Beloved children’s author Roald Dahl’s timeless story of the quirky and mysterious candy-maker looking for his heir apparent comes to life in an energetic and magical performance in the Theatre for Young Audiences’ musical adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory now on stage at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire.

The 70-minute-long performance is a wonderful mix of old and new. Older members of the audience appreciated the familiar tunes from the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder, such as the iconic “The Candy Man,” “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” and “Pure Imagination” while the younger audience was captivated with the “Queen of Pop” (and next “It Girl”), Violet Beauregarde, Mike Teavee’s all-things techno obsession, and the very spoiled and demanding antics of Veruca Salt.

Upon entering the theatre, with the centerstage bathed in cool purple lighting and musical tributes featuring candy playing in the background, the audience is immediately transported to another place and time, where “pure imagination” reigns. The magic continues as the show opens with a flash news report from “Cherry Sunday” (Megan Long) about the famed candy-maker’s search for a suitable replacement to take over his workshop.

A delightful chorus of Oompa-Loompas, bedecked in colorful multi-patterned coats, jaunty bowler hats, and oversized sunglasses, appear in every aisle, allowing the young audience to feel part of the show, as they introduce us to the main man himself. Willy Wonka, wonderfully played by George Keating, brings just the right amount of quirkiness, charm, and empathy to his character.

The story continues as Mr. Wonka announces a worldwide contest, hiding five golden tickets in his chocolate bars. The lucky “finders” will be invited to visit his famed factory and be eligible for the grand prize. We meet young Charlie Bucket, played by the very talented Kai Edgar, who lives for Willy Wonka chocolate bars and dreams about winning a ticket. But his family is so poor that they can only afford to buy Charlie one candy bar on his birthday.

Charlie shares his dreams for helping his family and writes a letter to Mr. Wonka, telling him about the many wonderful candy confections he would invent for each family member, then sends it sailing out into the world, knowing there is little chance that he would ever win.

And, as the four golden tickets are quickly won by an assortment of spoiled, ill-mannered kids from around the world – the sausage-consuming Augustus Gloop (Elias Totleben), the foot-stomping demanding Veruca Salt (Elin Joy Seiler), the gum-chewing social-media queen Violet Beauregarde (Avelyn Lena Choi), and the techno-obsessed Mike Teavee (Gordon Henry Heisler) -- Charlie’s hopes dim. And when he, at last, does receive a Wonka bar, alas, no golden ticket. Charlie is distraught.

Yet, the kindly candy-story shopkeeper, who is unbeknownst to Charlie is Mr. Wonka himself, drops a dollar bill, and with it, Charlie buys the very last Wonka bar in the world. To his amazement, Charlie wins the last golden ticket. The audience broke into delighted applause as Charlie and his grandfather cavort around the stage in celebration.

Under the skillful direction of Amber Mak, who also choreographed the show, the magical world of Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory comes to life through a combination of artful staging, colorful costumes, and confectionary props that looks almost good enough to eat. Throw in some bubbles and the clever use of large lighting panels that surround the stage and enhance the action on stage, and voilà – your imagination takes you right into the very heart of Wonka’s enchanted workshop.

The audience squealed in part dismay, part approval, as one by one the obnoxious cadre of children, brilliantly played by Totleben, Seiler, Choi, and Heisler, were eliminated from the competition because they crossed the line and broke the rules. And yes, thanks to an ingenious costume design, the gum-chomping Violet Beauregarde, does turn into a blueberry to the wonder of the crowd.

Finally, Charlie and his grandfather are the only ones left, and Mr. Wonka invites them into his sacred workshop where all the delicious designs are born. Leaving his book of creations behind, with a warning not to look inside it, Mr. Wonka and the grandfather go off to sign some papers for awarding the grand prize. As Charlie walks toward the forbidden book, the audience yelled at him to stop, but of course, he cannot help himself and opens the book.

When he discovered there were empty pages in the notebook, Charlie begins to sing again of his own dreams and visions for confectionary creations. When Mr. Wonka returns, rather than banishing Charlie from the factory as he did the other children for disobeying his rules, he tells Charlie that he indeed has won the grand prize because of his good heart and his pure imagination. Charlie is now the next “Candy Man” and inherits the factory.

As the young crowd applauded its approval and left the theatre thoroughly satisfied and entertained, the words to “The Candy Man” came back to me, “Who can take tomorrow and dip it in a dream?” The Candy Man can, and for one magical hour, the accomplished cast of the Marriott’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory did as well.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Theatre for Young Audiences is running through March 28 at the Marriott Theatre, located at 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire. Performances take place on most Wednesdays through Sundays at 10 am with select 12:30 pm performances. Visit www.marriotttheatre.com or call 847.634.0200 for the exact schedule, as show times and dates may vary.

This review is proudly shared with our friends at www.TheatreInChicago.com.

It’s always risky to take a familiar story and translate it from one medium to another, in this instance from film to stage. Will the adaptation do justice to the story? Will our favorite characters be recognizable to us? Will we walk away happily satisfied with the end result?

I can honestly say for devoted fans of Disney’s Pixar film Finding Nemo, both young and old, that in the Theatre for Young Audience’s musical adaptation now on stage at the Marriot Theatre in Lincolnshire, the answer to all those questions is a resounding YES!

