Robert Williams News

The Suncoast Credit Union Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF) is proud to announce the dynamic 2019 Feature Film Competition Lineup. The festival includes U.S., international and documentary features, as well as other programming, to kick-off its 13th year! The 2019 Suncoast Credit Union Gasparilla Int'l Film Festival will take place from March 19th - 24th in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Join Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia for Hell in a Handbag Productions' annual benefit, THE SOPHIA PETRILLO ITALIAN DINNER & TALENT SHOW on Sunday, December 2, 2018 from 5 - 10 pm at Our Lady of Eternal Guilt aka Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1650 W. Foster Ave. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood.

Red Bull Music will launch the latest installment of their critically acclaimed international music series Red Bull Music Festival this Saturday, November 3rd in Chicago with Opening Night at Wintrust Arena. Chicago is the home to some of hip hop's most cutting edge artists and the event series will celebrate many of them, kicking the festival off with one of the largest RBMF events to-date. Legends, luminaries, and rising stars in rap and R&B will come together for an unprecedented ensemble performance and REVOLT will be on hand to capture it as a livestream.

It's not Halloween without a Handbag show, so Hell in a Handbag Productions' Artistic Director David Cerda is conjuring up a special treat: THE GOLDEN GIRLS: Bea Afraid! - The Halloween Edition.

It's not Halloween without a Handbag show, so Hell in a Handbag Productions' Artistic Director David Cerda is conjuring up a special treat: THE GOLDEN GIRLS: Bea Afraid! - The Halloween Edition.

Jana Jae, known for her virtuosity on the 'Magic Blue Fiddle,' is planning on taking the Hee Haw audience on a musical journey where she performed on the historic television program either as part of the Buck Owens band or as a soloist. In a new touring production entitled Kornfield Friends, Jana has put together a grouping of original cast members from Hee Haw. Kornfield Friends will bring a touch of 'Kornfield Kounty' to stages around the US and Canada and will have the audience involved from the beginning to the end. Whether singing, clapping, laughing or crying, this show has something for everyone.

Red Bull Music will launch the latest installment of their critically acclaimed international music series in Chicago this November, bringing with it a month-long slate of expertly curated original programming spanning the city's diverse music genres. Red Bull Music Festival Chicago will explore and celebrate Chicago's rich cultural heritage while spotlighting its modern music landscape. Red Bull Music Festival (RBMF) makes its midwest debut after six acclaimed installments in New York City and a 2017 Los Angeles festival, and will feature live performances, club nights and lectures at some of Chicago's most unique venues. The festival also marks Red Bull Music's return to the Windy City after 2017's 30 Days in Chicago.

It's not Halloween without a Handbag show, so Hell in a Handbag Productions' Artistic Director David Cerda is conjuring up a special treat: THE GOLDEN GIRLS: Bea Afraid! - The Halloween Edition.

It's not Halloween without a Handbag show, so Hell in a Handbag Productions' Artistic Director David Cerda is conjuring up a special treat: THE GOLDEN GIRLS: Bea Afraid! - The Halloween Edition.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to kick off its 2018 Season with a revival of its 2013 hit L'IMITATION OF LIFE, a dead on parody of the 1959 film Imitation of Life about race, mothers and daughters - and looking fabulous! Adapted by Ricky Graham and Running with Scissors and directed by ensemble member Stevie Love*, L'IMITATION OF LIFE will play March 31 - May 6, 2018 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently on sale at www.handbagproductions.org (through Stage 773) or by calling (773) 327-5252. 

Two of the jazz world's most acclaimed guitarists, four-time Grammy winner Larry Carlton and John Pizzarelli perform a double bill at Mayo Performing Arts Center on Thursday, April 26 at 8 pm. Tickets are $39-$79.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to kick off its 2018 Season with a revival of its 2013 hit L'IMITATION OF LIFE, a dead on parody of the 1959 film Imitation of Life about race, mothers and daughters - and looking fabulous! Adapted by Ricky Graham and Running with Scissors and directed by ensemble member Stevie Love*, L'IMITATION OF LIFE will play March 31 - May 6, 2018 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently on sale at www.handbagproductions.org (through Stage 773) or by calling (773) 327-5252. The press opening is Saturday, April 7 at 7:30 pm.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to announce casting for the revival of its 2013 hit L'IMITATION OF LIFE, a dead on parody of the 1959 film Imitation of Life about race, mothers and daughters - and looking fabulous!

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to announce its 2018 season, kicking off this spring with a revival of its 2013 hit L'IMITATION OF LIFE, a dead on parody of the 1959 film Imitation of Life about race, mothers and daughters - and looking fabulous! Adapted by Ricky Graham and Running with Scissors and directed by ensemble member Stevie Love, ensemble member Ed Jones and Robert Williams reprise their roles as Lana Turner and Annie Johnson.

Break out the cheesecake and eggnog Chicago's favorite gals are headed back to Andersonville for the holidays, where it all began! Following an 18-week sell-out run, including six-weeks at Lakeview's Stage 773, Hell in a Handbag Productions' campy world premiere parody THE GOLDEN GIRLS THE LOST EPISODES will return to Mary's Attic (5400 N. Clark St., Chicago) for six additional performances from December 6, 2017 January 10, 2018. Written by David Cerda and directed by Shade Murray, AJ Wright and David Lipschutz, the campy parody of one of TV's most beloved sitcoms will feature the best of the original run plus a new holiday-themed episode! THE GOLDEN GIRLS will run in conjunction with the return of Handbag's holiday favorite RUDOLPH THE RED-HOSED REINDEER. Tickets for both productions are currently available at www.handbagproductions.org or by calling (800) 838-3006.

The 'Girls' are headed to Boystown! After an eleven-week sell-out run, including two extensions at Mary's Attics in Andersonville, Hell in a Handbag Production' campy world premiere THE GOLDEN GIRLS - THE LOST EPISODES is transferring to Lakeview's Stage 773 for an additional six-weeks. The new condensed, late-night edition will feature the best of the original run - plus new material.

Review: HIAHP's Beguiling BEWILDERED

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to continue its 15th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of BEWILDERED, a musical parody of the classic TV sitcom Bewitched, told from the perspective of Gladys Kravitz, Samantha Stephens' iconic nosy neighbor.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to continue its 15th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of BEWILDERED, a musical parody of the classic TV sitcom Bewitched, told from the perspective of Gladys Kravitz, Samantha Stephens' iconic nosy neighbor. Featuring a book by Ron Weaver, music and lyrics by Aaron Benham and Ron Weaver and direction and choreography by Brigitte Ditmars, BEWILDERED will play September 27 - November 11, 2017 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.handbagproductions.org and stage773.com, by calling (773) 327-5252 or in person at the Stage 773 box office.