Chris Jones

Chris Jones is editorial page editor, as well as chief theater critic for the Chicago Tribune. He also serves as Broadway critic for the New York Daily News. His latest book is Rise Up! Broadway and American Society from 'Angels in America' to 'Hamilton.'" He has a Ph.D. from Ohio State and lives in Chicago with his wife and sons."

Mi Kang in "Miss Julie" at Court Theatre. (Michael Brosilow)

Review: ‘Miss Julie’ at Court Theatre is a thorny story of desire, here minus the desire

February 17, 2026 at 2:38 p.m.

Chicago theater is having an August Strindberg moment, with his famous play about sex and power now playing in Hyde Park.

Elaine Watson (from left) is Alana, Pablo David Laucerica is Jared Kleiman, Isabel Kaegi is Zoe and Cody Combs is Evan Hansen in "Dear Evan Hansen" at Paramount Theatre in Aurora. (Boris Martin)

Review: Remarkable ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ at the Paramount makes you feel for this kid all over again

February 17, 2026 at 9:51 a.m.

Director Jessica Fisch has a gift for making difficult musicals work, a gift very much on display in this updated show in Aurora.

Rory Alexander and Kemi-Bo Jacobs in "Hamnet" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater by the Royal Shakespeare Company. (Kyle Flubacker)

Review: ‘Hamnet’ is rendered on stage by Royal Shakespeare — but haunted by a movie

February 15, 2026 at 4:08 p.m.

To be sure, this theatrical adaptation of the beautiful Maggie O'Farrell novel has some stiff competition from the recent movie.

Philip Earl Johnson and Gwendolyn Whiteside in "Come Back, Little Sheba" by American Blues Theater. (Michael Brosilow)

Review: Gwendolyn Whiteside is superb in ‘Come Back, Little Sheba’ at American Blues

February 13, 2026 at 2:45 p.m.

The artistic director of American Blues Theater used to be busy as an actress. She returns to the stage in the lead of William Inge's challenging play.

Darren Jones (from left) plays Mose Wright, NK Gutiérrez is Mamie Bradley, Donald Fitzdarryl plays Chester Miller and Mysun Aja Wade is Willie Reed in Collaboraction Theatre’s "Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till." (Joel Maisonet)

Review: ‘Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till’ makes plain the injustice of that moment

February 12, 2026 at 4:31 p.m.

This immersive re-creation (some members of the audience sit in the jury box) was penned from the trial transcript by G. Riley Mills and Willie Round, and it's only a...

Nolan White and the cast of the North American tour of "The Outsiders," in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. (Matthew Murphy)

Review: ‘The Outsiders’ is a musical that brings out your inner teenager

February 13, 2026 at 11:42 a.m.

Director Danya Taymor lets these young men do the talking in putting S.E. Hinton's novel on stage as a Broadway musical.

Luigi Sottile, from left, Molly Griggs and Wesley Taylor in a dress rehearsal of “Holiday” at the Goodman Theatre. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)

Review: ‘Holiday’ at Goodman Theatre sparkles with sardonic wit, as well as disarming tenderness

February 10, 2026 at 4:47 p.m.

Richard Greenberg's adaptation, directed here by Robert Falls, does much more than simply play a Fifth Avenue family for laughs.

Leah Morrow, Luke Nowakowski, Michael Mahler and Emily Goldberg in "The Irish ... and How They Got That Way" by Porchlight Music Theatre at Ruth Page Center for the Arts. (Anthony Robert La Penna)

Review: ‘The Irish … and How They Got That Way’ is an old favorite that hasn’t changed a wit

February 10, 2026 at 5:30 a.m.

Frank McCourt's revue with music is now being staged by Porchlight Music Theatre, directed by David Girolmo, a longtime veteran of this title.

Jeff Perry and Kathryn Erbe in "The Dance of Death" at Steppenwolf Theatre. (Michael Brosilow)

Review: In ‘The Dance of Death’ at Steppenwolf Theatre, spouses hate each other to the end

February 8, 2026 at 12:34 p.m.

August Strindberg's play, adapted by Conor McPherson, is about the horror and comedy of coming to the end of your life in the company of someone you despise.

Gaby Albo in "On Your Feet!" at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace. (Justin Barbin)

Review: The Gloria Estefan musical ‘On Your Feet!’ is a full-on blast at Drury Lane

February 6, 2026 at 3:39 p.m.

The ebullient jukebox musical celebrating Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine bursts with life at this suburban theater, one of the best Drury Lane shows in years.

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