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“Carmen” Opens Joffrey’s 70th Season
By Flo Mano with Wes Hessel The Joffrey Ballet opened this milestone year at the Civic Opera house with the U.S. premiere of Bizet’s “Carmen”, choreographed by the late Liam Scarlett. At the opening, a dramatic red roses embroidered curtain and a silhouette: Carmen (played by the amazing Victoria Jaiani) – a feisty Romani, a carefree, […]
Dial M for Magnificent
By Cate Rees-Hessel Drury Lane’s production of “Dial M for Murder” is simply marvelous. The set is absolutely beautiful, era appropriate, realistic, and elegant. This updated production brings an older classic to life with supreme acting by Jonathan Weir, Alexandra Silber, Erik Hellman, Amanda Drinkall, and Ian Paul Custer, all delivering excellent dialects. The action […]
BET is Blue Heavenly
By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel I first saw “Blue Heaven” at Black Ensemble Theater in 2022, and it became a favorite of mine. Legendary blues artists appear at Pearly’s, right outside the entrance to the Pearly Gates. In order to enter one must not only forgive others, but must also seek in their own […]
“Catch Me If You Can” Flies High
By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel Marriott Theater Lincolnshire’s fun and energetic production of the musical version of the Tom Hanks – Leonardo DiCaprio classic chase film “Catch Me if You Can” is absolutely fabulous. Vocals and acting are top notch, the entire cast extremely talented, with excellent characterizations, including Chicago favorites Alexis J. Roston […]
“Come From Away” to Paramount
By Cate Rees-Hessel Paramount Theatre’s production of the heart-warming and inspiring musical “Come From Away” is absolutely fabulous. The set is charming: a giant size tree encompasses the stage, with projections showing a beautiful ocean view. Actual rain on the stage is calming and pleasant, cascading and puddling. We are reminded, “Be anxious for nothing” […]
Redtwist Theatre Opens Season
By Flo Mano with Cate Rees-Hessel Redtwist Theater opens its twenty-first season with “How to Transcend a Happy Marriage”. This production is for mature audiences only, edgy and tendentious. Jane is magnificently played by Monique Marshaun, and Joe Zarrow is fantastic as her understanding husband Michael. They invite over another couple, Paul and George, for […]
Side by Side by Side
By Cate Rees-Hessel Oil Lamp Theater is Glenview’s gem – this charming, intimate venue brings the best in theatrical productions. They are a community-oriented, thought-provoking, and principled institution. “Side by Side by Sondheim” is an ambitious undertaking for a small house, but Oil Lamp pulls it off with aplomb. Classic piano, pleasant vocals, fun costumes, […]
“Fiddler” Plays Without Missing a Beat
By Flo Mano with Wes Hessel Music Theater Works opened a fantastic production of “Fiddler on the Roof”, which turned 60, and it is still so fresh and current; the set designed by Bob Knuth has an intricate weaving of wood planks. As the play starts, you are taken in by the perfectly unified singers […]
“Girls & Boys” is Well Worth the Ride
By Flo Mano with Wes Hessel Walking in the Griffin Theatre production of “Girls & Boys” by Brit Dennis Kelly, I was in awe of the set design by Sotirios Livaditis. A calm cream colored couch and end tables in a living room – my eyes were then drawn up to a suspended blue colored […]
“Billie Jean” a Definite Ace
By Flo Mano with Wes Hessel The world premiere of “Billie Jean”, by brilliant playwright Lauren M. Gunderson, had its opening at Chicago Shakespeare to a well-deserved standing ovation. Chilina Kennedy incarnates the energy and spunk of dynamo Billie Jean King, embodying her tenacity, physique, winning mindset, and activism. Dan Amboyer strongly matches as Larry […]
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