Two women who met in prison meet up after they are both released. They both don’t have any family to turn to, so they turn to teach other. They slowly reveal details to each other about their past, mixing truth with lies. In this process, a close friendship is formed that in some ways mirrors a mother and daughter relationship.

This play, written by Chloë Moss, won the 2009 Susan Smith Blackburn prize. On their website it says, “The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, established in 1978, is given annually to recognize women who have written works of outstanding quality for the English-speaking theatre.” Shortly afterwards, it was produced off Broadway starring Edie Falco (The Sopranos, Nurse Jackie).

The acting in this production is fantastic. Aila Ayilam Peck is excellent as Marie just trying to get by in her rough situation. Linda Reiter (The Realistic Joneses) is great as Lorraine, trying to put her life back together. They build off each other’s energy and the relationship they build is strong. It truly shows in the climatic moments as the emotions pour out of them. Off Loop theatre is back!

Cost of a ticket: $45

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Get tickets now for This Wide Night through November 13^th!

Quinn

The Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival usually takes place over two weekends at the end of September at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. This year, the festival is a bit downsized due to Covid and is just one weekend. Eight dance groups perform this year. Here is a selection of the best performances:

Christopher Knowlton

Extend Play

Choreography, technology, prop design, costumes, and performance by: Christopher Knowlton

Music: Jack Rose

In this piece, Christopher Knowlton places a record on a turntable. A video screen behind him shows the record spinning along with two computer animated dancers on top of the record. As he dances, motion capture technology translates his movements to the dancers. It’s a very cool idea, but on this night, it doesn’t work very well. The digital dancers often disappear or fly all over the place. However, with some work, this could be a great piece.

Aerial Dance Chicago

Arc Of The Heart

Choreographer:  Chloe Jensen

Music: Susie Suh And Robot Koch

Lighting Design: Jacob Snodgrass

Performers: Libby Westra, Genevieve Brady, Katie Harmon, Jennifer Sarsfield, Teagan Reed

Original Curveboard concept By Chloe Jensen

In this dance, the performers use wooden boards shaped into a quarter of a circle. This is much different than the silks hanging from the ceiling that this company usually uses. However , like  the ariel series, the curveboards require immense discipline and percision. The result is a compilation of beautifully synchronized movement filled with synergy among the dancers. 

Giordano II

Exodus

Choreographer:  Joshua Blake Carter

Music: Gui Boratto

Performers: Brittany Brown, Rosario Guillen, Sasha Lazarus, Onjélee Phomthirath And Erina Ueda

The dancing in this piece is majestic and graceful. Joshua Blake Carter’s choreography expertly matches the music by Gui Boratto.  This group consistently brings a top grade quality performance to this festival and this year’s professional display is no exception.

See the full program here: https://www.hccdf.com/program

Cost of a ticket: $25

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Quinn Delaney

In the opening act, you learn that nuclear plants across the country are exploding and causing widespread illness and a heavy blow to civilization. For the second act, which takes place seven years later, the group is traveling the country recreating episodes of television, such as The Simpsons, including the commericals. Lastly, in the third act, which takes place 75 years later, the performance becomes a full on psychedelic musical.

In the email audiences receive after purchasing tickets, the theatre recommends watching the “Cape Feare” episode from season 5 of The Simpsons. However, I would recommend exactly the opposite. The first act of this play is mainly them recalling the plot and dialogue of this episode. If you had just seen the episode, the jokes won’t be funny the second time you hear them. Instead, I would only recommend watching other episodes of the show to get familiar with the characters. On the other hand, it may be useful to watch the film, Cape Fear, the understand the movie references.

Jonah D. Winston has an impressive on stage presence across all the roles he plays.  The rest of the cast includes Leslie Ann Sheppard, Eileen Doan, Andrew Jessop, Tina Munoz Pandya, Ana Silva, Will Wilhelm, and Daniel Desmarais. On this night, Derek Self and Trey DeLuna played the parts normally play Andrew Jessop.

The costumes for this production may be the best part. In the second act, they have very funny home made costumes. Then, in the third act, they up the ante and go all out. Props to the costume designers, Mara Blumenfeld and Meika Van Der Ploeg.

Get tickets now for Mr. Burns, a post-electric play through October 31^st.

Cost of a ticket: $35 – $45

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Quinn

A young woman decides that she wants to form an all female mariachi band in order to play her grandmother’s favorite song. It was on a one of a kind record that was just broken. It is the 1970s, so creating an all female mariachi is unheard of. Her father is against the idea, so they must hide it from him. One of the band member’s husband is opposed, so they must hide it from him as well. The more obstacles they discover, the more they realize how revolutionary this idea is.

While this play is presented in English, the characters do also speak Spanish at times. So, it may help to brush up. Here are a few phrases that are used:

Hablame – Speak to me

Dondé estás? – Where are you?

Tía – Aunt  

All of the actors did not know how to play their instruments when they started. This is true of the characters they play also. This is a cool incarnation of life imitating art.

This play fits right in at the Goodman. It is a family friendly show with a good mix of comedy and drama.

Get tickets now for American Mariachi though October 24.

Cost of a ticket: $50 and up

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Quinn

Like many other tours, this one was supposed to take place last year. According to Rufus, it was going to be with a ten piece band, big sets, and big lights. He says they’ll do the bigger shows in a few years. He is so charismatic as he addresses the crowd. For this tour, they have a 5 piece band. There is a guitarist, drummer, bassist, pianist, and Rufus on vocals.

For tonight’s set, he plays very heavily from his latest album, Unfollow The Rules. They play one of the best songs from this album, “Damsel In Distress”. “Will you forever be a damsel in distress?” sings Wainwright. He has such a fantastic voice. An audience member was overheard saying, “I’d listen to him sing the phone book!”

