| Good afternoon. Broadway is heating up again. "Every Brilliant Thing" is now open, conceived as a star vehicle for Daniel Radcliffe. It was fun to see this piece again in New York, previously a hit at two different Chicago theaters, especially with the celebrity vibe. Back in Chicago, the Goodman Theatre is gearing up for its David Byrne extravaganza,
"Theater of the Mind." Cast members for “Theater of the Mind,” a walk-through theater experience about music and how our minds hear and perceive it, gather at the Reid, Murdoch & Co. Building in Chicago, Feb. 3, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) Now on to some casting news. Writers Theatre has announced the cast of its upcoming production of "Job," an interesting show I saw on Broadway. The cast of director David Esbjornson's Glencoe production features Christopher Donahue and Rae Gray. Drury Lane is readying its spring musical,
"Father of the Bride." That company will include Jeannie Affelder, Braden Crothers, Joe Dempsey, Mitchell J. Fain, Archer Geye, Maya Hlava, Ed Kross, Jake DiMaggio Lopez, Charlie Long, Demitri Magas, Abby Rose Merrill, Aurora Penepacker, Kyle Ringley, Rachel Sullivan and Michele Vazaquez. Court Theatre has an upcoming musical, too.
"Out Here" will feature Becca Ayers, Cliff Chamberlain, Ellie Duffey, Alex Goodrich, Z Mowry, Amanda Pulcini and Bethany Thomas. Chay Yew is slated to direct in Hyde Park. Other news this week, in case you missed it: Victory Gardens has announced a new interim artistic director in Eddie Torres, and Northlight Theatre announced its new season, its first slate in its new Evanston home.
Also, "Madama Butterfly" at Lyric Opera of Chicago joins the list of my recommended shows. Reviews coming in the next day or so include
"White Rooster" at Lookingglass Theatre and "The Drowsy Chaperone" at Theo Ubique. I'll see you at the theater. Don't forget to vote tomorrow. — Chris Jones, chief theater critic The company in “Madama Butterfly” by Lyric Opera of Chicago. (Todd Rosenberg) Our current list of Chris Jones Recommends: “On Your Feet!” through March 22 at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace; “Come Back, Little Sheba" through March 22 at American Blues Theater; “Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till” through March 29 by Collaboraction in the Kimball Arts Center; “Dear Evan Hansen” through March 22 at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora; “The Shape of the Bones” through March 22 by New Theatre Project at Theater Wit; “Hamilton” through April 26 at CIBC Theatre; “Madama Butterfly” through April 12 at Lyric Opera of Chicago. | 
