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The musicians including Rafe Bradford (bass), Ricardo Jimenez (trumpet) and Darius Hampton (reeds) are adept at keeping things in balance and complementing the singers. And there's the rub. Kennedy plays the Girl with the Date with a winning combination of youthful optimism and just the right amount of jadedness. Ive seen Blues in the Night, which dates back to the 1980s, several times before. Porchlight Music Theatre has staged a number of similar revues over the years, and I look back on those most fondly for the tremendous talent they have showcased.
In Reckless Blues, Kennedy shows the audience The Girl with a Dates rich, evocative emotional backstory. With a winning combination of sexy and sass, powerhouse vocalist Donica Lynn plays The Woman of the World, her characters fleeting riches hidden well beneath authoritative vocal runs and sly choreography. The 15-year-old went underwater Tuesday at a swimming pond at the Smokey Hollow Campground in Lodi, about 20 miles northwest of Madison. Evan Tyrone Martin and Clare Kennedy in "Blues in the Night" by Porchlight Music Theatre at Ruth Page Center for the Arts. PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATREpresentsBLUES IN THE NIGHTRuth Page Center for the Artsthrough March 20 WEBSITETICKETSHEALTH & SAFETYDIGITAL PROGRAMFor more reviews, visit: Theatre In Chicago, PicksInSix is a registered trademark of Roxbury Road Creative, LLC. Aeriel Williams, Jessica Seals and Hannah Efsits in "Women of Soul: at Mercury Theater Chicago. The busiest costumer and wig designer in all Chicagoland, Ruben Echoles brought glamour and a worldliness to his triumphant trio of leading ladies. Info: PorchlightMusicTheatre.org, (773) 777-9884. ", "David Fiorello's musical direction is brilliantly handled the task of telling several stories musically. Felicia P. Fields in "Blues in the Night" by Porchlight Music Theatre at Ruth Page Center for the Arts. There was an error processing your request. The conceit is that we're on the South Side of Chicago in 1938 in a once-popular hotel that has become rather shabby, Three women live in the hotel. It does allow the audience to tap into their own experiences and use their individual imaginations to formulate a plot, but the storys not always crystal clear.
You will be moved by both the joyous celebration of faith and the steamy hot independence of character in every role. Porchlight Music Theatres BLUES IN THE NIGHT runs through March 13 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 North Dearborn. Health insurers in individual marketplaces across 13 states and Washington, D.C., will raise rates, on average, 10% next year a big increase after premiums remained virtually flat for several years. Its historic, and not something that should be missed. His accomplished, silky-smooth vocals demonstrated best during the Wild Women and Baby Doll songs. (Anthony Robert La Penna / HANDOUT). The trio is joined by The Man in the Saloon (Martin) and The Dancing Man (Terrell Armstrong), the former with a voice as alluring as a Siren, the latter flitting among the women with a sinewy grace thats irresistible. Newcomer Clare Kennedy is The Girl on a Date, an ingnue looking for a new beginning in a new city. Another woman-centered musical revue can be found at the Mercury Theater: this one is, in essence, a reprise staging of the Black Ensemble Theatre production of Women of Soul, as directed by Darryl D. Brooks. Evan Tyrone Martin and Clare Kennedy in "Blues in the Night" by Porchlight Music Theatre at Ruth Page Center for the Arts. If I may paraphrase a line from an old Muddy Waters song, this show absolutely Got my Mojo Working. For those not in the know, Blues in the Night features the music of Blues legends Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Jimmy Cox and many more, while telling the layered stories of trio of women who share the common bonds of broken hearts, being done wrong by a man, and the very hotel each temporarily calls home. Theyre joined by the Man in the Saloon (Evan Tyrone Martin), as well as a new addition for this production, the Dancing Man (Terrell Armstrong). Adding this to their pre-pandemic repertoire which included an all-Black production of Gypsy, Call Me Madam, Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies and Pump Boys and Dinettes, Porchlight Music Theatre proves once again there is some "serious stompin' going on in Chicago." I also think the revue could use a bit more balance between uptempo numbers and ballads in the second act; it loses some pacing towards the end, but ends with a roaring finish with I Got a Right/Blue Blues, in which all four singers harmonize to perfection together. 
