Heat Wave: Pegasus Players Present
Pegasus Players at O'Rourke Center (Chicago, IL)
Rated 3.2 by 26 members who went.
Based on the book Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago by Eric Klinenberg, Steven Simoncic's moving new play looks at the heat wave of 1995 which took the lives of 739 Chicagoans. Simoncic presents a vivid portrait of a city in crisis, but with its resources and humanity firmly intact. Directed by Ilesa Duncan.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
All dates for this event have expired.
The last event was Sunday April 6, 2008 / 3:00pm. (view all dates)
Don't Miss Out On Any More Events!
No Photos Yet
Check back to this section to see pictures from this event!
16 Member Reviews
1
1
-
- Janet
-
Janet
Member since 2008
2 Reviews
-
The performance was very believable and powerful...It was full of pertinent information. I found myself at times saying, "Yes! That happened. I remember that." And I found at other times that I learned something I didn't know. The performance was very moving, funny, emotional, and informative. I highly recommend seeing it!
-
-
- Barbara Feig
-
Barbara Feig
Member since 2006
6 Reviews
-
Extremely well done. Highly recommend it.
-
-
- Michelle
-
Michelle
Member since 2006
10 Reviews
-
It's too bad the critics are panning this production, my husband and I really enjoyed it.
-
-
- Mary Williams
-
Mary Williams
Member since 2006
3 Reviews
-
It was OK, not what I expected.
-
-
- Patty Dixon
-
Patty Dixon
Member since 2006
12 Reviews
-
Extremely well-written, directed, and acted. Also very informative.
-
-
- Brian Paff
-
Brian Paff
Member since 2008
1 Reviews
-
An especially interesting piece for anyone who lives in Chicago, and particularly relevant given recent tragedies in which the poor, people of color, and the elderly were affected disproportionately. The artistic and theatrical elements used to examine the 1995 heat wave in Chicago made this story all the more powerful. The different perspectives offered gave the audience much to ponder throughout the play. Thank you for sharing this story with us.
-
-
- Anonymous Member
-
Anonymous Member
Member since 2006
1 Reviews
-
Well done, good staging, excellent from a historical perspective. Some dialogue muffled and hard to understand, but the piece was very effective.
-
-
- Anonymous Member
-
Anonymous Member
Member since 2008
1 Reviews
-
This play was excellent! It was written, directed and acted out extremely well. I was completely blown away given the cheap cost (would've paid more). Definitely check this out if able.
-
-
- Anonymous Member
-
Anonymous Member
Member since 2008
2 Reviews
-
Interesting historical material, good variety of angles on the heat wave. The writing is a little clunky, with lines that don't really seem to fit the characters whose mouths they come out of, but it's an insightful piece on some recent local history.
-
-
- Anonymous Member
-
Anonymous Member
Member since 2006
1 Reviews
-
I remembered when this happened but I had forgotten the devastation that was actually caused by. No one was held accountable, but I guess that depends on who the powers that be are. Good play, and I highly recommend it.
-
-
- Anonymous Member
-
Anonymous Member
Member since 2007
3 Reviews
-
Excellent production. Very original dramatization of book. Important story of government and media in Chicago. Anyone living in Chicago will want to see this play!!!
-
-
- Anonymous Member
-
Anonymous Member
Member since 2007
2 Reviews
-
Provocative presentation of the legendary heat wave of '95, including the issues faced by the ordinary people who lived (or did not) through it.
-
-
- Leticia Siguenza
-
Leticia Siguenza
Member since 2007
4 Reviews
-
I thought it was very well presented. You were able to see the perspective from all angles of the city. Very well excecuted
-
-
- Anonymous Member
-
Anonymous Member
Member since 2007
1 Reviews
-
thrilling! it really shows the humanity and the struggle of all the people (and their perspective) involved in the situation. i highly recommend it!
-
-
- Chuck Stepner
-
Chuck Stepner
Member since 2006
5 Reviews
-
I know its corny but this play is "hot." It is not only riveting but makes an important political statement.
-
-
- Stephanie L.
-
Stephanie L.
Member since 2006
8 Reviews
-
This is a very powerful play -- I was sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time. Giving these victims a voice was very moving yet sad. It made you look at them as more than just a number count but as individuals.
-
Reviews are sorted first by profile photo (reviewers with profile photos are displayed first), second by the total number of kudos the review has received (the more kudos, the earlier the review appears), third by date written (newer reviews appear before older reviews).
More Details
Based on the book Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago by Eric Klinenberg, Steven Simoncic's moving new play looks at the heat wave of 1995 which took the lives of 739 Chicagoans. Simoncic presents a vivid portrait of a city in crisis, but with its resources and humanity firmly intact. Directed by Ilesa Duncan.
Pegasus Players
Pegasus believes in choosing challenging scripts because of their artistic and social worth; therefore, the theatre frequently produces works that others do not consider commercially viable. For example, because of their artistic excellence, Pegasus has produced many of Stephen Sondheim's musicals that were not initially successful on Broadway, such as Assassins, Merrily We Roll Along, Pacific Overtures, Anyone Can Whistle, The Frogs, Passion, and Company. Stephen Sondheim himself has recognized the company by becoming a financial as well as an artistic supporter.
The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, The Reader and other area papers have all noted that Pegasus consistently produces exceptional, important work.
The New York Times travel section in October 1997 listed Pegasus Players as one of two theatres not to be missed on any trip to Chicago.
Richard Christiansen of the Chicago Tribune has twice named Pegasus's Artistic Director Arlene Crewdson as one of the top 20 Chicago artists who made memorable contributions, once in 1988 and again in 1991, citing her as "one of the most creative and determined producers in Chicago."
