Author: Gayle
A surreal evening with Bryan Ferry
Photo by Terry Giardina
Saturday night was a special night. With a nice warm breeze and a star scattered sky, the king of suave, legendary British singer Bryan Ferry made his first appearance at Ravinia. With a career spanning 40 plus years, Bryan delighted us with his deliverance of songs. His style, grace and coolness are what seems to be absent in the younger generation of performers.
A Pair of Legends
Jeff Beck and Buddy Guy at Ravinia
The audience knew they were in for a special night when two of the best guitarist to grace the music world were about to hit the stage: Jeff Beck and Buddy Guy.
Read MoreEmmylou Harris / Lyle Lovett and His Large Band at Ravinia
Emmylou Harris
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band
Opening the show was the legendary Emmylou Harris, known for her amazing voice and famous collaborations. With a
Read MoreA Magical Night at Ravinia
Bob Dylan and Mavis Staples – Ravinia
On a perfect summer evening, a sold out enthusiastic crowd descended on the grounds of Ravinia for what would be an amazing night of legends and music. Mavis Staples got the crowd going by starting with her 1973 hit, “If You’re Ready,(Come Go with Me). And for the next 45 minutes we took that ride with her. She played her classic Gospel, rich soul style in the famous Staple Singers way. She spoke about the 1960s Civil Rights Movement and how she witnessed Dr. Martin Luther King’s marches. She sang all her hits and finished with “I’ll Take you There”, the Staple Singers number one hit from 1972.
Courtesy of Ravinia Festival
After a short break Bob Dylan 0pened with a lively version of the Academy Award winner for Best Original Song: “Things have Changed” from the movie “ Wonder Boys”. This started the show off with the promise of another great Dylan concert. Bob kept up the pace with the next two songs, “She Belongs to Me” and “Beyond Here Lies Nothing” before settling down into his latest efforts with the Great American Songbook of standards. Bob tenderly and delicately sang covers from Irving Berlin to Frank Sinatra, much to the approval of his hardcore fans.
After putting the crowd in this 5 song “Melancholy Mood” he switched gears and pulled out a personal favorite of mine, “Tangled Up in Blue” from his classic “Blood on the Tracks” album. Bringing the crowd to their feet with the opening lines, “Early one mornin’ the sun was shinin’ ,I was layin’ in bed ,wondrin’ if she’d changed at all, if her hair was still red”. Bob sang it with great emotion and played a strong harmonica solo which brought cheers from the smiling happy crowd. When Bob finished to a standing ovation, he announced a short intermission. The crowd was buzzing with conversation after this set.
Bob and his Band opened the second set with the bluesy “High Water, for Charley Patton” which again got the crowd going. He quickly returned to the old standards that dominated the 2nd set, only throwing in “Early Roman Kings” with its blues drenched riffs. His encore was a new arrangement of “Blowing in the Wind” with Bob on the keyboards.
Courtesy of Ravinia Festival
And then surprising everyone he closed the show with a hard hitting version of “Lovesick” from his 1998 Grammy Award winning album “Time Out of Mind”. Bob smiled and waved goodbye to the cheering crowd, who clearly wanted more. Another great Dylan show consisting of 21 songs. 15 of those from his last 3 albums alone.
Bob seemed to want to stay current and only dip his toe into the past. Ravinia is a great venue for this American icon to perform his latest magic amidst a sea of truly happy fans. Dylan’s triumphant return to Ravinia -welcome back Bob after 30 years and thanks for a memorable evening of music.
Reviewed by Terry Giardina
Ravinia Season starts with a Big Bang
Photo by Terry Giardina
What are some of the best things about summer in Chicago? Beaches, fests, Bike rides, the lakefront just to name a few. But for me and many others the greatest thing about summer is Ravinia. And as far back as I can remember I have always equated Ravinia with the start of the summer (perhaps some people think memorial day). What better way to spend a beautiful summer evening then hanging out with good friends, good wine, listening to some of the best live music to kick off Ravinia 2016.
Billed as the “Last Summer on Earth” Tour, this triple header, four hour concert was quite a musical masterpiece. The triple header being Howard Jones, OMD and Bare Naked Ladies. As I looked around at the crowd ( many in my age group) I felt transformed back to my 20’s dancing the night away to the music of Howard Jones and OMD. And might I mention watching Andy McCluskey work the stage was quite impressive. “If you Leave” brought us all back to that John Hughes “Pretty in Pink” soundtrack, a classic movie which really defined the 1980’s.
Photo by Terry Giardina
And then BNL took the stage. A Canadian band who came onto the music scene in the late 1980’s. Besides some great songs (Brian Wilson, If I had a Million Dollars) it is their whimsical, humorous bantering that made audiences take note of this very talented group. They treated us to a song about a restaurant they had eaten at (loved the food, not so much the décor). They also sang about the many different food items being eaten on the lawn. Their ability to improvise is just one of the things that sets them apart from many other groups.
