Entertainment Columns
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Happy Homecoming: Chicago native returns as star of Tony Award-winning 'Dear Evan Hansen'Dec 10, 2022 5:40 am - Chicago native Anthony Norman is coming home, and he's coming home a star. The Millikin University graduate plays the titular character in the North American tour of "D...
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Del Toro's dark vision strings 'Pinocchio' along with enchanting fantasy, haunting intelligenceDec 08, 2022 5:00 am - “Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio” - ★ ★ ★ ★ If you missed “Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio” during its highly limited theatrical release, you can experience this haunting...
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Christmas at Pemberley trilogy concludes with delightful 'Georgiana and Kitty' at Northlight TheatreDec 08, 2022 12:00 am - “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley” -- ★ ★ ★ Jane Austen has been very good to playwrights Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon. More specifically, Austen's ...
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Artfully crafted, beautifully acted, Manual Cinema's adaptation of Dickens' 'Christmas Carol' a must-seeDec 06, 2022 10:00 am - “Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol” - ★ ★ ★ ★ “Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol” is a version of Charles Dickens' tale unlike any you've experienced. Artfully crafted with...
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Spotlight: 'It's a Wonderful Life” at Improv Playhouse and Hershel returnsDec 06, 2022 5:00 am - 'Wonderful Life' Music and a visit from Santa Claus mark Improv Playhouse's 1940s-style, radio play adaptation of Frank Capra's beloved 1946 film "It's a Wonderful Life...
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The aptly titled 'Violent Night' is big on gore, but not much moreDec 01, 2022 5:00 am - “Violent Night” - ★ ★ If only “Violent Night” could have snagged Bruce Willis to play Santa Claus ... No. That bit of inspired casting could only marginally improve thi...
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Goodman weaves holiday magic with 'A Christmas Carol'Nov 30, 2022 10:00 pm - “A Christmas Carol” - ★ ★ ★ ★ Goodman Theatre advertises this year's production of “A Christmas Carol” as 45 years of holiday magic. No disagreement there. There is mag...
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Widescreen: Forget the 'Die Hard' debate. Is 'Eyes Wide Shut' a Christmas movie?Nov 30, 2022 10:00 pm - Let's end a tired, silly debate that has been raging every holiday season for at least two decades: Yes, of course, "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie. But what about a mov...
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Stellar singers, superb orchestra make Paramount's 'Sound of Music' an ideal alternative this holiday seasonNov 30, 2022 2:00 pm - “The Sound of Music” - ★ ★ ★ ★ When it came to programming its 2022 season, Paramount Theatre opted against a holiday show. Instead, the Aurora theater scheduled Richard...
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Spotlight: Paramount delivers a gift of gags courtesy of The Second CityNov 28, 2022 10:00 pm - A gift of gags Paramount Theatre presents "I Saw Mommy Kissing Second City," a sendup up of all things holiday-related courtesy of The Second City. These performances ar...