Hedy Weiss: Theater Reviews


Chicago Sun-Times Theater Critic Hedy Weiss reviews five shows being staged around Chicago.


Shining Lives: A Musical
Based on the play These Shining Lives by Melanie Marnich, the Northlight Theatre production is set in 1922 and follows four young women, who earn good wages while working for Chicago’s Radium Dial Company hand painting watch dials. After years of painting, the so-called “harmless” radium leads to devastating results, but the four young women upend their lives with a determination to change the future. The musical is 90 minutes with no intermission and runs through June 14. Tickets cost between $25 and $78.

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Northlight Theatre
9501 Skokie Blvd.
Skokie, IL 60077

The Little Foxes
Iconic playwright Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes tells the story of family betrayal and corruption during the turn of the 20th century. Brothers Ben and Oscar Hubbard stand to earn millions funding an industrialized cotton mill, but they need help from their sister Regina for the initial investment. Regina’s husband refuses to finance the scheme, setting off an explosive series of betrayals and exposing the Hubbard family’s ruthless pursuit of wealth. The Goodman Theatre notes the play includes language and references that reflect the 20th century based on Hellman’s original text. The Little Foxes runs for 2 hours and 40 minutes and includes two intermissions. The show runs through June 7, and tickets range from $25 to $81.

Goodman Theatre
170 N. Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL 60601

The Project(s)
This documentary play focuses on the history of public housing in Chicago based on more than 100 interviews conducted by ATC artistic director PJ Paparelli between 2010 and 2014.  The Project(s) interweaves verbatim material from interviews with scholars, historians, and former and current public housing residents with a cappella music, body percussion, and stepping choreography. The 2 hour and 10 minute performance includes two intermissions and has been extended through June 21. Tickets range from $38 to $48, and are free to all former and current residents of public housing.

American Theater Company
1909 W. Byron St.
Chicago, IL 60613


In this web extra review, Hedy Weiss reviews Doubt: A Parable and Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash. Watch the video.

Doubt: A Parable
The Writers Theatre production is set in 1960s America amidst political and social change. A progressive young priest’s conduct is questioned by Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the school principal whose beliefs are deeply rooted in tradition. Directed by William Brown, the audience will see the battle between the two unfold. The 95-minute performance costs between $35 and $75. The show runs through July 19.

Glencoe Union Church
263 Park Ave.
Glencoe, IL 60022

Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash
Inspired by the music of the man in black, Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash features more than two dozen of his hits, including “I Walk the Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and of course, “Ring of Fire.” The 2 hour musical features one intermission and runs through June 28. Tickets cost between $25 and $65.

Mercury Theater Chicago
3745 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60613

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Tags: