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The Chicago Reader

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Arts & Culture, Theater Review Dec 10, 2020
Recommended
Yule be home for Christmas with Manual Cinema and Hell in a Handbag

A Dickens chestnut and a spoof of 1970s celebrity specials join the online holiday theater lineup.
- By Kerry Reid
- Tags: Theater Review, Manual Cinema, Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol, N. LaQuis Harkins, Drew Dir, Sarah Fornace, Ben Kauffman, Julia Miller, Kyle Vegter, Hell in a Handbag, David Cerda, Ed Jones, Stevie Love, Scott Lamberty, Alexis Castelvecchi, Nicky Mendelsohn, Michael Rashid, Grant Drager, Danne W. Taylor, David Lipschutz, Robert Williams, Recommended

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Review Jul 14, 2020
Recommended
Streaming theater goes beyond Hamilton

The Public Theater, Black Lives, Black Words, and Hell in a Handbag put it all online.
- By Kerry Reid
- Tags: Performing Arts Review, Public Theater, The Line, Jessica Blank, Erik Jensen, Black Lives Black Words, Reginald Edmund, Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway, Kamal Angelo Bolden, Hell in a Handbag, David Cerda, Spenser Davis, Recommended

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Dec 10, 2019
Bette: Xmas at the Continental Baths features hot pipes, but tepid banter

Hell in a Handbag's Midler revue is middling.
- By Marissa Oberlander
- Tags: Theater Review, Bette Xmas at the Continental Baths, Hell in a Handbag, Mary's Attic, Caitlin Jackson, David Cerda, Marc Lewallen, Tommy Ross, Bette Midler

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Dec 3, 2019
Recommended
The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes—Holiday Edition, Vol. 2 adds some sweet dirty fun to the holidays

Hell in a Handbag's franchise decks the halls with campy good feelings.
- By Kerry Reid
- Tags: Theater Review, The Golden Girls The Lost Episodes, Hell in a Handbag, Mary's Attic, David Cerda, Ed Jones, Grant Drager, Ryan Oates, Stevie Love, Recommended

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Oct 9, 2019
Recommended
The Facts of Life—Satan's School for Girls provides a Halloween showcase

Hell in a Handbag's spoof of Mrs. Garrett and 21 Jump Street is far from a drag.
- By Dan Jakes
- Tags: Theater Review, The Facts of Life Satan's School for Girls, Hell in a Handbag, Mary's Attic, David Cerda, Andrew Milliken, Ed Jones, Madison Smith, Alexa Castelvecchi, Katy Campbell, Graham Heacock, Gregory Graham, Recommended

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Jul 17, 2019
Recommended
There’s nothing bad about The Drag Seed

David Cerda’s latest classic makeover for Hell in a Handbag is a winner for summer camp.
- By Jack Helbig
- Tags: Theater Review, The Drag Seed, Hell in a Handbag, David Cerda, The Bad Seed, Mervyn LeRoy, Kristopher Bottrall, Cheryl Snodgrass, Ed Jones, Elizabeth Lesinski, Recommended

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Mar 29, 2019
Recommended
Poseidon! is still shipshape

A stellar cast keeps the parody musical cruising.
- By Kerry Reid
- Tags: Theater Review, Poseidon! An Upside Down Musical, The Edge Theater, Hell in a Handbag, David Cerda, Scott Lamberty, Stevie Love, Elizabeth Lesinkski, David Lipschutz, Tommy Bullington, Frankie Leo Bennett, Derek Van Barham, Breon Arzell, Christopher Rhonton, Poseidon, Recommended

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Feb 14, 2019
The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes presents a special Valentine Edition

Sophia, Rose, Blanche, and Dorothy find love.
- By Albert Williams
- Tags: Theater Review, Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes—Valentine Edition, Hell in a Handbag Productions, David Cerda, Michael Rashid, Adrian Hadlock, Grant Drager, Ed Jones, Danne W. Taylor, Jon Martinez, The Golden Girls

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Nov 29, 2018
SnowGirls puts the X back in Xmas