Now I have always been a fan of BNL. There is no mistaken those voices whenever you hear one of their songs. They gained even more popularity doing the theme song from “The Big Bang Theory”. Before treating us to the scientific way the world began we were given an alternative version, “God did.” Just a little more humor from these guys who looked like they were having as much fun as their audience. At one point Howard Jones joined them to do “No one is to Blame.”
Photo by Terry Giardina
Sitting in front of me were a father and his teenage daughter. They kept pulling up photos of all three groups from their very early days. This was a reminder to myself how lucky my generation was to have this music. How fortunate we are to still have these groups performing and transporting us back to a time when life seemed easier. Music is one of the things that unites people and even for a short time makes us forget our troubles.
Oh and did I mention how lucky we are to have Ravinia and all it has to offer. A great beginning to what can only be an amazing summer in one of the greatest outdoor venues.
For complete schedule visit www.ravinia.org
Kevin Nealon at City Winery
The City Winery opened in 2012 at 120 West Randolph, conveniently located in the Fulton Market District of the West Loop. This was actually my first trip to this venue and I can honestly say I cannot wait to go back. It just happened to be one of those beautiful Chicago Sundays, a great day to do anything in the city. The first thing I noticed was the exquisite outdoor patio, a perfect day for dining al fresco. As I entered inside I was so impressed with the space. 3300 Sq Ft. with something for everyone. An open airy space that is home to good wine (having won awards for outstanding world wide wine lists). In addition the shows, menu and ambiance gives one many reasons to frequent this venue.
On this particular evening I was there to catch the 5pm Kevin Nealon show. And while the show did not begin until 5:30 (Adam Burke opened the show with about 15 minutes of some fun material), it did not matter much to anyone there. Everyone just seemed to be having a great time enjoying all the city winery has to offer.
Kevin Nealon best known for his years on SNL and the nextfilx series Weeds came out on stage looking quite dapper in his suit. His opening line was “it’s me, this is what I look like, I am taller then you thought.” He was likeable from the very beginning in a boyish charming way. After about five minutes on the stage he shouted backstage “how am I doing on time?” Then I was hooked. And the show only got better from there. He shared stories about Jack Nicholson, how he got his start on Saturday Night Live (through his friend Dana Carvey) and a bit about his personal life and his 9 year old son. He bantered with the audience using his subliminal man (from SNL) and gave us a bit of Hans and Franz complete with more stories about Arnold Schwarzenegger.
What makes this comedian different from many I have seen is his unique brand of comedy. His humor while dry is also clean and refreshing. Towards the end of the show it was clear the audience did not want him to leave. So back he came several times looking quite appreciative. And in a final gesture of goodwill as he departed for the last time, he left us with his middle finger pointing up. And just like that the show ended. It was the perfect night of comedy, mixed with great food and wine and the perfect ambiance.
This is now one of my new favorite venues and I am looking forward to seeing some live music in this space. For anyone who has not been to City Winery do yourself a favor. Check out the upcoming schedule, grab a date or a group of friends and you will certainly be in for a spectacular evening. I know I will be back as often as I can.
BROADWAY IN CHICAGO ANNOUNCES ITS ANNUAL SUMMER CONCERT
Featuring performances by
Disney’s ALADDIN, BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL, THE BODYGUARD with Grammy® Award-nominee and R&B superstar DEBORAH COX, FINDING NEVERLAND, 2015 Tony Award®-Winning Best Musical FUN HOME and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Monday, August 15 at Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park
FREE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT MB FINANCIAL PARK IN ROSEMONT
MB Financial Park (5501 Park Place, Rosemont) will celebrate the summer season with the return of the “Country in the Park” and “Rockin’ in the Park” free summer concert series. MB Financial Park will host “Country in the Park” concerts Tuesday evenings from May 31 through August 30, featuring some of Nashville’s most popular emerging country music artists. “Rockin’ in the Park” concerts are scheduled to return to MB Financial Park Thursday evenings from June 2 through September 1, featuring the music of classic cover bands.
All “Country in the Park” and “Rockin’ in the Park” concerts run from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. and are surrounded by food and beverage tents on the park’s great lawn. Admission to the concerts is free. Outside coolers are prohibited. Parking is available at the MB Financial Park parking garage and is free with validation from any of the park’s venues. All “Rockin’ in the Park” concerts will be followed by a musical fireworks display. Fireworks displays will also conclude select “Country in the Park” performances.
The 2016 “Country in the Park” lineup and band images can be found here.
The 2016 “Rockin’ in the Park” lineup and band images can be found here.
A Wonderful, Albeit Incomplete, Experience
‘Looking Over the President’s Shoulder’ – American Blues Theater
There are two ways to review American Blues Theaters production of “Looking Over the President’s Shoulder,” the one-man show about Alonzo Fields – a black butler who worked in the White House under the Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations – that inspired the popular film “The Butler.”