He is often asked, “what is your favorite song?” He says it is the title track from his 2001 album, “Poses”. It is a beautiful song for which he sits down at the piano and plays it solo. The singing and the piano playing perfectly complement each other.  

Jose Gonzalez was also excellent. See our review of his headlining show at The Chicago theatre in March of 2019 here.

See the full setlist here.

Cost of a ticket: $60 and up

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Quinn Delaney

311 was formed in Omaha, Nebraska by singer/guitarist Nick Hexum, singer S.A. Martinez, guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton and bassist P-Nut. The band now resides in Los Angeles, California.

311 mix rock, reggae, hip-hop and funk into their own unique sound. After years of consistent touring, 311 have developed a reputation as one of the most entertaining & dynamic live bands in the U.S.

In 2017, they released their 12^th studio album MOSAIC (BMG) with its unique album cover–which is made up of nearly 10,000 photos submitted by fans.  Even the image of the 5 band members on the cover is made up of tiny fan photos–to solidify the concept of band and fans as one. Fans can view a high-resolution pan & zoom mosaic of the cover image now at 311AlbumArt.com.

“This cover captures the spirit of the collective nature that is 311–band and fans together to form something greater than the sum of its parts.” says Nick Hexum (singer/guitarist). Chad Sexton (drums) adds, “We have a very symbiotic relationship with our fans that see us on tour year after year.  We wanted to have an album title that would describe our fan base, our band & our music. And to tie all of this into a concept that could be presented in the album artwork as well.”

Here is the setlist for the show along with the Spotify tracks:

http://playlisthq.azurewebsites.net/artist.aspx?&ArtistName=311&SetlistID=538c1bf1

In 2019, they released their latest album, Voyager. They played “What The?” from this album. “Smokin’ that good weed. Getting high, we are stoners” they sing. This is a big moment as this is their first show in Chicago since cannabis was legalized on January 1, 2020. It’s great to finally celebrate this achievement along with celebrating the return of live music after the long pandemic shutdown.

Quinn Delaney

Shwayze created a new style of rap with his musical partner, Cisco Adler. It is a sun and fun filled style completely different from the NY or Detroit style. And tonight, he brings this party music to Chicago’s Beat Kitchen. Early on, he plays “Drunk Off Your Love” and everyone dances and sings along. “Feeling tipsy when your lips against me and I can’t control myself!”

A little later he sings the massive hit, “Corona And Lime”. “Baby, will you be my Corona and lime? And I will be your main squeeze.” His lyrics are perfect for joyously singing along.

Shwayze is in a party mode as he asks the bartender for another bottle of vodka, because he is all out after pouring it into the mouths of fans in the front row. Fans go ahead and start to buy him shots. He goes on to take about 3 shots throughout his set . One fan ups the ante and hands him a weed vape mid song. He takes a puff and then carries it around with him until the next break in the song when he can take another puff. Then, he hands it back to him.

Later on, he sings “Buzzin”, from his 2013 self titled album. “She was buzzin’ all over me like she fell in love” sings along everyone as they sway to the beat.

He closes with “Love is Overrated”. “I just want to fuck tonight, love is overrated. I don’t want to take my time, cause that get’s complicated.” It’s very impressive how he can command a room and create such a great vibe with just a microphone and a DJ behind him.

Catch Shwayze on tour now!

Cost of a ticket: $20
PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Exceptional Value
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Quinn Delaney

“I need more love everyday of my life!” sings Robert Randolph. With these words on top of an incredibly funky bass line accompanied by Randolph shredding on the steel pedal guitar, it’s impossible to not to start dancing. It’s such a great uplifting song.

During a long jam, of which there are many, Robert gets up and switches instruments with the guitarist. Then, the bassist switches instruments with the drummer. More switching of instruments continues. This is all done without stopping the song. It’s a very cool moment that really adds to the intimate jam atmosphere.

It really is a family band. The bassist Danyel Morgan and drummer Marcus Randolph are his cousins. The backup vocalist is his sister, Lenesha Randolph. Also, Brett Andrew Haas plays the guitar.

For the encore, as they play, the entire room is singing “Got my mojo workin, but it just won’t work on you” as the band covers this Muddy Waters classic. They close the night with “Ain’t Nothing Wrong with That”, which is a great rocker to close out the night. They are truly a great live band.

Also see our review of The Word featuring Robert Randolph here.

Cost of a ticket: $55

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Half Price+

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Quinn Delaney

Dance for Life is a fantastic event that brings together the best Chicago dance companies and the best dance audience. The proceeds go to the Dancers’ Fund, which provides financial assistance to dance community professionals in their time of need due to a medical issue. It’s a celebration of the dance community and its ability to care for its own.

This year had a much different feel than those in the past. Firstly, it took place in the Pritzker Pavilion instead of Auditorium Theatre. The larger space gave it a much more expansive feel. Secondly, this was the first performance for most of the companies since the pandemic began. You could see the excitement on the dancers’ faces in finally being able to perform again.

Here is a list of the next performance by the dance companies that participated in this year’s Dance for Life.

Giordano Dance Chicago

59^th Season Fall Series: Illuminate

October 22^nd and 23^rd

Harris Theatre

DanceWorks Chicago

DanceChance

September 24^th

Live on Zoom

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

FALL SERIES

RE/TURN

November 18, 19, 20, + 21, 2021

The Joffrey Ballet

Home: a Celebration

October 13–24, 2021

Lyric Opera House

South Chicago Dance Theatre

‘Lit-Anies’

Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival

Ruth Page Center for the Arts

October 8^th and 9^th

The following groups have not yet announced any future performances:

Movement Revolution Dance Crew

PARA.MAR Dance Theatre

Trinity Irish Dance Company

Visceral Dance Company

Quinn Delaney