Scott Ferguson and the new Bailiwick Chicago collective of Chicago non-Equity players have reinvented and revived the troubled, over-produced and over-amped Broadway production of the 1998 musical, Aida, with music by Elton John and Lyrics by Tim Rice.
Through a sassy, smart and light-hearted score and witty fun lyrics by Alan Schmuckler, this unique take on Andersen’s tale is a warm expertly directed fun 75 minute Broadway musical. The colorful characters are aided by sophisticated songs that effectively tell the tale.
Performed in the intimate Richard Christiansen Theatre, located inside the Victory Gardens Biograph Theatre, Hard Headed Heart is a collection of three short stories, (The Puppet Show of Don Cristobal /St. James Infirmary/The Blackbird) re-interpreted and performed by Thomas. Each story has its own separate stage scenery, all masterfully designed and constructed by Thomas himself, and it own emotional identity
If someone could tell you in advance exactly what was going to happen in your life, and how everything was going to turn out, and if you knew you couldn’t do anything to change it, would you still want to go on with your life?
That’s the key question asked by Bee, the central character in Parallelogram, and it provides the theme of this remarkable, thought provoking play.
When Billy Lomax from Georgia, circa 1963, hears the first two tracks from the jug band – That Sordid Little Story – he believes that the band has written his life story in their lyrics. He believes that the band is somehow connected to the father he has never met. Billy’s leaves home on a journey across America’s Bible Belt in the Deep South.
The reggae/calypso music and the large coral singing almost overwhelmed the show. Add the screaming by several singers and the show comes off as trying too hard to please. Lacking charm and warmth, Once On this Island takes too long to win our hearts but the terrific, heartfelt and honest work from Chasten Harmon as Ti Moune saves the show.
Saluting American Popular Music During the Wartime Years Produced by Jeanne Scherkenbach Musical Director/piano accompanist Carolyn Wehner At the Skokie Theatre Music Foundation Patriotic, nicely sung tribute to American war vets a winner! Using a well played piano (Carolyn Wehner) and the deft work from Joel Kopischke, Rachel Renee, Matt Richardson, Jeanne Scherkback became a … Read more
Teatro Luna’s ten year old play, Generic Latina, has a new script, GL2010, and is filled with contagious energy. Combating stereotypes through a collection of comical sketch scenes, this show is highlighted by outstanding actresses and non stop laughter.
While the story could use a trimming of about 10 minutes, the 65 minute shows moves from political satire to an exhibition of middle aged and plus sized naked folks parading on stage completely having fun with their bodies…The Living Canvas folks produce performance art pieces featuring a cast of nude performers dancing and creating expressive movements naked but shadowed by a series of video projections to the tune of techno-pop music.
I’m not sure why Karen Zacarias’ play about Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (1649-1695) – The Sins of Sor Juana had to include silly, raw humor and buffoon-like characters? The contradictory tones and the confusing flashbacks deleted from the story of the famous Mexican the writer, scholar, poet, feminist, nun and revolutionary – Sor Juana