Are We Alone?

We Are Out There! – Chicago Shakespeare Theatre

Next year Chicago Shakespeare gets lost in space, as they present a live production of an original, sci-fi musical. Based loosely upon the classic B-horror film of the 1950’s, “It Came From Outer Space,” this hilarious 45-minute prologue offers a taste of what we can expect from this world premiere musical comedy about extraterrestrial life arriving on earth. It’s a delightful sampler, professionally produced and absolutely tantalizing. After viewing this preview, audiences will be standing in line to see the full production in 2022!

This short, fully-streamed offering is a mock documentary. It provides the history behind America’s obsession with UFOs asking the question, “Are we alone?” Co-created by the gifted Joe Kinosian, Kellen Blair and Daniel Schloss, the campy musical (and this pretend documentary film) claims to tell the true story of the romance between fictitious astronomer John Putnam and his true love, Ellen Fields. Following the 1947 sightings of flying saucers in Roswell, New Mexico, this bizarre story plays out in the tiny town of Sand Rock, Arizona. After stargazing in the desert, the couple spot a large fiery object falling to earth and crashing. Strange things begin to happen after this incident and the world’s disbelief soon becomes hostile.

The cast includes a full roster of multitalented actors. Christopher Kale Jones beautifully portrays John and his fiancee Ellen is played by the incomparable Jaye Ladymore. Cher Alvarez is a funny Sunny and, singing duets with a couple feisty sock puppets, E. Faye Butler is wonderfully comical as Coral, the barfly. The always delightful Alex Goodrich makes a singularly eccentric singing Sheriff Matt Warren. Even one of the talented creators of the musical, Joe Kinosian, is featured in several supporting roles, and there’s a far-out cameo appearance by Kristin Chenoweth.

In a limited run, CST has a prospective hit on its hands with this original musical comedy that promises to be as campy and deliberately schlocky as the 1953 science fiction film, upon which its based. With clever, entertaining songs and delightful, over-the-top performances, this digital prologue to the company’s upcoming production, “It Came From Outer Space,” offers a preview of great, out of this world things to come, while answering the question, “Are we alone?” 

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented as a stream on-demand May 24-June 20 via ShakesSTREAM by Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, in association with the Universal Theatrical Group.

Tickets are available at www.ChicagoShakes.com/stream.

Additional information about area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.