Jackie Taylor

Chicago’s very own Black Ensemble Theater Company celebrates Those Sensuous Seductive ‘70s with a sizzling new musical revue written, produced and directed by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and Artistic Director Jackie Taylor. Those Sensuous Seductive ‘70s will run in repertory with the company’s smash hit Memphis Soul (The Story of Stax Records) at the Black Ensemble Theater, 4520 N. Beacon Street. Those Sensuous Seductive ‘70s begins previews Thursday, May 31, with an official opening Sunday, June 3.

“Following the success of Those Sensational Soulful ‘60s, I have wanted to produce a musical continuum and am pleased to announce that it is finally here,” expressed Taylor. “We continue an incredible 30th Anniversary season with this groovy show that will take you down memory lane or introduce you to the music of an era like no other – and between Memphis Soul, which we just extended due to popular demand, and Those Sensuous Seductive ‘70s, we promise to keep your feet tapping and your hands clapping.”

A sequel to Black Ensemble’s recent production Those Sensational Soulful ‘60s, Those Sensuous Seductive ‘70s is a highly energetic musical extravaganza showcasing the colorful and free-loving music of the 1970s with hit songs including “What’s Goin’ On” (Marvin Gaye), “Last Dance” (Donna Summers), “I’ll Be There” (The Jackson Five), “Loving You” (Minnie Ripperton), “Remember Me” (Diana Ross) and many more. Those Sensuous Seductive ‘70s brings audiences back to the year 1978, a time of women’s liberation and the legalization of abortion. Gas prices soar to $2.00 a gallon and everybody is talking about the war in Vietnam and a revolutionary TV show titled “All In The Family” and the outrageous Archie Bunker. Enlisting more of a theatrical plot than its 1960s predecessor, Those Sensuous Seductive ‘70s revolves around the Wright Family as it prepares for the weekly 40-year tradition of meeting at Nanna’s and Pa’s house after church for Sunday dinner. Three generations of family, the Wrights symbolize the era known for love, the music of Stevie Wonder…and watching Al Green on “Soul Train.”

Those Sensuous Seductive ‘70s is scheduled to run in repertory with Black Ensemble Theater’s popular open-run Memphis Soul (The Story of Stax Records) for 12 weeks only, through August 26, 2007.

Tickets, priced at $40 ($35 for previews), are now on sale by calling the Black Ensemble Theater Box Office at 773-769-4451 or Ticketmaster at 312-902-1500, or visiting ticketmaster.com.