Dead singers give lively performance

Elijah McTiernan, Taelon Stonecipher, Nick Arceo and Sean M.G. Caron in “Forever Plaid” at the Skokie Theatre. Photo by Laine Rogers

Highly Recommended

Before Jersey Boys there was Forever Plaid, one of the first rock and roll jukebox musicals, conceived in 1987 and initially performed in 1989.

The time is the early 1960s. A hapless quartet of close harmony singers who call themselves The Plaids find they have been killed in a car wreck but are conscious and singing better than ever. For the next 90 minutes they perform 23 songs including: Three Coins in a Fountain, Moments to Remember, and Love is a Many Splendored Thing.

Presented by MadKap Productions at Skokie Theater, the performance is reminiscent of a night club act from the fifties channeling the sounds of acts like the Four Freshmen, Four Aces or The Crew Cuts.

The silent generation represents the pre-Beatles era born during WWII and raised in a culture that valued conformity and respect for authority. The music of this period is characterized by smooth melodies and romantic ballads that featured crooners like Dean Martin and Perry Como but also emerging stars like Pat Boone and Patti Page.

The backstory of The Plaids’ demise seems an homage to songs like Last KissLeader of the Pack and Teen Angel that tell tragic stories of young lives cut short by violent death.

The Plaids are comprised of Smudge (Nick Arceo), Frankie (Sean M.G. Caron), Sparky (Elijah Mc Tiernan), and Jinx (Taelon Stonecipher).

Caron has appeared in a number of Madcap Productions. His character Frankie seems to be the de facto leader of the group acting as the principal narrator of their story.

McTiernan as Sparky is indeed a flash of energy providing a good deal of the group’s comedic moments. Arceo’s low tones are featured in Sixteen Tons / Chain Gang while he provides an effectively humorous clanking percussion, tapping a spoon against a Coke bottle.

Each of the performers have excellent voices but Stonecipher, a recent arrival from Houston making his Chicago area debut has a wonderful tenor voice that soars dramatically, providing several emotional moments.

The ensemble’s quick-change five-minute version of a typical Ed Sullivan Show with jugglers, acrobats, ballet dancers, Topo Gigio et al to the tune of Lady of Spain is hysterical.

The scale of this production is spot-on and appropriate to the limitations of the Skokie Theatre stage. The set was simple but looked great and worked perfectly.

Directed by Edward Lindem with musical direction and expert accompaniment of Jeremy Ramey with bassist Jeff Smith.

Lighting design by Pat Henderson was very effective and the tuxedoed costume design by Wendy Kaplan felt like we were watching a stage show at the Copa or visiting a show lounge in 1960s Las Vegas. The only thing missing was sipping a Manhattan or Old Fashioned.

Details: Forever Plaid is a very enjoyable night out packed into 90 minutes of non-stop entertainment by MadKap Productions at the Skokie Theatre, 7924 N. Lincoln Ave., Skokie, IL through June 29, 2025. For tickets visit SkokieTheatre.org or call 847-677-7761

Reviewer : Reno Lovison

James Beard Awards

Lyric opera holds James Beard Awards tonight
Lyric opera holds James Beard Awards tonight

 

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the James Beard Restaurant and Chef awards. Hosted by chefs Nyesha Arrington and Andrew Zimmern they take place at the Lyric Opera of Chicago at 6 pm. You can also livestream the awards on Eater. Or wait until Tuesday when the award recipients are announced.

Often referred to as “the Oscars of the food world,” they recognize the best chefs and restaurants across the country. 

However, for our Chicago readers, know that Five local chefs and restaurants are nominated, including Galit in Lincoln Park for Outstanding restaurant and Kumiko in the West Loop for Outstanding Bar.

Also Best Chef : Great Lakes nominations include Chefs Thai Dang of HaiSous in Pilsen, Noah Sandoval of Oriole in Fulton Market, and Chris Jun and Erling Wu-Bower of Maxwells Trading in West Town 

Jodie Jacobs

Around Town early June

About Chicago's Outdoor Classical Music Series | Grant Park Music Festival

Hear Gustav Holst’s The Planets G. at Chicago’s Grant Park this weekend.

