Author: Colin Douglas
History Comes Alive
1776
In spite of the fact that everyone knows how the story ends, this musical surprises with its unexpected humor, dramatic tension and unrelenting suspense, as John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and their allies attempt to persuade all 13 colonies to vote for independency. The dramatic construction of this play by librettist Peter Stone is beautifully enhanced and given a playful, almost irreverent tone by Sherman Edwards’ music and lyrics. History comes alive in this intelligent and accessible musical, now in an incredibly captivating production at the Marriott Theatre.
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Art Isn’t Easy
[title of play]
Avid theatergoers could probably provide a list of plays and musicals about the art of making art. Included would be such plays as ART, PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE, RED, VINCENT IN BRIXTON and the quintessential example of artistic creativity, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s beautiful SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. This Pulitzer Prize-winner illustrates that art is a long process, it doesn’t just happen. The musical details the method by which 19th century French Pointillist painter, Georges Seurat, created his masterpiece, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The second act of the musical jumps ahead to the 20th century, where the artist’s great-grandson endures a similar struggle with creativity, demonstrating to audiences that Art Isn’t Easy.
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A Stormy and Articulate Work
The Normal Heart
During the early 1980’s a fast-spreading outbreak of a strange unknown illness began showing up among New York City’s gay community. Its flu-like symptoms signaled the destruction of the body’s immune system and became known as the “gay plague.” Hundreds of thousands of men began contracting this mysterious, deadly virus that ultimately developed into pneumonia and resulted in incontinence, severe weight loss, tumors, dark purple lesions and an ultimately death.
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Anything For High Ratings
Network
Long before Jerry Springer, Howard Stern and reality TV as a popular alternative to scripted dramas and sitcoms, Paddy Chayefsky’s Academy Award-winning screenplay satirized how television might be willing to do anything for high ratings. The movie, a black comedy-drama, became one of the highest grossing films of 1976. It opened the public’s eyes to what was really going on within the often corrupt world of broadcasting. Audiences suddenly became privy to the inner workings of the television industry, including all its unsavory little secrets.
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It’s Time to Dance!
The Prom
A lot of praise has to be heaped upon this glitzy, glittery musical with a heart. It’s a show that’ll put a huge smile on every theatergoer’s face within the first few moments. And then, except during a couple of tender, heartfelt scenes that may evoke a few tears, this musical is guaranteed to extend that smile into laugh-out-loud joy. THE PROM is so incredibly jubilant, upbeat and full of love that theatergoers will never want it to end. THE PROM offers a story ripped from today’s headlines, all tricked out with a memorable score of toe-tapping songs and beautifully executed choreography. This production is performed by a gifted company of triple threats who seem so realistic and likable that you’ll just want to take them home with you. And as the entire cast sings with joyful abandon, “It’s Time to Dance!”
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The Master of the Modern Musical
The Sondheim Tribute Review
Stephen Sondheim. His name evokes the many smart, lyrical and emotionally-packed musicals he wrote during the mid-20th and 21st centuries. As a composer, Sondheim’s brilliance in matching words with music broke new ground for the musical theatre. A precocious child with an aptitude for music, Sondheim mastered the piano and organ before he was 15 years old. Then, under the tutelage of family friend, Oscar Hammerstein II, Stephen began an educational journey that led him to becoming the Master of the Modern Musical.
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The Power of Love
Back to the Future: The Musical
Looking through his dad’s old high school yearbook, an idea began to germinate in the minds of screenwriter Bob Gale and his longtime writing partner, film director Robert Zemeckis. Bob wondered if he and his father would’ve been friends if they had attended school together. And thus sparked the idea of a time-travel comedy that would become both a classic and a critical and commercial success. “Back to the Future” was eventually declared the highest-grossing movie of 1985. Now the film’s millions of devoted fans can relive the heart-pounding thrill of that high-tech tale live and on stage. Audiences seeing this fun-filled musical treatment of the movie will once again lose themselves in The Power of Love. It’s a stage version that’s fully faithful to the orginal sci-fi cinema.
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The Vocabulary of Touch
In His Hands
The scriptures tell us that our very existence and the human condition are not controlled by those aggressors who would attack, persecute or oppress us. It’s said that God doesn’t create junk. We are all individuals with different personalities, wants and needs. Our lives are in His hands; indeed, as this beautifully performed one-act play opens, theatergoers hear a voice in the darkness singing, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” But the title of Benjamin Benne’s gay romantic comedy might also be referring to someone special in each of our lives who lovingly holds our heats and best interests in his hands, as well.
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Bustin’ Out All Over
Carousel
Chicagoland audiences are in for a magical and moving musical treat with Music Theater Works’ second production of its 2024 season. Showcasing one of the best of the Rodgers and Hammerstein canon, this exquisite presentation follows their incredible production of THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. The company’s latest offering is a seldom-produced romantic musical by America’s iconic composer and lyricist team. Based upon “Liliom,” Ferenc Molnar’s tragic 1909 drama, this gorgeous musical, like their first hit, OKLAHOMA, became another groundbreaker in American theatre back in 1945, with its antihero, dark themes and poignant ending. And Music Theater Works’ new production, so full of talent, is simply “bustin’ out all over.”
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Down the Hole
Alice By Heart
Bombs are exploding everywhere and the sirens are directing everyone to take shelter. Wading through the debris, everyone heads down the hole into the Tube Station for safety. It’s 1941 and the London Blitz of WWII is in full force. The English refugees are a mixed lot. They include a no-nonsense Doctor, a brusque Red Cross Nurse, a spoiled young man and woman, who are clearly of the upper crust, as well as a variety of British commoners. But when teenaged Alice Spencer and her dear friend Alfred join the group seeking shelter, we learn that the young man is very sick and must be quarantined. Alfred is afflicted with incurable tuberculosis and, unfortunately, doesn’t have much time left in his young life. Thus, the fragile and filmy quality of Time weaves throughout the theme of this new musical, now enjoying its Midwest Premiere in Chicago.
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