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Showing posts with label highly recommended. Show all posts
Showing posts with label highly recommended. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
REVIEW: World Premiere of The Dress-Up Play Via Jackalope Theatre Now Extended Through March 29, 2026
Saturday, March 8, 2025
REVIEW: Barefoot Brilliance of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Enchants at The Auditorium March 7-9, 2025
ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
returns to The Auditorium March 7-9
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Ronald K. Brown’s Grace. Photo by Danica Paulos
REVIEW
By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara
Last night Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at Auditorium Theatre was as stunning as ever. This weekend marks the Company’s 56th visit to The Auditorium and we're here for it. I've seen Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater a number of times and their astonishing talent, superior production values, kinetic costume design, and barefoot brilliance is sure to impress.
Ailey’s Solomon Dumas, Constance Stamatiou and Yazzmeen Laidler in Alvin Ailey's Revelations
All Photos by Paul Kolnik unless otherwise noted
This company exudes world class strength, style, and grace! The lighting is a character unto itself and the score is so good you’ll be humming it for days. It's inspiring to see such tight ensemble work and stellar solo artists. Their 2025 tour is a great mix of acclaimed Alvin Ailey classics dating back to the 60s, mixed with new works.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Jamar Roberts Al-Andalus Blues.
It was chilly and sleeting on this March Chicago night, but Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater brought the soul warming sun!
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Alvin Ailey's Revelations. Photo by Tony Powell
AAADT in Alvin Aileys Revelations with live music. Photo by Christopher Duggan
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Alvin Ailey's Revelations. Photo by Paul Kolnik.
It gave me such joy to see a beautiful mix of races and ages in the audience, from silver haired elders, to enthusiastic teens, and wide eyed children. What a wonderful exposure to the arts and to dance in particular. According to The Auditorium CEO Rich Regan, “In addition to our public programming, we are proud to be offering two student performances by the Company this year, enabling The Auditorium to introduce thousands of students to this inspiring, dynamic company.”
Ailey’s Constance Stamatiou in Alvin Ailey’s Cry.
I feel so fortunate to catch an excerpt of Cry in honor of Ms. Judith Jamison, the beloved Company dancer and Artistic Director Emerita who passed away in late 2024.
Alvin Ailey’s Cry pays tribute to the late Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison on opening night, while Ailey masterpiece Revelations concludes both programs.
Cry excerpt (1971) Alvin Ailey choreographed the solo ballet, Cry, as a birthday present for his mother; it went on to become an enduring work of American art. First danced by the legendary Judith Jamison, an excerpt of this powerful work dedicated to "all black women everywhere - especially our mothers" will be performed on the opening night program (Friday, March 7) as a tribute to Ms. Judith Jamison, the beloved Company dancer and Artistic Director Emerita who passed away in late 2024.
Vernard Gilmore in Alvin Ailey's Revelations. Photo by Andrew Eccles.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Vernard Gilmore in Alvin Ailey's Love Songs.
This weekend is also special because Chicago’s own Vernard J. Gilmore is celebrating his farewell hometown engagement with Ailey, taking his final bow after 28 seasons with the Company. He was met with enthusiastic applause and well deserved ovations. The Auditorium Theatre was packed to the upper balconies with adoring fans of hometown favorite, Gilmore and his impressively long dance career. It was breathtaking to see him so joyfully embraced.
Currently the longest tenured Company member, the Englewood native began his professional dance training at Curie Performing and Creative Arts High School before receiving a scholarship to The Ailey School, performing with Ailey II, and joining Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1997.
The company is only in Chicago for 4 performances, so catch them live this weekend if you can! Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is truly a treat. Don't miss this! Highly recommended. ★★★★ Four out of four stars.
Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theatre critic, photographer, artist, and Mama to 2 amazing adults. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly).
The Auditorium proudly presents the 2025 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Chicago season featuring two programs packed with premieres March 7-9, 2025
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the world’s most popular dance companies, returns to The Auditorium, Chicago’s landmark stage at 50 E Ida B. Wells Drive, in four performances only, Friday-Sunday, March 7-9, 2025 as part of a coast-to-coast 2025 United States tour in a season celebrating the life and legacy of Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison (1943-2024).
Led by Interim Artistic Director Matthew Rushing, the passionate spirit and extraordinary technique of Ailey’s dancers will be showcased in two exciting programs featuring a trio of Chicago premieres alongside compelling new productions and beloved Ailey Classics including Alvin Ailey’s must-see signature masterpiece Revelations. Tickets start at $39.00 and are now available at AuditoriumTheatre.org. or by calling The Auditorium’s Ticket Service Center at 312.341.2300.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Yannick Lebrun andJacquelin Harris in Elisa Monte's Treading
New works abound by Hope Boykin, Lar Lubovitch, and Matthew Rushing, plus 25th anniversary restaging of Ronald K. Brown’s rapturous Grace, and new production of Elisa Monte’s mesmerizing duet Treading.
