Ivanov was written by Anton Chekhov in 1887. The Exodus Ensemble has done a great job adapting the play to feel very modern. 

Gregory J. Fields is intense as Ivanov, an alcoholic who is engaged to Anna, played by Emily Neifert. She randomly faints and doctors can’t figure out what is wrong with her. Bel Keily is excellent as Sasha Lebedev, who just turned 17 and is ready to get married, start a family, and launch her Tik Tok business. Kevin Kelly is great as her brother, X, who wants to forgive the loan of $50,000 to Ivanov. His partner, Z, played by John Winscher, wants the loan paid back immediately. The audience suggests to give him one week or they will break his left leg, to start. Patrick Agada is excellent as Eugene Michael Lvov, who is probably a better match for Anna. Mason Azbill is superb as Borkin, who acts as the narrator. Acacia Irene is solid as Martha, the straight-faced assistant. 

Cost of a ticket: 100% donation – tickets are free to reserve

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Exceptional

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Tickets for Ivanov  are sold out, but you can get tickets for Outlaw Express now and Cyrano soon. Tickets for Cyrano are free to reserve and will likely sell out in minutes. They should consider using a lottery system, instead of this frenzied rush to book.  

The Exodus Ensemble met while they were studying theatre at Depaul. Here’s hoping they will one day return to Chicago to perform. 

Quinn Delaney

In 1934, Anything Goes first debuted on Broadway. In 1962, there was a revival that added many of Cole Porter’s other songs. In 2012, there was a US tour. And now, in March of 2026, the Albuquerque Little Theatre version opens!

Billy Crocker sneaks onto a ship in NYC bound for London. He is trying to win the heart of Hope, who is engaged to Lord Oakleigh. Reno Sweeney is in love with Billy. In addition to this love triangle, there are many more great storylines in this ensemble musical.

This production is very fun. Many of the songs have become pop hits that even non-theatre fans will recognize. The first of these is “I Get A Kick Out of You”, which was recorded by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Bublé, and many more. “I get no kick from champagne / Mere alcohol doesn’t thrill me at all / So tell me why should it be true / That I get a kick out of you”.

The next big hit is “Friendship”. This song wasn’t in the original musical, but it was added in the 1962 revival. Disney released a version with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy. “It’s friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship / When other friendships are soon forgot, ours will still be hot.”

And then there is the title track, “Anything Goes” which has been recorded by many artists including Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga in 2014. “When mothers pack and leave poor father / Because thеy decide they’d rathеr be / Tennis pros / Anything goes!”

Tasha Booth is superb as Reno Sweeney. Her voice is excellent, and she fully commands the stage,  John Reiser is absolutely hilarious as Lord Oakleigh, who is still trying to get a hang of American expressions. Jack Litherland is so funny as Moonface Martin, the unassuming gangster who is teased for just being Public Enemy #13. Stuart Charles Neef is great as Billy Crocker. Sami Aragon Roybai and Marco Sanchez are absolutely hilarious as the mischievous kids running around the ship raising hell.

With a great cast and set, excellent music, and fantastic costumes, this is a production not to be missed!

Cost of a ticket: $32 (Orchestra)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +

Rating Scale: Exceptional Value > Worth It > Half Price > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Get tickets now for Anything Goes at  Albuquerque Little Theatre through March 22nd!

Quinn Delaney

Badflower takes the stage and immediately jumps into “Number 1” from their 2025 album, No Place Like Home. “And it might sound wrong, but I think my tongue / Is a gift from God, gimme a Grammy nod / ‘Cause I wrote this song, it’s a big hit song / It’s a number one!” It’s a great rocker with an attitude. 

Soon afterwards is their single from 2020, “30”. ” And my band’s sick ’cause my head’s sick (yeah, okay) / I get drunk and I’m reckless / Stalk my Twitter, stand my bullshit / This is thirty, something is wrong with me”. It’s a fantastic track about getting older with a driving beat. 

The lead singer, Josh Katz, says this is the smallest show of the tour. At first, this isn’t surprising, as Albuquerque is the 61^st largest metro area in the US. But, they also played Boise, ID, which is #75. One possible factor for a smaller crowd is that just down the street, Gogol Bordello is playing at the El Rey. 

