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."

Brendan Hunt at an event for "Ted Lasso" Season 3 at Battersea Power Station on April 28, 2023, in London, England. (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

‘Ted Lasso’ writer and actor brings pre-Broadway show to Steppenwolf

January 27, 2026 at 5:30 a.m.

Tickets go on sale later this week for "The Movement You Need: An Evening with Brendan Hunt."

Nicholas Brownlee and Jennifer Holloway in "Salome" by the Lyric Opera of Chicago. (Kyle Flubacker)

Review: In ‘Salome’ by Lyric Opera, devastating excess is the point

January 26, 2026 at 12:26 p.m.

Original director David McVicar's famous production of the Richard Strauss opera gets its bloody, eye-popping U.S. debut in Chicago.

Cassidy Slaughter-Mason and John Judd in "Birds of North America" at A Red Orchid Theatre. (Evan Hanover)

Review: ‘Birds of North America’ at A Red Orchid Theatre offers autumnal balm for a cold winter night

January 26, 2026 at 5:45 a.m.

The superb acting work by John Judd and Cassidy Slaughter-Mason is not unexpected at this particular theater, of course, but the design goes far beyond the typical.

Jürgen Hooper, Gabrielle Lott-Rogers, PJ Powers, Aurora Adachi-Winter and Rebekah Ward in "Eureka Day" by TimeLine Theatre at the Broadway Playhouse. (Brett Beiner)

Review: In ‘Eureka Day’ by TimeLine Theatre, time marches on for a funny vaccine comedy

January 22, 2026 at 4:31 p.m.

In Jonathan Spector's play, a hapless board of a parent-run private school — a liberal, Northern California kind of place — is trying to debate whether to close the school...

The entrance to the Second City e.t.c. Stage in the Piper’s Alley complex in Old Town in 2020. Although improv has long been part of the mix at Chicago's famous comedy theater, the next e.t.c Stage show will be entirely improvised. (Jose M. Osorio/ Chicago Tribune)

Second City changes its storied e.t.c. Stage to … improv?

January 22, 2026 at 5:30 a.m.

Second City's second stage is tossing out sketch comedy in favor of all-improvised shows. For those who know Chicago's most famous comedy institution, this is a surprising change.

People view Georges-Pierre Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" at the Art Institute of Chicago on June 21, 2017. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey made a secret stop Tuesday at the Art Institute of Chicago

January 15, 2026 at 7:18 a.m.

The sexiest man alive and the blond star of "Wicked" apparently made a stealth visit to the Art Institute of Chicago to promote an upcoming production of "Sunday in the...

Carrie Coon and Namir Smallwood in Steppenwolf Theatre's "Bug" on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in New York. (Matthew Murphy)

Review: Once a storefront theater curiosity, ‘Bug’ opens big on Broadway

January 8, 2026 at 8:49 p.m.

Tracy Letts’ wild black comedy opens in New York with its 2020 Steppenwolf cast, newly alarming, led by Namir Smallwood and Carrie Coon.

Director Sandy Shinner talks with Steppenwolf's Amy Morton in 2001 at a Chicago coffee shop. Morton at the time was directing "Glengarry Glen Ross" and Shinner was staging "The Glamour House" at Victory Gardens. (Stephanie Sinclair/Chicago Tribune)

Artistic director of Shattered Globe Theatre is stepping down

January 6, 2026 at 5:38 p.m.

Longtime Chicago theater artist Sandy Shinner is resigning as Shattered Globe’s producing artistic director, though she will remain a part of the ensemble.

Artistic director Robert Falls at the Goodman Theatre on Sept. 13, 2021. He returns to his former theater to direct "Holiday." (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Theater for winter 2026: ‘Hamnet,’ a local ‘Evan Hansen’ and Robert Falls returns to the Goodman

January 6, 2026 at 5:30 a.m.

Also on stage in Chicago in the coming weeks, the first national tour of "Stereophonic" and David Byrne's much-anticipated "Theater of the Mind."

Alana Arenas (as Morgan), Kara Young (Aziza) and cast in "Purpose" on Broadway at the Hayes Theater in New York. (Marc J. Franklin)

Best Broadway of 2025: ‘Purpose,’ George Clooney and ‘Boop!’ in our top 10

December 29, 2025 at 5:30 a.m.

Our list of the best shows on New York's Great White Way this past year includes several shows that Chicago audiences saw first.

All Stories