Under the masterful direction of Amber Mak, who also choreographed the show, the underwater world of the coral reef, home to Marlin and his son Nemo, comes to life through the ingenious use of puppetry, colorful costumes and props, along with the skillful use of lighting.

For the uninitiated, Finding Nemo relates the story of an overly cautious and very serious Clown Fish, Marlin, who has promised after a barracuda attack wiped out his entire family save one, that nothing will ever happen to his only remaining son, Nemo. Nemo, who longs for adventures of his own, swims off the coral reef and is caught and taken to far-away Sydney. What follows is Marlin’s epic journey to find his son, where he is joined by a memory-challenged Blue Tang, Dory, whose unfailing optimism and faith in Marlin, propel the two onward.

From the opening to the close, the young audience was enchanted by the cavalcade of sea creatures that paraded across the stage – seahorses, sting rays, octopuses, as well as a wide variety of fish. Our favorites are there as well – the jellies, creatively portrayed using clear umbrellas, the chill sea turtles, Bruce, the somewhat reformed “fish are not food” shark and his friends, and of course, Dory.

Because the production is geared for a younger audience with a run time of about an hour, the storyline is somewhat truncated. Instead of finding himself in an aquarium at a dentist’s office, Nemo is taken to the Syndey Aquarium, where he meets Gill and the other Tank Gang, joining their efforts to escape and return to the sea. And Marlin and his plucky companion Dory quickly move from one encounter to another.

The addition of an energetic and up-tempo musical score written by the award-winning songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez of Frozen fame, keeps the storyline moving. Nigel, the Australian brown pelican, also relays critical information to the ocean denizens and Nemo about Marlin and Dory’s adventures, as well as encourages audience participation at times. “If you think Marlin will save Nemo, clap your fins now,” he intones, to an enthusiastic response.

The team of Scenic Designer Milo Bue, Costume Designer Theresa Ham, and Lighting Designer Brian Elston work together to create the colors and beauty of the underwater world. Large panels of lights on all the walls surround the audience in an everchanging display of seascapes. Lighting is used to create the undulating movement of water, and at time, bursts of bubbles gently fall to the delight of the audience.

But it is the wonderful puppets, thanks to Puppet Designer Jesse Mooney-Bullock, that are the true stars of the show. From the giant Sea Turtle, the laid-back Crush, played by three persons, to the scary barracuda that attacks the reef, to the delightful school of fish that point Marlin and Dory in the right direction, each puppet is uniquely designed and operated.

The talented cast bring the personalities of each character through with masterful puppetry and choreography. Avelyn Lena Choi shines as Nemo, and Devin De Santis portrays “Marlin” with just the right amount of caution and bravery. As in the movie, it is Dory, played expertly by Leah Morrow, who steals the show. Her mantra of “Just keep swimming” and continued mangling of Nemo’s name (Mosquito, Cheeto, Mango, to mention a few) keep the young crowd laughing and amused.

The talented ensemble also includes Andres DeLeon, Genevieve Jane, Charlie Long, Adelina Marinello, Tommy Rivera-Vega, Maya Rowe, Lorenzo Rush Jr., and Meena Sood, who play a variety of roles throughout the show.

As an added bonus, as it does with all its children’s theatre performances, the cast of the show remain afterwards for a brief question-and-answer session with the audience. For older children in the audience, it’s a wonderful opportunity to glimpse behind the scene and see how the stage magic happens.

With the holiday season nearly upon us, Marriott’s Finding Nemo is a perfect choice for family-friendly entertainment appropriate for all ages. I enjoyed the show as much as my nine-year-old granddaughter, who walked away thoroughly satisfied, remarking, “My favorite part was that there was a happy ending.”

Disney’s Finding Nemo Theatre for Young Audiences version is running through Jan. 4, 2026, at the Marriott Theatre, located at 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire. Performances take place on most Wednesdays through Sundays at 10 am with select 12:30 pm performances. Visit www.marriotttheatre.com or call 847.634.0200 for the exact schedule, as show times and dates may vary.

With AI and other technological advancements continuing to change the landscape of how we work and interact with one another, what does the future hold for humanity? What does it mean to be human in a world where robots and AI threaten to replace us?

In his daring new work, A Tour of the Permanent Collection in the Museum of Late Human Antiquities, or simply The Antiquities, Pulitzer Prize finalist playwright Jordan Harrison (Marjorie Prime, Maple and Vine) attempts to give the audience his answer these questions though a disquieting view of the present as seen from the future at a time when AI and robots are replacing the human race.

Harrison’s thought-provoking and groundbreaking work is making its world debut at the Goodman Theatre as a co-production between the Goodman, Playwrights Horizons, and Vineyard Theatre, following a critically acclaimed Off-Broadway run. The Antiquities has been hailed as “the finest new play of the season” by the Wall Street Journal and has earned “Best New Play/Production” nominations by the Lucille Lortel, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle Awards.

Co-directors Caitlin Sullivan and Chicago’s own David Cromer, who also earned a Drama Desk nod for “Outstanding Direction of a Play,” have assembled an exceptional cast of nine actors who together create nearly 50 characters as the audience time travels through the 19^th Century, the Industrial Revolution, the development of the first robot, the advent of the computer and Internet to a chilling future where robots dominate and the human race is fading, but fighting for existence.

