The world-premiere musical revue at Glencoe’s Writers Theatre carries the subtitle, “A Night with Felicia P. Fields.” So let’s be clear about this: A night with Felicia P. Fields is a night worth having.

The Chicago-bred performer has been a favorite presence on the city’s stages for decades, putting her big voice and considerable comic chops to scene-stealing use at theaters ranging from the Goodman, Court, and Chicago Shakespeare to suburban musical factories like Marriott and Drury Lane. And, famously, Fields earned a Tony Award nomination in her first (and to date, only) trip to Broadway, in the original 2005 production of “The Color Purple.”

At Writers, where she previously played the titular blues singer in a 2019 staging of August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” Fields is now performing as herself. (If you’re wondering who this “Pearl” character is, well, now you know what the “P.” stands for in “Felicia P. Fields.”)

Sauntering onstage in a high-collared chiffon cape, which she shrugs off to reveal an appropriately pearlescent beaded gown, Fields reminds us from the start that the blues don’t always have to be sad. Promising a good time is in store, she playfully encourages the audience to “let your hair down,” then with a shrug suggests “take your hair off,” before launching into the Willie Dixon party-starter “Wang Dang Doodle.”

The show’s set list, shaped by Fields and director Ron OJ Parson (they’re credited as co-creators), leans heavily in its first half toward the blues’ bawdier, entendre-laced side. Fields follows up “Wang Dang” with Dixon’s “Built for Comfort” (“I’m built for comfort, I ain’t built for speed / but I got everything a good man needs”) and Lil Johnson’s “My Stove’s in Good Condition.”

The latter song (whose lyrics honestly feel too innuendo-heavy to quote here) is one that Fields has mastered over a dozen years of singing it in the revue “Low Down Dirty Blues.” Fields appeared in that show’s world premiere at Skokie’s Northlight Theatre in 2010, and has since reprised her role at regional theaters around the country. Here, you can sense how she’s perfected the timing and emphasis for maximum comic impact.

Fields proves great with crowd work, too. Parson and set designer Jack Magaw have supplemented Writers’ built-in seating with cabaret tables in front of the oyster-shaped stage Fields shares with her five-piece band, and riffing during a rendition of Muddy Waters’ “Got My Mojo Working,” she leaves the stage to interrogate couples at those tables about how their mojo’s working.

Though Fields is the headliner, she gives nearly equal stage time to her music director and frequent collaborator, Chic Street Man. The lanky guitarist, who Fields described at one point on opening night as “my personal Elvis,” takes lead on around a third of the songs, including a couple of original compositions.

Apart from identifying those originals, and attributing one other song to Big Bill Broonzy as part of a jokey exchange with Fields, you won’t find any credits to these songs’ writers in the program, or hear any mention of the artists who popularized them. To be fair, the show isn’t pitched as some kind of blues primer, and many revues can go too far in the opposite direction, feeling like a staged Wikipedia entry. Perhaps the omission is surprising only because this is Writers Theatre, where the word and the text are exalted — it’s right there in the name.

On the promise of a good time, though, Fields and her terrific band — including Frank Menzies on keys, Julie Ponc? on bass, Harold Morrison on drums, and Ricardo Jimenez on trumpet — absolutely deliver. They’re highlighting the joyful mood of the blues (with a touch of gospel for inspirational good measure); why not roll with it?

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Could Jakob Poeltl be on the Chicago Bulls radar as a trade target soon?

With the first few days for NBA free agency complete, the Chicago Bulls haven’t made a big splash yet as they’ve been pretty quiet so far. Chicago signed Andre Drummound and brought back Zach LaVine on a max contract but still have needs for perimeter shooting and a wing player. But one name out there could be a viable option and that’s San Antonio’s Jakob Poeltl.

The San Antonio Spurs are headed for a rebuild as evident by the trade that sent Dejounte Murray to Atlanta for a package of draft picks and players. Making the decision to go that route, it’s very likely that a player like Poeltl is available and the price may not be steep.

Poeltl is on an expiring contract but does offer value to a Bulls team that really needs a rim protector on defense. And already, one NBA analyst is connecting Chicago to Poeltl again:

Chicago did inquire about Poeltl ahead of the trade deadline last season but nothing came to fruition.

This time around with the Bulls looking to move Coby White who has one year left on his deal, swapping expiring contracts might be Chicago’s best move here. They would get a legit defender and rebounder while allowing White to go to San Antonio and prove himself for a new deal. Poeltl will also have the chance to prove he’s worth a new deal in Chicago and find a long-term home.

There’s still plenty of time left in free agency and this offseason for Chicago to make some moves and this one just might make the most sense to address a big need for the franchise.

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Roquan Smith has played at a Pro Bowl level before but will this finally be the year he gets it?

Roquan Smith has never made a Pro Bowl during his four years in the NFL. It’s kind of shocking to think about, as Smith has been all over the field making plays for the Chicago Bears defense. One analyst thinks Smith has the best shot on the Bears to make the Pro Bowl as a first-time inductee.

Smith has a whopping 524 combined tackles and 14 sacks in his career. Bobby Wagner and Micah Parsons were voted in over Smith at the inside linebacker position in the 2021 Pro Bowl. This came even as Smith had the fifth-best tackle total in the league.

This season might be Roquan Smith’s time to finally get the honor according to NFL writer Nick Shook. Shook named Smith in his article that listed “one potential first-time Pro Bowler from each NFC team.” Here’s what Shook wrote about Smith:

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Mark Leiter Jr. had no time to get comfortable in his bullpen chair Saturday.