Led by Christopher Bell, the concert opens the Festival’s 2025 season. It will also include Psalm 24, Lili Boulanger’s powerful Hymn to the Creator, and Jake Runestad’s acclaimed Earth Symphony.

Reserve a One Night Pass in the member section of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion for the evening. One Night Passes start at $27. RESERVE YOUR SEATS

 

Callaway celebrates Sondheim
Emmy winner Liz Callaway, a Tony and Grammy nominee is doing “To Steve with Love,” as a one-night appearance in Chicago, June 14 ,as she travels the country with her tribute to Stephen Sondheim. 
Callaway, a frequent interpreter of Sondheim’s songs, will present a nostalgic musical evening of songs and memories of working with him.
 
The program will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets for To Steve With Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim, $60 to $100. Tickets: fineartsbuilding.com/events
and 312.753.3210 x102 until sold out.  Meet and Greet passes are available the day of the performance for $20.
“I’m thrilled to be bringing my Sondheim show to my hometown at long last,” said Callaway. “I’ve performed To Steve With Love in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, the Kennedy Center in DC,
London, Ireland, and Madrid—but somehow, never in Chicago. My 2025 New Year’s resolution was to make it happen, and now, to do my show at the gorgeous Studebaker Theater is a dream come true!”
Jodie Jacobs

 

Conquering nations can be a riot

 

Atra Asdou (Photo by Ricardo Adame)

Highly Recommended

A laugh-out-loud comical attack of geopolitical humor invades Lookingglass Theater in “Iraq but Funny.”

Playwright / performer Astra Asdou recalls the history of the Assyrian people through this semi-autobiographical story of five generations of the women in her family.

Asdou, herself, takes on the persona of a ridiculous, uniformed, pith hat-wearing, mustachioed British army officer who, in stand-up comedy style, acts as narrator.

Four other actors (Susaan Jamshidi, Gloria Imseih Petrelli, James Rana, Sina Pooresmaeil ) rotate through multiple roles, presenting a series of vignettes that ultimately reveal, the more things change the more they remain the same.

Each generation of women is motivated to improve themselves personally in their patriarchal dominated culture while taking on the duty to assure the survival of the next generation. Their quest is made that much more challenging within the context of opposing political and religious forces.

I would venture to say that most Americans could not find Iraq on a map and have virtually no understanding of who the Assyrian people are let alone how this part of the world came to play into the geopolitics of recent memory. I’ll give you a hint that the last part has to do with oil and the first part an ancient Mesopotamian culture

The ultimate court jester, Asdou reveals how absurd those in power appear when viewed from a distance. Under the guise of protection and promise of peace they actually manipulate people’s fear, ruining the lives of countless individuals to achieve their own greedy motives.

Sure, that sounds grim but Asdou understands the line between comedy and tragedy is thin. If we stopped to fully engage in the chaos and destruction around us, we would be exhausted and paralyzed with anxiety.

The production has an improvisational vibe that humorously exposes the absurd actions of individuals trying to maintain some semblance of order in their lives when the world is crumbling around them.

Darwin suggested that it is the strong who survive. Asdou clarifies that for us. It is the cunning, the strong of mind and spirit that survive.

Asdou reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously, to see that life is absurd on many levels and that no matter our culture we simply want to live our lives quietly enjoying our family and quirky customs with minimal interference from the world at-large.

Asdou said, “[I] want to share a side of my people audiences rarely see: their sense of humor.”  That statement reminded me of another, in “English,” which recently played at Goodman Theatre and was Tony nominated on Broadway for best play.  “When you cannot adequately express yourself with the nuance and clarity of a native speaker, people do not know that you are actually smart, funny, and kind. Instead, they only hear your imperfect pronunciation and limited vocabulary. You may be easily assumed to be inferior with little or nothing to offer.”

