Entertainment Columns
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'Tommy' returns: Original director expands on stage adaptation of The Who's opus 30 years later for the GoodmanJun 15, 2023 6:00 am - “Re-imagined” doesn't adequately describe Goodman Theatre's production of “The Who's Tommy,” says writer/director Des McAnuff, of the revival that comes 30 years after c...
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Pixar scores a modest marvel in romantic, opposites-attract comical fantasy 'Elemental'Jun 15, 2023 5:00 am - “Elemental” - ★ ★ ★ Charming. Delightful. Spectacularly stunning. “Elemental” clearly belongs on Pixar's periodic table of animated features, right down to the bubbling ...
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'Tommy' revisited: Goodman Theatre reimagines The Who's rock tuner 30 years after Broadway debutJun 09, 2023 6:00 am - Rock tuner re-imagined Rock legend Pete Townshend and acclaimed director Des McAnuff, the creators of "The Who's Tommy," which premiered on Broadway 30 years ago, reunit...
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Show time: Park Ridge teen makes Steppenwolf debut in 'Another Marriage'Jun 08, 2023 6:00 am - It was the day after her Steppenwolf Theatre callback, and Nicole Scimeca was worried. After working steadily for about 10 years, the 15-year-old actress had no project...
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Widescreen: 'Willow' and Jeff Goldblum disappear; Nolan's latest on 70 mmJun 07, 2023 11:00 pm - David Zaslav's Warner Bros. Discovery started the alarming, money-saving trend of removing exclusive content from streaming platforms last year when shows including "Wes...
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Spotlight: Naperville's BrightSide Theatre stages Broadway fave 'Gypsy'Jun 02, 2023 6:00 am - Everything's comin' up Rose Amy Arbizzani of Naperville stars as Mama Rose, the ferociously ambitious stage mother determined to make her daughters vaudeville stars, in ...
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Widescreen: Physical media gems for fans of John Hughes, Stephen King, Ridley ScottJun 01, 2023 6:00 am - The streaming era still has delightful surprises for fans of physical media from time to time, thanks mostly to specialty labels like Criterion, Shout Factory, Arrow Vid...
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Tribute to love: Oil Lamp delivers affectionate, intimate 'I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change'May 31, 2023 2:00 pm - “I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change” - ★ ★ ★ Oil Lamp Theater chose well in selecting as its first musical “I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change,” the breezy, gent...
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'Boogeyman' an atmospherically overwrought, suspense-challenged collection of easy scares, moldy clichesMay 31, 2023 6:00 am - “The Boogeyman” - ★ ★ “The Exorcist” director William Friedkin famously observed that the scariest thing in a horror film is a closed door. The scariest thing in Rob Sa...
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Widescreen: Essential podcasts tackle Oscar snubs, Kurt Cobain's most iconic songMay 26, 2023 6:00 am - A monthlong change in format for "This Had Oscar Buzz" - a podcast that normally examines a high-profile movie that received zero Oscar nominations - has resulted in a h...