Heidi Weiss, theatre critic for the Chicago Sun Times recently attended a stellar production of DESSA ROSE at Bailiwick Chicago's Theatre and gave the production a rave review.  We're delighted to share the piece which we hope inspires more innovative productions of this gem of a show!  And if you're in the Chicago area - the show runs through April 6 so we highly recommend you go...

With its soaring score, and a story built on the ever thorny issue of race in this country, you need only listen to the initial anthemic chorale in “Dessa Rose,” to know that this is a musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the team behind “Ragtime.” (The same pair has penned the score for “Rocky, The Musical,” opening Thursday on Broadway.)

“Dessa Rose” which premiered in 2005, may be smaller in scale than “Ragtime.” But as Bailiwick Chicago’s finely wrought, gorgeously sung revival demonstrates, it has a beauty all its own, with a lush score firmly planted in American roots music (blues, folk, gospel, call-and-response), and a book and lyrics based on the novel by Sherley Anne Williams.

Read the full article, "Unexpected, Ideal Casting Makes DESSA ROSE Soar" here.

License the rights to perform DESSA ROSE from MTI.