“Auditorium audiences welcome Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater with great enthusiasm each Spring, knowing a joyful experience awaits, and this year’s programming will be no exception. In this, the Company’s 56th visit to The Auditorium, we are saddened by the recent passing of the legendary Ailey dancer and Artistic Director, Judith Jamison, with whom we collaborated many times, but are pleased to pay tribute with a special opening night performance featuring an excerpt of Cry, the exuberant Ailey work that became her signature,” said The Auditorium CEO Rich Regan.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Alvin Aileys Revelations. Photo by Danica Paulos
In addition to the inspiring finale of Revelations for all performances, the programs for the 2025 Chicago engagement of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater are as follows: Friday, March 7 at 7:30pm & Sunday, March 9, at 3pm
Grace (1999, Chicago Premiere of 25th anniversary production) Set to Duke Ellington's classic "Come Sunday," Peven Everett’s hit "Gabriel," and the irresistible pulse of Fela Kuti's Afro-Pop, Ronald K. Brown’s spellbinding work depicts individuals on a journey to the promised land, expanding from a single angel-like figure in white to the fireball intensity of 12 powerful dancers. Here, the secular and sacred meet in a tour-de-force connecting African and American dance.
Finding Free (2024, Chicago Premiere) by former Company member Hope Boykin who returns to explore personal freedoms in this collaboration with pianist Matthew Whitaker who is composing an original score. This insightful work uses Boykin’s movement-language and Whitaker’s jazz- and gospel-influenced music to examine the challenges and restrictions throughout life’s peaks and valleys that propel the journey forward.
Ailey’s Caroline Dartey and James Gilmer in Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish's Me, Myself and You.
Saturday, March 8 at 1pm & 7:30pm
Sacred Songs (2024, Chicago Premiere) by Matthew Rushing features music used in the original 1960 premiere of Alvin Ailey’s seminal Revelations but later omitted when the piece was edited into the current version that has captivated audiences for decades. Drawing inspiration from the roots of Mr. Ailey’s most venerated and consummate creation, this stirring new work will resurrect and reimagine those spirituals—with the collaboration of musical director Du’Bois A’Keen—as an offering to our present need for lamentation, faith, and joy.
Treading (1979, Chicago Premiere of new production) by Elisa Monte is a sculptural, mesmerizing duet featuring fluid, intricate movements that combine with Steve Reich's evocative music to create an aura of mystery and sensuality.
Many Angels (2024, Chicago Premiere) by Lar Lubovitch in his first premiere for the Company, features the native Chicago choreographer’s renowned lush choreography and musicality set to Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. Many Angels is inspired by a question posed by 13th century theologian St. Thomas Aquinas, “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?,” illustrating that some questions have no logical response but are understood as a question of faith.
Culminating each program will be Alvin Ailey’s must-see American masterpiece Revelations, acclaimed around the world for sending hearts soaring and lifting audiences to their feet with its perfect blend of reverent grace and spiritual elation. Since its debut in 1960, Revelations has been moving audiences with its powerful storytelling and soul-stirring music, evoking timeless themes of determination, hope, and transcendence. An intimate reflection of Mr. Ailey’s childhood memories of growing up in the South and attending services at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Texas, Revelations pays homage to the rich cultural heritage of the African American community and explores the emotional spectrum of the human condition.
Ailey’s Chalvar Monteiro in Hans van Manen’s Solo. Photo by Daniel Azoulay
2025 Chicago program & performance schedule
Friday, March 7 at 7:30pm & Sunday, March 9, at 3pm
Grace, Finding Free, Cry* (excerpt), Revelations
*Friday only: Special Opening Night excerpt of Cry as a tribute to Ms. Jamison.
