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“Men of Soul” Celebrates 50 Years of BET Excellence
By Cate Rees-Hessel Jackie Taylor’s Black Ensemble Theater celebrates 50 years of incredible original musical entertainment with a stellar production of “Men of Soul”. Darryl Brooks has again created an amazing collection of popular music that is upbeat and well, very soulful. The set is simply elegant, with well crafted lighting and wonderful projections. I […]
Raise a Glass at “The Last Word”
By Wes Hessel with Flo Mano “The Last Word” at iO Theater is the brainchild creation of writer Declan Grogan. A hilarious interactive stage reading “blended with craft cocktails”, themed around “Chartreuse”, a French Alpine liqueur. The actors are given the script at the table reading, not knowing which character(s) they play… The story begins […]
Relive “The Last Five Years”
By Cate Rees-Hessel & Wes Hessel Oil Lamp Theater’s production of “The Last Five Years” sheds some light on the progression (or in some elements, regression) in a longer-term relationship. They start with an innovative set highlighted by a beautiful painted floor, and movable screen pieces which at times are backlit for shadowed segments by […]
Theater Legend Bill Pullinsi Is Fondly Remembered
By Cate Rees-Hessel Chicago theater innovator Bill Pullinsi was beautifully memorialized at the Broadway Playhouse on June 29th. The event was hosted by his son Jaime, and featured numerous speakers delivering tributes, including David Perkovich, Chuck Cilona, David Pomatto, Dennis Conway, Diane Stillwell, Ernie Lane, Greg Kolack, Iris Lieberman, Julie Jackson, Larry Adams, Larry Wyatt, […]
“Southern Rapture” Rose Above
By Wes Hessel with Flo Mano Tin Drum Theater debuted the Chicago premiere of “Southern Rapture”, a satirical dramedy by Eric Coble, directed by Jason Palmer. The theater depicted in the play is dependent on public funding and the politics behind the production. Determined, idealistic artistic director Marjorie Winthrop, played by ShannonLeigh Webber, is trying […]
“A Little Night Music” Is A Lot Of Entertainment…
By Cate Rees-Hessel Once again, the Marriott Theater Lincolnshire brings us fabulous musical theater in the round with excellent vocals and instrumentals. As a teen, having seen Dixie Carter perform the lead role of Desiree, I expected great things from this show, and as always the Marriott does not disappoint. “A Little Night Music” excels […]
Nunsense Gets A Big “Amen!”
By Cate Rees-Hessel Drury Lane’s production of “Nunsense” is a madcap romp that leaves the audience in stitches – the fundraiser at Mount Saint Helen is in full swing in this marvelous musical. The acting is superior, starting with Cory Goodrich as the Mother Superior herself – she does a side-splitting monologue in the first […]
“Untitled Vampire Play” Is A Bloody Good Time, And More…
By Wes Hessel & Cate Rees-Hessel Lookingglass Theatre is known for it’s innovative, unconventional productions, and “Untitled Vampire Play” is certainly no exception. Leave it to the “Profound Players of the Pumping Station” to take the resurging vampire megatrend and turn it into something with bite. By that I mean sharp commentary peppered with dark […]
Glorious “Eugene Onegin” Is Not To Be Missed
By Wes Hessel with Flo Mano The Joffrey Ballet and San Francisco Ballet co-produced “Eugene Onegin”, based on Alexander Pushkin’s novel. Set to music by Ilya Demutsky, with libretto by Valerie Pecheykin, and choreographed by Yuri Possokhov, this Russian delight is hauntingly evocative. José Pablo Castro Cuevas is superb as the arrogant Onegin, who has […]
Chicago City Opera’s Quest For “Der Rosenkavalier”
By Wes Hessel with Flo Mano Chicago City Opera’s production at Fulton Street Collective was in an intimate space which felt as if we were at a French salon, hanging on every nuance of the farcical comedic romp with mistaken identities and scheming, not missing a beat literally. Soprano Alannah Spencer (Marschallin) commanded the stage […]
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