Hell in a Handbag delivers another naughty holiday parody.
- By Albert Williams
- Tags: Theater Review, SnowGirls: The Musical, Hell in a Handbag, Showgirls, Derek Van Barham, David Cerda, Scott Lamberty, Jeff Thomson, Harper Leander, Brittani Yawn, Sydney Genco, Grant Drager, Erin Daly, Terry McCarthy, parody, Christmas, Jon Martinez

Arts & Culture, Theater Review Jun 26, 2018
Picture it: Miami, 1987, and The Golden Girls in drag

Our favorite raunchy senior citizens return for three more loony adventures.
- By Max Maller
- Tags: Theater Review, Golden Girls Lost Episodes Volume 2, Hell in a Handbag Productions, drag, David Cerda, Grant Drager, Ed Jones, Adrian Hadlock, Rue McClanahan, Maude, Golden Girls, Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rose Nyland

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Dec 21, 2017
Thirteen holiday shows that will delight (or disgust or bore or just entertain) you

Hell in a Handbag's 20th annual production of Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer is among the yuletide highlights.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Barney the Elf, the Other Theatre Company, Dixie Lynn Cartwright, Roy Samra, Christmas Bingo: It's a Ho-Ho-Holy Night, Late Nite Catechism, Vicki Quade, Nuns 4 Fun Entertainment, Royal George Theatre, A Christmas Carol, Goodman Theatre, Henry Wishcamper, Tom Creamer, Larry Yando, Charles Dickens, The Christmas Schooner, Mercury Theatre, John Reeger, Julie Shannon, L. Walter Stearns, Hellcab, the Agency Theater Collective, Will Kern, Rusty Schwimmer, Profiles Theatre, American Blues Theater, It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, It's a Wonderful Life, Frank Capra, Bedford Falls, Gwendolyn Whiteside, Camille Robinson, John Mohrlein, Michael Mahler, The Nutcracker, E.T.A. Hoffmann, the House Theatre of Chicago, Haley Seda, Chris Matthews, Q Brothers Christmas Carol, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Hell in a Handbag Productions, David Cerda, Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, Michael Jack Hampton, Terry McCarthy, Graham Thomas Heacock, Kristoffer Bottrall, Black Ensemble Theatre, Sammy: A Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr., Daryl D. Brooks, Kenny Davis, This Way Outta Santaland (and Other Xmas Miracles), Theater Wit, Mitchell Fain, The Santaland Diaries, David Sedaris, Meghan Murphy, Yippe Ki-Yay Merry Christmas: A Die Hard Christmas Musical, MCL, Die Hard, Alan Metoskie, Michael Shepherd Jordan, Gary Fields, The Customer Is Always Right? Holiday Edition, the Annoyance, improv

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Dec 13, 2017
Beautiful, Bad Hombres, and nine more holiday stage shows to see

An Equity touring production of the Carole King musical and an evening of Latinx sketch comedy are among this week's best bets.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Altar Boyz, Sawyer Smith, Courtney Crouse, Gary Adler, Michael Patrick Walker, KevinDel Aquila, Marc J. Kessler, Ken Davenport, Theo Ubique, musical theater, Bad Hombres, Rich Alfonso, Miguel Lepe, sketch comedy, Latino comics, Mario, Damian Anaya, Cesar Jaime, Jose Molina, Spic & Tan, Chris Farley Cabaret, iO Theater, Beautiful, Carole King, Broadway musical, bio-musical, the Shirelles, Bobby Vee, Gerry Goffin, Brill Building, Sarah Bockel, Marc Bruni, The Character Assassination of Donald Trump, Eric Coleman, Jamie Quinones, Dave Kwitkowski, Jenny Miller, Meir Steinberg, Mercury Theater, The Christmas Schooner, holiday musical, Julie Shannon, John Reeger, L. Walter Stearns, Gingerbread Grindhouse, Ghostlight Ensemble, Maria Burnham, The Nutcracker, E.T.A. Hoffmann, Tatum Hunter, Sean Harklerode, Chad Wise, Red Theater, Little Red Cyrano, Cyrano de Bergerac, Aaron Sawyer, Hell in a Handbag Productions, David Cerda, Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, Michael Jack Hampton, Terry McCarthy, Graham Thomas Heacock, Kristogger Bottrall, E.D.G.E. Theatre, Steampunk Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, Industrial Revolution, Jared McDaris, Trap Door Theatre, Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, They, Polish avant-garde, Beata Pilch, Mary-Kate Arnold, Carl Wisniewski, ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, ’Twas the Fight Before Christmas, Public House Theatre, Robert Frosty

