In a city with one of the richest spoken word legacies, Gilded Road Productions Boomerang: A Pop Up Performance arrived in early May as both celebration and challengea reminder of what Chicagos performing arts scene has been, and what it still has the potential to become.
Held before a sold out audience of intergenerational artists, actors, poets, and cultural veterans, the evening fused spoken word, immersive stagecraft, and multimedia experimentation into a communal artistic experience. More than a traditional showcase, Boomerang positioned itself as an effort to revitalize Chicagos performing arts ecosystem through collaboration, vulnerability, and innovation.
The atmosphere carried echoes of the legendary 1990s open mic nights at Spices (the club that inspired the movie Love Jones), where Chicagos Black artistic community once gathered to exchange ideas and build creative movements in real time. That spirit of artistic fellowship was palpable from the moment guests entered the venue.
As I waited for the show to begin, I chatted with former Chicago Poet Laureate Avery R. Young who recently debuted his groundbreaking opera Saffronia at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Nearby sat iconic casting director and actor Pemon Ramey with his wife, celebrating their wedding anniversary while taking in the work of a younger generation of artists pushing performance into new territories.
That blend of artistic lineage and emerging experimentation became the emotional core of the evening.The performance featured readings from local artists Charlique C. Rolle and Matty Robinson, whose contrasting styles created a compelling rhythm throughout the production.
Robinson delivered a deeply reflective set centered on identity, police harassment, and the long shadow of childhood trauma. His work balanced sharp social critique with moments of quick-witted humor (including an astute impression of President Barack Obama). Framed around guided meditation, Rollles performance explored themes of self-discovery, healing, and transformation.
Through layered vocal delivery and immersive staging, Rolle invited the audience into an introspective space that felt both intimate and collective. Her work emphasized the idea that artistic expression can function not only as entertainment, but also as restoration. Following their individual performances, Rolle and Robinson returned to the stage for a reflective conversation on their experiences as artists and their thoughts on the future of performance art in the city. The evening concluded with an invitation for artists in the audience to join the performance with their own open mic contributions.
Overall, the performances of Boomerang created a dynamic emotional spectrum that reflected the complexity of contemporary Black artistic life in Chicagojoyful yet burdened, experimental yet deeply rooted in tradition.
Beyond the performances themselves, Boomerang raised larger questions about artistic community and what it means to genuinely nurture creative ecosystems. In an era where many artists struggle with isolation, underfunding, and shrinking cultural infrastructure, the evening felt like a deliberate attempt to rebuild artistic connection.
I feel like I was poured into as an artist by the way the community showed up, Rolle reflected during our post-show interview. When we do that for each other as an artistic community, we are more able to seek freedom.
That sentiment lingered long after the performances ended. The audience was not simply consuming artthey were participating in an act of cultural reaffirmation. Veterans and newcomers alike shared space not as competitors, but as collaborators in an ongoing conversation about Chicagos creative future.
If Boomerang is any indication, Gilded Road Productions understands that revitalizing the arts is not simply about producing shows. It is about creating spaces where artists feel seen, challenged, supported, and connected to something larger than themselves.
The company already has a slate of productions planned for the remainder of the year, including another pop-up performance scheduled for November at Block 37. For more information, follow @gildedroadproductions on Instagram.