Written as an insider, Asdou takes some liberties by poking self-effacing fun at her culture’s ethnic habits that may appear funny from a modern American perspective. But this style of humor, possibly uniquely American, is something anyone from any ethnic group would understand. It’s a way of saying, “I know this looks odd, but it’s actually a kind of charming indication of who we are.”

This has been the cornerstone of Jewish humor for more than fifty years, followed by Italians. Then, more recently, Asian and South Asian comedians and others have followed, all becoming a kind of rite of passage into the ethnic stew that is America.

Utilizing a dizzying array of theatrical techniques, this fast-paced production is a three-ring circus of costume changes, scenic projections, and lighting and sound, aided by a small army of six or seven crew members who stealthily set props in a seamless stream of visual surprises.

Details: “Iraq, But Funny” is at Lookingglass Theater through July 20 in The Joan and Paul Theatre at Water Tower Water Works at Michigan Ave., 163 E. Pearson St., Chicago. Running time is 2 1/2 hours with one 15 minute intermission. Tickets at (312) 337-0665 or visit lookingglasstheatre.org

Reviewer: Reno Lovison

 

Chicago shines at Tony Awards

The Tony Award (See below)

 

What Chicagoans have known for years, that Steppenwolf Theatre has great acting and productions, was acknowledged in New York at the Tony Awards, Sunday, when “Purpose” commissioned by and first produced at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, won the Tony Award for Best Play.

In addition, the production’s Kara Young took home Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Play, her second Tony in two years. Young received the Tony in 2024 for her performance in “Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch.”

“In this world where we are so divided, theater is a sacred space that we have to honor and treasure. It makes us united,” Young said upon receiving the award.

Directed by Phylicia Rashad, playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ “Purpose,” revolves around discussions at a gathering of a well-known Black family when they are snowed-in.

The play, which had won a Pulitzer Prize and premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre in Spring 2024  received six nominations.

The Tony Awards

If watching the show closely, you may have noticed what the award looked like. Actually called the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, the Tony is presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League annually to performers and creators of live theatre on Broadway. They cover everything from individual performances to writing and set design.

Founded by theatre producer and director Brock Pemberton, they are so named for actress, director and producer Antoinette “Tony” Perry, co-founder and secretary of the American Theatre Wing. 

However, what many viewers waited for was a performance by Lin- Manuel Miranda’s original “Hamilton” cast. (It didn’t disappoint) “Hamilton” had won 11 tony awards including Best Musical and received 16 nominations in 2016.

Other 2025 Tony winners

Best Musical:  “Maybe Happy Ending” 

Best Revival of a Play:” Eureka Day” by Jonathan Spector

Best Revival of a Musical: “Sunset Blvd.”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: Cole Escola,”Oh, Mary!”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play: Sarah Snook, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical: Darren Criss,”Maybe Happy Ending”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical: Nicole Scherzinger, “Sunset Blvd.”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play: Francis Jue, “Yellow Face”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (see above)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical: Jak Malone, “Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical.”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical: Natalie Venetia Belcon, “Buena Vista Social Club.”

Best Direction of a Play: Sam Pinkleton, Oh, Mary! 

Best Direction of a Musical: Michael Arden, “Maybe Happy Ending”

Best Book of a Musical: “Maybe Happy Ending,” Music and Lyrics: Will Aronson and Lyrics: Hue Park )

Jodie Jacobs

A Stereotypical Generation Gap

 

Justin Banks (L) and Dennis Cockrum in Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues at American Blues Theater  (Photo by Michael Brosilow)

Somewhat Recommended

Feeling controlled by outside forces, two people on the opposite ends of life are each trying to manage their own destiny in the Chicago Premiere of Charles Smith’s “Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues” at American Blues Theater.

The scenic design of Shayna Patel with the considerable assistance of Properties Designer, Tyson Carter immediately has us interested to know who lives here, why does this look the way it does and what’s going to happen?

Set on the northside of Chicago sometime in the 1990s, the place is the apartment of Pompey (Dennis Cockrum), an eightyish, former vaudeville musical comedy entertainer whose living conditions indicate a chaotic and out-of-control life, stalled in the past.

