Solitary Solidarity: Theatre Reviews from the Present to the Past

      In March of 2013 (I think it was March 30th), I saw the Stephan Elliott / Allan Scott musical "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL.  The musical is based on the 1994 motion picture by Latent Image / Specific Films.  The National Tour played at the Auditorium Theatre from March 19th through 30th, 2013.  The Original Broadway Production played at the Palace Theatre from March 20th 2011 through June 24th 2012.  Preview performances began on February 28th, 2011.   Prior to the Broadway run, "Priscilla: Queen of the Qesert" played from October 12th, 2010 through January 2nd, 2011 at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto.  That was the musical's North American Premiere.      Most of the scenic design consisted of a large revolving bus with three divas suspended overhead (not intending to objectify women by referring to them as scenery).  The bus concept a...

     In late November of 2003, my family and I saw the Mel Brooks / Thomas Meehan musical "The Producers" at the St. James Theatre in New York, NY.  The Broadway Production was directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman.  Brooks, Meehan, and Stroman were part of the creative team of the World Premiere Production that performed in Chicago from February 1st through 25th, 2001.        The Broadway Production of "The Producers" performed at the St. James Theatre from April 19th 2001 through April 27th, 2007.  Preview performances began March 21st, 2001.  The only actor I remember being in the production the day we saw the show was Fred Applegate.   This was a funny and enjoyable show--but the experience was overshadowed later in the trip when we saw "Wicked."  Still, I remember the "Springtime for Hitler" number when the large mirror tilted upward and showed the dancers in a swastika formation.  I'm surprised t...

      On October 5th, 2013, I saw "An Evening With Patty LuPone and Mandy Patinkin" at the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall of Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.  This was presented by The Over the Rainbow Association for the 24th Anniversary Celebration Benefit Concert.  The Over the Rainbow Association is an Illinois non-profit organization that whose mission is to provide affordable yet accessible housing options for low-income adults who depend on wheelchairs for mobility.        As far as the concert, it was great.  Mandy Patinkin sang "Oh What A Circus" from "Evita" while Patti LuPone stood there awkwardly.  Patti LuPone sang "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from her Tony Award winning performance in "Gypsy."  I don't remember what other songs Mandy Patinkin sang, except for an odd song about an old or sick dog.  I cheered obnoxiously after that one.  Patti LuPone sang nothing from "Sunset Boulevard."  Sh...

      In January of 2013, my dad and I saw a matinee performance of "Backbeat: the Birth of the Beatles" at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.  Prior to the Los Angeles engagement, which ran from January 20th through March 1st, 2013, "Backbeat" had its World Premiere at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow, then made its West End debut at London's Palace Theatre.  Then from July 21st through September 2nd, 2012 "Backbeat" performed at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto.  So the production my dad and I saw was the U.S. Premiere.       "Backbeat" tells the story about when there were five Beatles--the fifth being Stuart Stutcliffe.  During that time, they were performing songs such as "Twist and Shout," "Love Me Do," "Long Tall Sally," "P.S. I Love You," "Rock and Roll Music," and "I Saw Her Standing There."  In fact, those were the majority of the songs featured on the show's...

      It was either in December of 2001, or January of 2002, that my mom, dad, sister, and I went to see a performance of the Marvin Hamlisch / Craig Carnelia / John Guare musical "Sweet Smell of Success" at the Shubert Theatre (now called the CIBC Theatre) in Chicago, IL.  This production was a pre-Broadway engagement, as well as a World Premiere production.  I didn't know that at the time.  Or, if I did know, I didn't care.  When I told this to Kathryn the next day at high school, she said "ugh! You didn't know that?  I can't be seen with you."  OK, she never said that.      The cast included John Lithgow, Brian d'Arcy James, Stacey Logan, Jack Noseworthy, Kelli O'Hara, Timothy J. Alex, and David Brummel.  Well, at least these cast members were in the Original Broadway Production.  They most likely transferred to Broadway from the production in Chicago.  I know for sure that John Lithgow, Brian d'Arcy James, an...

           In December of 1996, my mom, dad, sister, and I saw a musical version of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.  I'm not sure if this venue is still there.  There is a Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden, but the photos of that venue look more like an arena.  I think there was a separate entrance to the theatre, because i dont remember seeing sports fans among the theatre goers.  This production featured music by Alan Menken; lyrics by Lynn Ahrens; and a book by Mike Ockrent and Lynn Ahrens.  Susan Stroman was the choreographer, and Tony Walton was the scenic designer.     The cast of the production featured Tony Randall (Scrooge), Ben Vereen (Ghost of Christmas Present / Sandwich-board man), Nick Corley (Cratchit), Pierce Cravens (Tiny Tim), Paul Kandel (Ghost of Jacob Marley), Ken Jennings (Ghost of Christmas Past), and Valentina Kozlova (Ghost of Chris...

