David Cerda is forever hailed in the Windy City as the clever king of stage camp while wearing his 1979 graduate of Hammond High School status as a Hoosier badge of honor.
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In 2026, he’s celebrating the 25th anniversary of his Hell in a Handbag production company with a full-circle stage run moment for a spotlight salute to his favorite icon, Joan Crawford.
Originally produced in 1999 when Cerda was still affiliated with the former Sweetback Productions, he has revived his over-the-top funny romp titled “Joan Crawford Goes To Hell,” with three talents cast as the shoulder pad-sporting, painted eyebrows actress of the Golden Hollywood Era.
It began previews Aug. 21 and with its now extended run of performances, it continues through Sunday, Oct. 4, before it must close.
I recall seeing the original run of this all-time favorite of mine, top ranking for Cerda’s dreamed-up stage drama parodies, and I have asked repeatedly over the years for it to be resurrected. Written entirely by Cerda, the plot has Joan Crawford played by David Cerda on her deathbed and then her descent to hell to join Satan, played by deepthroat Nick Dorado, to relive key moments of her life as viewed through the eyes of her adopted daughter Christina played by TJ O’Brien.
“It’s part ‘Mommie Dearest,’ part biography with a dash of Joan’s own self-authored lifestyle book ‘My Way of Life,’ and we use three Joans to tell the tale,” Cerda explained.
Directed by Cheryl Snodgrass, Gretchen Greear is equally terrific as “Joan No. 2,” and Nicholas Ian is the terrifying, wire-hanger-wielding “Joan No. 3,” which, I recall from the original 1999 run, used to be referred to in the play program credits as “Rage Joan.”
Ryan Kenny plays Crawford’s devoted personal assistant Carol Ann, Haley Gillman is cast as the child-era Christina, Lori Lee is Crawford’s housekeeper Helga and dual duty as Pepsi Cola President Al Steel, and Michael Rashid plays Crawford’s attorney and paramour Greg.
I’m also sure when I first saw this play originally a quarter of a century ago, it was staged in the basement space of a Chicago Northside performance space. I wonder if 25 years ago Cerda dreamed of his play being elevated to the production value it’s enjoying now? He has top-notch wigs, gowns and costuming, a sturdy set design, curated lighting and sound, and the bonus of treasured images and video clips of archive photos and film footage showcasing the Hollywood Heyday years.
Tickets start at $39 at handbagproductions.org. Cheers to the next 25 years for Cerda and Co.
OVER THE RAINBOW
As we welcome October 2026, the last weekend of September would have traditionally been the three-day Wizard of Oz Festival in Chesterton. Launched in 1981 and disbanded after the 2012 stroll down Northwest Indiana’s recreated yellow brick road, it was an event that drew more than 90,000 visitors to Northwest Indiana. I wrote about it and interviewed the Munchkins stars every year, minus the first decade of festivals.
Thanks to MeTV, everyone gets a chance to once again return to the Land of Oz as first described in the published books of L. Frank Baum originally released in 1900.
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MeTV has secured the exclusive broadcast rights to air MGM’s timeless classic 1939 film, the first of the storybook classic “The Wizard of Oz,” with Judy Garland starring as Dorothy Gale. It will be aired on MeTV at 6 p.m. CST Friday and again on Saturday on MeTV, marking the film’s first appearance on free broadcast television since its final CBS telecast on May 9, 1998, which ended what was an annual airing tradition since 1959.
“The Wizard of Oz is more than a movie; it is a shared American experience that was defined by the annual tradition of gathering around the television set,” said Neal Sabin, Vice-Chairman of Weigel Broadcasting.
The Emerald City equivalent celebration for MeTV landing the “Oz” airing started last weekend on Sunday, with Lisa Whelchel hosting a special episode of her “Collector’s Call” series spotlighting ultimate “Oz” memorabilia collector Victoria Calamito.
Whelchel returns to the airwaves Friday night to host MeTV’s broadcast premiere of “The Wizard of Oz,” while sharing original vignettes, rare stories, intimate details and showcase museum heirlooms. “Oz” historians and collecting experts Jay Scarfone and William Stillman, who were both annual celebrity guests in Chesterton for the festival, will be featured in the vignettes.
The Saturday night repeat airing of “Oz” will be hosted by Rich Koz in his guise of Svengoolie, along with his ghoulish pals Gwen Goolie, IMP and Nostalgiaferatoo, chiming in with their own brand of fun and unique commentary during the film broadcast.
With Sven and team armed with their usual comedic and sardonic tactics, the Wicked Witch of the West will have more than a pail of water to fear!
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and radio show host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at [email protected].