Later on they play “Heroin” from their 2019 album, OK, I’M SICK. It features a slow build to the big chorus. “And I can’t let her go! And my bones are caving in / She stole my faith again /  And I wish you well, oh, for the night / ‘Til you come again”. Later in the night, someone yells out “Heroin!” The lead singer, Josh Katz, says “We already played that. Or are you asking for the drug?” 

Before playing the next song, Katz winks and says this is the last song. They go on to play “Ghost”, which is their most popular song on Spotify with over 95 million streams. “Take the blade away from me / I am a freak, I am afraid that / All the blood escaping me won’t end the pain / And I’ll be haunting all the lives that cared for me”. It’s  a hauntingly beautiful song about suicide.

A few minutes after the band left the stage, the guitarist comes back out and says that due to mental and vocal issues, there will not be an encore. 

See a similar setlist here. 

Cost of a ticket: $45

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value +

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Quinn Delaney

Here are the top five reasons to see Black and Highly Flavored:

The dancing in the show is fantastic. Most of the cast has a dance solo that has the crowd cheering. Jason Tolliver’s funny dance is one of the best.  

In one sketch, the guys on stage only say one word, nigga, with different inflections for the entire skit. E.J. Cameron’s facial expressions are superb in this one!

Tyler Vanduvall comes out in a full body cat costume in a truly funny scene. 

Lauren Walker and Kimberly Michelle Vaughn are so funny as the owners of a taco truck. Everyone assumes it is a gay taco truck! 

The whole cast has great improv chops. Jillian Ebanks truly shines during the White History segment. 

Cost of a ticket: $55 (General Admission)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Get tickets now for Black and Highly Flavored: A Black Excellence Comedy Revue through March 20th!

Quinn Delaney

Gogol Bordello are from New York City. Tonight, they are playing at the Concord Music Hall in Chicago. 

Midway into their set, they play “Wanderlust King” from their 2007 album, Super Taranta! This is such a fun song that gets the audience jumping up and down and singing along. “I’m a wanderlust king / I stay on the run, let me out, let me be gone”. 

Towards the end of the set, they play “Start Wearing Purple” from their 2005 album, Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike. This is their most popular song on Spotify with over 25 million streams.  This album was recorded in Chicago with Steve Albini. The story comes from when Eugene, the leader singer, had just moved in with girlfriend. An old crazy woman who always wore purple was their neighbor. Whenever his girlfriend would scream at him, he would say, “who don’t you start wearing purple?” 

To start the encore, Eugene plays “Alcohol”, because if he doesn’t, he’ll have to play it for fans in the parking lot, even if it is 20 degrees. “Just to thank you one more time for everything you’ve done / Alcohol, alcohol”. 

At the end of the night, Eugene says he’d like to play for another hour. But, everyone will just have to come see them at Riot Fest instead! 

See a similar setlist here. 

Check out our review of their documentary tour here.

Cost of a ticket: $45

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Quinn Delaney

Los Lonely Boys are from San Angelo, Texas. They like to call their music “Texican Rock ‘n Roll”. It features exceptional guitar playing along with great lyrics. 

Midway into their set tonight, they play “So Sensual” from their 2014 album, Revelation. “And when I hold you darling I never wanna let go / I’ve been swept off my feet by the girl with the sparkling eyes.” It’s a beautiful love song. 

The opening band, Del Castillo, joins them onstage to play “I Never Met A Woman” from their 2006 album, Sacred. During the song, the Del Castillo guitarist comes up to the guitarist from Los Lonely Boys and fans off his guitar because his playing is on fire!

They close with “Heaven”, their most popular song on Spotify with over 89 million streams from their self-titled 2004 album. It begins with the iconic guitar riff. “Cause I know there’s a better place than this place I’m living / How far is heaven?” This track still sounds amazing after 22 years.  

See the full setlist here. 

