Big Ass Rock

The Full Monty

It’s hard to believe that this musical, based upon a popular British film of the same name from the late 1990’s, is almost a quarter of a century old! The reason for its beloved reputation is partly due to the fact that the story couldn’t be more timely. It’s about six out of work, out of shape steel workers trying to find a way to make a living and still maintain some shred of dignity. The men looking self respect are husbands, sons, parents, bread winners and, quite simply men. The result is a Big Ass Rock of a musical filled with humor and pathos. 

The Chosen One

A Shadow Bright & Burning

Henrietta knows that she’s special. She possesses the magical power of fire. At the beginning of this complicated fantasy tale, Henrietta is invited to leave Yorkshire’s Brimthorn School for Girls and travel to London with the Royal Sorcerer, Master Agrippa. There she’ll be trained, along with other students, to also become one of Her Majesty’s Royal Sorcerers. Believed to be The Chosen One, the first female sorcerer in years, Henrietta trains with Agrippa to further develop and finesse her magic powers. This has to be accomplished quickly so that Henrietta can help the others defeat the bloodthirsty Ancients. Having been accidentally released from the Other World, the Seven Ancients are plotting to wage war and conquer all of Victorian England. But not if Henrietta and her magical friends have anything to say about it.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

Wonderverse

The newest attraction to hit the Chicagoland area is Wonderverse located above L.L.Bean in the Oakbrook Shopping Center.

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!”

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.

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.