Blood at the Root presented by Jackalope Theatre Company and The Yard at Broadway Armory

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...The cast, composed entirely of current and recent high-schoolers, talk, sing, rap, and dance their message with a passion impossible to ignore. Blood at the Root vividly illustrates the near impossibility of getting through one's teenage years-fraught in the best-case scenario-unscathed when also having to tackle larger societal problems. It's a necessary and evocative production all-around."

Windy City Times - Highly Recommended

"...What you will find in this revival of Jackalope's collaboration with the Yard Ensemble are performance dynamics generating electricity so palpable you can almost see the sparks as the protesters' chants break over the fourth wall to envelope the audience—rendering the smack of clapping hands in the Armory's brick-and-concrete cell a volley resounding with the urgency of a thousand firecrackers exploding in righteous anger."

Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended

"...And finally, I’d be remiss if I did not heap some praise upon Mykele Deville and Kiki Layne, who coached the astonishing poetry and movement of the show. Throughout the play, the actors bridge scenes with musical/spoken word segments, using anything from stomping, clapping, and other kinds of body percussion to bring the themes and emotions of Morisseau’s writing into the musical sphere. It is downright thrilling to watch, and one of the highlights of this most urgent, necessary production."

Picture This Post - Highly Recommended

"...BLOOD AT THE ROOT shows us what can happen if we break the rules and what happens if we keep fighting. It brings much needed attention to an issue pervading the public's mind."

NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...At a lean eighty-five minutes, “Blood at the Root” is a seriously demanding work emotionally, physically and mentally. It bears pointing out that young people involved in this production can’t even legally take a drink. Not because of any insufficiencies in performance but because of the maturity and professionalism with which the entire production is conducted, an extension of The Yard’s founding principle of producing work that is “by young people, for young people.” Where other working actors have day jobs, these performers have homework and yet they are no less qualified because of it. The energy, enthusiasm and understanding they bring to this work is of a grade beyond measure."