“The Healing” (Formerly titled “Legends: A Civil Rights Movement”)

[rating=4] For over 45 years, Chicago has been treated to the creativity of our own Jackie Taylor and her Black Ensemble Theater. Over these years, Ms Taylor has built a company of talented performers and has taught many to carry her torch in bringing the stories to the stage. For the majority of those years, the plays that we have applauded have been biographies dealing with the lives and struggles of some of America’s top talents.  While amazingly performed, there are many that classified these productions as “revues” rather than plays, despite the story-telling that we have seen.

With our world being in a “racism” and “discrimination” mode, Ms Taylor and her “ensemble” members have created an original story to open its 2020 season. The title may get you, but it tells its own story. “Legends The Musical: A Civil Rights Movement, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”, a bold journey that may bring you down at times, but when the ensemble tells the story of its “healing” process, you will find yourselves feeling better and learning a great deal about the world of those who have been affected by racism, discrimination of any type and how we as a people can learn from our history and go forward, never allowing this type of behavior to exist.

Our “Healing” process is conducted by our guides Dwight Neal and Dawn Bless ( they have graced this stage many times portraying others, but in this production, they sparkle as never before. Due to the nature of the story, there is music in this show that is very ritual and church-like, but we also get treated to the works of people like John Lennon’s “Imagine”, James Taylor’s “Never Again” ( a tribute to those who were murdered in The Holocaust),  Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” and an amazing  rendition of Leiber, Stoller and King’s “Stand By Me”.

The “church music” will grab you as well and depending on the audience mix, you will find many of those around you very familiar with the hymns and they will join in. There are portions of the music where they want you to join in as they project the words on the screen that backs the stage. Join in! Let yourself go! To begin the healing that our whole world needs to partake of, one must not just observe, one must feel the story and the glory. There are some great history lessons in this one as well as the expected great musical numbers.

Projected on the back wall are those African-Americans who made a difference. The men and women who created and invented many things that make our lives better and safer. One of the questions that arises is about all those young African-Americans who were taken down for no reason except the color of their skin and what might they have brought to our lives. What might they have created? What might they have discovered?

The show mentions all discrimination, not just the “Black Lives Matter”, dealing with the Hispanic problem going on right now ( the immigration situation), and the fights for rights  all over the world. The tributes they do are amazingly powerful. The ensemble players are unbelievable. Colleen Perry can belt with the best of them, Jasmine Bomer, Vincent Jordan, Stewart Romeo, Blake Hawthorne, Blake Reasoner, Hannah Mary Simpson ( who reminded me of Shirley McClain) and last but not least, the absolutely incredible MJ Rawls. MJ tells us the story of her life and her fears through most of it. She will open your eyes to the trials that many of our young people are facing and how she dealt with it. This little section of the second act is powerful, amazing and worth the price of the ticket to witness. Thank you MJ!

As usual, the music is conducted by Robert Reddrick ( drums) with Adam Sherrod (keyboards), Mark Miller (bass) and Gary Baker (guitar), They make the music for these singers to bring our sage alive. While they had a few snags in the sound for the most part David Samba’s sound was okay ( I heard every word without hearing aids) and the lighting (Denise Karczewski) is very effective. Lemond Hayes’ choreography is very moving and the projections ( DJ Douglass) are solid. Directed with great heart and soul by Jackie Taylor, the entire theater becomes her stage. The message in this production is not just about “Black Lives Matter”, but every person, no matter their race, religion or life-style. Her mission in starting Black Ensemble was to use theater as her platform to eradicate racism. Perhaps this play will open up some eyes that are blind to what is around them and allow us to go forward. I sure hope so!

Be prepared that this is not your typical Black Ensemble production, but in fact, be prepared for two hours of great story telling and an educational experience set to wonderful music performed by some of Chicago’s best!

“Legends: The Musical” will continue thru – Apr 12, 2020

Show Type: Musical

Box Office: 773-769-4451

The theater is located at 4450 N. Clark Street ( at Sunnyside) with indoor valet parking available in addition to street parking

Tickets range from $55-$65

10% discounts for seniors and students

www.blackensemble.org

To see what others are saying, visit http://www.theatreinchicago.com go to Review Round-Up and click at “Legends: The Musical” or “The Healing”.