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Jun 22, 2017
Bette Davis Ain’t for Sissies, Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers . . . , and nine more new stage shows

A one-woman show to buckle up for and an intimate, retro revue are among this week's best bets.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Bette Davis, Bette Davis Ain't for Sissies, Joan Crawford, Jessica Sherr, Howard Hughes, Drag Party Party, Bina Martin, the Annoyance, Julia DeFerdinando, Hell in a Handbag Proudctions, The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes, David Cerda, Lady X: The Musical, Adrian Hadlock, Jacques Brel's Lonesome Losers of the Night, Theo Ubique, No Exit Cafe, cabaret, Jeremy Ramey, Randolph Johnson, Joshua Stephen Kartes, Fred Anzevino, Arnold Johnston, The King and I, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Laura Michelle Kelly, Jose Llana, London Assurance, Dion Boucicoult, City Lit Theatre, Oscar Wilde, Terry McCabe, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Matthey Fahey, Barbara Zahora, The Agency Theater Collective, Nautilina, Brian Foster, Sommer Austin, Anna Lucero, Brendan Duffy, Safe in My Own Head, Jenn Noyes, Natalie Moretti, Tempel Lizzipans, Tempel Farms, dressage, When the Fog Begins to Lift

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature May 3, 2017
Chicago, Lady X: The Musical, and seven more new theater reviews

The hometown return of an iconic show and the tuneful reboot of a camp classic are among this week's best bets.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Cabaret, Kander and Ebb, No Stakes Theater Project, Erin Shea Brady, Mollyanne Nunn, Emilie Modaff, Erick Rivera, Joe Masteroff, Cory Hardin, Chicago musical, Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace, William Osetek, Kelly Felthous, Aléna Watters, Rivendell Theatre, The Firebirds Take the Field, Lynn Rosen, Jessica Fisch, Forty-Two Stories, Douglas Post, City Lit Theatre, Scott Westerman, Gloria, Hell in a Handbag Productions, David Cerda, Scott Lamberty, Lady X: The Musical, Chazie Bly, Promethean Theatre Ensemble, The Liar, Pierre Corneille, Josh Hambrock, David Ives, Ed Rutherford, Underscore Theatre, My Name Is Annie King, Krista Pioppi, Alex Higgin-Houser, Aaron Albert, Katy Rea, Raven Theatre, Not About Nightingales, Tennessee Williams, Michael Menendian, Breon Arzell, Chuck Spencer, Brandon Greenhouse, Sophia Menendian, Curious Theatre Branch, Tattered and Wincing, Beau O'Reilly, Ryan Wright, Kelly Anchors

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Dec 1, 2016
From Scrooge to the Snow Queen: eight stage shows for the holidays

The Goodman's A Christmas Carol leads the seasonal onslaught.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Eric Schaeffer, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlie Brown, Peanuts, Emerald City Theatre, children's theater, holiday shows, Ann Filmer, Goodman Theatre, A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens, Larry Yando, Scrooge, Henry Wishcamper, Annoyance Theatre, It's Christmas, Goddamnit!, American Blues Theater, It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago, Gwendolyn Whiteside, Frank Capra, Jimmy Stewart, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Northlight Theatre, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet, Mary Bennet, Emily Berman, Erik Hellman, Arthur de Bourgh, The Rip Nelson Holiday Spectacular, David Cerda, Hell in a Handbag Productions, Steve Love, David Lipschutz, Ed Jones, Bruce Jenner, Doug Henning, Piccolo Theatre, The Snow Queen, Hans Christian Andersen, Jessica Puller, Arne Parrott, Under the Gun Theater, holiday improv, Hanukkah, dreidels

