Recent Articles
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 […]
Martha Graham Dance Doesn’t Show Its Age
By Wes Hessel with Flo Mano For one night only, the Martha Graham Dance Company ably demonstrated their signature style at the Auditorium Theatre to a full house. Part of the “Celebrating Women Leaders in Dance” series, this celebrated the centennial anniversary milestone of the oldest dance company in America, with the unique, innovative, avant-garde […]
Happy Anniversary Chicago’s Soul Children
By Cate Rees-Hessel The Soul Children of Chicago are celebrating 44 years of fabulous gospel music. This world-renowned children’s choir, under the direction of the energetic and enormously talented Dr. Walter Whitman for that entire time, have been blessing audiences for nearly four and a half decades. The Soul Children are Grammy award winning future […]
January 2026 @ the Franklin Park Library
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 PM Thursday & Friday 9:00 AM […]
“Maybe Real Near By”
By Cate Rees-Hessel The finest in fun theatrical experience is “real near by” in Skokie – Musical Theater Works stellar production of Annie is innovative and energetic. The acting is quite good and vocals are strong; the orchestra top notch, full bodied and rich. The first act shows the darkness of the Great Depression with […]
Holiday in Pink
By Wes Hessel with Flo Mano The small-scale multi-genre orchestra with the big sound, Pink Martini, sold out their one-night holiday performance, “A Season of Stars”, at the Auditorium, a celebration by the global musicians’ group of a diverse cross-section of tunes for the season and other favorites. The unique jazz international interpretations were amazing… Edna […]
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