The first is to review the show on purely technical terms, and in all respects, American Blues efforts are top notch. Under the direction of Timothy Douglas, actor Manny Buckley (Black Theater Alliance Award winner) offers a superb performance, one that is perfectly modulated and fully brings Fields to life. An aspiring singer and musician, Fields began working in the White House during the early stages of the Depression to support his family, but ended up staying on the job for 21 years.
Throughout the show’s succinct 80 minutes, Fields tells the story of his life, and Buckley shines in all aspects. Whether he is relaying the grueling details of his job, telling humorous anecdotes about the Roosevelt family’s antics, or, in perhaps the plays most touching moment, recounting how special it was to sing for the White House staff and relive, for a moment, what his career as a musician could have been, Buckley is a wonderful, warm presence on stage, one that is a privilege to behold.
One-man shows, however, never succeed without the support of a talented technical staff, and American Blues crew maintained the company’s high standards. From Mike Durst’s subtle lighting, to Brian Sidney Bembridge’s phenomenal set (which mimics the kitchen next to a White House dining room), to Christopher J. Neville’s natural costuming, no detail was spared.
The second way to review this show, though, is on philosophical grounds, and it is in that respect that “Looking Over the President’s Shoulder” may suffer for some audience members. To reiterate, the play concerns Alonzo Fields, a black man who served white presidents at a time when racial strife in America was at its bloodiest and most public. The South, which operated under a true caste system that disadvantaged African Americans at all levels of society, was completely segregated, with separate bathrooms, separate drinking fountains, separate ticket booths at theaters, even separate Bibles for witnesses to swear upon at courthouses. Lynchings, beatings, and indiscriminate murder were commonplace. And the great cities of the North (including our own Chicago) were horrendous in their own right, with segregated housing, cramped, rat-infested tenements, and racist housing policies at the federal and local that maintained the status quo and starved black neighborhoods of critical resources.
Not until the Civil Rights Movement of the late 50s and early 60s did government address those pronounced inequities, but playwright James Still is largely silent on those realities. Although Still does provide Fields with some observations on race – he remarks, for instance, that slaves built the White House and capitol buildings, and comments once or twice on the bigotry he overheard while servicing the presidents – the issue largely remains in the background to Field’s main anecdotes about being a butler and working around the demands and traits of the first families. The larger context of race in America never quite comes through, and I believe the play fails to rise to its full potential as a result of that.
Such a criticism may be unfair – it’s clear that Still does not intend to address such issues in the play. Rather, he aims to paint a full portrait of a remarkable, previously unknown figure in American history, and American Blues production brings that character alive in vibrant, loving fashion.
Highly Recommended
Reviewed by Peter Thomas Ricci
Presented through March 6 by American Blues Theater at Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln, Chicago, IL 60614
Tickets are available by calling 773-404-7336 or by visiting greenhousetheater.org.
Additional information about this and other spectacular area productions is available at the one, the only, the indefatigable www.theatreinchicago.com.
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Jingle, Jingle, Jingle
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – Rosemont Theatre
Tired of holiday shopping? Looking for something fun to do with the kids? And with these warm temperatures it doesn’t quite feel like Christmas yet.
So just to make sure we are all in the holiday spirit Rosemont Theatre is presenting the beloved holiday film on stage starring everyone’s favorite reindeer Rudolph. So take the journey with Rudolph and his friends as he helps guide the sleigh with his famous red nose and saves Christmas.
This show is for any and all ages.
For ticket information call the box office 847-671-5100
or visit www.rosemont.com
The dates are Friday December 18 @ 7pm
and Saturday December 19 @ 11am, 2pm, or 7pm
Half price tickets are available.
So Chicago is known for its traditions especially holiday ones. Just to name a few: Christmas Carol at the Goodman,Windows at Macy’s, the Walnut Room, The lights on the Magnificent Mile. In this city of “big shoulders” there is always room for more.
Friday night I attended the opening of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical at the Rosemont Theatre. I was four years old in 1964 when Rudolph made its television debut and went on to become the longest running and highest rated TV special. And for another piece of Chicago Trivia the book was originally written by Robert Mays in 1939 a copywriter for Montgomery Wards and given away free to children as a way to get more traffic in the store.
This musical made its way to Rosemont last year and was quite successful. It is not always easy to transform something to the stage especially such beloved characters as Rudolph and his friends. This production did not disappoint. It really is as if you are watching the TV show including some outstanding puppetry and graphics. We see the Burl Ives snowman character moving around through the snow and an adorable Rudolph flying through the air. At times I did not even realize there were people in the costumes.
I took my grandkids to the show who sometimes have a hard time sitting still. This time they didn’t. They loved the whole thing from start to finish especially when the abominable snowman took over a large part of the stage. My favorite part of the show was not only the sing along at the end but the priceless faces of the children. In this challenging world we need something like the innocence of Rudolph and his friends to teach love and acceptance.
Make no mistake, this show is not just for the young. I felt transported back to my childhood when life was simple and carefree.
It is my hope that Rudolph the Musical will take its rightful place as a new holiday tradition.
Very Highly Recommended
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