Inspire. Educate. Entertain.
CONVERSATIONS|PicksInSix®Reviews featuring short form critical reviews and podcasts with authors and influential leaders in the arts, media and business.
No Pity Potty at Theo’s ‘Urinetown!’
PicksInSix® Review | Guest Contributor | Ronald Keaton
There aren't many pieces of theatre that so expertly lets its audience members know the authors are winking at them, that everyone is in on the joke, as in the energetic musical satire “Urinetown,” now playing at Theo through December 21. All elements in the show own this attitude throughout.
Read More
For the First Time in Forever…
PicksInSix® Review | Ed Tracy
Paramount Theatre’s sensational production of Disney’s “FROZEN The Broadway Musical”— featuring the electrically-charged performances of Emily Kristen Morris and Beth Stafford Laird—opened Friday in Aurora to the thunderous cheers of fans both young and old who have helped to canonize the 2013 film’s anthems “Let It Go” and “For the First Time in Forever” into Disney’s musical lexicon and made modern day icons of a rambunctious reindeer with an attitude and a playful snowman with joie de vivre and a yearning for a summer vacation.
The show that garnered three 2018 Tony nominations (Best Musical, Book and Original Score) features music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and book by Jennifer Lee based on the smash hit 2013 Disney animated film written by Lee. Paramount’s Midwest Regional premiere is directed by Trent Stork with a top-flight creative team including choreographer Tiffany Krause and music director Kory Danielson who also conducts the orchestra.
The story begins in the mythical kingdom of Arendelle and follows the child sorcerous Elsa (Everleigh Murphy shared with Genevieve Jane) and her younger sister Anna (Avelyn Choi shared with Elowen Murphy) whose loving relationship for each other is severed when their parents King Agnarr (Brian Hupp) and Queen Iduna (Allison Sill) discover that Elsa’s inability to control her mystical powers are a direct threat to Anna’s life. When Anna is saved by the Hidden Folk with no memory of the encounter, the parents venture off for a cure and disappear. As time passes, the coming-of-age Anna (Laird) is confused by her sister’s self-isolation in the castle and yearns to be reunited with Elsa (Morris). On the day of Elsa’s coronation, Prince Hans (Jake DiMaggio Lopez) arrives, sweeps Anna off her feet and proposes marriage. Elsa refuses to bless the sudden union and in a frustrated rage, drops her guard and is forced to flee from the castle when her powers are revealed. In the wilderness, Elsa then creates an icy sanctuary of her own, unaware that her awakening has plunged the kingdom into an endless winter. Anna, despondent and desperate, is left with no choice but to pursue her sister and try to bring her back. She is soon joined by the mountain man Kristoff (Christian Andrews), his trustworthy reindeer companion Sven (Adam Fane) and the irrepressible snowman Olaf (Ryan Stajmiger)—courtesy of puppet designer Jesse Mooney-Bullock. Not far behind is Hans and the conniving Duke of Weselton (Jason Richards) who have diabolical plans of their own.
Scenic designer Jeffrey D, Kmiec, projections designer Paul Deziel and lighting and sound designers Greg Hofmann and Adam Rosenthal have created a magical, ever-evolving icy landscape with superb scenic projections—including a wink to Aurora’s Fox River—and eye-popping special effects. Mara Blumenfeld’s stunning costume design has magical treats all their own.
The shimmering and flawless performances of Laird’s “For the First Time in Forever” and Morris’s “Let It Go” are highlights in a score that includes brilliant ensemble arrangements and specialty numbers including the fine company with Oaken (David Blakeman) in the hilarious trading post number “Hygge,” with Elsa in “Dangerous to Dream,” and Kristoff, Olaf and Hidden Folk in “Fixer Upper.”
Life lessons abound here about remaining positive in the face of adversity, coping with loss and isolation, and understanding ourselves and our place in the world around us. But it’s Anna’s determination to put her love for others above all else that will warm your heart for “FROZEN,” a fun-filled musical extravaganza for the entire family.
PHOTO|Liz Lauren
PARAMOUNT THEATRE
presents
FROZEN
The Broadway Musical
through January 19, 2024
23 East Galena Boulevard
Aurora, IL 60506
(630) 896–6666
WEBSITE
TICKETS
For more reviews, visit: Theatre In Chicago
PicksInSix® is a registered trademark of Roxbury Road Creative, LLC
Mercury’s “Young Frankenstein” High-Flying Fun!
PicksInSix® Review | Guest Contributor | Ronald Keaton
The brilliance of the 1974 film Young Frankenstein comes from the ability of Mel Brooks its director and screenwriter (with Gene Wilder) to alternately pay tribute to Hollywood’s past, while parodying scenes from great films. The stage musical version of “Young Frankenstein”—with music and lyrics by Brooks and book by Brooks and Thomas Meehan—now playing at the Mercury Theater Chicago under the direction of J. Walter Stearns and musical direction of Eugene Dizon, delivers a high-flying fun night with all of that same pathos and side-splitting comedy thanks to some spirited performances and a hard-working ensemble of endless invention.
