David Cerda News

The 2019 production of POSEIDON! An Upside-Down Musical was recorded by Peter Neville* in HD with stereo sound at Chicago's Edge Theater. POSEIDON! features book and lyrics by Handbag Artistic Director David Cerda*, music by David Cerda* with Scott Lamberty, direction by Derek Van Barham, music direction by Andrew Milliken and choreography by Breon Arzell.

Hell in a Handbag Productions will celebrate the holidays with the return of America’s favorite funnyman, Rip Nelson (Ed Jones*), in the star-studded world premiere of The Rip Nelson Holiday Quarantine Special, streaming from December 4, 2020 – January 9, 2021 via Vimeo.

Hell in a Handbag Productions celebrates the holidays with the return of America's favorite funnyman, Rip Nelson (Ed Jones*), in the star-studded world premiere of The Rip Nelson Holiday Quarantine Special, streaming from December 4, 2020 – January 9, 2021 via Vimeo.

Hell in a Handbag Productions celebrates the holidays with the return of America's favorite funnyman, Rip Nelson (Ed Jones*), in the star-studded world premiere of The Rip Nelson Holiday Quarantine Special, streaming from December 4, 2020 – January 9, 2021 via Vimeo.

Hell in a Handbag Productions once again takes on the classic 1970s disaster film genre with a totally ridiculous twist! Airport 1970SOMETHING is a parody that celebrates the popular '70s Airport disaster film series, edited and dubbed over with new dialogue by Handbag ensemble members and some of Chicago's favorite performers.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to welcome audiences back with UNDER THE STARS WITH HANDBAG: A Drive-In Festival a?' five fun and socially-responsible weekends of Handbag productions on a big outdoor screen! Featuring a different show each week, Handbag's pop-up drive-in festival will play Fridays and Saturday from August 21 a?' September 19, 2020 at The Red Box Workshop, 4242 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. in Chicago, just west of the intersection of Pulaski and Bryn Mawr.

The Belmont Theater District (BTD), Chicago's largest theater district located in the Lakeview West and Lakeview East neighborhoods, is offering a wide variety of entertainment options all ONLINE this summer. Belmont Theater District is funded and maintained by the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce and the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce.

The Belmont Theater District, Chicago's largest theater district located in the Lakeview West and Lakeview East neighborhoods, is offering a wide variety of entertainment options all ONLINE this summer.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hell in a Handbag Productions is kicking-off summer with its very first digital online production: THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes, Vol. 4 - LOCKDOWN!, written by Artistic Director David Cerda and directed by Spenser Davis.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Handbag will kick-off summer with its very first digital online production: THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes, Vol. 4 a?" LOCKDOWN!, written by Artistic Director David Cerda and directed by Spenser Davis.

Hell in a Handbag Productions today announced several updates to its 2020 season, including a streaming production slated for this summer and a world premiere musical parody set to debut this fall.

Hell in a Handbag Productions has announced its 2020 Season, plus a move to Stage 773, where Handbag is now a resident company for 2020.

How do you put a new spin on the world's longest-running play? At Court Theatre, director Sean Graney takes on this challenge with Agatha Christie's classic murder mystery, THE MOUSETRAP. Running continuously in London's West End since 1952, the original production currently clocks in at over 28,000 performancesa?'certainly a jewel in the crown of one of the world's most successful mystery writers. While the London production has only updated its set design twice since its premiere, here in Chicago, Graney and team breathe fresh life into the popular mystery with fascinating designs, hilarious character actors and an honest approach to Christie's insightful exploration of human nature.

Loud & Fast Funny (LAFF) Shows, a sketch comedy troupe developed by Main Street Artists through a partnership with IndyFringe, will present a pair of hour-long pop culture parody shows at the District Theatre Cabaret on Fridays and Saturdays from February 28 through April 18, 2020, with two performances each night at 7:30pm and 9:00pm. Performances will take place in the Cabaret Space at the District Theatre, 627 Massachusetts Avenue in downtown Indianapolis.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to bring back its steamy cabaret sensation – with a holiday twist! Handbag diva Caitlin Jackson* recreates Bette Midler's historic concert at New York's Continental Baths in BETTE: XMAS AT THE CONTINENTAL BATHS, playing December 6 – 31, 2019 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Tickets are currently available through Brown Paper Tickets at bettelive.bpt.me or by calling (800) 838-3006. 

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to bring back its annual Hams4Hams fundraiser during the company's two holiday productions. Since launching the initiative in 2012, Handbag has raised over $40,000 for Groceryland, which provides food and nutritional counseling for those impacted by HIV and AIDS in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood and on the North Side. Groceryland was started by the longtime Chicago LGBTQ+ advocate and activist Lori Cannon, who started feeding people during the AIDS crisis in the 1980s through Open Hand/Chicago.

Celebrate the season in sunny Miami as Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia return for brand new holiday episodes in THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes – The Holiday Edition, Vol. 2. Written by Artistic Director David Cerda* and directed by ensemble member Stevie Love*, the latest installment of Hell in a Handbag Productions' long-running parody of the beloved TV sitcom will play November 27 – December 28, 2019 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Tickets are currently available through Brown Paper Tickets at goldengirlsxmas.bpt.me or by calling or by calling (800) 838-3006. 

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to bring back its steamy cabaret sensation a?" with a holiday twist! Handbag diva Caitlin Jackson* recreates Bette Midler's historic concert at New York's Continental Baths in BETTE: XMAS AT THE CONTINENTAL BATHS, playing December 6 a?" 31, 2019 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Tickets are currently available through Brown Paper Tickets at bettelive.bpt.me or by calling (800) 838-3006. The press opening is Saturday, December 7 at 9:30 pm.

Celebrate the season in sunny Miami as Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia return for brand new holiday episodes in THE GOLDEN GIRLS: The Lost Episodes a?" The Holiday Edition, Vol. 2.

Hell in a Handbag Productions' presents its annual benefit, THE RIP NELSON CELEBRITY ROAST on Saturday, November 9, 2019 from 6 - 11 pm at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1650 W. Foster Ave. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood.