Displaying items by tag: Flying Lovers of Vitebsk
The 'Flying Lovers of Vitebsk' is an uplifting experience of true love that changed the world
I am delighted that Northlight Theatre chose to produce The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, penned by Daniel Jamieson and expertly staged and directed by Elizabeth Margolius, especially given the alarming rise of antisemitism currently sweeping the country.
The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk is a play that tells the love story of the famous Jewish artist Marc Chagall born Moishe Shagal and his wife, writer Bella Rosenfeld. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Vitebsk, the narrative explores their relationship as they navigate significant historical events such as the Pogroms, the Russian Revolution, and the rise of fascism in Europe. Marc Chagall, a renowned painter born in the small town of Vitebsk, where he met his wife Bella, lived to the age of 97. Such a ripe old age, despite the harrowing events depicted in the play, where he and Bella flee the brutal pogroms in Russia and the Nazi atrocities in Europe, Chagall’s resilience and longevity stand out. The play masterfully intertwines dance and music along with gripping dialogue to narrate the couple’s journey through some of the most turbulent periods of the 20th century, leading up to the Nazi occupation of France while focusing on the couple’s strong relationship and strength.
Jack Cahill-Lemme portrays Chagall with a focused optimism and an unwavering devotion to his Jewish bride, Bella, capturing the essence of love at first sight from their very first encounter. As Cahill-Lemme follows and admires Bella moving across the stage, his unwavering pursuit of her love is evident. His character’s elegant movements, captivating smile and dreamy expression reveal that his attention is entirely devoted to her. Cahill-Lemme’s longing gaze envelops Bella, reflecting his profound love, devotion, and undeniable attraction. Interestingly, during their first encounter, he asked her to pose nude for him, a common practice among painters of that era. Jack Cahill-Lemme is a rising star who was most recently seen on Broadway in the National Tour of Moulin Rouge alongside Boy George and has taken on roles at Marriott Theatre and Paramount Theatre among many other Chicagoland theaters. Rosenthal has also made her mark in the theater world, appearing at Drury Lane Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre and Writers Theatre.
Emma Rosenthal portrays Bella, the love of Chagall’s life with a tremendous amount of energy and childlike wonder. Her character is a fiery, headstrong, and intelligent woman deeply in love and devoted wholly and joyously to her passionate and genius husband, and their child. Rosenthal’s performance radiates with the spirited energy of a Jewish woman who has found both her true love and her destiny as his inspiration, especially evident in their numerous dance numbers and songs together.
It was fascinating to see that instead of using the stained glass painting of the flying lovers as a backdrop, the simple yet modern set allowed each dance number between the two lovers to evoke the painting’s uplifting joy and the lifelong physical attraction that inspired the most famous painting by Chagall of all time.
The live music for the show, performed by musical director Michael Mahler and Alyssa Carlson, featured a mix of new and old instruments, including the piano. Their performances added depth to the many wonderful song and dance numbers, which were delivered in various languages, including Yiddish, Russian, French, and English, creating a powerful emotional impact.
Marc Chagall was ahead of his time in many ways and faced rejection in his Russian homeland despite his worldwide acclaim as a pioneer of the art movement now known as Impressionism.
Under the guidance of Artistic Director BJ Jones, The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk captivates audiences with its compelling narrative that holds their attention from start to finish. The production is brought to life with its talented cast along with music by Ian Ross, stage and movement direction by Elizabeth Margolius, and musical direction by Michael Mahler.
I highly recommend this beautiful, moving, and joyful 80-minute one-act production for audiences of all ages. It offers a wonderful opportunity to learn about Jewish history and the arts in a setting that celebrates the relationship between artist and muse.
The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk is being performed at Northlight Theatre in Skokie through October 6th. For tickets and/or more show information, click HERE.
