It all begins with a prayer. A circle is formed, hands clench on to their neighbors, heads bow, eyes close and the voice of Richard Gallion brings together a family bond built on stage but proceeds even when the lights dim and the stage is empty. The feeling is real. The cast of “Living Without [...]

You can’t be a leader from the outside looking in. You have to remain in it, in order to mark your movement and make it mean something. The story of Afrobeat musician and political warrior, Fela Kuti is fascinating. Learning Fela’s story while a student in college, I was drawn in to the music and [...]

Maid In Chicago:  Lottery Lady Lands “Vera Stark” Role At The Goodman By DeShong Perry-Smitherman Chicago’s own Tamberla Perry stars in the title role in the new Goodman stage play By The Way, Meet Vera Stark. But before her talents could help sell out major stages, before her teeth were “NeNe Leakes perfect”, even before [...]

The smooth sounds from the band filled the Black Ensemble Theater as the audience anxiously waited to see the spectacular performance of From Doo Wop to Hip Hop, written and directed by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor and Associate Director Rueben Echoles. Let’s take a walk through Unison Hills where everyone is [...]