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."

Sondra Radvanovsky in "Medea" by Lyric Opera of Chicago. (Cory Weaver)

Best of 2025: Top 10 performances on Chicago stages this year

December 26, 2025 at 5:45 a.m.

Beginning with Sondra Radvanovsky at the Lyric and including Steppenwolf's Caroline Neff as well as Ryan Hake as the lead of "Angels in America."

Blake Montgomery in "Charles Dickens Begrudgingly Performs ‘A Christmas Carol’ Again" at Theater Wit. (Joe Mazza)

Review: ‘Charles Dickens Begrudgingly Performs “A Christmas Carol” Again’ (and again) at Theater Wit

December 18, 2025 at 11:52 a.m.

Blake Montgomery's solo show at Theater Wit both pokes holes in our annual obsession with the Dickens story and embraces its warm-hearted message.

Glenn Davis, co-artistic director at the Steppenwolf Theatre, is the Chicagoan of the Year in Theater, Dec. 11, 2025, in Chicago. Davis was a producer for the Tony and Pulitzer award wining play “Purpose.” (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Chicagoan of the Year in Theater: Glenn Davis is helping lead Steppenwolf into a new era

December 18, 2025 at 5:45 a.m.

Along with moving to Broadway with the Pulitzer Award-winning play "Purpose," he and co-artistic director Audrey Francis have renewed Steppenwolf's place in American theater.

Actor Anthony Rapp stands among lit trees along Michigan Avenue on Dec. 12, 2025, in Chicago. He is starring in “Home for the Holidays” at Lookingglass Theatre. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Anthony Rapp has an eclectic mix of songs for ‘Home for the Holidays’ at Lookingglass Theatre

December 17, 2025 at 12:24 p.m.

The actor recently relocated from New York with his family and is doing a first-time cabaret show on Michigan Avenue.

Isaiah Bailey as The Phantom and Jordan Lee Gilbert as Christine Daaé in the national tour of "The Phantom of the Opera" at Cadillac Palace Theatre. (Matthew Murphy)

Review: ‘Phantom of the Opera’ at Cadillac Palace Theatre keeps the memories and a classic staging alive

December 15, 2025 at 2:55 p.m.

Theater producer Cameron Mackintosh has been bringing long runs of grand theatrical spectacles to Chicago for nearly half a century now. Delivering a big night out for regular folks remains...

Jordan Lee Gilbert as Christine Daaé in the national tour of "The Phantom of the Opera" at Cadillac Palace Theatre. (Matthew Murphy)

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber unveil their new tour of ‘Phantom of the Opera’

December 15, 2025 at 2:18 p.m.

Their musical has closed on Broadway but is coming back to life in a rejuvenated touring production. Some changes in that chandelier?

Nicki Rossi as The Angel in "Part Two: Perestroika" from "Angels in America" by Invictus Theatre Company at the Windy City Playhouse. (Aaron Reese Boseman)

Best theater of 2025: Storefront shows and Court Theatre reign in our top 10

December 10, 2025 at 5:45 a.m.

Our list of the best on Chicago stages in the past year also visits Writers Theatre in Glencoe and Sam Shepard's desert by way of Aurora.

The entrance of the Studebaker Theater in 2023 at the Fine Arts Building. The theater will host Porchlight's spring 2026 concert performance of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s musical "Follies." (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Original ‘Rent’ star will appear in ‘Follies’ by Porchlight Music Theatre

December 10, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

The spring 2026 concert performance of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s musical will also star Felicia P. Fields, Susie McMonagle and Angela Ingersoll.

Cheyenne Casebier, Timothy Edward Kane and Kathy Scambiatterra in "Gaslight" by Northlight Theatre in Skokie. (Michael Brosilow)

Review: ‘Gaslight’ by Northlight Theatre is more Ibsen than Agatha Christie

December 9, 2025 at 1:45 p.m.

This 20th century play, now updated and playing in Skokie, is a study in real human tension and psychology.

Danny Burstein, Cynthia Nixon, June Squibb in "Marjorie Prime" on Broadway at the Hayes Theater in New York. (Joan Marcus)

Review: In ‘Marjorie Prime’ on Broadway, the disquieting robot future is here

December 8, 2025 at 8:36 p.m.

June Squibb, the oldest actress ever to open a Broadway show, stars as a grieving widow with dementia in a play about artificial intelligence.

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