Tag Archive
Reality Theater
Tensions and fears mount as the specter of gun violence grows increasingly menacing. These visceral threats call for a different, more expressive kind of response. Through its characters, “Tangled,” the latest production at eta Creative Arts, encourages audience members to consider the role of the individual in dealing with an atmosphere of violence. »
After the Flood: eta production takes on post-Katrina family ties
“The Man Who Saved New Orleans” is the latest play at eta Creative Arts Foundation. Written by Thomas Meloncon, it returns the narrative of New Orleans to the people who were kicked out of the city when Katrina moved in. It tells the story of the Prejeans, an African American family from the Lower... »
The Levee’s Gonna Break: Radical love and hate collide in eta’s latest production
When Wesley’s sassy sister-in-law, Lily, comes home for a visit, her agenda includes more than just reminiscences of familial life with her late father and sister; Wesley’s single widower status and indecision about the fate of his daughters provides more than enough fodder for the chiding of firebrand Lily. As the story of the... »
Jazz Dreamscapes: Noted keyboardist Robert Irving picks up the paintbrush for his show at eta
As a musician-turned-painter, Robert “Baabe” Irving III is in famous, if not necessarily good, company. A foray into the visual arts seems to be the cool thing for past-their-prime rockers and strummers to do nowadays—Bob Dylan just had his first public exhibition of prints and sketches, Lou Reed’s second photography book was published not... »
Best of the South Side 2008: Grand Crossing & Chatham
In some ways, Grand Crossing and adjacent Chatham are like a case study in urban history. Both were originally settled by European immigrants working on the railroads and, later on, in factories. Both neighborhoods prospered during the first half of the 20th century. And starting in the 1950s, both were integrated; but here is... »
Generation Gap: A new production of an eta classic pits young against old
eta Creative Arts Foundation’s new play opens on a scene of newlywed bliss, which quickly turns into an argument before marital harmony is restored and the couple rushes off stage to have sex. It is a scene repeated countless times in “Checkmates,” written by acclaimed playwright Ron Milner and first performed at eta in... »
In Good Faith: eta brings back its popular gospel musical
“I always believed that we were doing art with a purpose, not art for art’s sake,” says Director Runako Jahi, “I believe that art should support humanity in some way.” »
Boy Meets Girl: eta brings back a crowd-pleaser
It has been seventeen years since Chicago’s eta Creative Arts Foundation first produced “Good Black,” featuring Runako Jahi, the artistic director of this year’s production, as the protagonist. “Yeah, I played the young man, so you can imagine how long ago that was,” he jokes. Indeed, the director, Edward Richardson, says this year eta... »
