Katori Hall Archives - Chicago Reader

Zurin Villanueva as Tina Turner stands at a microphone center in a bronze-colored sleeveless satin minidress. To her right is Garrett Turner as Ike Turner in a pale salmon suit, holding a guitar. On the left are three Black women backup singers in sleeveless yellow dresses. A band comprised of six Black musicians (a piano player on the left, then three horn players, a drummer, and a bassist) are in the background.

Great songs, so-so script

by Kerry Reid March 17, 2023March 17, 2023

On the ticketing page for Broadway in Chicago’s presentation of the touring version of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, there’s a small line at the bottom: “Please note that Tina Turner does not appear in this production.” Given that Turner turned 83 last November and retired from performing at 69, the caveat hardly seems necessary. […]

A Black woman in a maid's uniform sits on a motel room bed at left, with the receiver of a black rotary phone held to her ear. Sitting on the bed next to her and learning toward her is a Black man (playing Dr. Martin Luther King) in dark trousers and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

Theater Review

Brief encounter

by Boutayna Chokrane February 23, 2023February 22, 2023

Some believe that those who suspect death is near can often feel it approaching, and in Invictus Theatre’s rendition of Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. senses his end is coming. This fictional and subversive play, directed by Aaron Reese Boseman, imagines the evening after King (Mikha’el Amin) has delivered his “I’ve […]