Cost of a ticket: $71 (Floor Seats)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Quinn Delaney

A young woman boards The Coast Starlight Amtrak train in Los Angeles on her way to meet up with her boyfriend in Seattle. She fears that they will break up on their meeting. A young man boards the train on his way out of town to avoid being deployed to Afghanistan. Along the route, four others board the train with stories to tell. The what-ifs of their potential conversations are explored, but will any of them actually speak to each other? 

Keith Bunin has written an excellent exploration of a cross section of Americans all on the same train, but on very different journeys. It’s a great ensemble piece.

Sethe Nguyen is fantastic as the young woman who is seeking an alternative experience on this trip besides meeting up with her boyfriend. Robby Matlock is excellent as the young man considering changing everything about his life. Jeff Brown is superb as the middle-aged man who can dispense great advice. Chaney Moore is really good as the woman who shares her whole love story immediately upon boarding the train. John Raymond Barker is solid in his supporting role. Lastly, Julie Fontenot is great as the mother who has to explain to her kids why she was gone for so long. 

Cost of a ticket: $63

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Get tickets now for The Coast Starlight at Main Street Theatre through March 1st. 

Quinn Delaney

The Goodman produced Holiday in 1930, 1939, 1947 and 1979. In 1938, the film version was released starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn. 

In the story, a couple meet and fall in love at a retreat. After only knowing each other for three weeks, they are engaged. Today, the guy is meeting the family for the first time. Right before meeting them all, he learns that they are very wealthy which is quite a surprise to him.

This is an impressive production that showcases the best of the Goodman. It has impressive sets and costumes that are Broadway worthy. 

The acting is excellent. Jordan Lage is great as the rich father, who wants his children to be just like him. Molly Griggs is so good as the favorite daughter, who is following in his footsteps and the one is engaged. Luigi Sottile is superb as the newcomer, who seems like a perfect match for the favorite daughter, until he reveals that he wants to go on an extended holiday. Bryce GangelIs splendid as the artistic daughter who might be a better match for the newcomer. Rammel Chan is great as the chef, who is hopeful to open up a restaurant with the father. Lastly, Wesley Taylor steals the show as the son with substance abuse issues, but also has such a fun personality. 

The rest of the cast (Christiana Clark, Alejandra Escalante, Jessie Fisher, and Erik Hellman) is solid in their supporting roles. 

It’s no wonder this show has been done so many times. Underneath all the updated culture references, it’s a timeless story about family dynamics.

Cost of a ticket: $54

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Exceptional

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Get tickets now for Holiday through March 8th!

Quinn Delaney

Two men are on trial for the murder of a 14-year-old boy named Emmett Till. It’s 1955 in Sumner, Mississippi. The boy was found murdered in the river. 

This production is very well done. They have expertly recreated the courtroom drama that took place. It’s very professional and polished with an exceptional sound design by Warren Levon.

The entire cast is excellent with the lawyers as the standouts. John Henry Roberts is superb as the prosecutor pleading his case with the evidence he has available. Steve Silver is great as the defense attorney shedding doubt about every piece of evidence and every witness testimony. 

After watching, you can decide for yourself if enough evidence was provided to convict these men. 

See the program here. 

Cost of a ticket: $57.50

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value –

Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Get tickets now for Trial in the Delta – The Murder of Emmett Till through March 1st! 

Quinn Delaney

Sketch Comedy

The Rules of Bad Behavior at the Den Theatre (Fridays through February 27)

Hilarious sketches about men on ladders, first dates at your family’s restaurant, Roombas, and a memory time machine! 

The cast includes Erik Brand, Marty Hasler, Joe Moore, Mary O’Sullivan, Brigid Reilly, and Sam Simcox. 

Cost of a ticket: $26

https://thedentheatre.com/performances/2026/1/30/the-rules-of-bad-behavior-the-den-theatre-comedy-club-chicago

Theatre

MPAACT Presents Squat at the Greenhouse Theatre (Through March 1)

An interesting play exploring what people do when they find out their neighbor isn’t paying rent. 

Cost of a ticket: $48

https://ci.ovationtix.com/36644/production/1250613

Music

Jazz at Clara (Everyday except Monday)

Cost of a ticket: Usually Free

https://www.clarachicago.com/

Quinn Delaney