Saturday, March 8 at 1pm & 7:30pm
Sacred Songs, Treading, Many Angels, Revelations
In addition to these four public performances, the Company will present two student matinees at The Auditorium, reaching thousands of youths with an inspiring program of Ailey Classics on Thursday, March 6 and Friday, March 7 at 11am.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Alvin Ailey's Revelations
About Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by U.S. Congressional resolution as a vital American “Cultural Ambassador to the World,” grew from a now-fabled March 1958 performance in New York that changed forever the perception of American dance. Forged during a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, the Company was established to uplift the African American experience while transcending boundaries of race, faith, and nationality with its universal humanity. Founded by Alvin Ailey, the posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the nation’s highest civilian honor. Before his untimely death in 1989, Mr. Ailey named Judith Jamison as his successor, and for 21 years she led the Company to unprecedented success. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has performed for an estimated 25 million people in 71 countries on 6 continents—as well as millions more through television broadcasts, film screenings, and online platforms—promoting the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance tradition. In addition to being the Principal Dance Company of New York City Center, where its performances have become a year‐end tradition, the Ailey company performs annually at The Auditorium; Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC; The Fox Theatre in Atlanta; Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, CA, and at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark where it is the Principal Resident Affiliate, and appears frequently in other major theaters throughout the United States and the world during extensive yearly tours. The Ailey organization also includes Ailey II (1974), a second performing company of emerging young dancers and innovative choreographers; The Ailey School (1969), one of the most extensive dance training programs in the world; Ailey Arts in Education & Community Programs, which brings dance into the classrooms, communities, and lives of people of all ages; and Ailey Extension (2005), a program offering dance and fitness classes to the general public, which began with the opening of Ailey’s permanent home—the largest building dedicated to dance in New York City, the dance capital of the world—named The Joan Weill Center for Dance, at 55th Street at 9th Avenue in New York City. For more information, visit ailey.org.
The compelling story of the life, work, and legacy of Alvin Ailey is the subject of Portrait of Ailey, a new eight-part documentary series available for free on PBS LearningMedia. Created by Ailey II Artistic Director Emerita Sylvia Waters, Portrait of Ailey uses rare historical film and still images as well as contemporary footage to create a sweeping narrative of Mr. Ailey as a performer, choreographer, celebrity, teacher, social activist, arts advocate, and the creator of an enduring institution. All eight chapters are currently available online.
About The Auditorium
The Auditorium, located at 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive in Chicago, is an Illinois not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural, community, and educational programming to all of Chicago and beyond as The Theatre for the People. The organization also is committed to the continued restoration and preservation of this National Historic Landmark that originally opened in 1889. The Auditorium’s 2024-25 performance season features a dynamic mix of cultural events from ballet to rock and roll and everything in between. For more information on The Auditorium and a complete listing of events at The Auditorium, please visit AuditoriumTheatre.org.
Sunday, March 10, 2024
REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Marriott Theatre's Highly Recommended JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH Through March 30, 2024
ChiIL Mama’s Chi, IL Picks List:
Family Friendly Shows On Our Radar
Roald Dahl’s
JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH
Peter Blair, Executive Producer
Peter Marston Sullivan, Artistic Director
Katie Johannigman, Associate Artistic Director
Presents
Two of ChiIL Mama's lucky readers will win 4 tickets each!
ChiIL Mama and Marriot are partnering up on 2 giveaways, once again. Marriott's Theatre for Young Audiences James and the Giant Peach: 2 winner/4 tickets each ($60 value) And/Or Marriott Theatre's In The Heights: 2 winners/a pair of tickets each ($120 value). Winners' choice of any dates through March 17th pending availability. Enter at the end of this feature for your chance to win.
REVIEW:
By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara
Highly Recommended. ★★★★ Four out of four stars. Bonnie Kenaz-Mara, ChiILMama.com
Roald Dahl’s JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH is imagination incarnate. The book, film, and stage adaptation have long been family favorites of ours. In the capable hands of director/choreographer, Tommy Rapley, this story comes alive on stage at Marriott in all it's glory. Adults will adore this colorful cast and stellar storytelling as much as the kids do. Kudos to all the humans and bugs on cast and crew for a truly delightful production. When we caught opening weekend, the young kids in the audience were laughing often and entirely engaged with the on stage magic and mayhem.
I had the special delight of sharing the experience with 3 recent graduates of Northwestern University's theatre program, including my son, who had director/choreographer, Tommy Rapley, as their acting professor for 4 years. They were all enthusiastic fans of the production, and I can't tell you how jazzed I am to still be able to bring twenty somethings to a Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences show! My kids grew up on Chicago regional children's theatre and I'm so excited that my oldest is now working in the industry and getting the next generation of kids introduced to the wonder and joy of live theatre. Studies show exposing kids to theatre increases empathy and creativity. And you never know what a show might spark and what future plans may unfold.
ChiIL Mama, Bonnie Kenaz-Mara (left) with 3 of director/choreographer, Tommy Rapley's students who recently graduated from Northwestern University, including my son, Dugan (right).
