Kelly KleimanAll's quiet on the theater front (except for various holiday-themed openings, of which enough, already) until Saturday, when two exciting openings are scheduled at exactly the same time.

So London plans to celebrate the Olympics this summer by having actors accost unsuspecting pedestrians and recite Shakespeare at them. (e.g., "Good Mistress Accost, I desire better acquaintance!") (H/T You've Cott Mail.

Kelly KleimanI guess I shouldn't be surprised at a brilliant one-man Iliad--after all, the bardic tradition is precisely of one man telling an epic story.

. . . but, before you get all excited, I'm not talking about critical judgments I've offered on shows.

Kelly KleimanThe weather outside may be frightful (or not--there's no knowing) but onstage at the Pritzker Pavilion you can be snug and warm while enjoying concert readings of shows by Chicago companies.

There are so many holiday shows that if we, the Dueling Critics, didn't restrict ourselves in some way we'd be here til Easter. So each of us offers a list of the top shows that are worth your time (or at least not too agonizing to sit through) for the holidays.

There could be worse ways to handle succession planning than the one chosen by the Miami City Ballet, but it would be hard to think of one.