The cast features Marchánt Davis, Layan Elwazani, Andrew Garmen, Helen Joo Lee, Thomas Murphy Molony, Aria Shahghasemi, Kristen Sieh, Ryan Spahn, and Amelia Workman. Through this fast-paced production, each cast member masterfully transitions from character to character, scene to scene. It is a tribute to the actors and directors that these transitions are seamless, allowing the story to flow.

The production opens with the curators of the Museum of Late Human Antiquities contemplating the idea of humans – what were they really like? What did they wear? What is it like to be in a body that needs to be refueled? Why did they die out? As the two AI-powered robots gaze into the audience, they invite us to come along and consider the curios they have collected through the decades and the stories that they tell.

We travel back to the 19^th century where Mary Shelley entertains her husband and companions, including Lord Byron, with a ghost story of a monster created from the dead, the premise of her classic novel Frankenstein. We see the devastating effects of the Industrial Age as the workers “bury” their fingers lost to the machines. Fast-forward, we witness the invention of a robot that can “think” its way around obstacles to the Silicon Valley trio who are attempting to settle on the “voice” for the computerized assistant they dubbed “Robin.” The further into the future we travel, the more we observe AI taking over for human creativity, until the last remnant of the human race is fighting to survive.

And while the impact of machines and technology on our daily lives is never far from the storyline, each segment is told with heart and humor, never letting the audience forget the human connection and relationships that make us who we are. In one of the lighter moments, we watch as a mother, father, and son try to connect to the Internet on the old dial-up modem. Just hearing those sounds was enough to cause the audience to break out in laughter.

The Antiquities is an important statement on both the wonders and the threats of the technologies that we are developing today. It was thought-provoking, witty and humorous, and, yes, at times, disturbing, but it also can be seen as a cautionary tale and an opportunity to reflect on where humanity has been and where it may end up if we allow technology to become the end-all and be-all of our lives.

The Antiquities is playing at the Goodman’s Owen Theatre through June 1. For ticket information, visit here. 

*This review is also featured on https://www.theatreinchicago.com/!

One of the things I have always enjoyed and admired most about Chicago Shakespeare Theatre is their willingness to bring fresh ways to experience Shakespeare’s classic works as well as bringing new works and voices to the stage. Avaaz, which opened on Jan. 24, is no exception. And we are the better for it.

It is the first time that Chicago Shakes has welcomed to its stage an Iranian-American playwright, Michael Shayan, as he shares the story of his mother, an Iranian-Jewish immigrant, and her deeply personal journey from Tehran to “Tehran-geles,” California. 

Shayan, who is an Emmy-nominated and Harvard-trained writer and actor, not only wrote the play, but he also is the star of this one-person production with his energetic and engaging portrayal of his larger-than-life mother, Roya. It is funny, life-affirming, joyous, yet at times, tragic, as Shayan grapples with his mother’s experiences in forging a new life in America, while also exploring his complicated relationship with his mother.

We first meet Roya before the show even begins as she sashays through the audience in her glittering gold kaftan, welcoming playgoers and encouraging them to join her in shimmying their shoulders to the pulsing Iranian music. (In fact, before the performance on Jan. 28, there is a free workshop to learn Middle Eastern dancing.) We are there to party with Roya, as she prepares for the celebration of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, which is all about renewal and rebirth.

The centerpiece of Nowruz is the Haft Sin table, and indeed, that elaborate buffet is also the focal point of the set. Throughout the 90-minute production, Roya moves about the Haft Sin table, explaining the symbolism of seven food items on the table while interweaving her story.

Appropriately, Avaaz means “voice,” and we are hearing Roya’s voice as she shares about her life growing up in Teheran (the best city in Iran, she affirms), her beloved father’s imprisonment for his activism during the Iranian revolution, her loveless arranged and abusive marriage, and her underlying desire to make a better life for her son. As Roya, Shayan brings her story to life with equal doses of humor and compassion and the audience is immediately captivated.

For Shayan, the production is his heartfelt tribute to his mother. While growing up, Shayan said his mother never really talked to him about his past. At one point, he asked if he could interview her, and once the recorder was turned on, Roya opened up. The subsequent interview became the impetus for the piece. In fact, the play closes with snippets from that original recording and we hear Roya’s own voice as well.

While Shayan says the play is at its core about the mother-son relationship, is also touches on the ongoing women-led revolution happening in Iran right now. In many respects, Shayan says, what Roya experienced 40 years ago in Iran parallels what is going on now.

“One call coming out of Iran is to ‘be our voice,’ and I think that’s part of what we can contribute as artists – in some small way, I can help amplify the voices of those who are crying out for ‘Woman. Life. Freedom,’” he said.

Chicago Shakes is one of the many planned stops for the production on its inaugural national tour. Directed by Tony Award nominee, Moritz Von Stuelpnagel, Avaaz is one of those theatre experiences that lingers with you long after the performance is over. You leave the theatre grateful you were invited to be part of Roya’s world and culturally enriched because of it.

Avaaz is playing at Chicago Shakespeare through Feb. 9. Visit here for more information.

