A new play about the life of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at Pride Arts Center imagines her final reflections on a remarkable life.
Stories by hedy weiss
In ‘When There are Nine,’ a New Play About Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the End Triggers Memories of All That Came Before
Feb 17, 2022 | Hedy Weiss
‘Blues in the Night,’ a Talent-Filled Musical Revue, Chases the Blues Away
Feb 14, 2022 | Hedy Weiss
“Blues in the Night” at Porchlight Music Theatre is a talent-filled production that will leave you flying high.
A Rachmaninov Piano Concerto (and More) Rocks Orchestra Hall as Marin Alsop Conducts the CSO
Feb 11, 2022 | Hedy Weiss
Rachmaninov’s “Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor,” is a nerve-shatteringly difficult work. Backed by the full orchestra, which was in its usual sublime form, Lukas Vondracek rendered the extraordinary work with a superb mix of both titanic power and surprising lyricism.
Marriott’s Dance-Fueled ‘West Side Story’ Remains True to a Classic
Feb 11, 2022 | Hedy Weiss
The Marriott Theatre’s “West Side Story” opened Wednesday night in a production especially notable for its rip-roaring Latin and jazz-infused dance sequences choreographed by Alex Sanchez.
Chicago’s Trinity Irish Dance Company in High-Stepping Form at Auditorium Theatre
Feb 8, 2022 | Hedy Weiss
Chicago’s Trinity Irish Dance Company returned to the stage of the Auditorium Theatre for the first time since the pandemic drove it away two years ago for a thunderous performance.
A Rip-Roaring Homage to “Women of Soul” at Mercury Theater Chicago
Feb 6, 2022 | Hedy Weiss
“Women of Soul,” which runs through March 6 at Mercury Theater Chicago, is a powerhouse revue featuring a long list of decades-spanning singers.
An Epic August Wilson Play Receives a Monumental Production at the Goodman Theatre
Feb 1, 2022 | Hedy Weiss
August Wilson, the playwright who so brilliantly chronicled African American life in each decade of the 20th century, waited until very late in his career before writing “Gem of the Ocean.” The play is given a riveting production at the Goodman Theatre.
Tyla Abercrumbie’s ‘Relentless’ Digs Deep Into Rarely Explored Aspects of a Black Family’s History
Jan 31, 2022 | Hedy Weiss
Tyla Abercrumbie's riveting drama “Relentless” is receiving its world premiere production by Timeline Theatre, running through Feb. 26.
The CSO in a Resounding Homage to the Baroque
Jan 29, 2022 | Hedy Weiss
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra traveled back in time with a program of works by early 18th century Baroque masters Antonio Vivaldi and George Frideric Handel.
Capturing the Intersection of Classical and Jazz with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Branford Marsalis
Jan 25, 2022 | Hedy Weiss
The goal behind the concert at Orchestra Hall, which featured the notably “conductorless” New York-based Orpheus Chamber Orchestra along with saxophone master Branford Marsalis, was to explore the intriguing early intersection of classical and jazz music.
CSO Boldly Explores Tchaikovsky Scores Inextricably Linked to Ballet
Jan 21, 2022 | Hedy Weiss
What this glorious, superbly performed concert did prove was that listening to these works without the element of dance that ordinarily is a crucial partner of the music, you begin to hear them in a wonderfully fresh and exciting way.
Pianist Igor Levit’s Orchestra Hall Concert Heightened the Art of Listening
Jan 17, 2022 | Hedy Weiss
Pianist Igor Levit’s riveting concert at Orchestra Hall on Sunday afternoon not only displayed his technical brilliance but also raised the art of listening to a science.
A Night of Sheer Brilliance, Maestro Muti & CSO’s Bravura Musicians Prove Beethoven is Forever New
Jan 15, 2022 | Hedy Weiss
Maestro Riccardo Muti was in stellar form during Thursday night’s concert in Orchestra Hall. He clearly is in love with the indomitable musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and they return that passion with a magnificent combination of sound and fury and absolute beauty.
