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 […]
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: 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 […]
Review: The Lyric Opera Sharpens the Cutting Edge with The Listeners
The Lyric Opera of Chicago is refreshing classical music by bringing in newer works. The Listeners is written by Missy Mazzoli with a libretto by Royce Vavrek based on the […]
Review: Strawdog Theatre Stages Shakespeare in a Pub—It’s Much Ado About Nothing: The Ides Reunion Episode
The Strawdog Theatre Company is staging a new take on Shakespeare with a satire of ’90s reality shows. Much Ado About Nothing: The Ides Reunion is a spoof of the […]
Review: Lyric Opera’s New Version of La Boheme Is Set in a Realistic Paris and Sounds Wonderful
This may be the fourth time I have seen La Boheme at the Lyric. It is my all-time favorite and gets me misty every time. The 2025 version is advertised […]
Review: Joffrey’s Winning Works Presents a Thrilling Glimpse of the Future
Being present at the beginning of a burgeoning career in the arts is a privilege. The Grainger Academy is a training program exclusively operated by the Joffrey Ballet. Winning Works […]
Review: Letters From Home Is Music for Body and Soul at Nova Linea Musica
Nova Linea Musica (NLM) has a mission as an incubator for music and for giving a platform to those who bring that music to the world. Wednesday, March 12, was […]
Review: Alvin Ailey Dance Theater Brings a Spiritual Revival High to the Auditorium
I search for meaning in these times of turmoil, which usually would lead me to a traditional church environment. In the last decade, however, I have found comfort in the […]