Renée Rocks the Auditorium Theatre By: Anna Hessel
Renée Rocks the Auditorium Theatre
By Anna Hessel
I can’t say enough wonderful things about Renée Elise Goldsberry’s one-night-only benefit concert at the majestic Auditorium Theatre. Renée sparkles with enthusiasm and pure energy; attired in a beautiful white and red print gown, she is stunning. Ms. Goldsberry began the show with “On a Clear Day” with her clear melodic voice, depth of rhythm, crisp notes, and spectacular projection; she literally took my breath away. Ms. Goldsberry is simply awe inspiring and phenomenal. Featuring music from various music genres, Broadway, gospel, jazz, R&B to name a few, there was something for everyone.
Backed up by three beautiful, stylish ladies in fashion forward ensembles and a four man band, piano-keyboard, guitar, bass, and drums-percussion, this was a music lover’s paradise. A drum solo later in the concert rocked the house and the musicians were stellar. Ms. Goldsberry’s concert was all about falling in love with love and eradicating hate in challenging times. She shared wonderful stories of humor and hope. Renée spoke about how she had won the role of Nala in the Lion King on Broadway during 9/11, and the pain she felt at the horrific attack on our nation but she auditioned despite the hurt in her heart, a true professional with a message of determination for us all.
Ms. Goldsberry’s story about her supportive husband taking her children to dinner while she FaceTimed with them was right out of every parents’ book of memories. Being children, the kids argued about which one of them got to hold the phone, causing daddy to pull over and yell at them; this was something most of us can identify with. The narrative was both touching and humourous in its realism. She also spoke about a documentary that is being filmed about her and the fact that we all need to let the Lord fill in the spaces of our lives. We don’t need to be perfect at what we do, as long as we do it with love. Her refreshing candor is a balm for the soul and all the girlfriends in the house, myself included, sat up a little straighter and smiled beneath our masks a little brighter as she spoke.
Her very infectious commitment to living life without apologies made the audience feel young and inspired. Even when life’s accomplishments do not happen when we expect them to, you can come back around and be successful. Ms. Goldsberry spoke, as well, about getting engaged and balancing family and career. Her stories were as entertaining and uplifting as her singing. A wonderful tale about the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, was a favorite.
The crux of the show was all about the magic of music. Songs from many Broadway musicals, including “Carousel”, “Rent”, “Lion King”, and, of course, “Hamilton”, were incorporated into her expansive repertoire. Renée’s vocal range is astounding and her ability to fill an auditorium with her melodic voice is absolutely remarkable. Most musical numbers brought down the house, and her selection from “Rent” brought about a very thunderous ovation that lasted for minutes. A well received encore had the audience on its feet once again. Other favorite tunes by Mary Wilson, Bob Dylan, and others were also showstoppers. She talked about her role in the “Color Purple”, and joked about not having a big song to sing from that particular show. So much of her material was for the Broadway baby in us all, and enjoyed immensely.
Renée remarked she loves Chicago; seeing our beautiful lakefront from the air, she complimented the Windy City, referring to Chitown as one of the world’s best cities. Ms. Goldsberry said she was thrilled to be performing at the prestigious theatrical institution, and commented she was glad she passed the COVID test she received upon arrival at the Auditorium Theatre. She acknowledged family and friends, including the state’s attorney general, Kwame Raoul, and his wife, who were in the house, while still making everyone in attendance feel like a VIP. Ms. Goldsberry spoke about the very rich history of the Auditorium Theatre, honored to be on the same stage that Booker T. Washington, Aretha Franklin, and Bob Dylan had performed on. The theater, with its friendly staff, beautiful architecture, and superb acoustics, has been bringing the finest in entertainment to our fair city since 1889. For more information on upcoming performances or how patrons can support this historical theatrical institution please visit their website at www.auditoriumtheatre.org.
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