Displaying items by tag: Allison Petrillo
'Bette: Xmas at the Continental Baths' celebrate the holidays with a legend, "The Divine Miss M"
Caitlin Jackson as Bette Midler recreating one wonderful cabaret night at the Continental Bathhouse in New York city is a heartfelt, moving and entertaining way to remember and celebrate Bette's humble and "hungry" beginnings as a performer with the legendary “Tommy” (Tommy Robb) her pianist.
I really can't say enough about how talented Caitlin Jackson is as a comedienne and vocalist to be able to carry off this show with such style. Jackson's own vocal stylings are superb and many of the songs were delivered so strongly and such emotional insight into Midler's early struggles as a sexually liberated woman searching for love through her loneliness brought me to tears.
I actually lived in the historic pre-war luxury building, The Ansonia, on 72nd and Broadway showcased in Woody Allen's film Manhattan, for 4 years right after graduating from college. The bathhouse was long gone when I lived there in 1983-1988, but sometimes when I was doing laundry in the cavernous basement of the Ansonia, I imagined I could still hear the sounds of Bette's exquisite voice and the excitement of her loving fans laughing and clapping for her bawdy, yet tender humor.
I think Caitlin Jackson has a marvelous, powerful voice and does Bette Midler's humor and patter (taken almost verbatim from one show) justice without doing a full on impersonation which allows the audience to feel they are seeing the young Bette for the first time.
I had forgotten just how many of Midler's amazingly moving songs are about her extreme loneliness and heartbreak in love relationships - "Empty Bed Blues," “Long John Blues,” “Do You Wanna Dance?” and, of course, "I Shall Be Released" and "Waiting for my new Friends to Come," so I was really happy to discover that this Christmas Edition wisely pumps up the Joy factor with several fantastic renditions of toe tapping Christmas songs and the ever popular "Superstar," "Baby Please Come Home" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy".
Sydney Genco and Allison Petrillo are a delight as her backup singers and bring their bright sexy dame harmonies and dance moves that really help support Jackson - who otherwise carries every minute of this very demanding vocal and theatrical "one woman show". 'Bette: Xmas' is adapted by both Artistic Director David Cerda and Jackson, and Jackson also directs this production along with Marc LeWallen while music direction is handled by Tommy Robb.
I highly recommend seeing this unique and talent-filled Hell in a Handbag production, which has only been improved from its original Summer form by being lit up with Christmas lights and the Joy of Christmas.
‘Bette: Xmas at the Continental Baths’ is being performed at Mary’s Attic through December 31st.
Steppenwolf Theatre Names Stage Manager Laura D. Glenn Newest Ensemble Member
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Chicago Tap Theatre Founder, Mark Yonally, Receives HOOFER AWARD from AMERICAN TAP DANCE FOUNDATION
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Hell in a Handbag Productions Presents JOAN CRAWFORD GOES TO HELL
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Frog and Toad is Wholesome, Family Fun
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Pure Vocal Magic: Goodman’s Octet Redefines Musical Innovation
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OPERATION MINCEMEAT: A NEW MUSICAL coming to CIBC Theatre September 29 – October 11
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City Lit announces World Premiere adaptation of SHANE, playing August 21 – October 4
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DIRTY DANCING: the MUSICAL WILL PLAY BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S JAMES M. NEDERLANDER THEATRE SEPTEMBER 9 – 20
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A Thoughtful Evolution of Her Own Making: Overshadowed Theatrical Productions’ My Fair Lady
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A Legendary Transformation: John Mulaney’s Historic Night at Wrigley Field
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The Beautiful Overthinking of Gary Gulman’s 7th Hour
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Court Theatre presents the Spotlight Reading Series A Century of Black Progress August 7 – 22
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Written by Buzz Center StageFollowing its critically acclaimed productions of Sweeney Todd and Into the Woods, Kokandy Productions once again celebrates the great Stephen Sondheim with a revival of his stunning masterpiece Sunday in the Park with George, playing August 13 – November 1, 2026 in the intimate Chopin Downstairs Studio, 1543 W. Division St.… -
Steppenwolf Theatre Names Stage Manager Laura D. Glenn Newest Ensemble Member
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The Lizard y El Sol Returns to Chicago Parks Through August 9th
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Chicago Tap Theatre Founder, Mark Yonally, Receives HOOFER AWARD from AMERICAN TAP DANCE FOUNDATION
Written by Buzz Center StageChicago Tap Theatre (CTT) is proud to announce its Founder and Artistic Director Mark Yonally has been selected by the Preservation Committee for the American Tap Dance Foundation to receive the 2026 Hoofer Award. Yonally will accept the honor at the Tap City Awards, Friday, Sept. 11 at…
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