*** There is a special theater company in Chicago. It is one that was founded by Ms Jackie Taylor, and as the years went by, Jackie showed the city that she could make theater for the people who were, at that time neglected. Jackie was able to write scripts to add music by legends and create a story that was either fictional, or in many instances, the play was a biography ( with facts that we were unaware of until these shows) with the music of the times and in most cases, the person ( or persons) in the play. For over 25 years, I have marveled at what this woman has done for the city of Chicago and its African-American population, both the actors/performers and the audiences.

Black Ensemble Theatre is a unique space that has comfortable seating and great sight lines. Their current production “Blue Heaven “, is a re-boot of a show they did a few years ago. The story with a book by Daryl D. Brooks ( who also directed the show) is about some”Blues” performers, all of whom it seems have passed away and are now meeting at “Pearly’s” a blues club, I suppose that represents the Pearly Gates as they head towards Heaven. Yes, they are dead!

The show opens with the four piece band of angels taking their position on the bandstand as they are being yelled at by Howlin Wolf ( Lyle Miller, who uses his raspy voice and great skill on the harmonica to make this man come alive). It seems the instructions were to report to Pearly’s at 7 p.m. sharp.

As each of our five kindred spirits ( or soon to be actual spirits) arrive we learn a little about each one. I am sure that if you are a true Blues enthusiast, you will know a great deal more than I did. After Wolf, we meet Big Mama Thornton ( an incredible portrayal by Cynthia Carter), followed by Muddy Waters ( the always reliable Dwight Neal), followed by the white blues singer, Steviie Ray Vaughan ( a Black Ensemble debut for JJ Smith, who plays a mean guitar) and last, but not least, the fifth and final blues singer, B.B. King ( played to perfection by Aaron Reese Boseman).

During this 90 minute ( no intermission) story of the blues going to heaven, we get a taste of the music they created, a little biography from each as to what led them to where they are ( or one might say were, as they have all passed away) and then, it seems that before they get to pass the pearly gates, they have to put on a concert for the “Big Guy”. The last segment of the show is each of the five characters doing a few numbers with all of them joining in with BB for the final piece “Let The Good Times Roll”.

There are 24 songs or portions thereof in this show, plus the five monologues as each character tells their story.As I said, this is a re-boot and while I am sure there are a few chnages here and there, the basic story remained pretty much the same. The opening afternoon performance was rocking as many of them were blues enthusiasts. If this is not your type of music, this may not be the show for you to see. If you prefer music with no story, again, this might not be for you. If you enjoy “the blues” and would love to get a better feeling about the “behind the scenes story”, you may find this experience to be one of your better theater memories.

The song list only had a few that were known to me, but let’s face it, I am a musical theater buff. “Everyday I Have The Blues”, “How Blues can You Get”, “I Am The Blues”, “Everyday I Have The Blues”- get the idea? Well if you do, I suggest that you get ready to visit BET!

“Blue Heaven” will continue Thru – Oct 26th with performances as follows: