There are a few things you'll have to accept when you sit down at the No Exit Cafe to watch Chess: First, an international chess match taking place during the late Cold War era (the show is set in 1988) can have enormous political consequences. Second, chess players can be proverbial rockstars. Third, and most importantly, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (of ABBA fame) wrote some legitimately good music. Yes, there's a synthesizer involved, but don't let that deter you. Chess has a powerful score, and in Theo Ubique's production, it's sung with commensurate amounts of power. more ›

We love storefront theater. There are no daunting crowds; the actors are right there; and you can usually enjoy a beer during the show. Chicago thrives on these theaters, and Rogers Park’s No Exit Café numbers among the best of ‘em. And while we also love Theo Ubique and applaud their gutsiness in Man of La Mancha, we felt a little too close to this production. more ›

Theo Ubique’s Evita opened at the No Exit Café on Monday night, and all we can say is: GO. Evita tells the story of the actress turned beloved political figure Eva Peron through the eyes of radical Che Guevara. The show began as a concept album in 1976 and opened in London in 1978. It won seven Tony Awards when it premiered on Broadway, and Madonna and Antonio Banderas immortalized the show with the 1996 film. This production does not have the huge budget or big-name stars of these predecessors, but given the minimal space in the venue, the fact that the company can successfully present a musical by a composer noted for his over-the-top shows - think of the chandelier crashing to the stage in Phantom of the Opera -is further testament to this production’s great success. more ›