Recent Articles
It’s Worth a Million
By Cate Rees-Hessel If you can only see one holiday show this season, make it Lincolnshire Marriott Theater’s “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas”. This high energy production is a Christmas gift wrapped in fabulous music; the entire cast is truly amazing. Jed Fedder is one of the best drummers I have seen onstage, not to mention […]
November 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 […]
As You Will Love It
By Wes Hessel & Cate Rees-Hessel When you wait for Writers Theater’s production of “As You Like It” to start, the pre-show music one might think is a nice little bookend to get you in the mood and set the stage. But when the band starts playing a song introduced by the band leader Jaques […]
Prepare The Way of the Lord
By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel Originally a masters thesis project in 1970 at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, 55 years later this iconic play continues to be popular. Musical Theater Works updated production of “Godspell” is the best rendition of this musical I have seen to date. The entire cast is extremely talented, with […]
“Gaslight” Demonstrates Well Where the Word Comes From
When a term or phrase becomes so associated with a concept that it is the definitive description, it takes on a life of its own. Such is “Gaslight” – the play, originally written in 1938, illustrates the idea of someone, in this case a woman in the Victorian era, being manipulated with the intent of […]
There’s No Place Like “Rome”
By Catherine Rees-Hessel with D’Arcy Mies Chicago Shakespeare favorites the Q Brothers Collective bring their upbeat vibe and style of genius to the stage. We loved their Othello, and absolutely couldn’t get enough of a Q Christmas Carol. Now they give us “Rome Sweet Rome”, which is hip, highly entertaining, and colorful. This thought-provoking play […]
Ride the “Greased Lightnin’” (Extended Until October 26th)
By Wes Hessel & Fran Besyk Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights presents a fun, very entertaining production of the classic, “Grease”. The music is beyond wonderful; the dancing, right along with the singing, is fantastic. Everyone is so talented. Eric Amundson, who portrays Danny Zuko, is so good that if you close your […]
“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 […]
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