Pompey harbors a desire to resurrect the old act with his performing partner Ollie (James Sherman) if only he could remember his lines and Ollie can stay alive.

As a result of a visit from his social worker daughter, Marsha (Dawn Bach), Pompey finds himself reluctantly spending time with an African-American teenaged male J’Taurius a/k/a “Jet” (Justin Banks).

It is immediately clear that the two have nothing in common, have no desire to be in each other’s company and are outwardly hostile to one another. Of course, they ultimately find a reason to converse, finding a way to make a connection through their mutual love of music.

Directed by Chuck Smith, both he and author Charles Smith (no relation) are reunited again after their recent successful collaboration on “The Reclamation of Madison Hemings” also at ABT.

The two dramas share a few similarities, both being essentially an extended dialog between two main characters dealing with themes of racial inequities and the influence of outside forces on the trajectory of their lives. However, this production by comparison seems not as well conceived and the dialog to my ears is unrealistic and tedious at times. The players are competent enough but (with the exception of Sherman) seem to be struggling to find a natural conversational rhythm.

Overall, this comes across as a kind of sitcom repartee that we have come to accept as authentic dialog but is simply an exchange of sassy words and pithy phrases mostly devoid of actual emotion. What stands in for emotion are a few exclamatory outbursts that seem assaulting.

The content of “Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues” might be enlightening for some people who perhaps do not live in an urban community or maybe are not much tuned-in or exposed to the plight of disenfranchised youth or struggling elderly. Originally conceived in 1987 it might have been a little more cutting-edge at the time.

I’ve had some experience in the not-for-profit social service world that includes working with the National Runaway and Suicide Prevention Hotline. I also have had two good friends who were social workers dealing with foster children so perhaps I am interjecting my own biases.

I’m concerned for kids who are stuck in a seemingly endless cycle of superficial, temporary and often punitive care. I’m also concerned about overlooked and neglected seniors with dwindling support systems who still have dreams and a desire to continue contributing to life.

For me this particular example leans too heavily on stereotypical attitudes without providing much insight toward furthering our understanding of isolation, except to acknowledge it is a concern that often goes unaddressed combined with a message that for some, the solution might be finding the wherewithal to take responsibility for ourselves.

Details: “Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues” at American Blues Theater, 5627 N Lincoln Ave., Chicago May 23 – June 29,2025, running time 90 minutes with no intermission. Tickets at www.americanbluestheater.com or (773) 654-3103.

Reviewer: Reno Lovison

 

Curious or suspicious

Recommend

The world premiere of “Neighborhood Watch” written by Rehana Lew Mirza and directed by Kaiser Ahmed at Jackalope Theatre is a humorous look at what can happen when curiosity leads to suspicion.

Self-described ultra-liberal Boomer, Paul (Frank Nall), finds it is much easier to be nonjudgmental in an abstract sense. Things change when brown skinned Pakistani Muslim, Mo Rizvi (Harsh Gagoomal) moves in next door.

Fed by the naturally suspicious nature of his conservative leaning neighbor Shawn (Victor Holstein), the two conspire to learn more about Mo, setting out on an absurd quest worthy of Lucy and Ethel in an “I Love Lucy” episode.

Frank’s Gen-Z daughter, Becca (Jaime Herb), recently graduated from college and not yet gainfully employed, is living at home with her widowed father.  When Becca meets Mo the two are immediately smitten and quickly enter into a romantic relationship, which of course, heightens the urgency of Paul and Shawn to learn more.

Things take a twist when Mo’s “cousin” Javed (Omar Bader) appears, deepening the intrigue and complicating the plot.

There is a lot to enjoy in this sitcom style production that relies heavily on broad humor and predictable stereotypes. What it lacks is nuance, subtlety and any semblance of believability. But in a nonthreatening way it does encourage us to consider what can often be rather high and mighty positions on social matters until they affect us personally.

