Blue Eyed Soul Sung By Brown Eyed People

Jackie Taylor and the Black Ensemble Theater welcome you to the unique world of Voice, Passion, Mind, Intellect, Spirit, Humanity, and Soul as they perform with the aid of historians Barthalamul, Lydaya, and Othello at the Sacres Oracle—a concert venue where we celebrate life. You remember the time before music videos, when you Popped in that 8-track cassette or were listening to a song, thinking the person or group was black, and to your surprise, they were white singers with soul. Blue Eyed Soul, sung by Brown Eyed People, honors and celebrates the music that proves – We are all one. Taylor, who "Just Wants To Celebrate," is "Taking it To the Streets" by showing us the "Vision of Love" we need to share because together we are "Beautiful." Can you dig it? The two-act musical features The Rascals, Rare Earth, The Shondells, Tom Jones, The Young Rascals, and Foreigner, singing songs like Crystal Blue Persuasion, She's A Lady, People Got To Be Free, Higher Love, I Want To Know What Love Is, Christina Aguilera, Beautiful, a song written by Carole King and Dolly Parton, I Will Always Love You, a song that will forever be known as the Whitney Houston song—and many other great songs with a soulful touch. A cast of ten, featuring Rhonda Preston, who plays the "Voice," seven different essences—Soul, Passion, Humanity, Mind, Intellect, and Spirit—are on stage with three Historians. Direoce Junirs (Soul), Britt Edwards (Passion), Tia Jemison (Humanity), Vincent Jordan (Mind), Taryn Welch (Intellect), and LaRon Jones (Spirit) are essences, while Dennis Dent (Barthalamul), Trequon Tate (Othello), and Raeven Carroll as (Lydaya) as the Historians.

Seeing Preston's return to the BE stage was an exhilarating treat to seasoned BE ticketholders. Her presence within the Oracle evokes the nostalgia of joyful musical days at the Black Ensemble. She has provided outstanding performances, delighting BE audiences for many years, and deserves her flowers now. Vincent Jordan consistently delivers show-worthy singing as a leading man, showcasing his abilities as a regular at BE. The incredibly multi-talented Britt Edwards never fails to infuse every performance with unwavering passion, giving it her all every time. New to the BE stage, Taryn Welch has the intellect and the voice. With her Broadway voice ready for showbiz, I'm excited to witness her dedication to honing her acting skills. Lastly, Raeven Carroll's soul-stirring rendition of Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" moved the audience to tears.

While the performance has some areas that need improvement, particularly in the chemistry on stage, delivery of lines, and dancing, which seems a bit basic and off-rhythm, it still impresses with its powerful singing and message of unity. BE is at its best when showcasing soulful musicals that delve into the individual singer's life and the historical context behind them. The BE band, The Instrumentalists, featuring Adam Sherrod, Oscar Brown Jr., Walter Harrington, and Robert Reddick, who has served as musical director at Black Ensemble for over 20 years, is known for constantly jamming with soulful sounds. The talented Jackie Taylor wrote Blue Eyed Soul, Sung by Brown-Eyed People. Taylor's mission at Black Ensemble is to eradicate racism and its damaging effects on our society, which can be seen more and more through our elected officials. Her musicals have always provided an in-depth insight into the music, the singers, and their lives, educating the audience while providing them with hours of joy while listening to prominent music from the past. As she seeks to reach out beyond the theater walls, I would love the voice of Taylor to release those brilliant plays she had written within the soul, passion, humanity, mind, intellect, and spirit, that's within her, releasing decades of struggles of racism and how they affect the diversity and unity mentioned in this musical performance. Her resounding voice has the power to revolutionize the landscape of Chicagoland theaters. By delving into the rich tapestry of history and infusing it with boundless passion, she can illuminate a path toward a more vibrant and promising future. With such a powerful mission, I look forward to even more memorable musicals and impressive narratives from Black Ensemble.

⭐⭐⭐

Black Ensemble Theater Presents Jackie Taylor's

Blue Eyed Soul, sung by Brown Eyed People

Written and Directed by Jackie Taylor

September 21st to November 10th, 2024

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