Black Ensemble Theater announces Chicago’s Golden Soul to run in repertory with It’s All-Right to Have a Good Time: The Story of Curtis Mayfield
Black Ensemble Theater Founder and Executive Director Jackie Taylor announces Chicago’s Golden Soul, running in rep with the hit production It’s All-Right To Have A Good Time: The Story of Curtis Mayfield. Both productions are produced and written by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and Executive Director Jackie Taylor. The official press opening of Chicago’s Golden Soul is scheduled for Sunday, February 2, 2013 at 7:30pm.
Chicago’s Golden Soul will preview January 30 at 7:30pm and February 1 at 8:00pm and will open Sunday, February 2 at 7:30pm. Chicago’s Golden Soul will run Wednesday and Thursdays at 7:30pm and Saturdays at 8pm. Beginning January 10, The Story of Curtis Mayfield schedule will be Fridays at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 3:00pm and 8:00 (until January 25, then no Curtis at 8:00pm) and Sundays at3:00pm.
About Chicago’s Golden Soul
Chicago’s Golden Soul is a musical journey celebrating the artists who propelled Chicago to national fame as a recording industry in the ‘60s and ‘70s. This fast paced, exhilarating revue features the hits of Chicago’s musical legends such as Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield, Gene Chandler, Major Lance, The Impressions, Betty Everett, Barbara Aklin, Etta James with a special tribute to the fabulous Chi Lites. Chicago’s Golden Soul recreates an era that brought us such dances as the twist, the twine, the monkey, Go-Go Gorilla and the Watusi and we relive them all! The audience is sure to be up on its feet and dancing in the aisles as we celebrate Chicago’s Golden Music!
“As the perfect complement to our hit production The Story of Curtis Mayfield, Black Ensemble Theater will present Chicago’s Golden Soul,filled with Chicago history, culture, music and dance from the same era. The audience reaction to The Story of Curtis Mayfield has been better than we could have ever anticipated and I know that Chicago’s Golden Soul will stir the same interest and emotion,” says Jackie Taylor.
About It’s All-Right to Have a Good Time, The Story of Curtis Mayfield
Black Ensemble’s tribute to Chicago’s own music legend Curtis Mayfield is the story of a musical giant who is equally celebrated as a singer, song writer and record producer. From the anthemic music of The Impressions like “We’re A Winner,” “I’m So Proud,” “Choice of Colors” to movie hits like “Super Fly,” The Curtis Mayfield Story will bring to vibrant life the rare musical genius that was Curtis Mayfield. Mayfield’s timeless music is known and celebrated all over the world, and he is the winner of the Grammy Legend Award (1994), the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1995) and a double inductee into both The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1991, 1999) and the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Jackie Taylor comments, “Curtis Mayfield’s music and influence is legendary, not just in Chicago, where he was raised in the Cabrini-Green area and where he started his career—but nationally and internationally. From his hits with Jerry Butler and The Impressions to his Civil Rights Anthems to his award winning musical film scores, his music speaks to this country’s cultural history, as much as it entertains. The Curtis Mayfield Story has is one of the biggest hits Black Ensemble’s history and I am thrilled to continue its run through March.”
The cast features Reginald Torian as Curtis Mayfield, who replaced Curtis Mayfield in The Impressions in 1972 and remains in the group today. The cast also includes Cecil Jones (Younger Curtis), David Simmons (Older Jerry Butler), Brandon Holmes (Younger Jerry Butler),Brian Nelson (Fred Cash of The Impressions) and Donald Manuel (Sam Gooden of The Impressions). Cast members playing various roles include: Casey Hayes, Rueben Echoles, Jos N. Banks, Mark Hood, Alanna Taylor, Katrina Richardson, Ereatha McCullough andChristina Harper.
Black Ensemble Theater performance times are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 3:00 and 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00. Ticket prices are as follows:
Previews are $45; Tickets during the regular run are $55 (Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturday matinees) and $65 (Fridays, Saturdayevenings and Sunday matinees). A 10% discount is available for students, seniors and groups.
The Five Play Card is a much more flexible way of becoming a subscriber to the theater’s 36th Season of Excellence: Treasures and Tributes. The Five Play Card can be used for one person to see 5 plays or to bring 4 other friends to one show or in any other combination that adds up to five. The Five Play Cards issued in 2013 will be good for one year.
Gold Five Play Card, $247.50, can be used on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturday matinees. The Platinum Five Play Card, $292.50, can be used for any performance.
Tickets and Five Play Cards are available at the box office, 4450 N. Clark Street and by phone, (773)
769-4451. Performances are held at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street.
The Black Ensemble Theater
Founded in 1976, by the phenomenal producer, playwright and actress Jackie Taylor, Black Ensemble Theater is the only African American theater located in the culturally, racially and ethnically diverse north side Uptown community. Through its Five Play Season of Excellence, The Black Ensemble Theater dazzles audiences locally, nationally and internationally with outstanding original musicals that are entertaining, educational and uplifting. The Black Ensemble Theater has produced more than 100 productions and employed over 5,000 artists.
On November 18, 2011, The Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center opened and is able to accommodate larger-scale productions, bigger audiences and a wider range of educational programming. The new facility includes amenities such as a 299-seat main stage theater (double the capacity of the original venue); 14 offices, classroom space; rehearsal hall, dance studio, scene shop, costume shop, and wardrobe rooms; seven dressing rooms; rehearsal room for musicians; front lobby space with concession areas; and an indoor parking garage. The completion of a 150-seat theater, which will serve as an experimental stage for the work of the Black Playwright Initiative (BPI), is in the planning stage.
The mission of the Black Ensemble Theater Company is to eradicate racism and its devastating effects upon society through the theater arts. For more information on the Black Ensemble Theater Company, please visit www.BlackEnsembleTheater.org or call 773-769-4451.