Arts & Culture, Fall Preview Sep 4, 2016
Ten best bets for fall theater

A satanic hand puppet, a live version of Cheers, and a Twelfth Night in Hindi are among this season’s highlights.
- Tags: Fall Preview, Mary Zimmerman, Doug Peck, Goodman Theatre, Candide, Leonard Bernstein, Wonderful Town, My Sister Eileen, Bri Sudia, Lauren Molina, Sophocles, Electra, the House of Atreus, Agamemnon, Iphigenia in Aulis, Nicholas Rudall, Court Theatre, Sandra Marquez, Michael Pogue, Kate Fry, Amiri Baraka, LeRoi Jones, Dutchman, American Blues Theater, Darren Canady, TRANSit, Shattered Globe Theatre, True West, Sam Shepard, Black Button Eyes Productions, Amour, Michel Legrand, Shakespeare 400 Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Shanghai Jingju Theatre, Peking opera, The Revenge of Prince Zi Dan, Hamlet, Company Theatre Mumbai, Piya Behrupiya, Twelfth Night, Eduardo Pavez Goye, Foro Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, The Complete Deaths, Spymonkey, The Happiest Place on Earth, Sideshow Theatre Company, Philip Dawkins, Scooby Don't, Hell in a Handbag Productions, David Cerda, Andrew Hinderaker, The Magic Play, Calamity West, Give It All Back, Idris Goodwin, How We Got On, Haven Theatre Company, Kristiana Rae Colón, Octagon, Jackalope Theatre, I Am My Own Wife, Doug Wright, About Face Theatre, Delia Kropp, Nothing Without a Company, [Trans]formation, the Living Canvas, Cheers Live on Stage, Amy Poehler, Broadway in Chicago, Mat Smart, Naperville, The Royal Society of Antarctica, the Gift Theatre, Jeff Award, Aguijón Theater, Romeo y Julieta, Sándor Menéndez, Gerardo Cárdenas, Hand to God, Robert Askin, Victory Gardens Theater, Alex Weisman, Gary Griffin, Seret Scott

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Aug 18, 2016
The Wizengamot, Three Hotels, and seven more new theater reviews

A Harry Potter debate and a hard-hitting drama are among this week's best bets.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beeholder, The Annoyance Theatre & Bar, Kristen Tallon, Nate Dicken, Bette, Live at the Continental Baths, Bette Midler, Caitlyn Jackson, Hell in a Handbag Productions, David Cerda, Barry Manilow, The Divine Miss M, Crushed, Public House Theatre, A Hero's Journey, Forks & Hope Ensemble, Joseph Campbell, Austin D. Oie, John Szymanski, Collaboraction, Peacebook, Ray of Light, Relatively Meaningless, Gina DeLuca, Strike 3*, Benjamin Vigeant, Stephen Winchell, Zack Mast, Three Hotels, Jon Robin Baitz, Stonewall, Bluebird Arts, Luda Lopatina Solomon, Dave Belden, Jaimelyn Gray, The Wizengamot: A Harry Potter Debate!, Under the Gun Theater, J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Jun 15, 2016
Congo Square’s A Small Oak Tree Runs Red, Black Ensemble’s The Marvin Gaye Story, and ten more new theater reviews

Two African-American companies present revelatory dramas.
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Bars and Measures, Idris Goodwin, Osiris Khepera, Anthony Conway, Tara Branham, John Keats, The Dark Ages: Otho the Great, The Divine Sister, Hell in a Handbag Productions, Charles Busch, David Cerda, Shade Murray, Charlotte Mae Ellison, Chad, Hauptmann, John Logan, Denis O'Hare, Terry McCabe, Bruno Hauptmann, Lindberg kidnapping, George Seegebrecht, Brian Pastor, The Jungle Book, Rudyard Kipling, Tracey Power, Theatre-Hikes, Eldridge Shannon III, William Goff, Felix Mayes, Timothy Sullivan, The Marvin Gaye Story: Don't Talk About My Father Because God Is My Friend, Jackie Taylor, Black Ensemble Theater, Marvin Gaye, Marvin Gay Sr., Rashawn Thompson, Henri Watkins, Lake Forest Theatre, The Secret Garden, Steve Malone, Edward Fraim, A Small Oak Tree Runs Red, Congo Square Theater, Lekethia Dalcoe, Harry Lennix, Mary Turner, lynchings, The Sound of Music, Kerstin Anderson, Ben Davis, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Jack O'Brien, A Storm of Limbs, Piebenga Plumbing, Tapped: A Treasonous Musical Comedy, Jed Levine and Brad Kemp, Holly Gombita, Molly Todd Madison, Laureen Siciliano, The Untold, Untrue Love Story of Bill and Hillary Clinton, Grace Perry, Lyndsay Rush, Sarah Ashley, iO Theater

