Saturday, September 22, 2012

Iron Stag at the House

A bit of a mythological mashup but fund to be back to their good vs. evil, comic-booky roots. 


Thursday, September 20, 2012

Jitney at Court

As we were traveling to the show, Ms. S said:  "it's so great to know that you are going to be in really good hands with really good actors."  Another winner from the Court, with strong performances across the board and the always amazing A. C. Smith.  The script: well, it's a young man's script, but they managed it.


Saturday, September 15, 2012

Magic Flute at Chicago Opera Theatre


OK, check this off the list.  What a strange plot line. But the English translation by Jeremy Sams was really fun (love those rhymed couplets) and the singing, as always, was great. The Queen of the Night was particularly impressive.  But when I got home, Ms. S asked how it was, and I just said: "long."

Friday, September 14, 2012

Voices of Strength: Columbia College Dance

Dance by women from Africa.  We only saw one half of the program.  Mr. P was thumbs up for both parts, but Ms. S drew the line at the garbage bag down the throat in the second performance.



Correspondances: Kettly Noël (Haiti/Mali) and Nelisiwe Xaba (South Africa)
A lively, sophisticated duet that is part theater, part dance and part storytelling.  Noël and Xaba come together for a raucous conversation addressing the intimacy of friendship while exploring themes of race, culture and gender.

Quartiers Libres:  Nadia Beugre (Cote d’Ivoire)
One woman’s persistent pursuit to penetrate forbidden spaces and overcome real and perceived limitations to her freedom of expression.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

9/11, 11 anniversary

Let's talk about Bruce and Pete and singing in a crowd.  We need more of it.  I don't have a great voice, I've never been a fan. Is this because of church?  I sucked. But then I watched this documentary on Pete Seeger, and I saw the light. Don't care. Sing out, sing along.  And yes, I'm still on the Springsteen theme, but at Wrigley we all sang together, often, loud, proudly, without shame. "Ohhh, ut, ooh, ooooh.  When I'm out on the street."  It was great. 

Today, back to Pete. Together now.  "We shall live in peace, we shall live in peace, we shall live in peace, someday." Go ahead, sing along.

Saturday, September 08, 2012

Bruce at Wrigley

Walk to a Bruce concert?  Sure.  We thought it was going to rain, but it was perfect.


Three and 1/2 hours.  Awesome.  And Twist and Shout to end?


Show began at 8:23 p.m. local time (one hour past New Jersey)
Set list:
1. Prove It All Night (78 Intro)
2. My Love Will Not Let You Down
3. Out in the Street
4. Hungry Heart
5. We Take Care of Our Own
6. Wrecking Ball
7. Death to My Hometown (With Tom Morello) 
8. My City of Ruins (People Get Ready)
9. Spirit In The Night
10. Trapped
11. Jack of All Trades (With Tom Morello)
12. Atlantic City (With Eddie Vedder)
13. Lonesome Day
14. I'm Goin' Down
15. Darlington County
16. Shackled and Drawn
17. Waiting on a Sunny Day
18. None But the Brave (tour premiere)
19. Ghost of Tom Joad (With Tom Morello)
20. Badlands
21. Land of Hope and Dreams

Encores:
22. We Are Alive
23. Thunder Road
24. Born to Run
25. Dancing in the Dark
26. Jungleland
27. Tenth Avenue Freeze-out (with Eddie Vedder and Tom Morello)
28. Twist and Shout (with Eddie Vedder and Tom Morello)

Show over at: 11:50 p.m.