Holiday Hilarity! Paramount presents The Second City’s Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue at downtown Aurora’s Copley Theatre, Nov. 20-Dec. 23
21 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreNeed something better than old reruns of Hallmark Movies this holiday season? Want to see some real nut-crackers? Then dash…
Mary, A Holiday Dansical Returns for one performance only at Logan Center December 13th
21 October 2026 in Upcoming DanceBlack Girls Dance®, which centers Black and Brown girls in joyful community, presents its sixth annual production of Mary, A…
The Gift Theatre's Hayward: A Floridian-Style Shiva
20 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewThere are funerals where grief brings a family together, and then there are funerals where grief opens the door to…
Chicago Shakespeare Makes Winter’s Tale a Story Worth Telling
20 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewChicago Shakespeare Theater’s production of The Winter’s Tale delivers a compelling evening of theater, showcasing an exceptional company of actors…
Steppenwolf Theatre Presents JESSIE MUELLER WITH SETH RUDETSKY – December 18 & 19, 2026
20 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreSteppenwolf Theatre Company and Mark Cortale are pleased to announce the return of Tony Award-winning Broadway star Jessie Mueller (Beautiful:…
Remy Bumppo’s Mud Row: A Family Haunted by the Past
20 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewRemy Bumppo opens its 30th anniversary season with Mud Row, a play by Tony Award nominee and MacArthur “Genius” Grant…
A Joe & Melanie Thing Theatre Company announces The Hanukkah Humbug at Greenhouse Theater Center - December 3-6
20 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreThe world premiere of The Hanukkah Humbug brings ghosts, history, tradition, and a whole lot of family fun to the…
Identity Performing Arts' Fifth Anniversary Gala: Movement That Keeps Becoming
19 October 2026 in Dance in ReviewFive years is an important milestone for any arts organization, but for a contemporary dance company it also marks an…
Music Theater Works Pours a Beachy Cocktail with Escape to Margaritaville
19 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewA gentle, tide‑easy current settles in right from the start, immediately signaling the kind of story this musical wants to…
Overshadowed Theatrical Productions Brings Beloved Holiday Classic It’s a Wonderful Life to the Stage
18 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreThis holiday season, Overshadowed Theatrical Productions is thrilled to present the timeless holiday classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, live on…
Dance Theatre of Harlem fills Auditorium Theatre with fire and funk
18 October 2026 in Dance in ReviewProjecting a vibe that felt more homecoming party than ballet presentation, Dance Theatre of Harlem returned to Chicago on October…
“A Strange Loop” Lets the Intrusive Thoughts Win at Raven Theatre in partnership with About Face Theatre
17 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewA musical, but it’s just the voices in your head. Sounds just crazy enough to win the 2020 Pulitzer for…
BTE Opens New Season with Gunderson's "Louisa May Alcott's Little Women" Nov. 12-Dec. 13
16 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreBuffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE), the professional Equity theater companyin residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), opens its 2026-27 three-play…
Announcing Goodman's 22nd New Stages 2026 Festival Line-Up
15 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreFrom a "Kung Fu rom-com" to a witchy new musical, The Goodman's popular New Stages Festival in its 22nd year continues…
TIMELINE THEATRE’S 100TH PRODUCTION, THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF LAURA WADE’S HOME, I’M DARLING, DIRECTED BY MECHELLE MOE, SATIRIZES THE SEDUCTIVE FANTASY OF A “SIMPLER PAST,” NOVEMBER 11 - DECEMBER 13
14 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreTimeLine Theatre’s 30th Anniversary Season at its new home in Uptown rolls merrily along in November with the company’s 100th…
Court Theatre announces America@250 - Now is the Time: Artists Go to Work
14 October 2026 in Theatre BuzzUnder the leadership of Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director Avery Willis Hoffman and Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, Court Theatre proudly…
JK Entertainment presents WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND UNAFRAID at Greenhouse Theater Center November 12 – 29, 2026
14 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreJK Entertainment has released first look rehearsal photos for WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND UNAFRAID, the first production of the…
Trap Door Theatre Presents the World Premiere of OH, BUDDY, by Hal Cosentino. Opening November 12th, 2026
14 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreTrap Door Theatre is thrilled to continue its 33rd season with a Chicago Premiere of Oh, Buddy, written by Hal…
