**** Highly Recommended **** Court Theatre’s “Blues for an Alabama Sky” is a gripping play about complicated people doing what they have to do to survive. According to playwright Pearl Cleage, the Harlem Renaissance was a period of tremendous creative accomplishment for many black artists. The Stock Market crash dried up the money flowing to creative work, crushing hopes and bringing fear to many. “Blues for an Alabama Sky” is a kind of a microcosm of the hopes and fears of that time and place, while some of its themes – intolerance, homophobia and anti-abortion – are pulled out of today’s headlines. 4 Spotlights.
“Blues for an Alabama Sky” runs through February 12th at the Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago. Running time is 2 hours, 50 minutes, with an intermission. Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm; Fridays at 8:00 pm; Saturdays at 3:00 and 8:00 pm; and Sundays at 2:30 and 7:30 pm. Tickets range from $48-$68. Parking is free in the garage next door to the Court – take a ticket to enter but the gate stays up for 30 minutes after the performance. Tickets range from $48-$68. FYI (773) 753-4472 or www.CourtTheatre.org.
Read my entire review at www.spotlightonlake.com.