As the story goes: Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (the great and versatile Chicago actor Sean Fortunato) is fighting the family legacy to make his own name, right down to the pronunciation – “Fronk-en-steen.” He’s a university professor and lecturer who is constantly denigrating his grandfather’s work, calling it the “ravings” of a lunatic mind. Now that his grandfather has passed away, he is called to Transylvania to settle the family estate. He leaves behind a fiancé Elizabeth (a fine comic performance by Lillian Castillo), who is a truly spoiled girl that he really doesn’t love, it seems. There is a fun song – “Please Don’t Touch Me”— at the pier where Frederick is about to depart that showcases the terrific ensemble that is immensely valuable in this production. While Elizabeth is distressed that he is leaving right before their wedding, she accepts the inevitable.
Frederick arrives in Transylvania, meeting Igor (Ryan Stajmiger in an energetic turn), hiring a tall demure assistant named Inga (the lovely and talented Isabella Andrews) and meeting the boss of the house, Frau Blücher (Mary Robin Roth, who steals every scene she’s in – cue the horses). Frederick is convinced, in time, by reading his grandfather’s record on his work – a book entitled “How I Did It” – and assumes the responsibility to replicate the recreation of life at last.
The Monster (the wonderful Andrew MacNaughton, who makes a role with nifty footwork and practically no dialogue a truly enjoyable experience, because he’s enjoying it himself) comes to life and runs to the countryside and freedom. Jonah D. Winston is an articulate Inspector who rouses the hoi polloi to action against the Monster. There’s an unforgettable scene with the blind Hermit (Samuel Shankman in great voice – “I was going to make espresso…”)
In this production, the ensemble leaves a strong mark on the story, particularly when choreographer Brenda Didier is putting them through their paces. Playing everything from Elizabeth’s “staff” to the citizenry of Transylvania to passengers at the pier to tap-dancing fools and supporting the Monster and Frederick and, well, everyone else in a finale of impressive tap dancing that’s fit for the Ritz!
I’ve always been a huge Mel Brooks fan but that’s not a requirement to enjoy this stellar laugh-out-loud night of frivolity that’s playing through December 31.
GUEST CONTRIBUTOR | RONALD KEATON received an Equity Jeff Award for the performance of his one-man show CHURCHILL. www.solochicagotheatre.com Coming soon, his new solo play “Echo Holler.” www.echoholler.com
PHOTO|Liz Lauren
Mercury Theater Chicago
presents
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
3745 N Southport Avenue
through December 31, 2023
WEBSITE
TICKETS
For more reviews, visit: Theatre In Chicago
PicksInSix® is a registered trademark of Roxbury Road Creative, LLC
TALENTED ‘COMPANY’ CHRISTENS TERRIFIC VENUS VENUE!
Surrounded by friends …. It’s Bobby's 35th birthday. The guest of honor is surrounded by friends who all feel that he should be happier than he is and that he needs to be married to achieve the fulfillment he deserves. What is he really looking for? Well, in a word, company.
Sleek new performance space… Most of us either know ‘Robert’ or we identify with a version of the character ‘Bobby’ or the friends who exist at the center of the landmark Stephen Sondheim musical COMPANY, a terrific production of which is now playing at Venus Cabaret Theater, the sleek new performance space adjacent to Mercury Theater Chicago. Venus is the brainchild of producer/director L. Walter Stearns who with musical director Eugene Dizon, have an eye for this sort of thing and have baked a special cake for Sondheim fans everywhere. It is a glorious debut for this one-of-a-kind new space on Southport.
Early is on time … guests arrive for the party. The cash bar is stocked and there are hors d’ouerves at every table, so plan ahead and remember that 'early' is 'on time'. The stage has a unique scenic element that I promise you will find as pleasing as the club seating where a dynamic show like COMPANY feels right at home.
There will be cake … If you have never seen COMPANY, you need to know that when in Venus, there will be cake. As the story goes, the married couples all want a better life for their friend Bobby(David Sajewich). It’s New York City in the late 1960’s and things are loosening up for Bobby’s friends Harry(Frederick Harris) and Sarah(Nicole Cready), David(Ryan Stajmiger) and Jenny(Hannah Dawe), Peter(Derek Self) and Susan (Nicole Armold), Amy (Jenna Coker-Jones) and Paul(Greg Foster), Joanne(Heather Townsend) and Larry(Steve Silver) and three women who come in and out of Bobby's life: April(Allison Sill), Kathy(Kiersten Frumkin) and Marta(Kyrie Courter).
Standout performances … COMPANY received seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Music and Lyrics and Best Book(George Furth). Among the many standout performances in Stearns' high-energy ensemble are: Sill, Frumkin and Courter in ‘You Could Drive a Person Crazy’… Sajewich in “Marry Me A Little” and the moving “Being Alive” … “Side By Side By Side” … Coker-Jones’ hilarious “Getting Married Today”… Townsend’s “The Ladies Who Lunch”… Sajewich and Sill “Barcelona”.
Next Up at Venus … See COMPANY through June 3rd, but don’t delay. Tickets will be hard to get to this party, followed closely by Monty Python’s SPAMALOT, running June 14 through August 5th.
PHOTOS|Brett A. Beiner
VENUS CABARET THEATER
Presents
COMPANY
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Written by George Furth
Directed by L Walter Stearns
through June 3rd
Mercury Theater Chicago
3745 N Southport Ave
773 325-1700
WEBSITE
For more reviews, visit: Theatre In Chicago
ARCHIVE