If you’re looking for a way to entertain the children (or grandchildren) this holiday season that doesn’t involve long lines, icy cold temps or going to the mall, look no further than the Greenhouse Theatre Center’s production of Mo Williams’ smash hit musical, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.”

After two years of successful productions aimed largely at school groups, the Young People’s Theatre of Chicago is transitioning from an intermural Greenhouse Theatre Center project to a stand-alone, professional children’s theatre. And just in time for the Thanksgiving Day weekend, the YPT is kicking off its inaugural season with the return of William’s beloved and beleaguered Pigeon, in his own adaptation of his best-selling Caldecott Honor Award-winning book bearing the same name.

This high-energy hourlong offering of pure silliness and joy is the perfect way to introduce the younger crowd to the magic of live theatre. From the very beginning, as the woebegone Pigeon pops out from the windows of the cleverly engineered and colorful set to lament over his tedious days, kids are immediately engaged in the unfolding story.

Pigeon is skillfully brought to life by YPT veteran Brade Bradshaw as a hand-and-rod styled puppet in the technique first showcased in the Broadway hit Avenue Q. In fact, all the puppets were built and designed by Rick Lyon, the puppeteer designer for Avenue Q. The combination of performer and puppet are so seamless that at some point you forget that Pigeon is a puppet.

Bradshaw is joined onstage by another YPT veteran, Karla Seretto, who shines as the indomitable bus-driving Bus Driver. With her “officially official” cap and dedication to her job, you never doubt that her main passion in life is to drive her bus and never be late. Also returning to the YPT stage are the talented Tamsen Glaser as the Duckling and Bus Engine, and Marquis Bundy as Teenage. They are joined by experienced Chicago actors Jake Elkins as the Hot Dog Vendor and Businessman, and the hilarious Dakota Hughes as the Little Old Lady.  

As his young fans well know, Pigeon never gets to do anything he wants to do. And that’s where the fun begins. In the opening number, Pigeon laments that he never gets to do anything, not even eat a hot dog – which, he claims, is all he really wants to do. Even a visiting Duckling gets a hot dog, but not Pigeon. He’s just told by everyone to “fly away, bird.” What’s a hot-dog loving, adventure-seeking Pigeon to do?

Life changes dramatically for Pigeon when a new bus line opens near Pigeon’s hangout, and he encounters Bus Driver and her brand-new bus. Pigeon is immediately entranced and now the only thing he wants to do is drive the bus! Working up his courage, Pigeon approaches the Bus Driver and sings, “Can I drive the bus?” to which the Bus Driver and all her passengers chorus, “No! Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus.” But when the bus breaks down and the Bus Driver has to find a way to alert the people along the route the bus is running behind, she turns to Pigeon to help her out. Together, Bus Driver helps Pigeon discover his true purpose and dream.

The Greenhouse Theatre is the perfect venue for a younger audience to watch the performance. It’s compact, and with the front row right on the stage, it provides an intimate interaction with the actors. To the absolute delight of the audience, Pigeon goes “flying” through the theatre to alert them that the bus will be late, and they become part of the show as well.

The show got two-thumbs up by my grandchildren, ages 8 and 6, who loved the antics of the Pigeon as he tried his very best to fulfill his dream to drive the bus. But they especially loved the ending when, even after Pigeon discovers his true purpose in life, he spies a plane in the sky and suddenly all he wants to do is “fly the plane.” The entire audience joins in with the cast in the chorus and shout, “No! Don’t let the pigeon fly the airplane!”

There’s something for everyone in the show. I particularly loved Dakota Hughes as the Little Old Lady, who continually threw birdfeed at Pigeon in a well-meaning attempt to give him a treat. (“What is this stuff?” Pigeon indignantly wants to know.) And Tamsen Glaser made a hilarious bus engine with her sputtering and spattering noises as the bus breaks down.

Under Randy White’s astute direction, the action never stops, and the music, composed by Deborah Wicks a Puma, an acclaimed artist in Theatre for Young Audiences, keeps the story moving along, making for a manageable and totally enjoyable theatre experience for children of all ages.

You can catch “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” at Lincoln Park’s historic Greenhouse Theatre Center (2257 N. Lincoln Ave.) from Nov. 23-Dec. 22. For ticket information and performance times, visit ytpchi.org.

When Francesca Zambello, director of The Glimmerglass Festival, commissioned an opera about race in America, the country was reeling from a spate of police shootings of young African-American men in Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. By the time the commissioned work Blue premiered at The Glimmerglass Festival in 2019, police killings of unarmed African-American men and women had soared to nearly 135.

While Blue holds up an often times uncomfortable mirror to racism in America, it is much more than a “protest opera” or an opera about police violence. In the words of director and librettist Tazewell Thompson, an internationally acclaimed director for opera and theatre, “I wrote [Blue] from an obsessive need and responsibility to tell an intimate story behind the numbing numbers of boys and men who are killed.”

And that is exactly the powerful appeal of Blue, which recently premiered at the Lyric Opera. Through Thompson’s intense and profound libretto and the soaring score composed by Tony-Award winner Jeanine Tesori, Blue draws us in beyond the names and the headlines to the unimaginable suffering of the families who have been torn apart by these tragic and senseless deaths.

