Busy at Circle This Summer: Costuming "Ragtime" and Choreographing "Annie"

It's been a crazy busy summer and I haven't had a chance to update my blog with what I have been upto. I recently did the costumes for Circle's "Ragtime" as well as the choreography for Circle's summer production of "Annie". Things have been crazy because we had a HUGE flood where we lost 75% of our costumes in the basement. I was downstairs in my Hunter boots wading through trying to save the really good stuff. We managed to save stuff that had been built or just purchased so that was a good thing. In the end it made things alot easier on me with deciding what we could take with us to the new space. We are leaving our old home at 7300 W Madison in Forest Park and moving for a year to 1010 W. Madison in Oak Park, where Village Players use to be. Its a much bigger space and will help with some of our bills. Im excited. The first show in our new space will be "The Wedding Singer"

Review for "For Colored Girls..." With an awesome mention for choreography!

Review from Steadstyle Chicago by Paul Cosca

Many times, theatre can be a lot like real estate. It's about location, location, location. A terrible show in a great space will never make the show better. But a great show in a poor space can really bring down the experience. And such is the case for InnateVolution's production of Ntozake Shange's classic play, "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf".

"For Colored Girls" debuted in 1974 in a bar in Berkley, California. Since then, it has moved to theatres all over the country including a run on Broadway. And now I know why the show moved away from a bar as opposed to into a bar. Stepping into The Call on Bryn Mawr, it's apparent that it's a very nice bar. However, nice bars don't often make for nice theatres. Taking my seat on my bar stool, I knew that this wasn't going to be a situation that was going to be comfortable for too long. For other people in the audience, this solution was easily solved by getting up often throughout the performance and getting drinks. Again, fine for a bar. Not so fine for a theatre.

It's really a shame that the venue is such a let down, because there is a really great show here. While Ntozeke Shange's script has never been my favorite, and has never struck me as being as widely accessible and effective as a show like "The Vagina Monolgues," there are some real highlights here. Sherly M. Daceus (Lady in Red) and particularly Delicia Dunham (Lady in Brown) are at times funny, thrilling, inspiring, and heartbreaking. The entire ensemble of actresses bring an engaging, inspiring performance as they unveil the "coreopoems" about sex, love, heartache and fighting to survive in a world that does its best to keep you down.

One person that needs special mention in this production is Choreographer Shawn Quinlan. He may be white, and he may be male, but that white guy can sure teach some dancing. The dancing that runs throughout the production brings such a fierceness and vitality. It takes the sometimes lyrical poems into a world that is raw and gritty and sexy. Quinlan's choreography (not to mention the talented dancing by the entire cast), takes this production to an entirely different level.

"For Colored Girls" is about to get a very high profile adaptation by Tyler Perry in a film set to come out next year. I make no effort to hide my rather intense dislike for Tyler Perry. "For Colored Girls" is a show about raw intensity. About primal urges and the extreme will to survive. When put through Tyler Perry's watered down direction, I don't feel that it will come close to being what it really should be. So the bottom line is, if this show is on your radar for any reason, then InnateVolution's production is bound to be more effective than the film version will be. Plus, admission comes with 2 drinks, and that just may make the bar stools a little more comfortable.

"For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf", directed by Toma Tavares Langston, runs Thursday-Saturday through June 26, 2010. No show June 24. All performances begin at 8pm at The Call (1547 W. Bryn Mawr Ave). Tickets are $20 and include two drinks. Must be 21 or over to attend.

"For Colored Girls..." with Innate Volution Theatre Company

I am currently working on choreographing a production of "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Isnt Enuf" with Innate Volution Theatre Company. This production is set to open June 17 and will run through June 26. Go to http://www.innatevolution.org/ for more details!

Shawn Quinlan in "Whorehouse" at Circle Theatre

Reviews of "A Chorus Line"

"The theater is in what used to be perhaps two storefronts joined together. Even so, the stage is not wide enough for a kick line of the whole cast. But with talented choreography and direction, this shortcoming was not noticed by the audience. Without an orchestra pit, the front seats were more intimate with the stage than in a "legit" theater. adding to the enjoyment for us."

-Weisun C.'s Review, YELP.com

"All 23 performers belt, hoof, and emote their hearts out in this enthusiastic production of Michael Bennett's 1975 musical about dancers auditioning for a Broadway show. Shawn Quinlan's cast are easy to love..."