Like a faucet in a South Side two-flat, the blues can flow cold or they can run smokin hot. Blues in the Night: Porchlights cast captivates with the music of saints and sinners, Quaminos Map, a world premiere opera in Chicago, explores the burning desire for freedom, Hollis Resnik, acclaimed Chicago stage actress, dead at 66, Time-jumping In Every Generation shows how faith rocks a family, from one Passover to another, King and I the troubled classic soars in a lush staging at Drury Lane Theatre, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick sidelined with COVID as Broadway fights virus, The Mix: Cool things to do in Chicago April 7-13, Georgia man traveled to Chicago and fatally shot ex-wife at Streeterville condo, then killed himself as cops arrived: police, Blackhawks TV analyst Eddie Olczyk bolts for Seattle Kraken after Hawks talks break down, Start your engines: Lightfoot gives NASCAR green flag for three years of races through streets of Chicago, Eddie Olczyk owns decision to leave Blackhawks, but he didnt arrive at it alone. Shes particularly on point with Take Me for a Buggy Ride, in which she makes the songs double entendres rather plain; Fields knows how to milk her songs for all their worth, and she has charisma for days. Threats of harming another * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ", Chicago On the Aisle - Highly Recommended, "It's a down-and-out 1930s hotel populated by a weary and worn-out clientele. I grew up as a young twelve-year-old boy, listening to blues in a dark basement home of my uncle Jimmy, so this backdown memory lane musical was a treat. With "Rough and Ready Man," she goes full-throttle sex-positive with a vigorous celebration of the old axiom that dancing is a vertical expression of a horizontal desire. And just when they do, theres Kennedy: charming, demure with a soaring range who holds her own and then some sharing the stage with Chicago theatre royalty. The Woman of the World (Lynn) reminisces about happy times with her husband at the hotel and misses him now that they're apart. Sunshine and clouds mixed.
However, its the songs and the singers who absolutely sparkle in this production, and every one of them bring a polished glow to the Blues that are sung in the night.
In fact, if you don't read the director's note in the program, you may have trouble figuring out what's going on. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. ", "The sparse book highlights how this is Black music - even by noting a White girl exception-and is mostly delivered by Fields as the one-time Chitlin' Circuit star who shares that the Theatre Owners Booking Association is better known as Tough on Black Asses. Originally published on BroadwayWorld.com. What you get here is a group of strong singers, paying tribute to an eclectic array of iconic female vocalists such as Whitney Houston, Big Mama Thornton, Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse and Janet Jackson (soul is broadly defined here). One of the many things I enjoy about Porchlight Music Theatre here in Chicago is no one dusts off a little-known musical for a revamping better than this talented team. You have permission to edit this article. (LogOut/ 2022 Theatre In Chicago, all rights reserved. This is just the kind of show that city promoters should grab (but rarely do); in the right tourist-friendly venue, it could run forever and offer the kind of Chicago blues showcase that differs from the clubs but is no less legit. While these stars certainly shine bright. Be Truthful. We'd love to hear eyewitness You will discover five fascinating characters telling their stories in a musical style that is Chicagos own. Its one of the few revues to showcase the women of the blues and its elegantly staged here and with top-drawer local talent. Robbed yes; broken no - this is music that summons stamina for another day. Conversations featuring authors and influential leaders in the arts, media and business. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion.
Tony-nominee Felicia P. Fields is cast here as The Lady From the Road, a dame wise beyond her years; a seen it all, done it all gentlewoman who previously worked on The Chitlin Circuit. A vaudevillian star of yesteryear yearning for a comeback that may never come, this Lady had the audience effortlessly wrapped around her little finger from her first song, Take Me For A Buggy Ride, a raucous and raunchy romp that proved an audience favorite. Set in a history-filled hotel on Chicago's south side one fateful night in the late 1930s, this Tony Award-nominated celebration interweaves the stories of three women who share their highs and lows of romance through the iconic songs of Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Alberta Hunter, Jimmy Cox, Ida Cox and others. Another crowd-work-forward, stand-out performance comes from. Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters. While most revues have a concept, the back story for this one is both very specific and rather vague, not to mention annoyingly contrived. Her take on Rough and Ready Man is an act two highlight. She shines on Rough and Ready Man, which is a more sly comedic seduction. The dateline of the show is on the eve of what later became World War II, while today we are seeing this production on the eve of what could become World War III. The new show from Porchlight Theatre greatly favors the latter. Its a joy to behold! The Blues is one of America's original art forms and Chicago was the home to some of the greatest Blues performers ever.
