Recent Articles
Manual Cinema’s “A Christmas Carol” Shadows the Classic in Another Light
By Wes Hessel with Beth Tomas Set during COVID, Christmas 2020, “Manual Cinema’s A Christmas Carol” at the Studebaker Theater brings the iconic tale to modern, parallel life, with the company’s signature use of puppetry, shadow play, live video, and other forms of media, coupled with a integral sound track. Though embittered by her grief […]
Ruth Page Center for the Arts Performs Milestone Anniversary Nutcracker
By Cate Rees-Hessel The iconic Ruth Page dance company celebrates sixty years of performing their well-reputed version of Tchaikovsky’s iconic holiday ballet, “The Nutcracker”. This Christmas classic has been enjoyed by a countless number of Chicago audiences through the decades. Shows were staged at two venues (Governors State University and Northeastern Illinois University) already this […]
Dickens Called On to Perform his Beloved Holiday Classic, Again…
By Cate Rees-Hessel Popular Chicago Theater Wit is staging a one-man show based upon an alive today Charles Dickens rather reluctantly performing yet another rendition of his classic “A Christmas Carol”. Please put this wonderful production in your Christmas stocking. Audiences can enjoy this new version of the iconic holiday classic, “Charles Dickens Begrudgingly Performs […]
December 2025 @ 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 […]
Metropolis Family-Friendly “Christmas Carol” Delightful
By Wes Hessel with D’Arcy Mies Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights showcases a delightful, traditional presentation of the perennial holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol”. The Narrator (Fan) is excellent and Scrooge is quite well played; the entire cast truly does a good job, and the child actors are great, well rehearsed and talented. […]
Oil Lamp Presents Beloved Holiday Classic
By Cate Rees-Hessel Oil Lamp Theater’s rendition of “It’s a Wonderful Life, a Live Radio Play” is delightful. I love the realistic 1940’s radio studio, complete with believable quirks. Costumes are period-perfect and attractive – the innovative use of hats to define characters is extremely well executed, combined with an enormously talented cast that handles […]
“Sister Act” Shines
By Cate Rees-Hessel Drury Lane’s stellar production of “Sister Act” is a must-see production this holiday season. Audiences can enjoy this trip to the 1970’s in this beautifully decorated theater, and this production has something for everyone: innovatively wonderful costumes, illuminating lighting, beautiful vocals, and an enormously talented cast. In the role of Curtis Jackson […]
“Much Ado About…” So Much
By Wes Hessel with Beth Tomas Chicago Shakespeare on Navy Pier is at it again, delivering The Bard’s best. This time the play is “Much Ado About Nothing”, but in their production, there is much about everything, starting with a striking minimalist stage jutting into the audience – the design in the back of the […]
Ensemble Español 50th Anniversary Celebration
By Wes Hessel with Flo Mano The Auditorium Theatre’s 50th Anniversary of Ensemble Español commemoration was a sold out house for this unique dance company that started with Dame Libby Komaiko’s dream, going on to make its mark significantly on the Chicago dance scene. Irma Suarez Ruiz took over the reins as artistic director in […]
“White Christmas” Sparkles This Holiday Season
By Cate Rees-Hessel Paramount Theater’s “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, the Musical” is an absolutely perfect holiday show. The sets are charming: a huge barn with wonderful backdrops, a busy train, the quaint Vermont Inn itself, the Ed Sullivan Show studio, and an exclusive New York City club are welcoming and colorful. There is actual cold […]
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