Mirza has a good premise but the resolution is somewhat rushed and unsatisfying. Using stereotypical characters is fine but I am disappointed that there turns out to be some justification for the aspersions cast onto the Muslim characters. Whether the details are warranted or not, this becomes an issue because it is easy for some people to walk away saying, “See I told you so.” In my view, Mirza had two good ideas that deserve attention but maybe not combined into the same play.

The faux grass carpeted set design of Tianxuan Chen screams suburbia while the array of lawn signs and variety of Frank’s political t-shirts assembled by costume designer Delena Bradley informs us of the character’s political and ideological leanings. I appreciate when the non-verbal elements of the production support the storyline and actually help to advance the plot.

Gagoomal as Mo, feels like a friendly laid-back guy you’d be happy to have as a neighbor and Herb’s portrayal of Becca’s relationship with him and also with her father were very natural and sincere.

As the overzealous father, Nall is requisitely dead-pan when he puts the wrong foot forward in an effort to be accommodating. Holstein as sleuthing neighbor Shawn, holds nothing back verging on slapstick. When Bader arrives as Javid he interjects an alternative mysterious vibe that makes his agreeable nature appear suspect.

I must make an unusual mention of the impressive printed program. More than just the quality of the paper stock, the cover design featuring a photo of the actual cast members is incorporated in a montage that mimics a semi-realistic impression of the set design rendered into a stylized graphic evocative of the production. Nicely done. However I could not find a reference to the photographer or the graphic designer.

Details: “Neighborhood Watch” is at Jackalope Theatre in the Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N. Broadway St., Chicago, through June 28, 2025. Running time: 2 hours plus ten-minute intermission. Tickets and information at JackalopeTheatre.org or call/text the box office at (773) 340-2543.

Reviewer: Reno Lovison

 

Exceptional Wildlife Photos

 

Photograph by Randy Olson  The photographer captured this electric storm while photographing sandhill cranes at Platte River, Nebraska in 2016. He shot a series of 30-second exposures through the night, hoping lightning would strike during one. The result: a dramatic and rare view of these iconic birds.

Of course you would expect to see rabbits, deer and squirrels at a Lake County Forest Preserve (LCFP). But how about elephants, lions and tigers?

Check out the close encounters of wild life as perfectly captured by the lens of some of the world’s top photographers. The photo exhibit just went up May 24 at the LCFP’s Dunn Museum in Libertyville.

Titled “The Greatest Wildlife Photographs,” a traveling exhibition curated by National Geographic photo editor Kathy Moran, the photos will be up through Sept 21, 2025.

The exhibition features approximately 60 photographs with some audio-video elements and interpretive panels. Some were taken with camera traps or underwater rigs giving the viewer up close and personal shots.

Make it a summer drive when you can also fit in some of the museum’s surprising historic displays from early farms and the Civil War.

“We’re thrilled to bring this extraordinary exhibition to Lake County,” said Alyssa Firkus, director of education for the Lake County Forest Preserves, which operates the museum. “It aligns perfectly with our mission to connect people with nature through powerful storytelling and unforgettable experiences.”

The Dunn Museum is at 1899 W. Winchester Rd., Libertyville. 

Jodie Jacobs

 

Theater News

 

Persistent Spring showcase of See Chicago Dance

 

1. The Second City celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month with Dynasty Babies, its third annual Victor Wong Showcase.  The showcase runs 8 p.m. every Tuesday through May 27, 2025 in the e.t.c. Theater. Tickets are $10 and are available at: https://www.secondcity.com/shows/chicago/victor-wong-showcase-chi

Dynasty Babies is a fantasy comedy tour from this year’s fellows that are  sketches using love, longing, power, and catharsis.

The showcase trains and mentors emerging AAPI comedic talent. This year’s showcase features ten rising stars who have spent the past 15 weeks writing, performing, and creating the show.

The 2025 Victor Wong Fellows: Carolyn Hu BradburyCameron CaiLauren HughEliot HuhMarie MolinaMizha Lee OvernSharon PasiaMantra RadhakrishnanThomas B. Tran and Rohan Tripathi.

