Displaying items by tag: 25th Anniversary

Hell in a Handbag Productions is thrilled to announce its 25th Anniversary Season, featuring three "camptacular" shows guaranteed to delight lovers of their signature theater style. For a quarter-century, Handbag has served Chicago audiences its unique brand of camp and ridiculousness – earning a fiercely dedicated following and a recent induction into the 2026 Chicago LGBT+ Hall of Fame. Season subscriptions on are on sale here.

Hell in a Handbag opens its 2026-27 Season this holiday season with the world premiere of Artistic Director David Cerda's* It's a Horrible Life – A Golden Girls Lost Episodes Musical Parody, the first musical installment in the company's long-running Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes parody series. Following a string of holiday mishaps and a disastrous audition for the Miami Senior Center's production of It's a Wonderful Life, Dorothy (David Cerda*) begins to question her very existence. An angel intervenes, revealing that her roommates wouldn't last 20-minutes without her.

Directed by Ryan Kennedy, the cast also includes Kelly Bolton*, Grant Drager*, Ed Jones*, Scott Sawa*, Britain Shutters, Danne W. Taylor* and Honey West. It's a Horrible Life will be presented at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Single tickets are on now on sale here.

The season continues this winter with the return of the Handbag favorite Caged Dames, Artistic Director David Cerda's* musical parody inspired by the women's prison films of the '40s and '50s, particularly Caged starring Eleanor Parker. Originally produced in 2006, Caged Dames tells the story of Mary Parker, an innocent young woman who, through a series of unfortunate events, lands in the big house – the Calumet City, Illinois Women's Penitentiary – and learns all about the cold hard facts of life – the hard way. Caged Dames will also be presented at Theater Wit.

The final show of Handbag's 25^th Anniversary Season is out of this world (see what we did there?) Next summer, Handbag is proud to present the Chicago premiere of KHAN!!! The Musical! (A Parody Trek-tacular) featuring music, lyrics and book by Brent Black and co-conceived by Alina Roth.

This funny and clever parody/love letter is based on Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek: The Next Generation with an entirely original score. The beauty of the show is that it's fun for Trekkies, Broadway fans and "normies" alike – and you don't have to know anything about Star Trek to enjoy it! This spaced-out summer romp will be staged at The Clutch, Handbag's intimate boutique space at 4335 N. Western Ave. in Chicago.

Handbag will also continue to present readings and entertainment throughout the season celebrating 25 years of absurdity,

Hell in a Handbag Artistic Director and Co-Founder David Cerda* comments, "I suppose 25 years is a long time for a theatre company. Some days it feels that way. Sometimes it feels like it was just yesterday. I'm proud of what we have done as a company and will continue to create art until I get that damn McArthur Genius Award. I want this season to celebrate who we are and continue to bring joy to people."

*Denotes Handbag ensemble member

Hell in a Handbag's 25th Anniversary Season:

December 3, 2026 – January 4, 2027

It's a Horrible Life – A Golden Girls Lost Episodes Musical Parody

By Artistic Director David Cerda*

Directed by Ryan Kennedy

Featuring Kelly Bolton*, David Cerda*, Grant Drager*, Ed Jones*, Scott Sawa*, Britain Shutters, Danne W. Taylor* and Honey West

at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Tickets now on sale here.

February 11 – 28, 2027

Caged Dames

Book and Music by Artistic Director David Cerda

at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago

August 7 – September 19, 2027

KHAN!!! The Musical! (A Parody Trek-Tacular)

Music, Lyrics and Book by Brent Black

Co-Conceived by Alina Roth

at The Clutch, 4335 N. Western Ave., Chicago

About Hell in a Handbag Productions

Hell in a Handbag is dedicated to the preservation, exploration, and celebration of works ingrained in the realm of popular culture via theatrical productions through parody, music and homage. Handbag is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit. For additional information, visit handbagproductions.org.

I have seen Riverdance productions in the past and have always enjoyed them, but the Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show, currently being performed at Cadillac Place Theatre, really ramped up the production value and left me breathless. With new soundtrack additions by original composer Bill Whelan, and amazing 3D projections in the background by producer Moya Doherty and director John McColgan, this new touring production inspires and delights the eye from beginning to end.

Of course, the dancing is spectacular and with numbers that merge several dance forms like American tap and Flamenco, the artform of Celtic Riverdance proves that this form of dance is just as demanding if not more so than other traditional forms of dance. 

I had forgotten that many of the dancers also sing, their voices and harmonies exquisite and uplifting. Several lead vocal performances mesmerized the audience whether a solo sung or the entire ensemble joining in song. 

But as beautiful as the singing and visuals, Riverdance is about wowing its audience with its rapid-fire movement, intricate footwork and choreographed tapping that can at times be thunderous. Every dancer was fantastic. The two main dancer leads, Maggie Darlington and Jason O’Neil, had great chemistry while other prominent performers Gianna Petracic, Will Bryant, Patrick O’Mahony and Jason O’Neil continuously dazzled with one stunning performance after another.

The loosely based plotline allows for the romantic imagination to place its own meanings and personal inspiration about love and family and travel to and from one's homeland in many of the numbers. 

New technology employed on the ever changing lights and backdrops makes for a hypnotic and colorful experience that theater goers will find exciting and refreshing as one is challenged to watch the magnificent footwork of the dancers as the lush scenery rolls into and out of the stage area flawlessly.

Riverdance has come a long way since its beginning when it was just a seven-minute dance piece as an interval act in the 1994 Eurosong Dance Contest. The feedback from this captivating dance segment, a synthesis of Irish and International performance art, was tremendous, and the show creators knew they had something big. Soon after, the music show was developed into a full-length production in 1995 and box office records were broken and Riverdance has never looked back selling out shows all around the world. Riverdance brings us a unique dance form that requires and incredible amount of skill and can be roaring one moment and gracefully flowing in the next - and audiences just can’t get enough.    

I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this new 25th Anniversary production of the Grammy winning and highly acclaimed show Riverdance for audiences of all ages who wish to spend a lively and uplifting night at the theater and leave feeling entertained and refreshed - especially during these gloomy Winter months!  

Riverdance is currently staged at Cadillac Palace Theatre through February 9th. For more info visit www.broadwayinchicago.com or www.riverdance.com.