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| Good afternoon. Victory Gardens, the seat of much debilitating controversy, says it finally has a new artistic director and executive director, both on an interim basis, not to mention a new mission and a new vision. New season announcements hit in the last few days: Both Steppenwolf and TimeLine Theatre announced their new subscription slates. "Hamilton" is back in town. (In my review, I focused on a couple of the actors in supporting roles who I thought brought something to the material I had never seen before.) If you are a fan of the piece, you also won't want to miss my chat with the producer Jeffrey Seller, who explains why his production walked away from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., following the takeover by Donald J. Trump.  Nathan Haydel, Tyler Fauntleroy, Jared Howelton, Elvie Ellis and company in the national tour of “Hamilton,” now at the CIBC Theatre in Chicago. (Joan Marcus) A reminder that if you take Metra and are going to "Hamilton," you can skip your train fare and just show your conductor your ticket to the show. That's thanks to a partnership deal between the railroad and Broadway in Chicago. Other new reviews this week include "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" at the Goodman Theatre and the very engaging "theater kid" magician Derek Hughes at Dennis Watkins' "Magic Parlour," whose show I recommend (he is not here for long). Freelancer Emily McClanathan caught "Two Sisters and a Piano" at Writers Theatre in Glencoe. And, while there are still a tiny number of tickets left, a reminder from me that "The Shape of the Bones" from the New Theatre Project at Theater Wit is a most excellent show to see.  The cast of “The Shape of the Bones” by The New Theatre Project at Theater Wit. (George Hudson) The Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards are coming up on March 23 at the fancy Harris Theater. And the committee has announced its 2026 "Jeff Impresario" award, designed to honor the work of non-Equity stage managers. Nominees are Lindsey Chidester, Samantha Flipp, Beep Trefts, Erin Galvin, Shane Hogan, Danny J. Mahr, Kendyl Meyer, Sara Segneri, Reagan Stevenson and Becky Warner. Brava to all. We fans of "The Pitt" on HBO Max are enjoying the work of longtime Chicago theater actress Krystel V. McNeil, who plays the emergency room's social worker. Speaking of TV, Doug George reported this week in the Tribune that "The Bear" will end after the next season. The shows here, however, go on! See you at the theater. — Chris Jones, chief theater critic  Darren Jones (from left) plays Mose Wright, NK Gutiérrez is Mamie Bradley, Donald Fitzdarryl plays Chester Miller and Mysun Aja Wade is
Willie Reed in Collaboraction Theatre’s “Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till.” (Joel Maisonet) Our current list of Chris Jones Recommends: "Birds of North America" through March 15 at A Red Orchid Theatre; “On Your Feet!” through March 22 at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace; “Come Back, Little Sheba" through March 22 at American Blues Theater; “Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till” through March 15 by Collaboraction in the Kimball Arts Center; “Dear Evan Hansen” through March 22 at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora; “The Shape of the Bones” through March 22 by New Theatre Project at Theater Wit. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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