National Touring Production of ‘Oklahoma!’ Wreaks Havoc on a Musical Theater Classic
Jan 13, 2022 | Hedy Weiss
The production is a sad introduction for new audiences and a spirit-crushing experience for those who’ve seen “Oklahoma!” many times throughout the years.
Paying Homage to an Artistic Collaborator in Hershey Felder’s ‘Mozart and Figaro in Vienna’
Jan 10, 2022 | Hedy Weiss
The “musical film” is a fascinating look at the creation of “The Marriage of Figaro,” the first of the composer’s three major operas in Italian.
While Plagued by Sound Problems, Dance Became the Most Audible Element in Music Theater Works’ ‘Billy Elliot’
Dec 27, 2021 | Hedy Weiss
From almost the very first note it was apparent that something was very wrong with the sound system and miking, and much of the dialogue and singing, all along the way, was either inaudible or garbled. In fact, the only clear sound came from the orchestra, seated in the pit and led by Michael McBride.
‘8-Track’ Brilliantly Taps Into the Emotional Heat and Exuberance of Songs From a Turbulent Era
Dec 15, 2021 | Hedy Weiss
While its score may be classic retro, the songs are performed with great authenticity by artists who came of age decades after the baby boomers and Generation Xers who grew up with them.
Imagining Santa Claus’ Childhood in a Chicago Opera Theater Production
Dec 13, 2021 | Hedy Weiss
Have you ever wondered what Santa Claus’ childhood was like? Or why he’s so driven to take off from the North Pole for an arduous worldwide trip each Christmas Eve? The answers to those questions can be found in the 90-minute opera “Becoming Santa Claus.”
At the CSO, Bravura Turns by Violinists Ray Chen and Hilary Hahn, and Much More
Dec 11, 2021 | Hedy Weiss
Two different concerts by the ever-remarkable Chicago Symphony Orchestra arrived on the Orchestra Hall stage. Each came with a fascinating CSO-commissioned new work, a superb visiting conductor, and breathtaking performances by the phenomenal virtuoso violinists.
A Tip of the Hat to ‘Mr. Dickens’ Hat’ and Its Beguiling Twist on Charles Dickens’ Legacy
Dec 7, 2021 | Hedy Weiss
Every performer in this demanding show is multitalented and able to deftly shift from one character and mood to another in record time.
The Joffrey Ballet’s Lavish ‘Nutcracker’ Lights Up the Lyric Opera House Stage
Dec 6, 2021 | Hedy Weiss
Pure winter magic. The Joffrey Ballet’s altogether unique production of “The Nutcracker,” has never looked more glorious or been danced more ideally.
Unforgettable Moments in Chicago Productions of Sondheim Musicals
Nov 30, 2021 | Hedy Weiss
In the wake of Stephen Sondheim’s death, a look back at his impact on Chicago theater.
Celebrating the Centennial of Tango Master Astor Piazzolla in Grand Style
Nov 29, 2021 | Hedy Weiss
Two remarkable concerts took place recently in Chicago and were designed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Astor Piazzolla – the composer who transformed the traditional tango into an irresistible classical music hybrid.
At the Marriott, a Broadway-Worthy Rendering of Cole Porter’s ‘Kiss Me, Kate’
Nov 25, 2021 | Hedy Weiss
The infrequently revived 1948 musical gem boasts a brilliant score by Cole Porter of nearly 20 knockout songs, almost all of which are classics. It’s a wonderfully clever play-within-a-play book by Sam and Bella Spewack that owes a deep debt of gratitude to that guy by the name of William Shakespeare.
Hubbard Street Dancers Make a Remarkable ‘RE/TURN’
Nov 21, 2021 | Hedy Weiss
Hubbard Street’s phoenix-like rebirth was fully on display this weekend in an aptly titled program, “RE/TURN,” that featured three fascinating, superbly performed pieces.
‘Paradise Square’ Does a Fierce and Timely Dance Into a Civil War Era Racial Uprising
Nov 19, 2021 | Hedy Weiss
What really blows this show out of the park is its knockout dancing, and the brilliant choreography by Bill T. Jones that in many ways is more potent than any spoken dialogue.