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“Hamnet” Is An Intriguing Peek Behind The Curtain To The Drama Beyond
By Wes Hessel with D’Arcy Mies Chicago Shakespeare on Navy Pier has once again collaborated with the Royal Shakespeare Company, this time for the U.S. premiere of the play adaptation of the best selling novel by Maggie O’Farrell, “Hamnet”. The drama is penned by Lolita Chakrabarti, award-winning author of such great works as “Red Velvet”, […]
ICA 2026 Gala & Concert – “A Night Of Broadway”
By Wes Hessel The Illinois Conservatory for the Arts invites all to its annual premiere event, “A Night Of Broadway” Gala & Concert, a revue featuring six actors who have shined in theaters on the storied streets, accompanied by a 20-piece orchestra, and all hosted by a seventh with the same outstanding credentials. It is […]
Court’s “Miss Julie” Contains Much
By Wes Hessel with D’Arcy Mies Court Theatre’s “Miss Julie” is a provocative period piece about class and gender, taking place in Sweden in the late 19th century. When you enter, one notes the striking, memorable set – a detailed kitchen scene, with a cast iron stove, a large heavy table that will soon be […]
Get Your Irish Up On the History
By Wes Hessel with Beth Tomas Porchlight Music Theatre’s fascinating production of “The Irish…And How They Got That Way” opens with a set having the general appearance of a seaport. The actors start off raising sails, then their voices in story and song. But first, a lively violinist begins playing Irish/Celtic music – she then […]
The Rhythm Will Get You – The Passion Will Keep You
By Wes Hessel & Cate Rees-Hessel Drury Lane’s engaging, high-voltage energized production of “On Your Feet”, the Gloria and Emilio Estefan love story and rise to superstardom in it’s Chicago regional premiere, is not to be missed. For starters, especially for fans like us who had seen the living legend and company in concert in […]
Legend LuPone Wows Auditorium Audience
By Wes Hessel with Flo Mano Saturday night it felt like below 0° in Chicago, but 100° inside The Auditorium, where a full house audience gave a two minute standing ovation as Patti LuPone entered the stage – when she motioned for them to sit, they whistled and shouted out, “We love you!” Thus started […]
“Little Shop” Is Big Entertainment
By Wes Hessel Marriott Theatre’s sharp production of “Little Shop of Horrors” is the one with the big heart. The 50’s era sci-fi/horror camp classic musical about the alien plant that ate Cleveland (eventually), past the screams (of laughter from the audience), is a cautionary tale with two adages at the forefront: “be careful what […]
Oil Lamp Brings In “The Outsider”
By Wes Hessel with Beth Tomas Oil Lamp Theater is presenting an outright hilarious and painfully funny political commentary play. The Director’s Note in the program begins with the sentence, “The best public servants aren’t necessarily suited for politics and the best politicians aren’t necessarily interested in serving us.” It goes on to talk about […]
Dance Chicago “Dances from the Heart”
By Wes Hessel with Beth Tomas Dance Chicago presented a early Valentine’s referential theme in “Dances from the Heart” at the Athenaeum Center Saturday, January 24th. Multiple groups of youth-based ensembles presented numerous forms of movement, from an excellent solo tap (the one older adult performer in the lineup) to Irish, ballet, jazz, (more) tap, […]
LuPone Brings Acclaimed Concert Show to Auditorium
By Wes Hessel She’s done numerous films, television, and appeared on stages from LA and San Fran, to Washington DC, Sydney, London’s West End, and, of course, Broadway. The showcase of sound she will perform Saturday, January 31st, at the Auditorium Theatre has a 25 year history of it’s own. Along the way the vocal […]
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