This show is loaded with a full beating heart. The sixth character is keyboardist and conductor Maulty Jewell IV and the surging, soulful blues band that has, with musical director David Fiorello, created a terrific, unified sound all their own. From red hot to icy cool, Porchlight Music Theatres thrilling Blues in the Night travels the complete spectrum of its titular genre. When you combine best in class theatrical talent with a band that intimately knows and loves the music, A dynamic community for passionate participants, Looking into the abyss, Get Out Alive shows the way forward for life and musical theatre, Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical brings prep-school sensuality to the Chopin, Deeply meaningful and musical, Steppenwolfs Choir Boy hits all the right notes, A glittery My Fair Lady that would actually make Shaw proud. The show is about the Blues, so we do need the requisite hotel lobby heartbreaker, a lithe and limber Lothario as it were.
New to this production, Terrell Armstrongs character, The Dancing Man, is a womanizing gigolo who romances all three leading ladies.
Rueben D. Echoles' costumes and wigs mostly capture the feel of the period but are far from authentic, and the flaws were very obvious from where I was sitting in the front row. Benton Harbor, MI, 49022
Here's one that dusts off a couple dozen songs that will likely be new discoveries to most in the audience. This talented quintet instantly captures your heart while you find yourself simultaneously tapping your toe along to the infectious rhythms of both familiar, and not so familiar, Blues standards.
Sign Up for Evening Digest & Breaking News, 'Blues in the Night' lights up Porchlight, Editor's note: Saying goodbye to the Herald, Help the Herald continue our reporting in 2022, Newsletter from the editor: A jumping-off point, New UCPD chief talks dept.s mental health-oriented responses, community engagement, Remembering writer, teacher and activist Hannah Hayes, Emmett Till Home gets $150K grant for Blacks in Green project, Mark Anderson, new UChicago Medicine leader, to take over Oct. 1, A Hyde Parkers statue for Ukraine, blessed by priest. (Brett Beiner photo / HANDOUT). The show worked far better at Black Ensemble, frankly, partly because musical director Robert Reddricks band there was both larger and visible to the audience and the physical environment worked better than it does at the Mercury, where it is being staged essentially on the set for the previous show. Change). As for the music, Maulty Jewell IV was both the conductor and tickled the ivories of the piano. or anything. That could not be more true of director Kenny Ingrams production of Sheldon Eppss BLUES IN THE NIGHT.
Its one of the few revues to showcase the women of the blues and its elegantly staged here and with top-drawer local talent. The Man in the Saloon (Martin) is the hotel singer who apparently has problems at home with his wife and wants to reconnect with his younger carefree self, or so the director's note says. This is just the kind of show that city promoters should grab (but rarely do); in the right tourist-friendly venue, it could run forever and offer the kind of Chicago blues showcase that differs from the clubs but is no less legit. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. If you are a singer who wants to see what its like to own it on a major theatrical stage in Chicago, Porchlights Blues in the Night is your next destination. Tony nominee Felicia P. Fields is one of the stars of Blues in the Night, and her voice is as powerful as ever. Its music powerful enough to completely banish whatever blues are lurking in real life outside the theater, at least for the roughly two-hour duration of Ingrams robust staging. Lynns rich, warm alto is in glorious form.
Felicia P. Fields is a force of nature, and her presence alone is reason enough to see Porchlight Music Theatre's Blues in the Night, the musical revue conceived by Sheldon Epps in 1980. Aptly centered in The Windy City, the birthplace of the Blues, this revue left me smiling from ear to ear. Mainly clear. The womenFields Lady from the Road who explores her past; Lynns Woman of the World trying to sort out the present; and, Kennedys Girl with a Date whose future is yet to be writtenare all looking for and examining love and the men in their livesgood, bad and, well, all the restthrough the iconic blues arrangements of songs compiled by Sheldon Epps. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. There is something truly special about this show. Wild Women Dont Have the Blues is slick and seductive; Willow Weep for Me (with Kennedys Girl) shows the shattered heart that follows. While I was not familiar with many of the numbers in the revue, Eppss show features the work of notable blues singers including the iconic Bessie Smith. Martins velvety croon and smooth charisma make The Man in the Saloon fascinating, even when (especially when) hes leaving sorrow in his wake. On the one hand, the revue of some two dozen blues numbers offers low-down stanky, funky scorchers like Take Me for a Buggy Ride, in which a growling, hip-swerving Felicia P. Fields makes it unabashedly clear that shes not singing about a horse-drawn vehicle. ", "When the four powerhouse singers in the ensemble deliver big on the blues, Porchlight's BLUES IN THE NIGHT proves itself to be a gem of a production.". Those show charm with familiarity. (Anthony Robert La Penna / HANDOUT). There are a lot of places to listen to the blues in Chicago. United States. And the shows manifest longings are represented in dance by the fine Terrell Armstrong. The bone-deep sorrow she instills within "Four Walls Interlude" will have you reaching for a hanky. 
porchlight blues in the night
