Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...After years in the shadow of Jackie Taylor, the founder and indefatigable public face of the Black Ensemble Theatre, associate director Rueben Echoles finally has been handed the keys to the Cadillac: the chance to write, direct and choreograph his own original musical in the spiffy, new Black Ensemble space. And "One Name Only" (subtitled "A Different Kind of Reality Show") is not only one heck of a good time, but a welcome — and at this juncture, crucial — departure from this theater's familiar formula."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...In this single production it has not only managed to hold on to all the best elements of the formula that has kept this company and its audiences in continually happy tandem for decades — and made the construction of its beautiful new permanent home a reality. But it also has devised the cleverest of ways to catapult itself beyond that formula based on musically dazzling homages to black pop stars of the past, by seizing hold of the televised talent competition craze that in recent years has become a formidable route to fame and fortune for many singers."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"... What's important is that every member of a diva-packed ensemble can shake Black Ensemble's gorgeous new Uptown house. Echoles's production minimizes BE's weak points—subtlety and storytelling—and highlights what the company does best: bubbly spectacle and a down-to-earth good time. Katrina Miller does a mean Tina Turner, and Dawn Bless's nod to Patti Labelle is concert-worthy in and of itself."
Windy City Times - Highly Recommended
"...Plot complications, such as they are, revolve around the usual gynocentric backstories—husbands, children, parents, power games and schoolgirl crushes—but you don't need a plot when you have Dawn Bless channeling Patti LaBelle (garbed in a cocktail dress that makes you wish that costume designer Ruthanne Swanson had a retail shop) bringing the audience to its feet barely halfway into her transcendent rendition of the Hollywood classic "Over The Rainbow." By the final full-cast chorus, your only unfulfilled desire is for a house big enough to invite the entire company (or at least the brass section) over after the show."
Stage and Cinema - Somewhat Recommended
"...Yes, America’s got talent. And the performers on stage at Black Ensemble Theater’s beautiful new digs are packed to the gills with charm, powerful voices, and boundless stage presence. But I can’t remember being this shell-shocked and mortified at the stupendous waste of talent in One Name Only (A Different Kind of Reality Show), one of the most insipid outings in years. What upsets me about One Name Only is that the premise, the dialogue – the whole kit-and-kaboodle – is juvenile to the point of insulting. Writer/director Rueben Echoles’ mash-up is a composite of popular Reality shows – namely Big Brother and American Idol – in which 8 core female contestants go from auditions to elimination rounds until one is chosen by two judges to win $100,000 and a recording contract. And, as we are constantly reminded with all the subtlety of Chinese water torture, only one name will be chosen."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"...Blending original tunes, including some by Echoles and Jackie Taylor, with hits by the Ladies of Soul, One Name Only works as a fun, interesting show with the enticing element of suspense as the elimination process and drama unfold. We get to know the final eight girls that accurately represent a nice cross section of want-to-be female singers. The BE recording company will give $100,000 and a 2 CD recording contract to the winner of the TV reality show. The musical dramatizes the angst, emotions, and in-fighting among the women as each strive to dominate. Along the way we hear a fine assortment of soulful tunes. Both the actresses who play the stars, especially Dawn Bless’ frantic rendition of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” in her excellent Patti La Belle imitation."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"...A bravura showcase for the Black Ensemble Theater’s considerable female belters and crooners, Echoles’ pile-driving 150-minute staging nicely balances the backstage and “live” action and the musical tributes, which feature “guest appearances” by and songs associated with Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, and Tina Turner, as well as a fulsome tribute to the late Whitney Houston, could not be more accurate or exciting. As always, the B.E.T. band, led by Robert Reddrick, deserves center stage. But then that’s the challenge presented by this embarrassment of riches."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"... The orchestra under the direction of Robert Reddrick, s always , is solid- they create the sounds exactly as they should be done. The stage at Black Ensemble is used in a different way for this production with the orchestra behind the players and the upper level used for the “tv show”."
