Now And Soon: Broadway In Chicago

By Julienne Bilker in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 22, 2010 9:40PM

Broadway In Chicago (BIC) announced its 2010-2011 season not too long ago, and while we're a bit disappointed that Wicked will be returning this winter while God of Carnage, originally slated for the fall, was axed from the schedule, there's some good stuff goin' on right now.

We haven't caught Billy Elliot yet, but it's been on our list ever since Ben Brantley, our favorite New York Times curmudgeon, declared it was actually good. The Chicago production - starring no less than four Billys, opened to rave reviews earlier this month.

If you haven't seen the Off-Broadway/Broadway/Off-Broadway again musical-for-people-who-don't-like-musicals Avenue Q, grab tickets now. This hysterically funny show will only be in town May 4-9, which is a damn shame. We're willing to bet that if it ran at a smaller (say, NON-Broadway In Chicago) house, it could play in Chicago for years. It's Sesame Street minus the kids stuff, plus some sassy (and sometimes dirty) puppets.

We're pretty stoked to see BIC shake things up a bit by bringing in the Off-Broadway Fuerza Bruta: Look Up, which we caught at its Union Square, NY home a few years ago. The show promises to be a "non-stop collision of dynamic music, visceral emotion and kinetic aerial imagery," and it delivers. It also takes its title literally: much of the show takes place directly above the audience, as actors run around the walls and fly through a transparent-floored swimming pool. For those of you who watch America's Next Top Model, yes, it's THAT swimming pool.