Leiter was summoned after Cubs starter Alec Mills departed after only two batters because of tightness in his lower back, but he pitched with ease, limiting the Red Sox to three hits in 5 1/3 innings as the Cubs earned a 3-1 victory that extended their winning streak to four games.

”Big-time performance,” manager David Ross said after Leiter preserved most of the bullpen.

Leiter, who has shuttled between Triple-A Iowa and the Cubs this season, stranded Rafael Devers at second in the first and retired 13 of the first 15 batters he faced. He departed with two outs in the sixth after the Red Sox scored their lone run when Devers grounded into a double play.

”For him to give us that length was impressive,” Ross said.

Leiter admitted it was ”kind of a tough spot because [Mills’ injury] happened so fast,” but he praised the umpires for not rushing him while he was warming up.

Leiter, who was recalled from Iowa on June 21, hadn’t allowed a run in seven innings covering three appearances before Saturday. His previous seasonlong outing was four innings twice.

Leiter became the first Cubs reliever to earn a victory while pitching at least 5 1/3 innings and allowing one run or fewer since Glendon Rusch on July 15, 2004.

Mills felt discomfort while striking out leadoff man Jarren Duran, then knew he had to leave after his back tightened while backing up third on Devers’ double.

”It feels like a collection of the season came down to today,” said Mills, who has pitched only 17 2/3 innings because of back and quadriceps injuries.

Seiya in Milwaukee?

The long-awaited return of outfielder Seiya Suzuki might happen as soon as Monday against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

Ross acknowledged Suzuki is close to rejoining the Cubs, but how close is he?

”Monday,” Ross said. ”Maybe.”

Suzuki went on the 10-day injured list May 27 with a sprained left ring finger, and his recovery has moved slowly. He went 1-for-3 with an RBI double for Iowa on Saturday and is 4-for-9 with two doubles, a home run and three RBI in his rehab assignment.

Suzuki’s return also would strengthen the Cubs’ defense in right field.

o Second baseman Nick Madrigal (strained left groin) increased his baserunning work and might start a rehab assignment by the middle of the week.

Hot plate dining

Ross and TV play-by-play man Jon Sciambi spent Friday night with a couple who submitted the highest bid to dine with them behind home plate at Wrigley Field.

The proceeds went to funding awareness for ALS, a charity Sciambi is involved with. Former White Sox pitcher Jon Garland visited the foursome, Ross said.

”We had perfect weather and talked a lot of baseball,” Ross said. ”A nice couple donated to that. It was nice to be able to help a good cause.”

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The Bulls have become a better team this offseason.That’s really not debatable.

They drafted a potential shutdown wing defender in Dalen Terry, who also will bring an edge to the locker room; they re-signed one of the top free agents in the 2022 class in guard Zach LaVine; and they helped their rebounding deficiency by adding veteran big man Andre Drummond.

Then factor in the improvement forward Patrick Williams and guard Ayo Dosunmu are expected to make this offseason (both were practicing with the Bulls’ Summer League team Saturday) and the guarded optimism surrounding the injured left knee that cost Lonzo Ball most of the second half of last season, and the Bulls’ front office has accomplished its mission of keeping the core in place while making a few tweaks.

But before those in the offices at the Advocate Center start patting themselves on the back, the issue isn’t so much whether the Bulls have improved as much as it is what the rest of the Eastern Conference did — specifically the five teams that finished ahead of them and those that finished right behind them.

1. Heat: The team that finished with the best regular-season record in the East lost P.J. Tucker, which is huge, but re-signed role players Victor Oladipo, who had some impressive moments late in the season, and Dewayne Dedmon.The Heat are one of Kevin Durant’s destinationteams, so stay tuned.GRADE: C+.

2. Celtics: Adding Malcolm Brogdon was a huge get for the team that represented the East in the NBA Finals. But the real slap in the face was shooter Danilo Gallinari deciding to play for theCeltics instead of the Bulls, who were offering about the same money.The Celtics aren’t going anywhere in 2022-23.GRADE: A.

3. Bucks: It took them five games to eliminate the Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. It likelywould be a sweep if they played now. Bobby Portis re-signed, as did Jevon Carter and Wesley Matthews. And adding sharpshooter Joe Ingles was huge. Fear the deer!GRADE: A-.

4. 76ers: A full season with James Harden might do wonders, and landing a veteran such as Tucker was a huge get. It doesn’t feel as though the 76ers are done, but it has been a solid few weeks for them so far.GRADE: B+.

5. Raptors: They kept Fred VanVleet, Thad Young and Chris Boucher and added former Bulls forward Otto Porter Jr. If Porter can stay healthy, it’s a sneaky-good move for a young roster. But it’s a big ”if.”GRADE: C+.

6. BULLS: It feels as though the same five guys who have been getting run off the playground keep insisting ”we got next,” but the front office preached continuity, and this is what continuity looks like.GRADE: C.

7. Nets: This is a wait-and-see until we learn what they get in return for Kyrie Irving and Durant.GRADE: Incomplete.

8. Hawks: The addition of Dejounte Murray allows Trae Young to take on more of the role that Warriors star Steph Curry takes on when he goes off the ball, but the Hawks aren’t done. They still have decisions to make about Clint Capela and John Collins.GRADE: A-.

9. Cavaliers: Health is the best offseason acquisition they can make, but keep an eye on what they do with trade candidate Collin Sexton.GRADE: C+.

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