Blue is a powerful, passionate, and yes, painful depiction of a family and community coming together in crisis and faith. Hailed by critics as a “new American classic,” it was named the Best New Opera of 2019 by the Music Critics Association of North America. Tesori, who won recent Tony Awards for the music to Kimberly Akimbo and Fun House, brought her considerable talent and success as a Broadway composer to create a score that is both contemporaneous and timeless. Thompson drew on a canon of African-American literary greats, including James Baldwin, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Claude Brown, to write a libretto that is passionate and unapologetic.

The story centers on a Black middle-class couple living in Harlem, whose lives are shattered when their teenage son is shot and killed by a white police officer. Compounding the tragedy is the fact that the Father himself is a so-called “Black in Blue” – a member of the very same police force.

The two-act opera opens with the Mother performed by Lyric favorite Zoie Reams, who has gathered her girlfriends to share her wonderful news of her pregnancy. As her girlfriends, a charismatic trio led by Ariana Wehr in her Lyric debut and Lyric veterans Adia Evans and Krysty Swann, titter and exclaim over the Mother’s husband (“Damn girl,” they sing), the mood shifts suddenly as they learn her child is a boy. Oh no, no, no, they lament, reminding Mother that she is breaking the cardinal rule – “You shall not bring a black baby boy into the world.” Through a poignantly performed plea, Mother prevails upon her girlfriends to bless her child, whom she vows to bring into this world with love and hope.

The scene segues to Father, expertly performed by bassist Kenneth Kellogg in a role written specifically for him, as he reveals the news of his pending fatherhood with his three fellow police buddies (Terrence Chin-Loy, Jonathan Pierce Rhodes, and Christopher Humbert, Jr.) at the local watering hole, who can barely tear their eyes from watching the football game. Yet, they share in Father’s joy, peppering him with lighthearted advice and warnings about being a dad.

The first act concludes sixteen years later, when the Son, performed magnificently by tenor Travon D. Walker, and the Father engage in a bitter argument. The father confronts his son, who has been frequently at odds with the law for his involvement with non-violent political protests. “Look at yourself,” the Father intones. “Pull up your pants. Take off that hoodie.” The son pushes back, derisively accusing the Father of being “a cop,” “A clown in a blue suit,” upholding an oppressive system. Act 1 concludes with the Father, despite his son’s bitter words, offering an emotion-filled pledge to love and hold his son always.

As the second act opens, we discover that the Son has been shot and killed by a white police officer at a protest. The heartbroken Father meets with the Reverend, powerfully performed by Lyric veteran baritone Norman Garrett, who attempts to console him and encourages him to forgive. But the Father, in an ironic twist, adopts much of his son’s attitude and words, angrily lashing out at the Reverend. “I’m not here for redemption,” the Father says, “I’m here to confess” the revenge he plans to exact against the white officer. Yet, the Reverend continues to console the Father, and in a groundswell of pain, the two perform the beautiful heartrending duet “Lay my burden down.”

Meanwhile, the grief-stricken mother is attended once again by her girlfriends, to support her as she buries her son. In a particularly heartbreaking moment, Mother falls to her knees and begs God to return her son to her. “I don’t care if he’s blind; if he has no hands or feet. Just that he is alive,” she laments. But then, she bitterly remembers that “We are not God’s favorites.”

At the funeral, Father and Mother together wrestle with their grief. But with the prayers and support of the congregation, as the theme of “lay my burden down” is reprised, the two find consolation in their faith and community. The opera concludes with a flashback to the Son’s last night at the dinner table with his father and mother, pledging that this will be his last protest and promising that “nothing will happen. Nothing.”

Blue is an important, relevant opera, touching on themes and issues in a way that is not confrontational but heartfelt and profound. You may feel uncomfortable, but you will not walk away from this performance untouched and hoping for a better world.

Blue is in a limited engagement at the Lyric, with performances on Nov. 20, 22, 26 and December 1. For ticket information, visit Lyricopera.org.

You might think that a rock musical featuring a genderqueer, hard-rockin’ and brokenhearted performer born on the wrong side of the Berlin Wall and the recipient of a sex-change operation gone horribly wrong might not be the show for you. But you would be making a big mistake.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch, a sometimes raunchy, sometimes heartbreaking rock-and-roll musical now playing with Haven at the Den Theatre in the heart of Wicker Park, is so much more. At its core, Hedwig is an inspirational search for identity, for acceptance, and ultimately, for finding one’s own voice.

And more than that, Hedwig under the skillful direction of JD Caudill, is just plain fun. You cannot leave the theatre without feeling that you have been entertained and uplifted. And in today’s current state of the world, that’s not a small thing.

The musical, with music and lyrics by Stephen Trask and book by John Cameron Mitchell, first opened off-Broadway in 1998 and won awards for Best Off-Broadway Musical. While it has been produced throughout the world in hundreds of stage productions, it wasn’t until 2014 when the show first made its Broadway debut starring Neil Patrick Harris and winning a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.

