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 Sing Hallelujah! playing until December 5th, 2004 review by Ed Vincent Many religions have a way of bringing their message to the both those who believe in what they are preaching and for those that they wish to convince. The Muslims have the soft attraction of the presentations of the Whirling Dervishes and Christians have Gospel music. Sing Hallelujah is quite an attraction for those of faith and for the secular who just like a good performance. When these talented performers begin their show you find a peaceful message of morality flowing with a graceful rhythm and upbeat tempo. The high powered message of the gospel is inspired by the Christian Holy Bible but delivered by the art of soulful funk. One of the vocal selections is the tale of the resurrection of Lazarus. If Lazarus were prostate on the stage during the performance I witnessed, he would have been on his feet in a moments notice and been shuffling his ten toes from the energy of these gifted entertainers. There are times during the show when you might have expected the second coming at any moment. The show does a very nice job of covering about 48% of the New Testament in song and choregraphy. If the Cubs had this group in their locker room before their last game I am sure they would now be in the play offs. The show is beautifully staged with excellent singing talent represented by a diverse ensemble in true unison of purpose and movement. Their praise of the Lord is a homerun for the All Mighty and this reviewer is a secular skeptic. The producer of this fine show is Frances Zwick. She started out as the sound manager for this production in its original presentation in Ohio. She saw the incredible response each time it was presented and she took it upon herself to do what she could to get this show on the road, and the road has been one of success. I told Ms. Zwick that when the show closes here she should take it on board one of our Aircraft carriers for a Christmas show for the troops and she liked the idea. These people are good enough to have a building built for them and if they had a Brunch severed they would have an open run until the eggs ran out. Enough of the poetic musings for now, get your tickets and hold on to your seats. Sing Hallelujah! Rocks the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts Sing Hallelujah! Makes its Chicago Premiere on October 1, 2004. Chicago, IL—The Chicago Center for the Performing Arts welcomes the Chicago Premiere of Worth Gardner and Donald Lawrence’s uplifting hit musical Sing Hallelujah!, opening October 1 and closing December 5. Sing Hallelujah! is a dynamic revue that showcases a broad spectrum of gospel music. Worth Gardner will direct Sing Hallelujah!, and Donald Lawrence serves as the show ’s musical director. The musical is produced by Passion Productions and Frances Zwick, and is similar in spirit to the hit musicals “Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Smokey Joe’s Cafe.” The musical received rave reviews during its recent run at the Tony Award winning Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Cast members include gospel stars Erica Bratton-McCollough, Anitra Castleberry, Russell Hinton, Candy West and DeWayne L. Woods, shining in both solo numbers and moving ensemble pieces. The show’s engaging numbers include “Sing Hallelujah!” and “Oh, Mary Don’t You Weep,” and the musical also includes 13 new gospel-oriented songs, some of which Lawrence composed specifically for this production. Lawrence actually wrote more than half of the show's 20 songs, including "Didn't It Rain”, a musical parable of 40 days and 40 nights, and "Good News", an a cappella number that invites the audience to clap along. Worth Gardner worked as the artistic director of music theater/opera at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (1974-1984). While at the CCM, Gardner and student Lawrence assembled Sing Hallelujah! as a workshop. The pair then converted the piece to a full-fledged show at the Playhouse, and eventually took it to New York for a successful run. After working at the CCM, Garner served as the Artistic Director at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (1984-1991). He currently works as a freelance director and chairs the Auburn University Theater Department. Donald Lawrence worked with Stephanie Mills for 10 years producing two of her albums, and is now one of gospel music’s most esteemed record producers, working with such artists as En Vogue and Mary J. Blige. Over the course of his career, Lawrence has received nine Stellar Awards and been nominated for three Grammys and one Soul Train Award. He currently directs the Tri-City Singers, a gospel group that has received numerous national awards and nominations. Kirk Bookman is the show’s Lighting Designer. Bookman’s impressive list of credits includes over 65 productions at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and numerous Broadway productions including The Gin Game (with Julie Harris and Charles Dunning) and The Sunshine Boys (with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall). The Chicago Center for the Performing Arts is a multi-venue entertainment complex in the city's burgeoning River West area, minutes from the Chicago Loop. The performance schedule for Sing Hallelujah! is T-TH 7:30PM ($39), Fri. 8:00PM ($49), Sat. 4:00PM ($49) & 8:00PM ($49), Sun. 3:00PM ($49) & 7:00PM ($39), alternating Wed. Matinees 3:00PM ($35). Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the box office, online at www.theaterland.com, or by phone at 312.327.2000. The Chicago Center for the Performing Arts is located at 777 N. Green St. in Chicago. # # # |
