Few things are quite as gratifying as an unexpected thrill. Sitting down to this year’s production of Black Ensemble (BE) Theater’s The Other Cinderella certainly held the promise of quality entertainment. The theater company has been consistently delivering stellar musical productions for nearly fifty years. Using the power of music to recall milestones of Black …
An Ageless Beauty, The Other Cinderella Continues to Shine Read More »
In today’s charged socio-political climate, who we consider an immigrant often depends on perspective. Outlooks that are often weighted in judgment. But an immigrant is simply someone who’s living in a country other than the one they were born. That makes the 102 people who arrived on the Mayflower immigrants to a land that would …
A Rare and Remarkable Window into the Immigrant Experience Read More »
Often, the expectations others have for us become the ones we have for ourselves. That can be problematic when those presumptions dampen the soul by limiting a person’s horizons. The woman at the center of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley faces such a challenge. Watching how she confronts that test is a journey we’ll remember …
BTE’s Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley Delivers Delight Read More »
An antidote to many ills, laughter can offer relief as well as joy. It also tends to be most therapeutic and satisfying when shared with others. For the next few weeks, you’ll find a laughter gold mine on that little slip of land jutting into the lake known as Navy Pier. By envisioning one of …
The American Dream, a little play about a big topic that’s been dominating headlines since the late 1960s, finally gives voice to the people at the center of the dilemma on our southern border. It’s a limited voice, one that doesn’t delve into the why of our immigration crisis. By now, most of us understand …
New Play Takes on the Dark Side of Mass Migration Read More »
On the verge of ending its run at Theater Wit, Remy Bumppo’s production of Blues for an Alabama Sky sheds a fresh light on the consequences of our words and the power of character. Under Mikael Burke’s skillful and frank direction, Pearl Cleage’s journey back to the Harlem Renaissance also reminds us of the value …
Blues for an Alabama Sky a Study in Theater Excellence Read More »
‘s Never underestimate the power of a good musical. If the story and the music organically connect with the audience, you’ve got promise. Up the ante with wonderful acting and marvelous singing and you reach phenomenal. Rock of Ages, now playing at the Mercury Theatre, has all of that plus the wisdom of a clever …
Mercury’s Rock of Ages Joyfully Celebrates Those Who Follow Their Dreams Read More »
Life changes with the birth of children. The demands and obligations of parenthood pull us out of ourselves and force us to focus on the people we bring into the world. Sacrifice and the suppression of our own wishes and passions are often necessary to insure our offspring get a fair shot at life. Those …
It’s natural to recall the past while contending with the present. Placing the two side by side adds perspective to contemporary life and allows us to give accurate measure to our progress. The current push in some quarters to limit, ban or curtail the full scope of our country’s heritage threatens the integrity of the …
Mercury’s Big River Flows with Steadfast Excellence Read More »
One of those stories that doesn’t sit neatly in any camp, The Cherry Orchard seems content simply existing as a marvel. Written in 1903 by the great Russian playwright and storyteller Anton Chekhov, its age alone might dampen the curiosity of some. How, they might wonder, could something so far removed from the present be …