The musical tells the story of “internationally ignored song stylist,” Hedwig Schmidt, in the form of a rock gig/stand-up comedy routine backed by the hard-rocking band “The Angry Inch.” Using song and monologue, Hedwig (Tyler Anthony Smith) tells her story which began as Hansel, a “slip of a girlyboy” growing up in East Berlin. Hansel meets Luther, an American GI, who promises to take him to America if he agrees to a sex change. The ensuing bungled operation leaves the newly renamed Hedwig with just “an angry inch.”

Luther abandons Hedwig in a Kansas trailer park, where she turns to music and meets the geeky Tommy Speck, whom she takes under her wing and soon falls for. But Tommy, too, is repelled by her “angry inch,” and after stealing her songs, achieves rock star fame. Hedwig once again is cast aside. She begins stalking Tommy, performing in dive venues next to the stadiums where Tommy is appearing. Throughout the show, Hedwig repeatedly pokes her head out the door where we can hear Tommy Gnosis (who Hedwig named) as he talks about himself, never mentioning or crediting Hedwig.

Hedwig is aided -- and hindered – by her assistant, back-up singer and husband, Yitzhak (Ismael Garcia), a Jewish drag queen from Zagreb. The two have an unhealthy, codependent relationship, and Hedwig verbally abuses Yitzhak throughout the evening, clearly threatened by his natural talent. We learn that Hedwig agreed to marry Yitzhak only on the condition that he never perform as a woman again.

Smith absolutely dazzles as Hedwig in their debut performance with Haven. They strut and swagger across the intimate setting of the Den, singing of their search for “The Origin of Love” and better half. A great deal of the charm of the show is Hedwig’s interaction with the audience, and Smith is quite adept at adlibbing and engaging with the audience, getting upfront and personal (very personal) with those sitting in the cabaret-styled tables. (As an aside, audience members do have the ability to indicate their preference for any audience participation with cleverly placed red, yellow, and green signs.)

It's all in good fun, and the audience loved it, as did the cast! Caudill also includes lots of local references and touches (like the Pepper Palace at the Salt Shed) that added to the performance, keeping it fresh and relatable.

Garcia, also making his Haven debut as the disgruntled and downtrodden Yitzhak, plays his role perfectly. It is clear that he yearns to come out from under Hedwig’s shadow, but he sullenly submits to his back-up role. Finally, in a complete breakdown, as Hedwig tears off her wig and takes off her makeup, Yitzhak must step up to sing the final song.

The show closes as Hedwig finds peace and acceptance within herself, and Yitzhak finds his true voice in a performance that brings down the house.

The two main performers are skillfully back by “The Angry Inch,” a hard-working and hard-rocking group of talented musicians led by musical director and keyboardist, Harper Caruso. Joining her onstage are Nate Hall on guitar, Alek Boggio on bass, and Mia Park on drums. In addition to keeping the beat moving, they also engage with Hedwig and Yitzhak in ongoing banter throughout the show and are very much a part of the overall performance.

I love the intimacy of the Den Theatre. It was the perfect venue for this type of show, but because of its size, I did feel the band sometimes overwhelmed the vocals and it was hard at times to clearly hear the words of the songs.

That aside, the evening was truly enjoyable and entertaining, and I would definitely recommend this production of Hedwig. As billed, it was funny, it was touching, and in the end, it was a wonderful reminder of every person’s need to find their own voice and use it.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch plays at the Den Theatre now through August 4. For ticket information, visit the Haven website.

For more than 50 years, Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber’s powerful masterpiece, Jesus Christ Superstar, has wowed audiences with its unorthodox look at the life and persona of Jesus Christ through its soaring lyrics and driving rock score. And so, it is most appropriate that BrightSide Theatre concludes its 12^th season, entitled “A Season of Passion,” with this impassioned classic rock opera.

From the iconic solo guitar rift to the poignant close as Mary, Jesus’ mother, cradles her crucified son’s head in her lap, BrightSide’s production at North Central College’s Meiley-Swallow Hall in Naperville provides a fast-paced and thoroughly entertaining evening powered by the strong vocal performances of the main cast and an exuberant ensemble.

The show, loosely based on the Gospels, focuses on the final days of Jesus’ life leading up to his crucifixion, as seen largely through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. At the heart of the story are the personal conflicts between Jesus, his disciples, the Jewish people, and the leadership of Rome, with special attention given to Jesus’ relationships with Judas and Mary Magdalene.

Conceived at first as a groundbreaking rock double-album in the early 70s, the music and lyrics by Rice and Webber, then only 25 and 21 respectively, has held up through the years. In BrightSide’s production, artistic Director Jeffrey Cass takes a contemporary approach to the show by imagining Jesus’ story in a modern setting, challenging the audience to consider how Jesus might be received in today’s culture.

To set the tone, the cast is clad in contemporary, edgy clothes and the set is minimal, utilizing metal scaffolding to flow from one scene to another. Cass also adds nice touches such as when the ensemble takes out their cell phones to record Jesus’ response after meeting with the Jewish High Priest, Caiaphas (played by Stan Austin). And, as what would be expected with any celebrity-sighting today, they jostle one another to grab a “selfie” with the proclaimed Messiah.

The only off-note for me was the wardrobe choice for Jesus, played by BrightSide veteran Edward MacLennan. While everyone else is edgy and modern, Jesus arrives on stage with what looked like a hooded bathrobe. I would have preferred him to have a more updated, dignified vibe than he did.

