ACTING PRESS *

ACTING PRESS *

A man and a young girl are performing together on stage, with the girl reaching up to touch the man's face. The man is dressed in dark pants, boots, a white shirt, and a black leather vest, and the girl is wearing a white dress and socks. The scene appears emotional and theatrical.

"But as an audience member I can see ways to forgive Abigail, especially with these particular performances. She does a good job of making me hate her in some scenes and in other scenes be able to see where she was coming from, which is a really hard thing for an actor to do."
- Ada Grey​

"Abigail Williams, played with an unwavering fire by Naïma Hebrail Kidjo [...]"
- Rescripted

"Further complicating the fraught situation is the lust that the most audacious of the frolicking girls, Abigail (played with insidious determination by Naima Hebrail Kidjo), harbors for Proctor. "
-Chicago On The Aisle

"Naima Hebrail Kidjo, a Steppenwolf Theatre Company newcomer, also brings fresh perspective to Abigail Williams, the lovestruck, scorned minister’s niece whom community members of all genders, age and religious devotion learn to fear. [...] Kidjo and Knight display an electric chemistry that does more than hint at the fleeting, mutual passion that once existed between the characters."
-Becky Sarwate

"Inciting them with a very visual vengeance is Naïma Hebrail Kidjo as a hypocrisy-hating whore who strategically re-invents herself as the foe of Satan."
-Stage and Cinema

"A shrewd Kidjo tries to convince Knight that she is working for a better future for them. [...] At this point, Kidjo is driven by power not love."
-Fourth Walsh

Two children, a girl and a boy, standing on a platform in a dark space with red vertical light strips; the girl is wearing a white dress, glasses, gloves, and black boots, while the boy is dressed in a school uniform with a vest, shirt, shorts, knee-high socks, and black shoes.

A Wrinkle in Time (Adapted by James Sie; Directed by Elise Kauzlaric). Lifeline Theatre Company, 2017

"Naima [Hebrail] Kidjo is a standout as Red Eyes, the queen-bee villain of the tale."
-Chicago Reader​

"The Man with Red Eyes becomes known simply as Red Eyes, and is fiercely played by Naima Hebrail who towers over the stage and crowd with her commanding voice and tremendous presence. "
-Buzz Chicago

"Naïma Hebrail Kidjo shines darkly as the contemptuously superior spokes-alien for Camazotz’s deranged, torture-loving maximum leader."
-NEWCITY Stage

Rutherford's Travels (by Illesa Duncan and David Barr, III. Directed by Illesa Duncan) Pegasus Theatre Company, 2016

Two actors sitting on stage, dressed in period costumes, with dark background and wooden floor, performing in a theatrical production.

"an altogether unforgettable turn by Naima Hebrail Kidjo"
-Chicago Sun-Times

"Kidjo brings forthright wit to Isadora — we can see that she also has a dangerous streak under her buttoned-down exterior. "
- Chicago Tribune

"Naïma Hebrail Kidjo, as Isadora, captures the subtle comedy of her character perfectly, as a woman who is cleverly coy beneath a dignified pose. "
-Chicago Critic

"featuring memorable character work by [...] newcomer Naima Hebrail Kidjo "
- Windy City Times