Displaying items by tag: Ray Charles
Smash-Hit Summer Musical “Men of Soul” Comes Highly Recommended
A dazzling high-energy jukebox musical with history and astonishing talent, Black Ensemble Theatre's “Men of Soul” is sure to be a smash-hit! Brimming with electrifying artistry, the show brings to mind another long-running Chicago musical favorite “Million Dollar Quartet”, which features an array of 1950’s icons. “Men of Soul” shares the delicious romp through iconic American music history, featuring stunning replications of some of our most beloved performers and songwriters through virtuosic performances and upbeat entertainment!
“Men of Soul” celebrates the passion and power of musicians who triumphed over personal and social struggles to achieve success through song. Featuring a hilarious, spot-on, rousing rendition of Elton John’s “Benny and the Jets”, an incredibly energetic performance by Kyle Smith as Prince with “Purple Rain”, and including singing so remarkably similar to the original artist Ray Charles that I thought “Georgia On My Mind” was lip-synced! Dancing as only James Brown can in “Sex Machine”, crooning “On the Wings of Love” and “A Whole New World”, and rocking away to Billy Joel’s “My Life” and a medley of Bill Withers favorites such as “Lean on Me” and the unforgettable “Ain’t No Sunshine”, makes “Men of Soul” a summer performance to enjoy and remember!
I was especially impressed by the director and writer of “Men of Soul”, Daryl D Brooks. Seamless transitions, exciting lighting displays that incorporated the entire audience, and impeccable casting and musical direction brings this hilarious, high energy show to the pinnacle of success! Associate Director of Black Ensemble Theater, I look forward to the entertainment Mr. Brooks will bring the Chicago community in the future!
“Men of Soul” is the perfect summer show to bring friends and family to see, playing all through the month of August! Tickets can be found at www.blackensemble.org or by calling (773) 769-4451, with discounts for students, seniors and groups. Valet parking available.
Tw@birunjibaby
Review: ‘Hedda Gabler’ at The Artistic Home at The Den Theatre
22 February 2025 in Theatre in Review‘Hedda Gabler’ has mystified audiences for generations, as this was certainly Ibsen’s intention when creating this endlessly fascinating character. The…
Get It While It’s Hot: Waitress now serving at Paramount Theatre
22 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewSugar, butter, flour…beneath the flaky layers and buttery crusts of pies lay these three simple ingredients. They’re mixed and blended…
RIVERDANCE 30 - THE NEW GENERATION On Sale February 21st
20 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreBroadway In Chicago is excited to announce individual tickets for RIVERDANCE 30 – THE NEW GENERATION will go on sale on Friday,…
'Clue' The Hilarious Whodunit Brings Mystery Mayhem to CIBC Theatre
20 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewI’m not a fan of board games. I’ve never finished a full game of Monopoly. Risk? No, thanks. But Clue?…
Rivendell Theatre launches 30th Season with world premiere of No Such Thing
19 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreRivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago's only women-centered Equity storefront theatre, ushers in its 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of No Such Thing by…
Full Casting Announced for Steppenwolf Theatre's THE BOOK OF GRACE - Chicago Premiere!
19 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreSteppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to announce full casting for the Chicago premiere of The…
Celebrating 15th Anniversary of Joffrey Ballet's Winning Works at the MCA from March 14-23
18 February 2025 in Upcoming DanceThe Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet celebrates the 15th Anniversary of its choreographic competition, Winning Works, with five world premieres over…
Avalanche Theatre makes its Chicago debut with world premiere of Time is a Color and the Color is Blue by Melanie Coffey May 1–24, 2025
18 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreAvalanche Theatre announces its Chicago debut with the world premiere of Time is a Color and the Color is Blue by Chicago playwright…
Reaching New Heights: Radvanovsky is Radiant at the Lyric Opera
17 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewDo not believe the hype. AI will not replace the arts. By its very definition it is artificial, the antithesis…
A new "cult" classic: Missy Mazzoli's The Listeners comes to Lyric Opera, Mar 30
17 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewDo you hear it? The haunting hum of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek's The Listeners will transfix audiences at Lyric Opera of…
Creepy-Crawly Circus Magic: OVO Dazzles at NOW Arena!
16 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewI’ve never seen Cirque and have always longed to. It was SO worth the wait! Here’s what I saw: Color.…
Northlight announces cast for Prayer for the French Republic in a co-pro with Theater Wit
16 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreNorthlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2024–2025 season with Joshua Harmon's celebrated play Prayer for…
Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces the cast of its NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Production Sunny Afternoon
15 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreChicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces today the cast and creative team of its highly anticipated North American Premiere musical event Sunny Afternoon. Based…
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical - How a nice Jewish girl from Brooklyn gave us the songs that defined a generation
15 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewBeautiful: The Carole King Musical is a captivating tribute to the extraordinary journey of Carole King, tracing her path from…
Delightful ‘Circus Quixote’ Marks Lookingglass Triumphant Return to Water Tower
12 February 2025 in Theatre in Review“Don Quixote of La Mancha” is considered the oldest European novel, but it gets a fresh and exciting new treatment…
Review: 'Fool for Love' at Steppenwolf Theatre
10 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewLove is often jokingly referred to as a socially acceptable form of insanity, but in Sam Shepard’s ‘Fool for Love’…
Court Theatre’s "A Raisin in the Sun": Bold Choices, Timeless Struggles
10 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewLike the dream deferred in Langston Hughes' poem that inspired its title, Court Theatre's latest production of "A Raisin in…
Northlight Theatre’s production of 'The Heart Sellers' is Charming and Heartfelt
06 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewIt’s still fairly early in the evening. At this point, the turkey is in the oven, and Jane and Luna…
'Mr. Parker' at Open Space Arts: A Thoroughly Outstanding Theatrical Journey
04 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewOpen Space Arts presents a premiere performance of Michael McKeever’s MR PARKER. Like everything I’ve seen at Open Space Arts…
Baldwin Vs. Buckley: How Have We Changed in 60 Years?