That aside, MacLennan turns in a masterful performance and demonstrates his incredible vocal range in two incredibly powerful scenes. In Act One, MacLennan captures Jesus’ passion and righteous anger in “The Temple,” and then his frustration as Jesus is overwhelmed by the needs of those clamoring for healing and help. In Act Two, MacLennan is outstanding as he portrays Jesus in Gethsemane, as Jesus struggles to comprehend and accept that path before him, his anguish palpable through MacLennan’s masterful vocalizations.

Turning in an equally strong performance is Michael Davis Arnold as Judas. Making his debut at BrightSide Theatre, Arnold’s strong and expressive vocals underscore his character’s personal doubts and questions about this man Jesus and his claims to be God. Arnold ably portrays Judas’ inner struggles, which come to a crashing climax as Judas, horrified by Jesus’ harsh treatment and the knowledge that he will forever be remembered as a traitor, can no longer live with his regrets. Encouraged by the three Tormentors (wonderfully performed by Kassidy Alderman, Amber Golich, and Julia Hope Budd), Judas kills himself.

Meghan Kessel, another BrightSide veteran, shines in her role as Mary Magdalene. Her beautiful and soulful rendition of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” possibly the show’s most well-known signature songs, does not disappoint. And Caleb Hand’s Herod is hilarious. Flanked by his party-loving court, Herod struts and postures across the stage as he tries to coax Jesus into doing just one little miracle for him.

The show is propelled by an excellent ensemble that moves adroitly from adoring crowd to questioning disciples to a jeering mob calling for Jesus’ crucifixion, driven by the choreography of Jake Ganzer. The ensemble and cast are backed up by a talented group of musicians, under the experienced direction of Phil Videckis.

The show explodes into a glittering climax as the ensemble, led by Judas’ spirit, performs the title song, “Superstar,” questioning Jesus’ plan and purpose in coming to the world when he did before the dramatic closing as Jesus is led to the cross and put to death.

For those who grew up listening to the album as well as newcomers to this iconic rock opera, BrightSide’s entertaining rendition of Jesus Christ Superstar is a must-see production and well worth the trip to the western suburbs. You can catch Jesus Christ Superstar at North Central’s Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth, Naperville, now through June 23. Ticket information can be found at www.BrightSidetheatre.com or by phone at 630-447-TIXS (8497). 

It was a dark and stormy night (yes, it really was!) – the perfect ambiance for taking in one of theatre’s classic comedic thrillers, Ira Levin’s Deathtrap, staged by BrightSide Theatre at North Central College’s Meiley-Swallow Hall, in Naperville.

For knowledgeable theatre buffs, Deathtrap holds the record for the longest-running comedic thriller on Broadway. It was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Play, and was later adapted for the screen, starring Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve.

It’s the story of world-famous playwright Sidney Bruhl, who for the past 11 years has been riding the fading fame of his one and only hit play, The Murder Game. Having to squeak by on his wife’s income and forego his once lavish lifestyle, Sidney is looking for a way to regain his fame – and fortune.

As the play opens, Sidney is reading a manuscript that arrived in the mail from one of his seminar students. Much to his chagrin, the script is brilliant, and in his estimation, bound to be a smash hit. Sidney shares his thoughts with his wife, Myra, and together the pair conspire to make the manuscript their own. While Myra promotes collaboration (with Bruhl’s name taking top billing, of course), Sidney has a more sinister solution to their dilemma in mind.

At Sidney’s invitation, the young playwright, Clifford Anderson, arrives at their secluded Connecticut farmhouse, to discuss the manuscript. What ensues is a series of twists and turns, unexpected and shocking events, that keeps the audience guessing as to what will happen next. Throw in a hilarious neighbor, Helga ten Dorp, who just happens to be a noted psychic whose suspicions are spiked by the strange goings-on at the Bruhl’s house, and you have all the ingredients for an entertaining and lively evening.

Under the skillful direction of Jason Harrington, who directed BrightSide’s The Odd Couple last season, the cast turns in a well-paced and skilled performance. Even for those familiar with the plot, as I was, I found myself jumping and gasping at all the right places and thoroughly engaged throughout the evening.

Scott Kelley stars as Bruhl and turns in a convincing performance as the washed-up playwright looking for an easy way out of his writer’s block. Kelley has appeared in numerous other BrightSide productions, including the 2021 Miracle on 34^th Street, and is a veteran actor on the Chicago theatre scene. His hapless and anxiety-ridden wife, Myra, is excellently portrayed by Marianne Embree, who is appearing in her third BrightSide production.

Tyler Szarabajka, who plays the young playwright, Clifford Anderson, is making his professional debut in Deathtrap. He plays the role with just the right amount of cockiness and youthful assurance that makes him a great foil to his uptight, older mentor and hero. And Lisa Braatz absolutely shines as the quirky psychic, Helga ten Dorp, as she makes one outlandish prediction after another as she “senses” the pain and trauma in the room. The cast is rounded out by John Zimmerman as Porter Milgrim, the staid family friend and attorney for the couple, who brings a modicum of somberness to the proceedings – until the final scene!

