“Men of Soul” reviewed by Julia W. Rath

The production is electrifying, anchored by a spectacular cast of singers and dancers, made up of seven men and three women, all of whom change in appearance, vocal style, and costuming to match the recording artists whom they imitate. We see Vincent Jordan, Jaitee Thomas, Ben Woods, Dwight Neal, Kevin Pollack, Michael J. Santos, and Maxel McLoud Schingen playing the roles of the male artists. At the same time, Raeven Carroll, Tamara Batiest, and Chloe Khaleeah Keira Johnson accompany them in various female roles—for, of course, behind every great man there is a great woman, if only to sing backup or serve as a powerful complement in a duet. Choreographer Christopher Chase Carter has done an outstanding job fashioning a host of energetic dance numbers, not to mention re-creating the signature moves of many of the featured artists. Moreover, the occasional M.C., who describes the next highlighted artist or the next number, could pop out from anywhere in the theatre.

Until now, I never fully realized the extent to which soul music played such a huge part in the sound track of my life, narrating the emotions that I was going through myself. And I know that there are so many other people who must feel exactly the same. It was great to hear so many familiar melodies and lyrics all at once, from songs such as “Up Where We Belong”, “Georgia on My Mind”, “All Night Long,” “On the Wings of Love” and many, many more!

Set design by Sydney Lyn Thomas is minimalist but effective, with the band located in the rafters above center stage. The most complex aspect is the floor design with its series of curves and large dots within a large semicircle. The most standout element, however, is the replication of a marquee above stage right. Extremely well-executed projection design by DJ Douglass lists the featured recording artists on that marquee, both the name they were born with and their (well-known) stage name. In addition, we see large portraits of these superstars at different points in their lives being projected on the backdrop behind stage left and stage right. And sometimes there are moving images like fire, etc., that enhance specific songs. Then too, lighting by Denise Karczewski could not have been any better to delineate the various performers, and the purple illumination (which we see on entering the theater) culminates when Prince sings “Purple Rain” towards the end of the first act.

“Men of Soul” is music directed by drummer Robert Reddick, who also doubles as the music arranger. The vocalists are bolstered by supremely talented instrumentalists, consisting of Myron Cherry (drums), Walter Harrington (bass), Oscar Brown Jr. (guitar), Adam Sherrod (keyboard), and Mike Dangeroux (guitar). Then too, a portion of center stage occasionally thrusts forward with a piano attached, that is, for those who tickle the keys in actuality or mimicry. Prop guitars frequent the stage, as the band takes over in playing a lot of the music. The sound is perfectly designed and mixed by Sean Alvarez, such that every spoken and sung word can be heard easily. A small note: There was a problem with one standing microphone during the press opening on Sunday, which affected part of the Joe Cocker performance, but other than that, everything was just fine.

Costume designer Gregory Graham has splendidly mingled one-of-a-kind outfits with those specifically created for characters to match one another. Notable are the white-on-white satin suits that the seven men wear at the very beginning and the very end—and the black dresses with the slit to one side worn by the three women. Other gorgeous dresses include a flowing peach and green gown, an intricate royal blue gown, and a crocheted one in off-white. I especially liked the flashy gold jacket worn by Dwight Neal as Luther Vandross. Wig design by Dawn Crenshaw is unbeatable and helps turn the performers into their authentic counterparts. What’s so exceptional about this show is the number of wig and wardrobe changes that smoothly take place throughout.

In short, this show highlights the inner fortitude that all these men of soul had, which allowed them to overcome life’s obstacles. It seizes upon the raw passion that drove each one of them—both black and white—to dive deeper into their innermost selves and write music that lives on forever. And it culminates in a heart pounding finale that brings the audience to its feet.

In this incredible production, the singers are vivacious; the dancing is brilliant; and the music is handled elegantly. So for all these reasons and more, you must go and see it today!

“Men of Soul” is playing through August 9, 2026, at Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark Street, Chicago.

Performance schedule:

(Please note the new curtain times!)

Fridays – 7:00 p.m.

Saturdays – 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.

Sundays – 2:00 p.m.

Tickets are $69 (fees included). Valet parking is available for $15 (cash only).

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: https://www.blackensembletheater.org/ or call 773-769-4451.