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Feature Dec 11, 2015
The touring Broadway hit Beautiful, Noël Coward's Fallen Angels, and 16 more new and notable shows

Including, yes, more holiday fare
- By Reader staff
- Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Barney the Elf, Dixie Lynn Cartwright, Yando Lopez, The Other Theatre Company, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Bernarda Alba and Her House, Robert Eric Shoemaker, Redtwist Theatre, Federico García Lorca, Boom, Honest Theatre, Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, Christmas Dearest, Hell in a Handbag, David Cerda, Joan Crawford, The Christmas Schooner, Fallen Angels, Remy Bummpo, Noël Coward, Holiday Special, pH Comedy Theater, Sharla Beaver, Becca Levine, A Kokandy Christmas, The Lion King, Patrick R. Brown, Maul Santa: The Musical, Miracle on 34th Street, Artistic Home Theatre, Jack Bourgeois, Jenna Steege, My Way: A Tribute to the Music of Frank Sinatra, Theo Ubique, No Exit, Potted Potter, Daniel Clarkson, Jefferson Turner, Harry Potter, A Q Brothers' Christmas Carol, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Robin Hood and Maid Marian, Alfred Lord Tennyson, The Foresters, Forks & Hope, Twelfth Night, Lincoln Park Conservatory, Midsommer Flight, Elizabeth Rentfro, Jared Dennis, Adam Habben, Poetry Is

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Sidebar Dec 4, 2013
Christmas onstage: Let us count the ways

This year's holiday theater roundup, with cameos by Elf, Joan Crawford, and one or two Ebenezer Scrooges
- By Tony Adler, Jena Cutie, Keith Griffith, Justin Hayford, Jack Helbig, Marissa Oberlander, and Zac Thompson
- Tags: Performing Arts Sidebar, A Beer Carol, Steve Mosqueda, Sean Benjamin, Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, Christmas Bingo: It's a Ho-Ho-Holy Night, Vicki Quade, Late Night Catechism, Bible Bingo, A Christmas Carol—Abridged, Rachel Martindale, Stephen Fedo, Christmas Dearest, David Cerda, Joan Crawford, Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, AJ Wright, Elf, Will Ferrell, El Stories: Holiday Train, CTA, Waltzing Mechanics, It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play, American Theater Company, Will Allan, A Sack Full of Coal, Charlie Brown, Twilight Zone, The Seafarer, Conor McPherson, Seanachai Theatre Company, Brad Armacost, Ira Amyx, A Silent Christmas Carol, Alzan Pelesic, Silent Theatre Company

Arts & Culture, Performing Arts Sidebar Jun 13, 2013
Nearly 60 plays in 3,600 seconds (give or take)

Victory Gardens Biograph Theater hosts the third annual One Minute Play Festival.
- By Chelsea Hohn
- Tags: Performing Arts Sidebar, One-Minute Play Festival, Dominic D'Andrea, Neo-Futurists, Bilal Dardai, Laura Jacqmin, Dental Society Midwestern Meeting, New Dramatists, Carlos Murillo, Hell in a Handbag Productions, David Cerda, Scott Barsotti, Usman Ally, Mary Zimmerman, The Jungle Book, Philip Dawkins, Seth Bockley, the Homosexuals, Failure: A Love Story, Tanya Saracho, El Nogalar, Our Lady of the Underpass

Blogs, Bleader Dec 27, 2012
Reader's Agenda, Thu 12/27: glam-rock dance party, Russ Johnson Quartet, and Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer

What's on the Agenda for Thursday, December 27, 2012
- By Tal Rosenberg
- Tags: Do This, Arts, Maria's Packaged Goods & Community Bar, Glam Bam Thank You Ma'am!, DJ Michael "Moc Artsy" Latham, Russ Johnson Quartet, Elastic, Tim Daisy, Anton Hatwich, Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, Hamburger Mary's, David Cerda

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