Displaying items by tag: Liz Chidester

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, concludes its 40^th anniversary season with the hit jukebox musical Always...Patsy Cline created by Ted Swindley, with band and vocal orchestrations by August Eriksmoen and Tony Migliore. The production is directed by Harmony France, with music direction by Ensemble Member Michael Mahler. Always...Patsy Cline runs May 1 – June 7, 2026, at American Blues Theater at 5627 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago. 

This musical play, complete with down home country humor and big-hearted emotion, includes hits "Crazy", "I Fall to Pieces", "Sweet Dreams", "Walkin' After Midnight" and more! Starring Ensemble member and award winner Liz Chidester as Patsy Cline and featuring guest artist Molly Hernández as Louise.

Tickets, priced $34.50-$64.50, are on sale now the American Blues Theater box office, online at www.americanbluestheater.com, or by phone at (773) 654-3103.

Always...Patsy Cline

Created by: Ted Swindley

Band & Vocal Orchestrations by: August Eriksmoen & Tony Migliore

Directed by: Harmony France

Music Direction by: Ensemble Member Michael Mahler

Featuring: American Blues Theater Ensemble member Liz Chidester as Patsy Cline and Molly Hernández as Louise.

Dates: May 1 – June 7, 2026

Schedule:                   

Wednesdays: 2:00 PM (except May 6); 7:30 PM (May 6 only)
Thursdays: 7:30 PM
Fridays: 7:30 PM (except May 8 @ 7:00 PM)
Saturdays: 3:00 PM (May 16 & May 30 only); 7:30 PM (May 2, 9 & 23, June 6)

Sundays: 2:30 PM

Location: American Blues Theater, 5627 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago

Ticket prices: $34.50 - $64.50 (no hidden fees)

Box office: Buy online at www.americanbluestheater.com or by calling (773) 654-3103.

Special Access Events

Tickets: $34.50 – call theater for special rate

Touch Tour: Sunday, May 31 at 1:30 PM
Audio Described Performance: Sunday, May 31 at 2:30 PM
American Sign Language-Interpreted Performance: Friday, May 22 at 7:30 PM

American Blues Theater is excited to offer audiences even more ways to engage with artists, neighbors and the larger community through its two programs The Commons and @Home Accessibility Series.

The Commons features readings, live concerts, open mics, game nights, town halls and more at American Blues. The @Home Accessibility Series features readings, live concerts, and town halls from the comfort of home via Zoom. For the most up-to-date programming schedule or to purchase tickets, visit www.americanbluestheater.com. Additional programming will be announced throughout the season.

About American Blues Theater

Winner of the prestigious National Theatre Company Award from American Theatre Wing (Tony Awards). American Blues Theater is an Ensemble of artists committed to producing new and classic diverse stories that ask the question: "What does it mean to be American?"

The diverse and multi-generational artists have established the second-oldest professional Ensemble theater in Chicago. As of 2025, the theater and artists received 246 Joseph Jefferson Awards and nominations that celebrate excellence in Chicago theater and 44 Black Theatre Alliance Awards. The artists are honored with Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize nominations, Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards and numerous other accolades.  

It only takes a few moments into Lizzie’s opening number that audience members realize they are in for quite the unusual theatre experience. Haunting, yet beautiful, the creepiness quickly sets in as Lizzie’s four Victorian-clad characters solemnly sing the tale of the infamous Lizzie Borden who was accused of butchering her father and stepmother in August of 1892.

Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.

Based on true accounts of the double murder that took place in Fall River, Massachusetts, the grim tale reimagined by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Tim Maner is told by Lizzie, her sister Emma, her neighbor Alice and the family’s maid, Bridget. Presented by Firebrand Theatre, whose claim is that of being the first feminist musical theatre company, Lizzie is a detailed account of the legendary crime that is one of the most talked about grisly murders in our Nation’s history.

Firebrand hits a homerun with their first ever production by delivering a deliciously enticing story that engrosses from beginning to end thanks to its strong acting performances and punchy soundtrack that is both powerful and, when called for, dreamlike.

The play offers great insight to Lizzie herself and speculates the heinous crime may have been prodded by the home’s maid while also suggesting she may have been lovers with her neighbor Alice. Liz Chidester is Lizzie Borden and dominates in the role. Chidester so well captures the essence of a girl who loses her grip on reality after years of being abused by her father and is subjected to a newly introduced stepmother who has manipulated her way into inheriting the family wealth.

Ingeniously directed by Victoria Bussert, Lizzie is stacked with commanding performances. Leah Davis fiercely takes the reigns as the mischievous housemaid Bridget, injecting well-timed humor and velvety smooth vocals that make her character a powerhouse. Camille Robinson as Emma and Jacquelyne Jones as Alice round out what makes for an excellent cast. Our four characters deliver amazing vocal performances, each as unique as the other while smartly straying from the standard Broadway-esque sounds we are used to hearing in so many big musicals. No. These women truly rock. 

Instead we get a conceptual rock concert. Hypnotic, sexy and plot-rich, Lizzie is presented by a female-fronted rock group heading a talented band that sits rear stage. As engrossing as the music is the show’s often pithy dialogue exchanges, it’s costumes and creative effects (hint - ponchos are available for those who choose to sit in the first row).

Lizzie is a fun show that has it all – murder, treachery, sex and scorching music.

It is with high recommendation that I urge theatre lovers to see the story of Lizzie Borden that is presented in the most imaginative way. If such a brilliantly inventive production such as Lizzie is an example of what Firebrand has in store for theatre goers in the future, we can only look forward to what the young theatre company will bring us next time around.

Lizzie is being performed at The Den Theatre through December 17th. For tickets and/or more show information visit www.firebrandtheatre.org.

*Now extended January 3rd-14th with Broadway's Ciara Renee joining the production.