The longtime Reader editor and critic championed fringe artists and played a significant role in the growth of Chicago theater.

Charles E. Gerber broke into TV in the 70s on a Jewish kids’ show, but his career as a singer, actor, and teacher continues ...

Chicago became a hub for beer brewing in the 19th century. By 1900, the city had around 60 breweries, thanks to an influx of German and Irish immigrants who brought with them lighter, more carbonated ...

The Moviegoer is the diary of a local film buff, collecting the best of what Chicago’s independent and underground film scene ...

Marcus Gardley's Lorca-inspired story of free Black women facing an uncertain future in 1830s New Orleans returns at Invictus.

Bylines labeled “Chicago Reader Staff” are used for features that contain nonwritten, nonreported information like listings, ...

When the weather is fine, especially during Chicago summertimes, Medley’s semi-secret patio is a sanctuary to enjoy a meal ...

Topher Payne's 2013 dark comedy Angry Fags, updated for our current authoritarian age, returns at Ghostlight Ensemble.

Rwake have always been a powerful live act, and the energy crackling from this heady album should be overwhelming when the ...

Music of the Mind” at the MCA, you’ll encounter the artist at the epicenter of the avant-garde again and again.

Are we living through a more malevolent version of a Marx Brothers movie right now? That’s the premise laid out by the ...

Plus: Uptown People’s Law Center workers speak out after layoffs and city domestic violence services face budget cuts in 2026.