Marriot's JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH is such a fun show. The costumes, puppets, props, music, and staging are playful and a joy to see. We particularly loved the unique choreography for Marriott's theatre in the round configuration which played out on multiple levels and directions so even the youngest audience members have great sight-lines.
We also dug the steamer trunks lining the perimeter of the stage, providing a treasure trove of props and costume changes.
The entire cast is hilarious and crazy talented. Special shout out to Kai Edgar as “James,” Andrés Enriquezas “Earthworm,” Lucy Godinez as “Aunt Sponge,” and Leah Morrow as “Aunt Spiker”.
The puppets are a must see. Don't miss this!
Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theatre critic, photographer, artist, and Mama to 2 amazing adults. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly).
Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences invites theatergoers of all ages on a remarkable voyage with Roald Dahl’s JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. Roald Dahl’s beloved story is brought to fantastical musical life, running through March 30, at 10 Marriott Drive. The one-hour musical journey is directed and choreographed by Tommy Rapley with music direction by Ryan T. Nelson. Each performance will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the cast.
“I am thrilled to be bringing James and the Giant Peach to Marriott Lincolnshire families,” said director Tommy Rapley. “This whimsical musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic contains the perfect blend of playful, spooky, heartwarming, mysterious, imaginative, and downright hilarious storytelling that I love as a director. The themes of forgiveness, the importance of family, and the boundless love between parent and child are particularly moving and vitally important to share with young audiences. At the heart of our story, James is the ideal character to welcome young people into adventure, as he leads young audiences on a journey that blends grief, hope, love, and joy."
When James is sent by his aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that launches an expedition of enormous proportions. Suddenly, James finds himself in the center of a gigantic peach, among human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities. After the peach rolls into the ocean, the group faces hunger, sharks and plenty of disagreements. Thanks to James' quick wit and creative thinking, they learn to live and work together as a family. Featuring a wickedly tuneful score by the Tony Award-nominated team of Pasek and Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman) and a curiously quirky book by Timothy Allen McDonald (Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka, Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas). JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH is the perfect voyage for young theatergoers.
This production of JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH stars Kai Edgar as “James,” Andrés Enriquezas “Earthworm,” Lucy Godinez as “Aunt Sponge,” Alex Goodrich as “Ladahlord,” Christopher Kale Jones as “Green Grasshopper,” Garret Lutz as “Centipede,” Leah Morrow as “Aunt Spiker,” Juwon Tyrel Perry as “Spider”, and Elizabeth Telford as “Ladybug” with understudies Emily Ann Brooks, Crystal Claros, Milla Liss, Tommy Thurston and Annie Yokom.
The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences team is led by Associate Artistic Director Katie Johannigman and Interim Artistic Associate Annie Yokom, with Costume Design by Amanda Vander Byl, Lighting Design by Ben Carne, Scenic Design by Milo Bue, Wig Design by Ray Sanchez, Props Design by Leo Bassow, and Sound Design by Michael Daly. The creative team also includes Assistant Director & Choreographer Emily Ann Brooks, Dialect Coach Sammi Grant, and Stage Manager Marcus Carroll.
JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH plays most Wednesdays through Sundays at 10 am with select 12:30 pm performances and plenty of Spring Break performances. An ASL interpreted performance will take place on March 16 at 10am. Visit MarriottTheatre.com or call 847.634.0200 for the exact schedule, as show times and dates vary. Tickets are $15.75 (plus tax and handling fees). Call for substantial group discounts on over 20 tickets. Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets, please call The Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or visit www.MarriottTheatre.com.
Also Now Playing Through March 17th:
Lin-Manuel Miranda's In The Heights
Highly Recommended!
★★★★ Four out of four stars, Bonnie Kenaz-Mara, ChiILMama.com
FLASH GIVEAWAY:
Marriott's Theatre for Young Audiences James and the Giant Peach: 2 winner/4 tickets each ($60 value). Winners' choice of any dates through March 30th (see below) pending availability.
Enter for your chance to WIN James and the Giant Peach Tickets HERE
*Your information will never be shared or sold and will only be used in the fulfillment of this contest.
Marriott Theatre's In The Heights: 2 winners/a pair of tickets each ($120 value). Winners' choice of any dates through March 17th (see below) pending availability.
Spring forward and WIN big, Chicago! ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows are giving away tickets to some of the hottest shows in town! Enter through midnight Monday 3/12. Winners emailed and announced Tuesday morning on both sites and social media.
Enter like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often! Good luck, and thanks for reading ChiILMama.com & ChiILLiveShows.com, your guide to fun in Chi, IL and beyond.
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