Announcing the Cast of the 49th A CHRISTMAS CAROL
14 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreTis the season, in spite of today's unseasonable temps, as A Christmas Carol begins rehearsals for The Goodman's 49th annual…
NOVA ENTERTAINMENT CURRENT AND UPCOMING 2026 CIRCA PINTIG UPDATES
14 October 2026 in Now PlayingNova Entertainment is pleased to announce the upcoming performance schedule and updates for CIRCA Pintig, with a visual rebrand and…
Steppenwolf Theatre Announces "ha ha ha ha ha ha ha" January 13 – February 7, 2027
14 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreThe blurb is: hahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahaha hihihi hahahahahahaha hoho hahahhahaha hehe hahahahahahahahahaha. Julia Masli's award-winning solo phenomenon ha ha ha ha…
'Sanctuary Stories' Ventures Into Emotional Drama Behind the News on Immigration
13 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewSanctuary Stories plumbs the line between theater and journalism, and the powerful human dramas both can depict. Funded by a Northwestern…
Inside Six Strange Worlds: Exquisite Corpse VI: LULLABIES
13 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewFor its sixth Halloween season, Rough House Theater Co. has transformed Steppenwolf’s Merle Reskin Garage into a spectacular puppet haunted…
PrideArts announces cast and production teams for Nick Payne's CONSTELLATIONS, performed by alternating same-sex casts, November 13- December 13
12 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreThursdays – Saturdays at 7:00 pm, Sundays at 3 pm Additional Saturday matinees at 3:00 pm on November 28 and December…
Robert Falls Directs a Sinfully Satisfying Don Giovanni at Lyric Opera of Chicago
11 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewLet he without sin cast the first stone, Lyric’s “Don Giovanni” seemingly says when they bring up the house lights…
Teatro Vista Productions in collaboration with Audible presents Cafecito & Loops: A Mexodus Listening Tour Headed South Sundays, through November 1st
11 October 2026 in Now PlayingTeatro Vista Productions (TVP), the Midwest's only Latine-led Equity theatre company, in collaboration with Audible, presents Cafecito & Loops: A…
BrightSide’s Addams Family Musical Revives the Wonderfully Weird World of the Addams Clan
10 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewThey're creepy and they're kooky, Mysterious and spooky, They're altogether ooky, The Addams Family. Yes, ooky. BrightSide Theatre’s production of…
Chicago City Opera Delivers a Rare Operatic Haunting with Der Vampyr
08 October 2026 in Theatre in ReviewWith Halloween creeping closer, there’s something fitting about revisiting one of opera’s earliest flirtations with macabre horror - especially in…
Avalanche Theatre stages the world premiere of They Broke Up by Skyler Tarnas November 6–22, 2026
08 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreAvalanche Theatre announces the world premiere production of They Broke Up by Chicago playwright Skyler Tarnas, November 6–22, 2026. Opening…
Oil Lamp Theater Announces the cast and creative team for the return of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY, Nov. 20 - Dec. 27
08 October 2026 in Upcoming TheatreOil Lamp Theater is proud to announce the cast and creative team for its next production and the final production…
Latest Articles
-
Holiday Hilarity! Paramount presents The Second City’s Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue at downtown Aurora’s Copley Theatre, Nov. 20-Dec. 23
Written by Buzz Center StageNeed something better than old reruns of Hallmark Movies this holiday season? Want to see some real nut-crackers? Then dash on through the snow to catch The Second City’s Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue, November 20-December 23 at Paramount’s Copley Theatre, 8… -
Mary, A Holiday Dansical Returns for one performance only at Logan Center December 13th
Written by Buzz Center StageBlack Girls Dance®, which centers Black and Brown girls in joyful community, presents its sixth annual production of Mary, A Holiday Dansical, choreographed, written, and directed by Founder Erin Barnett. This fundraiser returns for one night only Sunday, December 13…
-
The Gift Theatre's Hayward: A Floridian-Style Shiva
Written by Wesley DavidThere are funerals where grief brings a family together, and then there are funerals where grief opens the door to everything a family has spent years trying to keep buried. In Hayward, playwright Netta Walker turns a father’s funeral into… -
JK Entertainment presents WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND UNAFRAID at Greenhouse Theater Center November 12 – 29, 2026
Written by Buzz Center StageJK Entertainment has released first look rehearsal photos for WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND UNAFRAID, the first production of the company's second season. JK Entertainment's production brings this story to Chicago audiences November 12–29, inviting audiences to consider how far…
Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.