Recent Articles
A Wondrous Sound, Indeed…
By Flo Mano with Wes Hessel Lyric Opera presented a one night only concert experience titled “A Wondrous Sound”; the phenomenal Lyric conductor Enrique Mazzola and choral director Michael Black led their respective orchestra and chorus in a night of classical opera arias and Broadway memorable songs. The program started with excerpts from Bizet’s Carmen: […]
May 2025 @ the Franklin Park Library
Franklin Park Public Library District We are located at 10311 Grand Avenue in Franklin Park, IL and offer a range of services and programs for children, teens and adults. Further information is available at www.fppld.org or by calling 847-455-6016. Unless otherwise noted, registration is required for ALL library programs. Hours of Service: Monday-Wednesday 9:00 AM – 9:00 […]
Parsons Dance Lifts the Spirit
By Nick Nicholas with Wes Hessel The gold dust of magic in dance has to settle down before I can attempt to review an evening of Parsons Dance at Auditorium Theatre. An evening which energized, awed, solidly defined and redefined the sanctity of the human body in motion with thousands in attendance. David Parsons, born […]
Greeks Parade Their Independence
By Nick Nicholas with Wes Hessel Chicago’s Greektown celebrated Greek Independence Day on April 6th with their annual parade, showcasing Greek American culture and heritage, and commemorating Greece’s independence from the Ottoman Empire. Chicago’s Greek American community, second largest after that of New York City, gathered on Halsted to celebrate and commemorate Greek independence from […]
Race to Discover “The Da Vinci Code”
By Cate Rees-Hessel “The Da Vinci Code” is certainly a very different type of theatrical experience for Drury Lane audiences, but it is very consistent in having the excellence we have come to expect from this beautiful theater. Although as a devout Catholic Christian I don’t agree with the premise of this work, I find […]
On a Wing and a “Prayer” (extended until May 25th)
By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel Northlight Theatre, in conjunction with Theater Wit, have created a production of “Prayer for the French Republic” which is, by far, one of the finest pieces of live theater I have ever seen. As a woman of faith with a Jewish heritage, this show touched my heart in so […]
Nothing Lost in “Translations” at Writers Theatre
By Wes Hessel The setting would seem attached to a time many of us can remember: in Ireland, preceded by the favorite son returned, British army officers of the occupation arrive at a local school on a mission of area mapping and place name standardization. Being the play was penned in 1980, one might presume […]
Upcoming Music Artist Justice Hill Brings It Home
By Wes Hessel with Cate Rees-Hessel Originally from the Kalamazoo area, this transplant has wholeheartedly embraced his “new” home in the Windy City, and it shows. His soon-to-be released new album is titled “Cooler by the Lake” – if that’s not a wholly Chicago phrase, what is? Then there’s the intended double entendre – cooler […]
April Fool’s, But Noone Was Fooled…
By Flo Mano with Wes Hessel On April 1st at the Harris Theater in Chicago, The National Hellenic Museum conducted a mock trial of Themistocles, an ancient Greek hero who was accused of treason. Themistocles was an Athenian politician with proletarian beginnings, who rose to prominence in 459 BC from the populist class, and was […]
Rivendell Lose Momentum at Their 30th? “No Such Thing”
By Nick Nicholas with Wes Hessel Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, a Chicago-based theatre that focuses on exploring women’s stories in an intimate storefront is celebrating its 30th anniversary with the world premier of “No Such Thing”, a new play written by ensemble member Lisa Dillman and directed by Malkia Stampley. No one person or entity would […]
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