears of each character tackling the big three: Family, Friendship and Romance. They nailed it
Writers Theatre’s DAYS LIKE TODAY Review - Dazed but Unfazed Lovers
Days Like Today is a crazy, mixed-up love story that makes a whole lot of sense while revealing and reveling in the nonsense of love. It’s fresh, funny, insightful, happy, sad and, above all sympathetic.
Snow White Review – Harris Theater’s Grimm! Glam! Shazam! Ballet Français
Talk about jaw-dropping, innovative, precedent-setting, captivating grace combined with athleticism! This beautiful production by Ballet Prejlocaj has it all
Death Defying Acts Review – A Three Ring Comedy Circus
The Saint Sebastian Players (SSP) concludes the company’s 33rd season with Death Defying Acts, an evening of three one-acts by Woody Allen, David Mamet and Elaine May
MIC’s NOTES FROM HOLLYWOOD Review – Hooray for Leonard Slatkin!
“Notes from Hollywood,” a charming musical marriage of the Music Institute of Chicago, lovingly paid tribute to Hollywood movie music of the 1940s and ’50s. And we, the spellbound audience, were delighted to be invited
MIC’s NOTES FROM HOLLYWOOD Review – Hooray for Leonard Slatkin!
“Notes from Hollywood,” a charming musical marriage of the Music Institute of Chicago lovingly paid tribute to Hollywood movie music of the 1940s. And we, the spellbound audience were delighted to be invited
Writers’ THE DANCE OF DEATH Review – Edgar and Alice Outdo George and Martha
THE DANCE OF DEATH is an emotional roller coaster ride without a winner or loser. It has the power to transport you to a different emotional time and place. Don’t miss this mesmerizing evening of theater
CHARLES TROY’S “THE CREATION OF GYPSY” Review – One of Troy’s 50+ Multimedia Presentations on Musical Theatre
If you haven’t seen Gypsy at Chicago Shakespeare Theater yet, I hope you’ll want to rush out and buy tickets after you read this review. If you've already seen it, you may want to go back and see it again
THE MAGICAL EXPLODING BOY AND THE INVISIBLE CIRCUS Review – Actors' Gymnasium Charms Away the Winter Blahs
Even if it were difficult to get to The Actors Gymnasium—it's not, it's at the Noyes stop on the Purple “L” line—it would be worth the trip to see The Magical Exploding Boy and The Invisible Circus. Don't miss it
IN THE MATTER OF J. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER Review – St. Sebastian Players Unflinchingly Explores Daunting Choices
Don’t miss this remarkable piece of great theater craft, philosophical discussion of justice, patriotism, humanity, morality, what the heck—throw in human kindness and a powerful anti-smoking demonstration
Lyric’s BARBER OF SEVILLE Review – Long Live Figaro’s Passion!
Perhaps you were first introduced to Figaro by Bugs Bunny, Mrs. Doubtfire, or Seinfeld? The iconic opening aria is the quintessential anthem for frantic comic madness with a happy ending
BLOCK MUSEUM'S WINTER OPENING Review – Art, History, Ideas and Politics Intertwined
If you like your art exhibits to be mindlessly decorative, this one will change your mind—in more ways than one. You will be exposed to two separate shows which, over time become intertwined
LA TRAVIATA Review – Let’s Toast to Passion!
Everything about this production was so perfect, it was magical! I have been attending operas at Lyric for about five years now and I have to say this was the most moving, most perfect in every way
Lyric's GALA Season Opener OTELLO Review – Feel the Passion!
This 59th GALA at Lyric Opera of Chicago was a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. But for we opera goers—ogling the literati and glitterati—it was a senstational prelude to the musical feast of Otello and a promise of a magnificent season
THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP Review – Piccolo Theatre’s “Commedia dell'arte” Meets “Penny Dreadful”
An astonishing tour-de-force in which two performers...portrayed men, women and an assortment of monsters in a full-length quick-change act
CJO at Ravinia Review – Benny Goodman Tribute Doesn’t Miss a Beat!
The Chicago Jazz Orchestra’s homage to Benny Goodman and his remarkably fine band was perfect in every way—even in ways one wouldn’t, couldn't possibly expect
Scottish Festival Preview – You Take the High Road. I’ll Take I-290!
We’re vacationing in Scotland this summer, so we’re looking forward to the opportunity to sample the culture while we’re still at home. Thought you, too, might want to enjoy some Scottish Culture this summer
THE EXONERATED Review –Liberty and Justice for All?
This is an example of theater at its finest. Powered by righteous indignation, there’s no room for melodrama. This award-winning play drives home a profound emotional and moral message
Roger Ebert - A Celebration of Life with Love from Chaz
Everything about this Celebration of Life reminded us of the remarkable man Roger was (and will continue to be in our hearts and minds)
INSPIRING BEAUTY Review – Chicago History Museum and Ebony Fashion Fair Strut Their Stuff!
Don’t even think about missing this fabulous, historic exhibit. It will only be at the Chicago History Museum until January 5! This is a story—not a fairy tale!—about a vision WAY before its time
INSPIRING BEAUTY Review–Chicago History Museum and Ebony Fashion Fair Strut Their Stuff!
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE Review – Musical Magic Transforms Tragic
What an unforgettable experience it was to be in the audience for this opera! Lyric’s production of Streetcar succeeds on every level, starting, of course, with that outstanding music
BLITHE SPIRIT Review– Piccolo Theatre Sure Can Pick ‘Em!
Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit is the perfect match for the quirky comedic sense at Evanston’s Piccolo Theatre which boasts (truthfully!) “small theatre, big laughs”
EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED Review – Next Theatre’s Production Rings with Irony, Discovery and Pathos
Plays like Everything is Illuminated are so multi-layered, it’s very difficult to separate the layers, see how (if!) they relate to one another and what that all means as part of a cohesive whole
SILENT WITNESS – A Ray of Hope for Crime Victims
Silent Witness is a non-profit program to help citizens assist law enforcement in solving crimes. Citizens remain completely anonymous and are paid cash rewards up to $1,000 when information they provide leads to an arrest or indictment
North Shore Village Celebrates 3 Years – Self-Reliant Seniors Have Plenty to Celebrate
If it takes a village to raise children, doesn’t it make sense that it takes a village to serve our aging adults
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY Review – Many Unhappy Returns
Although this seems like it should be a simple, straightforward tale—it’s just a birthday party, after all—after a while everyone seems to be at least a hypocrite, delusional or a flat-out liar. It is so clearly unclear
Lyric’s LA BOHÈME Review – Captivating Music, Heart-Breaking Romance and, of course, Passion
I can’t imagine anyone seeing any performance of La Bohème anywhere and not be transported by it. Those of us who experienced Lyric’s La Bohème, had all that and even more
A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING Review – One Enchanted Evening!
The chic, exhilarating, soul-satisfying Chicago production, now at the freshly renovated Mercury Theater in Wrigleyville showcases 30 captivating songs from Oklahoma!, South Pacific, Flower Drum Song—the list goes on
- Tuesday July 29th
- 6:00 PM | Glendale Arts Pop Up Series! Offers Free Latin Dance Classes
- Wednesday July 30th
- 12:00 PM |
- 12:00 PM | Free LOST Exhibit at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, For a Limited Time Only!
- Thursday July 31st
- 12:00 PM | Free LOST Exhibit at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, For a Limited Time Only!
- 9:00 PM | COMEDY PALACE!
- 9:30 PM | Comedy Palace
