Starinah Dixon, from left, Ian Berg, Jumaane Taylor, Alexandrya Fryson, Donnetta Jackson and Tristan Bruns Tapman Productions presents M.A.D.D. Rhythms‘ SUPREME LOVE. What I supremely love about SUPREME LOVE is the diversity of the dancers. Ian Berg towers on the fringe. Alexandrya Fryson radiates a youthful glow. A polished Donnetta Jackson moves with confidence. This group ...
Review “Daughters of Ire” (The Other Theatre Company): Vivid and Brutal Irish Herstory
The Other Theater Company presents the world premiere of DAUGHTERS OF IRE. This is not your da’s yarn about the wee people that built the great country of Ireland. It’s not the celtic stories romanticized by Yeats and other Irish writers over history either. Instead, writer and performer Savanna Rae researched four women of ancient Ireland; ...
Review “The Rainmaker” (American Blues Theatre): The Real McCoy!
American Blues Theater presents THE RAINMAKER. It’s been awhile since I smiled through an entire play. I did last night. I couldn’t help myself. Playwright N. Richard Nash penned an uplifting story of love and family. And under Edward Blatchford’s masterful direction, the superb ensemble engage us with their authentic humanity. We see each person’s longing ...
Review “Patchwork Drifter” (Babes with Blades): True Grit!
Babes with BladesTheatre Company presents the World Premiere of PATCHWORK DRIFTER. Playwright Jennifer L. Mickelson takes a look at how the west was won from a woman’s perspective. Mickelson uses her five-female-character-driven play to illustrate the challenges of the wild Wyoming frontier. A shopkeeper (played by Delia Ford) is raising her daughters (played by Eliza Rose ...
Palmer House Shares Its Treasures
The Palmer House presents HISTORY IS HOTT. Full disclosure... I love Chicago history. And I've always loved the Palmer House! I've had the pleasure to visit it as both a hotel guest and event guest. And I even had a membership to the fitness center two decades back. The grandeur is breathtaking. The attention to detail ...
EXTENDED Thru Oct 3rd “After Miss Julie” (Strawdog Theatre): Battle of the Sexes and the Classes
Strawdog Theatre presents AFTER MISS JULIE. The 1945 election results are in. England’s Labour Party has had a landslide victory over Winston Churchill’s Conservative Party. Workers unite in revelry. And out on her father’s country estate, Miss Julie (played by Maggie Scrantom) wants to join the merriment. As the country is positioning for change, Scrantom attempts ...
MacBeth (Midsommer Flight): Summer Shakes Done Right
Reviewed by Tom Lawler Set the scene: Midsommer Flight’s mission is to bring high-quality outdoor Shakespeare productions to the people. This summer they’ve brought the Bard’s Macbeth to four Chicago parks free of charge. What’s it all about: As you may know, Shakespeare’s shortest (and darkest) tragedy is about a Scottish general, Macbeth, who has the misfortune ...
Review “Things You Shouldn’t Say Past Midnight” (Windy City Playhouse): Light-hearted, Sexually-charged Frolic
The Windy City Playhouse presents THINGS YOU SHOULDN’T SAY PAST MIDNIGHT. Playwright Peter Ackerman has penned a saucy tale of lovers that go bang in the night. This isn’t a rom-com as much as a sex-com. Three couples. Three bedrooms. Although it never becomes a menage-a-trois, Ackerman cleverly connects these six together via three-way calling and ...
Dear Bill Cosby,
Dear Bill Cosby, I know your life is tough right now. This IS a fan letter but it’s also a hate letter. WTF? You were an icon. You had great stand-up comedy fame. You were the JELL-O pudding spokesperson. And the tour de force behind all the voices of Fat Albert in the 70s. Yet, your defining celebrity ...
An Excerpt from My Still-To-Be-Named Book
In February, I stopped my personal blogging to focus on writing a book. If I had to categorize it, I'd say it's a self-improvement book. I'm enjoying the process and am currently working on Chapter 8. At my good gal pal Sue James' suggestion, I'm publicizing an excerpt for my past and future readers. This ...