October 2013: Chicago...one more time!

Audra McDonald at Symphony Center

Giving that Audra McDonald was singing at the "Symphony Center," I expected her to be performing with a symphony. Despite only being accompanied by her usual band, McDonald can do no wrong in my book with her relaxed but perfect delivery and her always interesting choice of material, here largely reflecting her newest CD. Always a good time!

The Wheel by Zinnie Harris at Steppenwolf

Despite having run 26.2 miles earlier in the day, I had no problem staying awake for this US premiere starring Joan Allen, the main draw for me. Expecting nothing more than the chance to see Allen's return to Steppenwolf (and Chicago theatre) after a 22-year absence, I was blown away by how consistently interesting and thrilling this play is, and how imaginatively lavish the staging is by Tina Landau. A cyclical play which starts and ends with the same scene, the journey in between is a rumination on war and personal responsibility that spans multiple years (and wars). Joan Allen is devastatingly perfect as a woman attempting to return a child to her father, but also as the everyman trying to make sense of the chaos of the world and change the course of the wheel. Brilliant work yet again by the Steppenwolf ensemble! And, once again I was compelled to stay afterward for an intern-lead audience discussion. Not to be missed!