Adding to the overall experience of the production is the theatre itself. Located on North Central College’s campus, just a few blocks off downtown, this gem of a theatre offers theatregoers an intimate and cozy interaction with the performers. There’s not a bad seat in the house, and you feel as if you are in on the action because of the proximity to the actors.

BrightSide Theatre, under Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass and Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak, is now in its 13^th season. Billed as Naperville’s only professional theatre performing in the historic downtown district, BrightSide has won “Best of Naperville” Live Entertainment Venue for the past six years. Even though I’ve lived in Naperville for years, this was my first introduction to BrightSide Theatre, and I was not disappointed.

For theatre-enthusiasts, or anyone looking for an entertaining night at the theatre, without the fuss and bother of going downtown Chicago, BrightSide’s Deathtrap production will more than satisfy. Add in its location right off the downtown with access to Naperville’s many and varied dining options, and you have the perfect combination for dinner and theatre.

You can catch Deathtrap at North Central’s Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth, Naperville, now through March 24^th. Ticket information can be found at www.BrightSidetheatre.com or by phone at 630-447-TIXS (8497). 

For anyone familiar with children’s literature, Roald Dahl is a household name. Since the 1960s, Dahl has entertained and enchanted his young readers with fantastical tales of witches, giants, talking animals, magical chocolate factories, and yes, even a giant peach.

So, it is more than appropriate that the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire has added to its children’s theatre repertoire for the 2023-2024 season a lively and imaginative adaptation of Dahl’s classic James and the Giant Peach. During the 70-minute run time – perfectly suited for the younger audience – the gifted and energetic ensemble bring to life the magical adventures of James Henry Trotter and his intrepid insect friends – Earthworm, Green Grasshopper, Centipede, Spider, and Ladybug.

In this adaptation of the musical, which premiered in 2010, with a score composed by the Tony Award-nominated team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman) and book by award-winning playwright Timothy Allen McDonald (who also adapted Dahl’s most well-known work, Willy Wonka), the charm and quirky characters of Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach are introduced once again to a new generation of fans.

The audience is guided through James’ adventure under the skillful musical narration of Ladahlord, a mysterious magical man, capably played by Chicago theatre veteran, Alex Goodrich. As he informs the audience, magic is going to unfold “Right Before Your Eyes” in the opening number. And then it does, as spiders, earthworms, grasshoppers, ladybugs, centipedes, charging rhinos, ravenous sharks, and comical seagulls all come brilliantly to life through the creative combination of puppets and actors and innovations of costume and wig designers Amanda Vander Byl and Ray Sanchez and gifted props master Leo Bassow.

For those unfamiliar with the story, James becomes an orphan after his parents are eaten by a rhino (see above!) who has escaped the London Zoo. He falls into the hands of his wicked aunts, Aunts Sponge and Spiker. After being given a magical potion of crocodile tongues by Ladahlord, James trips and scatters the potion before he can use its power. What does result, however, is a gigantic peach!

While the aunts try to make money off charging people to see the giant peach, James enters the peach itself, finding himself in the company of human-sized insects. After the peach drops from the tree and rolls into the ocean, James and his companions use their wits and abilities to battle sharks and other obstacles to voyage across the ocean. Eventually the peach lands on the Empire State Building. When it drops to the ground, it crushes the two wicked aunts who have followed the peach across the ocean, and James and his newfound family are home at last.

From the beginning, the audience is captivated by the music, puppets, and the talented cast. James is wonderfully played by 12-year-old Kai Edgar, who made his acting debut at age 8 in the title role of Oliver at the Marriott Theatre. Edgar brings an energy and poise to his performance that is well beyond his age. His amazing performance alone is reason enough to see the show.

He is joined onstage by an equally experienced and gifted ensemble. The dour and doubting Centipede is brilliantly played by Garrett Lutz, who has appeared on numerous Chicago stages, including numerous Marriott productions. Andrés Enriquez also returns to the Marriott stage and delights as the near-sighted and fearful Earthworm. Enriquez shines in his number “Plumb and Juicy,” one of the show’s more memorable tunes, as he breaks from his reserve and fears to help save his companions.

The ensemble is rounded out by veteran actor Christopher Kale Jones, who plays the wise and steady Green Grasshopper and undeniable leader of the group, with an understated elegance and humor. He is joined by Elizabeth Telford, as the kind and motherly Ladybug, who brings a sweetness and tenderness to her role. Juwon Tyrel Perry, who most recently appeared in Marriott Theatre in its Carole King tribute musical, Beautiful, who plays Spider, with a hip and stylish vibe.

And of course, no Roald Dahl story is complete without its villains, which are wonderfully played by Lucy Godinez and Leah Morrow, as the delightfully wicked aunts, Sponge and Spiker, respectively. The pair’s oversized personalities and outlandish antics are crowd favorites, but that doesn’t stop the audience from cheering when their evil designs are finally crushed after the peach drops on them.

Under the direction of Tommy Rapley, who also choreographs the performance, Dahl’s classic tale entertains and captivates the audience with its fast-paced action, nonstop comedy, and innovative set. Marriott’s signature theatre is the perfect venue and James and the Giant Peach is the perfect production to introduce your children and grandchildren to the wonderful world of theatre.

You can catch James and the Giant Peach at the Marriott through March 30th.