Yellowman presented by Greenetree Production at Stage 773

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...Thanks to Orlandersmith's considerable skill at conjuring the sights and smells of a place — primarily the small, dusty, African-American community where palpable tensions build when alcohol and rancor are on hand — there is no question what that world looks or feels like. Currently in a rock solid revival from Greenetree Productions at the newly renovated Stage 773, that stage magic is achieved entirely through the monologues of two actors."

Time Out Chicago - Recommended

"...The gifted Reed, whose knack for melting into ages, genders and accents recalls Anna Deavere Smith, animates her characters with zest and a committed physicality. She convinces equally as a child, a young woman striding through New York City and a prodigal father who has a slight lurch that manages to be even more frightening than his cruel put-downs."

ChicagoCritic - Recommended

"...The show is marked by two tour de force performances by J. Israel Green and Deanna K. Reed who both play multi characters with rich accents, body language and differing emotional makeup. Alma’s mother and Eugene’s father are deftly presented by Reed and Greene. Yellowman is a work that uses expert storytelling narrative with finely played dramatic interaction. The sheer honesty of both performances totally engages us as we struggle with hoping that they’ll overcome the restrictive rules that hamper their dreams."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended

"...Under Jonathan Wilson's expert direction for Greenetree Productions, Reed and Greene create an amazing array of small town types and family members. We meet them as children, and see events with their childhood friends in which the pain of racial prejudice within the black community is learnt. We see their sexual development, and watch as they become a beautiful young couple about to grasp a new life far away from the South. It is a journey full of surprise and yearning, and it is a trip we can relate to no matter the color of our skin."

Let's Play at ChicagoNow - Highly Recommended

"...YELLOWMAN is not black and white. It’s in between self-loathing and self-esteem. Experiencing the show is a profound reflection on the lingering effects of childhood."

Chicago Theater Beat - Highly Recommended

"...Yellowman is an outstanding cultural and artistic accomplishment. Building off a strong script, Greenetree’s talented actors and production crew give the work the treatment it deserves. It is a great example of that wonderful blend of entertainment and social commentary."