Julie Dumais Osborne, Vice President of The Second City Training Center explained the program.  “Through the Victor Wong Fellowship, we’re investing in bold, original voices and equipping them with the tools to thrive both onstage and beyond.”

 

2. See Chicago Dance

20th Anniversary Season announces the performers and events for the 2025 Chicago Dance Month.

Now in its 12th year, this summer celebration with many free events, begins with a Chicago Dance Month Kickoff Celebration, Saturday, May 31 at 3 p.m. at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.

The Chicago Dance Month includes 34 artists and companies (out of 108 applicants) with performance opportunities in 14 different events.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13qPFMKj5OfK4NWHsBiGymZxHqeuRxT4x

Visit https://seechicagodance.com/

Robot Revolt in Edgewater

 

Highly Recommended

If robots take over the world what will their relationship be to humans? Will it be a carefree utopia with happy automatons cheerfully laboring away while people enjoy a life of leisure or will the robots develop ideas and aspirations of their own, eventually viewing their human creators as archaic inferior predecessors, in-fact outdated models?

This is the basic concept behind Bo List’s R.U.R. a world premiere production, freely adapted from the play “Rossum’s Universal Robots” by Karel Capek is at City Lit Theatre.

As the play begins it becomes apparent that the use of robots in society to do menial tasks has been employed for some time however for the most part, they are still considered rudimentary.

Harry Rossum (Bryan Breau) the inheritor of Rossum’s Universal Robots, is a kind of ditzy inventor who is preparing to unveil his new generation of totally lifelike robots at an upcoming world exposition.

Rossum has furthered his development on an isolated island with the assistance of his scientist step-mother, Dr. Gall (Mary Ross), and his business advisor and inventory manager, Alquist (Brian Parry).

Helena Glory (Madelyn Loehr) arrives with her Nana (Shawna Tucker) to discuss the fair and humane treatment of robots with Rossum. In short order Rossum and Glory fall for each other and are wed.

The robots include Radius (Sean William Kelly), Tibia and a few other quite similar models (Claudia Sevilla) who cheerfully go about their programmed tasks. However, robots Marius (Brendan Hutt) and Sulla (Alex George) seem to be gaining knowledge from experience and increasing their intelligence.

Without giving away too much it is safe to disclose that the robots eventually revolt and therein lies the conflict to be resolved.

Directed by Brian Pastor, the overall vibe of this production is lighthearted but with a sense of urgency. It uses a compressed timeline and simple dialog much like a comic book or 1950s sci-fi movie. Think Flash Gordon or The Adventures of Superman.

Breau as Rossum, at times out-of-touch and timid, is requisitely “lost in space” playing up his opportunities for broad humor.

The character of Alquist starts out slow but builds interestingly to the end. Parry’s transformation from bit part to pivotal role is notable.

Alex George’s portrayal of Sulla is the standout. Her physical bearing and cold calculating demeanor is the perfect mix of automation infused with possibly the worst aspects of humanity.

I’m unfamiliar with the original source but understand that written at the dawn of WWII it was intended as a cautionary tale regarding social engineering and ideas of inferiority and otherness. Shadows of this message exist in List’s version. It also ultimately asks the question, “What does it mean to be human?”

Sound design by Jonathan Guillen adds sensory depth to the production. The set design by Jeremiah Barr, intended to be the interior of the robotics showroom is simple but outstandingly augmented by three previous models presumably envisioned and/or fabricated by props designer Meghan X. McGrath. Likewise, the ray guns utilized by the robots and the cordless phone were hysterical.

Costuming by Beth Laske-Miller is exceptional and visually “futuristic” by showing great restraint and keeping within the range of the naivety of the play’s overall attitude.

DETAILS: R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) world premiere adaptation by Bo List Freely adapted from the play by Karel Čapek is at City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago (second floor of the historic Edgewater Presbyterian Church) through June 15, 2025. Running time is 2 hours with a 10-minute intermission. For tickets and information visit www.citylit.org or phone (773) 293-3682.

Reno Lovison