Review: Theatre Evolve Unleashes a Redeemed MedeaMedeaMedea
The tale of Medea presents a paradox in contemporary times. Euripides, Ovid, and Seneca cast her as a villain who manipulates Jason, the Argonaut, to achieve her ambition of becoming […]
Kathy D. Hey writes creative non-fiction essays. A lifelong Chicagoan, she is enjoying life with her husband, daughter and three dogs in the wilds of Edgewater. When she isn’t at her computer, she is in her garden growing vegetables and herbs for kitchen witchery.
Review: Pegasus Theatre’s Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery Is an Uplifting Coming-of-Age Story
Pegasus Theatre first performed Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery in 2017. Playwright Shay Yougblood’s story of Black women raising one of their own in 1960s Georgia has been remounted by Pegasus at […]
Review: Trinity Irish Dance Company’s Season 35 Shares the Spirit of Ireland and Hope
The Trinity Irish Dance Company is the dream of founder and choreographer Mark Howard, which has come to life. Last Saturday, the company concluded its season 35 opener at the […]
Review: Hubbard Street Dance Does a Flashback and Rockets Forward with Its Spring Series
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago opened its Spring Series on May 16 at the Harris Theater. The series closes out season 47 and has me anticipating what lies ahead. The performance consisted of […]
Review: Allison Russell Brings a Gospel of Love, Memory and Empathy for Our Time to the Vic
In my years living and working on the North Side of Chicago, the Vic Theater has had an interesting evolution. It started as the Victoria Theatre with vaudeville shows before […]
Review: The Surreal Journey of South Chicago Dance Theatre’s Season Eight
South Chicago Dance Theatre’s season eight, featuring surreal themes that challenge the mind and the body, premiered at the Auditorium on May 3. Although I had seen another company attempt a […]
Review: At The Wake Of A Dead Drag Queen Reflects on Family, Blackness, and Queer Identity
The audience is given a fan as the entry pass to Story Theatre’s At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen, written by Terry Guest. There is no doubt that […]
Review: Kishi Bashi Brings Hope and Comfort to the Auditorium with the Chicago Philharmonic
Last Saturday was an evening filled with the music of one of the most fascinating artists of our time. Kaoro Dill Ishibashi goes by the melodic-sounding portmanteau Kishi Bashi. The […]
Review: Parsons Dance Returns with a Funhouse of Dance, Smoke, and Mirrors
Parsons Dance rolled into town last weekend after being away for 30 years. The company was founded in 1985 by artistic director and choreographer David Parsons. The advertising promised an […]
Review: Suzan-Lori Parks’ The Book of Grace—Beautifully Acted but a Mixed Bag at Steppenwolf Theatre
Suzan-Lori Parks is known for writing plays about the inner lives of Black Americans. The Book of Grace is a companion to the Pulitzer Prize-winning Topdog/Underdog, where brothers Lincoln and Booth live out […]
Review: Giordano Dance Chicago’s Soaring Is a Magical Journey of Life, Love, and Celebration
Giordano Dance Chicago is our homegrown ensemble, and their Friday performance was unlike any other Giordano show I have covered. Soaring: Life, Light, and Legacy is a tribute to artistic director Nan […]
Review: Chicago A Cappella Gets Jazzy
Chicago A Cappella performed A Cappella Jazz on Saturday, March 29, at the Gannon Concert Hall in the Holtschneider Performance Center on the campus of DePaul University. This concert began […]