03 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewSome 60 years ago black intellectual and littérateur James Baldwin met with the leading conservative spokesman and author of his day,…
Petal-powered Feud: When Shrubs and Sass Collide in Buffalo Theatre Ensemble's 'Native Gardens'
02 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewBuffalo Theatre Ensemble’s latest offering, Native Gardens by Karen Zacarias, is a riotous comedy that delves into the quirky world…
Steep Theatre’s A Slow Air is Thought-Provoking and Intimate
27 January 2025 in Theatre in ReviewIt’s Athol’s turn to speak. The lights have come up on his side of the stage and Morna fades into…
Avaaz: A Powerful and Personal Tribute to a Mother’s Journey
26 January 2025 in Theatre in ReviewOne of the things I have always enjoyed and admired most about Chicago Shakespeare Theatre is their willingness to bring…
Lookingglass Theatre Company Shares 2025 Performances, Post-show Discussion, Events, Updates and MORE
23 January 2025 in Upcoming TheatreChicago’s Tony-Award winning Lookingglass Theatre Company is proud to share its current 2025 season including two mainstage productions, Circus Quixote, January 30 – March…
Fat Ham at Goodman Theatre: Bold, Hilarious, and Heartfelt
23 January 2025 in Theatre in ReviewJames Ijames' Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Fat Ham, bursts onto the Goodman Theatre stage in a vibrant, deeply resonant co-production with…
Review: Porchlight Music Theatre's 'Fun Home' at Ruth Page Center for the Arts
21 January 2025 in Theatre in ReviewBefore Alison Bechdel became famously associated with her “Bechdel Test” for evaluating fiction by how women are portrayed, she published…
Dual Delights: A Spellbinding Journey with Jekyll And Hyde In Concert
20 January 2025 in Theatre in ReviewBrightside Theatre's latest production, Jekyll And Hyde In Concert is a truly mesmerizing experience. And if you are a Chicago…
"Braids, Dreams, and Resilience: JaJa’s African Hair Braiding Shines at Chicago Shakespeare Theater"
20 January 2025 in Theatre in ReviewJaJa’s African Hair Braiding, written by first-generation Ghanaian American playwright Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Obie Award-winning Whitney White, is…
XAVIER MORTIMER: MASTER OF MAGIC Now On Sale
20 January 2025 in Upcoming TheatreBroadway In Chicago and Starvox Touring are excited to announce individual tickets for XAVIER MORTIMER: MASTER OF MAGIC are now on sale. XAVIER MORTIMER: MASTER…
Drury Lane Theatre launches 2025/26 Season with the thrilling Chicago Regional Premiere of The Da Vinci Code
18 January 2025 in Upcoming TheatreDrury Lane Theatre opens its 2025/26 with the thrilling Chicago Regional Premiere of The Da Vinci Code, based on the novel by Dan Brown,…
Latest Articles
-
Creepy-Crawly Circus Magic: OVO Dazzles at NOW Arena!
Written by Sarz MaxwellI’ve never seen Cirque and have always longed to. It was SO worth the wait! Here’s what I saw: Color. And light. And color. And music (Berna Ceppas Composer and Musical Director) – or sound, any road -- Sound Designer… -
Review: ‘Hedda Gabler’ at The Artistic Home at The Den Theatre
Written by John Accrocco‘Hedda Gabler’ has mystified audiences for generations, as this was certainly Ibsen’s intention when creating this endlessly fascinating character. The Artistic Home transforms the Den Theatre into 1890s Norway for their production of Irish playwright Mark O’Rowe’s 2015 adaptation of… -
Get It While It’s Hot: Waitress now serving at Paramount Theatre
Written by Kendall RoyzenSugar, butter, flour…beneath the flaky layers and buttery crusts of pies lay these three simple ingredients. They’re mixed and blended together to form the foundation of endless possibilities to what it could become, pecan, blueberry, or apple pies, cutie pies,… -
RIVERDANCE 30 - THE NEW GENERATION On Sale February 21st
Written by Buzz Center StageBroadway In Chicago is excited to announce individual tickets for RIVERDANCE 30 – THE NEW GENERATION will go on sale on Friday, February 21. RIVERDANCE 30 – THE NEW GENERATION will play Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) for a…
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.