Closing Soon: Shows We Haven’t Seen Yet

By Julienne Bilker in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 19, 2010 10:40PM

production photo from Awake and Sing by Timmy Samuel

You might have noticed - who are we kidding, you didn’t notice, but anyway - the Chicagoist Theatre Department staff has been reduced by 50% in 2010. Which is a convoluted way of saying, there’s just one of us. Err, me. Point being, there are several productions running right now that we’d like to check out, but just aren’t going to get to before they close in the next two weeks. Here’s what we’d be seeing, if we had more time and/or staff and/or stamina.

Awake and Sing - Northlight Theatre - closing February 28
A classic Clifford Odets play set in a Bronx tenement during the Great Depression, Awake and Sing has received universally good reviews, from AV Club to the Tribune. We’re slightly ashamed to admit that Northlight’s location often keeps us from checking out some great work, but if any of you want to give us a ride…

The Emigrants - Moving Stories - closing February 21
The debut production from Moving Stories Theatre, The Emigrants is an absurdist play “juxtaposing idealistic patterns of thinking of a political emigrant with the sane sense of a simple emigrant.” Judging from The Reader’s review, the show is a sign of good things to come.

Wiggerlover - JAZ at DCA Theater - closing February 22
The Reader also liked Wiggerlover, James Anthony Zoccoli’s show about growing up in an interracial family, featuring “impressive rap skills and goofy dance moves.” Sounds good to us.