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“Always” Shines with Empowerment
By Cate Rees-Hessel Drury Lane’s “Always…Patsy Cline” is one of the best productions I have ever seen. The rapport between the two women is heartfelt and sincere; this story is beautiful, the sisterhood between the ladies is empowering. They hit it off straight away, a fan becoming a true friend and penpal. The relationship between […]
“That’s What Friends Are For”
By Cate Rees-Hessel Just when you think Jackie Taylor’s Black Ensemble Theater can’t bring another show stopper to the stage, they do just that. “That’s What Friends Are For” is absolutely fabulous. The story of a Vegas reunion concert by the grand dames of music, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, and Patti LaBelle, this original work […]
“The Terminator” in Concert Friday Night at Auditorium
By Wes Hessel Just as “The Arnold” promised in the original movie, he’s back, only this time the 1984 film will be accompanied by the Chicago Philharmonic, playing the movie’s classic score live. Yes, it’s Friday, the 13th of June at 7:30 pm, but this is a lucky opportunity, the latest installment in the extremely […]
“42 Balloons” Rise to the Top
By Cate Rees-Hessel Balloons are a marvelous way to start the summer season, so how about 42 of them? Chicago Shakespeare’s stellar production of “42 Balloons” is a very high energy tale that tells the poignant true story of “Lawn Chair Larry” and his dream of piloting into the air. This musical honors his memory […]
“Iraq, But Funny” Pleases Audience
By Cate Rees-Hessel with Flo Mano Once again, Tony award winning Lookingglass Theatre brings us the very finest in thought-provoking entertainment, the world premiere of “Iraq, But Funny”. As a part-Iraqi woman, I can certainly appreciate the fast-paced dynamics of this wonderful play; a great comedy, with something for everyone. Five generations of women dealing […]
In “Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues”, Stories Speak
By Cate Rees-Hessel American Blues’ stellar production of the Chicago premiere of Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues tells the poignant story of an unlikely friendship between an old vaudeville performer and a teenage boy. They end together because of uncontrollable circumstances. but build a piquant relationship that makes for a a very moving story. The play […]
Jackalope Reminds Us What to “Watch” Out For
By Flo Mano with Wes Hessel A fictional man just after 2024’s election waits with baited breath for the fallout of a presidential contest that should have been no contest. In “Neighborhood Watch” at Jackalope Theatre, Frank Nall and Harsh Gagoomal lead a cast who demonstrate what happens when people forget what “neighbor” is supposed […]
Building Up From a Firm Foundation
By Flo Mano with Wes Hessel The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation (GDDF), an organization dedicated to support of the arts in small and mid-level institutions, brought together a wide cross-section of individuals who are part of or work with these providers. They convened the first Chicago Artistic Vitality Arts Symposium, an opportunity for discussion […]
“The Legend of Kingdom Come” is Born
By Wes Hessel The rise of realism in the progression from comic books to graphic novels, through into the 21st century superhero films, can be traced back to the 1996 ground-breaking masterpiece series by Chicago native Alex Ross and Mark Waid, “Kingdom Come”. A recently debuted documentary masterwork “The Legend of Kingdom Come”, produced by […]
“The Love of Three Kings” Royally Produced
By Flo Mano with Wes Hessel The Opera Festival of Chicago opened its fifth season at the Atheneum with “The Love of Three Kings” (L’amore dei tre Re) composed by Italo Montemezzi. It is an opera that has been neglected – kudos to the festival that made a bold decision to revive it. Directed by […]
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