THEATRE REVIEW: "American Girl Live!" at the Broadway Playhouse (Chicago, IL)

      On April 30th, 2019, I saw the opening night performance of "American Girl Live!" at the Broadway Playhouse in Chicago, IL.  The production was in town until May 12th.  I wouldn't have seen this show, but I won the Broadway in Chicago ticket lottery, and my dad only had to pay $30 for my theatre ticket.  Still, I don't usually see shows like this.  Then again, this show was a musical, so who was I to discriminate?  Strange, though, how the last show I had seen at the Broadway Playhouse was "Cruel Intentions."  It was quite a contrast.  What made the Broadway Playhouse a perfect venue for "American Girl Live!" was its close proximity to Water Tower Place, where an American Girl Place store is located.  







     The musical "American Girl Live!" involves girls who bring their American Girl dolls with them to an American Girl themed camp.  At the same time, the campers personify their dolls while singing musical numbers.  It is a show that attempted to encourage "girl power."  In some ways, it succeeded.  The cast was enthusiastic, and took their roles seriously (while having fun, I suppose).  The cast of "American Girl Live!" included Kelsey Pressnall, Jenna Bruce, Nia Marcus, Melody Ellison, and Laila E. Drew.  I don't know if their efforts at acting made it seem like American Girl dolls came to life.  But it was a noble effort on their part.








     Going to this show by myself, I am sure I stuck out like a sore thumb.  For some reason, I had brought a notebook with me for just that purpose.  I thought it would make me look like a legitimate theatre critic, and less like some kind of freak, creep, or something else.  I'm not sure if it worked.  I got paranoid during intermission and left.  But I felt that I had seen enough of the show anyway.  I had actually taken notes though.  Most of it was about the scenic design.  A couple days after the show, I told Kathryn I thought I looked like I was scouting for young actresses for a beauty pagent or something.  We joked about it, but now I tend to be  weary about going to shows with youngsters or the "entire family" as the target audience.  






     


          A couple months ago (I'm writing this post / review on September 18th, 2022), I won the Broadway Direct ticket lottery to the Broadway Production of Disney's "Aladdin."  I was all set to go.  But when my mom and grandma drove me to the train station, I chickened out and refused to get on the city-bound train.  I think I was scared to go to New York City.  But I also think it was my experience seeing "American Girl Live!" that deterred me from following through and seeing "Aladdin."  Of course, the experience was mostly going on in my head.  It was mostly me feeling like I shouldn't be there (at the show).  When my paranoia kicked in, I started hearing what wasn't audible, so to speak.  Thank goodness for intermission.  Also, thank goodness for shows like "Hadestown" and Moulin Rouge."  







     


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