By Jori Waldron Being handed a plate of Christmas cookies is not normally what theatergoers expect as they enter an auditorium, but at Stage 773’s production of It’s a Wonderful Santaland Miracle Nut-Cracking Christmas Story…Jews Welcome, that’s exactly what they get. Surrounded by twinkling lights and stockings hung with care, elves race around handing out
BET tribute to Etta James is here at last
By Jori Waldron “Etta James, Etta James, Etta James!” is the mantra going around the Black Ensemble Theater. Its original production, At Last: A Tribute to Etta James, written and directed by the founder of the theater, Jackie Taylor, celebrates the complex person behind James’ many famous songs. Five Ettas, in fact, interact and perform
Jedlicka’s ‘Big Fish’ is no great catch
By Jori Waldron An abundance of technical issues at its opening performance kept the musical Big Fish from living up to its big title. Now appearing at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center at Morton College in Cicero by its resident professional company, the Broadway book and music as well as a competent cast were severely