-Laura Molzahn, Chicago Reader

"Shawn Quinlan directs the perennial tale of 17 auditioning dancers and what they did for love."

-Time Out Chicago

"An excellent group of dancers pulling off an incredibly tough show. The vocals hold up well which is not often the case in dance shows. This production may not be the Marriott, but it gets awfully close. Very impressed and will recommend to my other theater friends. Bravo."

-Chicago Reader

"Under the fast-paced, carefully orchestrated direction and choreography of Shawn Quinlan, his 19-member cast dazzles from start to finish"

-Oak Park Oak Leaves

Circle Theatre's Jeff Recommended Production of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

Previews April 2, 3 & 6 April 7 - June 20

Book by Larry L. King & Peter Masterson

Music & lyrics by Carol Hall

Directed & choreographed by Kevin Bellie

Yee haw! Circle presents this Broadway blockbuster of small town vice and political side stepping recounting the good times and the demise of the Chicken Ranch, known since the 1850s as one of the better “pleasure palaces” in all of Texas. Governors, senators, mayors and even victorious college football teams frequented Miss Mona's bordello until puritanical hypocrites focus righteousness on the landmark. Religious zealots dictating decency and morality—sound familiar?

Stomp your feet and holler out loud, this down home charmer will thrill audiences.
Kevin Bellie, Circle Theatre Artistic Director, has helmed productions of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Can-Can, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Sweet Smell of Success and more on Circle’s mainstage. In addition, his choreography has been seen in Meet Me in St. Louis, Tommy, The Secret Garden and more. He has choreographed for Light Opera Works, Porchlight Music Theatre, Nobel Fool Theatricals and many others. He is a multiple Jeff Award and After Dark Award winner.

This production has been Jeff Recommended!



Kevin Bellie, Director & Choreographer

Josh Walker, Music Director

Bob Knuth, Scenic Design/Lighting Design

Jesus Perez, Costume Design & Construction

Peter J. Storms, Sound Design

Beth Scheible, Stage Manager

Starring: Dan Beno * Sara Michelle Bickweat * Jennifer Bludgen * Christopher Boyd * Michael Buonincontro * Maxwell Burnham * (Antoinette) Toni-Lynice Fountain * Sydney Genco * Michael A. Gravame * Anita Hoffman * Elizabeth Lanza * Melody Latham * Justin LeClaire * Jeremy Myers * Andriana Pachella * Greg Payne * Shawn Quinlan * Blake M. Russell * Vanessa Schroeder * Monica Szaflik * Noah Sullivan * Kirk Swenk * Sheana Tobey * Carrie Weis * Gregory Wenrich

Showtimes:$12 Previews: April 2, 3, & 6 at 8pm opening night: Wednesday, April 7 @ 8:00 pmFridays & Saturdays @ 8:00 pmSundays @ 3:00 pmGroup Rates for 10 or More Available.Call 708-771-0700

My production of "A Chorus Line" Opens Next Week!

This production of "A Chorus Line" that I Directed and Choreographed at the Village Players Theatre in Oak Park opens next week. I was very blessed to have such a wonderful and talented group of people audition. I'm really excited for this to open, and it should be my best work yet!

Forest Park National Bank presents

A Chorus Line

book by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante,
lyrics by Edward Kleban, and music by Marvin Hamlisch

Directed/Choreographed by Shawn Quinlan

Zach and Larry are ready to cast for their next upcoming Broadway production, but Zach decides to change up things at the audition for their dancing chorus. As each one hopes to become part of a singular groups, they all tell their individual life stories that make them all so very different.

Musical Direction by Julian Chin. Featuring Fiore Joseph Barbini, Christopher Lynn Carter, Marie Clawson, Loren J. Connell, Danielle Coody, Erin Elle East, Stephanie Foster, Taylor Hopkins, Reneisha Jenkins, Bobby Johnson, Kim Kass, Samuel Ladd, Alex McCrary, Will Nifong, Shynell Owen, Michael Patterson, Dewayne Perkins, Casiena Raether, Janell Rinne, Jennifer Shine, Kristen Smiley, Garrett Stibb and Tiffany Trainer.

Call 866-764-1010 for tickets

Adult: $25.00, Senior (65 and older): $20.00, Student (with ID): $20.00
Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00, Sunday afternoons at 3:00 p.m