      On March 31st, 2017, I saw the Boston Pops Orchestra With Bernadette Peters at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL.  I didn't know I was seeing this concert until the day of the show.  It probably would have benefited me to read about the concert more prior to seeing it (though it was only a one-nigbt event).  If I knew more about the show, it wouldn't have surprised, and annoyed me, that the entire first act of the concert was monopolized by the Boston Pops Orchestra.  I was there to hear Bernadette Peters sing show tunes.  I think the Chicago Symphony Orchestra could have played Gershwin just fine.  Then again, I might just be metropolitan.  Maybe the Chicago Symphony Orchestra doesn't know how to play Gershwin.  That's fine with me.  "Rhapsody in Blue" is too long any way.      Finally Act Two began and Bernadette Peters came out on the stage.  On the one hand, she looked f...

     In June of 2016, I saw a performancence of the Richard Rodgers/ Oscar Hammerstein II / Howard Lindsay / Russel Crouse musical "The Sound of Music."  The.new touring production was in Chicago for a two-week run (June 7th through 19th, 2016).  This was my first time seeing the musical.  I hadn't even seen the movie before. I also hadn't seen "The Sound of Music Live!" Which aired on NBC in 2013.  Well, I saw parts of it.        The cast of this production included Kerstin Anderson (Maria), Melody Betts (Mother Abbess), Iris Davies (Brigitta), Ben Davis (Von Trapp), Paige Silvester (Leisl), Teri Hansen (Elsa Schraeder), and Merwin Ford (Max).  This was a very talented cast.  I was especially blown away by the renditions of  "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" sung by Melody Betts.  Douglas W. Schmidt was the scenic designer for this production.      "The Sound of Music" made its Chicago Premiere at the S...

      In August of 2004, my mom, grandma, and I went to see the Broadway Revival of the Michael Stewart / Mark Bramble / Harry Warren / Al Dubin musical "42nd Street" at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts (now called the Lyric Theatre) in New York, NY.  This production of "42nd Street" premiered in 2001 and won the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival.        In August of 2004, the Broadway cast of "42nd Street" included Patrick Cassidy, Blair Ross, and Nadine Isenegger.  I can understand why this production won the Best Musical Revival Tony Award.  It was lavish, the dancing was amazing, and it was like Broadway of yesteryear.       After the 2004 New York trip when I saw "42nd Street,"  I bought the 2001 cast recording of the musical to listen to on a road trip to Cedar Point I was going on with a friend.  I ended up listening to that cd so much over the next six months or so.  When I found o...

      During the Summer of 2007, I saw a couple performances of the Cy Coleman / Ira Gasman / David Newman musical "The Life," when the Bohemian Theatre Ensemble put on a production of the musical at The Theatre Building Chicago (which is now called Stage 773).  The Production ran from  June 2nd through July 15th of 2007.           The cast of the production sincluded Mike Arthur, Michael Booth, Brandon Dahlquist, Anthony Fett, Jess Godwin, Aaron Holland, David Jiles, Jr., Tawny Newsome, Vanessa Panerosa, Gerald Richardson, Karen-Marie Richardson, Bethany Thomas, Dana Tretta, Sean Walton, and  Vallea E. Woodbury.  John Zulker was the scenic designer for this production, which was directed by Stephen M. Genovese.  John Steinhagen was the music director.        "The Life" took place in 1970's Times Square.  However accurately or inaccurately Times Square was depicted in this show, one ...

      On April 24th, 2019, I saw the first act of  "Rock of Ages" at the Nederlander Theatre in Chicago, IL. This production was the Tenth Anniversary Tour, which was also a non-equity tour.  Katie LaMark (Sherrie Christian), Anthony Nuccio (Drew Boley), John-Michael Breen (Lonny), and Sam Harvey (Stacee Jaxx) starred in the production.  "Rock of Ages" features '80s music from iconic bands including Styx, Twisted Sister, Poison, and Whitesnake.  It also features a book by Chris A'Rienzo.        From what I remember, I was in slightly better shape while seeing this show than I was while seeing "Falsettos."  But I could be wrong, since I left this show during intermission too.  "Rock of Ages" wasn't a bad show.  It just didn't peak my interest.  The cast members sang really well.  I never saw the show before, and I never saw the film version.  From September 21st through October 3rd, 2010, "Rock of A...

      On the evening of May 28th, 2019, I saw Act One of  the James Lapine / William Finn musical "Falsettos,"  when the National Tour of the Lincoln Center Production played at Chicago's Nederlander Theatre from May 28th through June 9th, 2019.  The cast of this production included Nick Adams (Whizzer), Eden Espinoza (Trina), Max von Essen (Marvin), and Nick Blaemire (Mendel).  The Lincoln Center Production was nominated for five Tony Awards, including the award for Best Revival of a Musical.  I left during intermission because I was not doing well and was going through active addiction.      Besides the two reasons listed above, I left early because I didn't like the musical that much.  While I loved Eden Espinosa's rendition of "I'm Breaking Down,"  I didn't like the song "The March of the Falsettos."  It was neat to see Max von Essen in a show again.  The last musical I had seen him in was the 2012 Broadway R...