Lauren Emily Whalen

Books

In Ann Patchett’s ‘Whistler,’ a chance reunion never finds its footing

Lauren Emily Whalen Jul 22, 2026 0

Ann Patchett's 'Whistler' promises a complex reunion and settles for a horse that means everything and two people who mean…

Reviews

‘Hair’ can still spark a revolution, and this Chicago revival proves it

Lauren Emily Whalen Jul 20, 2026 0

'Hair' hasn't lost its bite. Discover why Kokandy Productions' Chicago revival earns a full five stars.

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5 regional theater productions worth the trip this July

Lauren Emily Whalen Jul 1, 2026 0

Your regional theater summer guide: five shows worth the drive, the train, and the excuse to get off the couch.

Megan Mullally (center) and the cast of "Iceboy!"

Reviews

‘Iceboy!’ at the Goodman: two Emmy winners and one very cold script

Lauren Emily Whalen Jun 30, 2026 0

Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman headline 'Iceboy!' at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, but the show around them never quite thaws.

(l-r) Anna Bortnick, Max Thomas, Riley Woollen, Chas Lilly, Annie Sullivan, and Kennedy Baldwin.

Reviews

In ‘Reality Detox,’ The Second City turns audience confessions into comedy gold

Lauren Emily Whalen Jun 27, 2026 0

Real audience secrets fuel the comedy in The Second City's "Reality Detox." Plenty of laughs and a few misses.

Gary Cole and Audrey Francis in Steppenwolf's "Catch as Catch Can."

Reviews

Gary Cole plays both mother and son in ‘Catch as Catch Can.’ And that’s just the beginning

Lauren Emily Whalen Jun 16, 2026 0

Gary Cole plays an Italian mother and her son in Steppenwolf's "Catch as Catch Can"—a gripping Chicago premiere that's funny,…

Jordan Arredondo and Courtney Ricki Green in "Untitled Vampire Play."

Reviews

‘Untitled Vampire Play’: the romcom Chicago didn’t know it was dying for

Lauren Emily Whalen Jun 15, 2026 0

Lookingglass Theatre's world premiere is a sharp, funny vampire play with a near-perfect cast and one ill-timed tonal detour.

A graphic image of author Julián Delgado Lopera and the book cover "Pretend You're Dead and I Carry You."

Books

In ‘Pretend You’re Dead and I Carry You,’ falling apart is just the beginning

Lauren Emily Whalen May 28, 2026 0

Julián Delgado Lopera's Spanglish novel follows a travesti father and his teenage daughter through grief, curses, and chosen family in…

Reviews

The devil’s in the details, and Goodman Theatre’s ‘Covenant’ has plenty

Lauren Emily Whalen May 12, 2026 0

York Walker's 'Covenant' at Goodman Theatre earns its 5 stars: an all-Chicago cast, a killer twist, and a deal with…

Collage of regional theater productions, May 2026

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5 regional productions worth the trip this May

Lauren Emily Whalen May 1, 2026 0

Our top picks include a world premiere by Liz Duffy Adams and new takes on Little Women and Oedipus.

In Ann Patchett’s ‘Whistler,’ a chance reunion never finds its footing

‘Hair’ can still spark a revolution, and this Chicago revival proves it

5 regional theater productions worth the trip this July

‘Iceboy!’ at the Goodman: two Emmy winners and one very cold script

In ‘Reality Detox,’ The Second City turns audience confessions into comedy gold

Gary Cole plays both mother and son in ‘Catch as Catch Can.’ And that’s just the beginning

‘Untitled Vampire Play’: the romcom Chicago didn’t know it was dying for

In ‘Pretend You’re Dead and I Carry You,’ falling apart is just the beginning

The devil’s in the details, and Goodman Theatre’s ‘Covenant’ has plenty

5 regional productions worth the trip this May

Have another minute? ⏰

In ‘John of John,’ Douglas Stuart returns to familiar and fertile territory

I went to ‘Les Misérables’ at Radio City and came home a singing student revolutionary

Before ‘Purple Rain’ hits Broadway, meet the photographer who knew Prince best

Cat Cohen turns a near-death experience into Off-Broadway’s funniest solo show