Spotlight on Reviews

An August Wilson masterpiece is unfolding on stage at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" is being presented through May 3 at The Goodman's Albert Theatre. It is part of The Goodman's Centennial Season.

I had an opportunity recently to see Provision Theater & Unshackled present their production of "Ben-Hur A Live Radio Play" on the stage at Theatre at the Center. The 90-minute production was an awesome experience!

**** Recommended  It’s Black Ensemble Theatre’s 50th anniversary season and their reboot of their 2000 hit, "The Jackie Wilson Story," written by Black Ensemble founder Jackie Taylor, is a must-see in my book. Jaitee Thomas does a terrific job as Jackie Wilson and the back-up ensemble is phenomenal. In fact, my friend Helen said the show was absolutely perfect! 4 BIG Spotlights

***RECOMMENDED***      If you are curious to find out what a mash-up of classical Greek mythology, Mexican folklore and liberal doses of surrealism and some sprinklings of early feminist empowerment might look like, you are in luck. Lyric Opera of Chicago is presenting the Midwest premiere of "El ultimo sueno de Frida y Diego," a work composed by Gabriela Lena Frank in 2022 with a highly poetic libretto written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz. Not only is this production visually striking -- one would certainly hope that that was the case in an opera which depicts the lives of two very famous artists/muralists -- but the score composed by Frank is exceptional, veering from the ethereal to downright enchanting. 3 SPOTLIGHTS