Hell In A Handbag Productions was formed in March 2002.
HIAH’s debut production was POSEIDON! An Upside-Down Musical, which had successful consecutive runs at Theatre Building Chicago and Bailiwick Repertory before being produced at the 2003 New York International Fringe Festival where it received a Outstanding Ensemble award.
HIAH has also produced Fa La La This, our annual holiday monologue showcase, Rudolph, the Red-Hosed Reindeer, How ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?’ Happened, Judy’s Scary Little Christmas, SCARRIE-The Musical, The Twilight Gallery, Caged Dames, The Birds, Die Mommie! Die!, HAYWIRE!, Silent Night of the Lambs, Summer Camp, Lady X, TROGG! A Musical, and Pussy on the House.
‘Hell in a Handbag’s flamboyant wit and theatrical verve akin to what the early productions of the late Charles Ludlam’s legendary Ridiculous Theatrical Company productions might have been like.’
NewCity 2010
‘The gold standard of camp in Chicago’
The Chicago Reader, 2008
‘Why do we love Hell in a Handbag? Because propriety has no place even walking past the stage door of one of their shows. Because deep down, we all long to be naughty. Because they are masters in the fine art of camp and that is the kind of anti-culture that soothes the wicked soul.’
Gay Chicago Magazine/Chicago Stage Review-Venus Zarris, 2008
‘The best thing about HIAH Productions’ shows is that they are completely ridiculous. The stories, wigs and costumes are ridiculous and everyone’s in love with the… ridiculousness of the whole affair.’ NewCity Chicago 2008
‘The campiest theatre in Chicago’
Centerstage Chicago
About David Cerda
‘Is there anyone serving it (Camp) up—or serving it better—than Hell in
a Handbag artistic director David Cerda? The brilliant Cerda appears to
be Chicago’s answer to New York’s Charles Busch, a comic performer of
the likes of the great cross-dressing performers Everett Quinton and Miss
Coco Peru, to name a few’- NewCity 2010
‘Cerda is a force nature’- Chicago Free Press-Larry Bommer
‘David Cerda is the Charles Ludlam of the Midwest’- Chicago Tribune, Chris Jones
Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer 2010- Dec. 2010
‘4 STARS- Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer packs an absolutely hilarious punch in its intelligent, insightful invective. Cerda eviscerates American culture for its duplicity and its demand for uniformity’
Chicago Stage Review
‘Highly Recommended- Perhaps the most insightful and entertaining Rudolph yet’
Chicago Reader
The Rip Nelson Halloween Spooktacular- Oct.-Nov. 2010
‘A crisp hour of lowbrow fun’
TimeOut Chicago
Lady X- April-June 2010
‘The ensemble acting is enviously tight and on par with the best in the city; and David Cerda is a star and gives a star performance.’ ‘This is a hilarious and brilliant evening of theater, and Cerda and his crew are indeed showing Chicago that camp is nothing to laugh at.’
NewCity 2010
‘Cerda has brilliantly concocted a hilarious parody on Bette Davis’ movie, “Marked Woman.”’-
Chicago Theater Blog
‘Cerda knows this form inside and out, and his writing is full of fun.’
Chris Jones-Chicago Tribune
Caged Dames 2006-2007
‘David Cerda’s musical extravanganza, Caged Dames is a guaranteed good time’
Gay Chicago-2007
‘Caged Dames has a lock on camp’
Chicago Tribune
‘When it’s good, it’s very very good. When it’s bad, it’s better’ 4 stars
TimeOut Chicago
Die! Mommie Die! , 2008- Jeff Recommended
‘Cerda completely inhabits the theatrical persona of the diva’ Recommended
CenterStage Chicago, 2008
‘Classic camp served with shameless style’
Chicago Free Press
Highly Recommended
Chicago Reader
‘Valley of the Dolls meets Dead Ringer’
Chicago Sun-Times
‘Pure camp heaven’
Windy City Times
The Birds- 2007
Chosen as one of the best of the year for fringe theater 2007
Chicago Tribune
‘A high flying, must see delight’
Chicago Free Press
‘Repep’s performance grows increasingly hysterical as Hedren is tortured by Hitch’s demands, and she grounds the piece in its disturbing subtext of suspicion of the outsider…this is one camp show that is far beyond drag’
Chicago Tribune
‘The production strikes an unusual but satisfying balance between parodic camp (complete with drag) and the actress’s genuine behind-the-scenes nightmare. As a result the show is not only hysterically funny but poignant and at times truly terrifying.’ Highly Recommended
The Chicago Reader
‘Director Scott Bradley takes Cerda and Pauline Pang’s ingenious script, adds a first-rate design team and an outstanding ensemble to deliver this send-up that is as conceptually exciting as it is hysterically entertaining.’
Gay Chicago Magazine
HAYWIRE!- 2008
‘Hell in a Handbag brings the seasonal camp to Technicolor life!’ Highly Recommended
Chicago Reader
‘A camptastic delight! Brilliantly played.”
Gay Chicago Magazine
‘David Cerda, Handbag’s Grand Poobah of Drag, – dominates the proceedings in stiletto heels, ring mistress get-up, and withering one-liners’ 3 stars- Chicago Tribune
‘Recommended- discount cheap Halloween fun’
NewCity Chicago
Rudolph the Red Hosed Reindeer 2006, 2007
‘There is a reason that Hell in a Handbag’s “Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer” is on its tenth year and eighth production. It is the most outrageous slice of Christmas pie around and will get you laughing so hard that you will immediately burn off any of those nasty calories that you may have consumed.’
Chicago Free Press
‘Cerda’s show is—like Hell in the Handbag’s “The Birds”—hilarious at just the right moments’ Recommended
Centerstage Chicago