Home

Displaying items by tag: Do It Again

Ravinia plays host to so many memorable concerts throughout the year, but one of the most unforgettable came last Tuesday night when The Beach Boys shared the stage with the legendary Temptations. Amply called “Surf and Soul” audience members were able to take in some of the most celebrated classics in music history under the stars.

Taking the stage first were the Temptations led by Bruce Williamson and the band’s only original member, Otis Williams. Dressed in matching, brightly colored suits the band clapped, spun and added some fancy footwork to such favorites as “Treat Her Like A Lady”, “The Way You Do the Things You Do”, “Just My Imagination” and “My Girl”. Gracing the crowd with smooth harmonies and romantic lyrics, the Temptations still had women swooning as they probably did some fifty years ago.

After a healthy set of soulful bliss, The Beach Boys then came out to perform headed by original members Mike Love and Bruce Johnston. Fun videos of 1960s nostalgia and band footage were displayed on each side of the stage throughout the show while The Beach Boys launched into an array of their famous surf hits. Strangely however, Brian Wilson seemed to be shunned from such footage barring a few quick shots were it was nearly impossible to exclude him. Obviously missing was Brian and Carl Wilson, but the band still managed to pull off a highly efficient performance taking on such songs (most Mike Love driven hits) as “”Do It Again”, “Sloop John B”, “Surfin’ USA”, “Catch A Wave”, “Be True To Your School”, “409” and “I Get Around”. Also thrown into the set, and maybe a bit unnecessarily, was Mike Love’s solo project number “Pisces Brothers”. The band did venture into a few Brian Wilson led songs with the touring musicians handling his high vocal range quite nicely – the same goes for the terrific harmonies in each song.

The Beach Boys played two songs from Pet Sounds – “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “God Only Knows”, the latter of which the band got creative with the jumbo screens to allow the late Carl Wilson sing the lead (as only it should be) while they gently played and sang harmonies underneath. Ending on a high note, Love and gang jumped into the band’s last big hit “Kokomo” from the late 1980s and their ever so popular anthem “Good Vibrations”.

Not to be a band that walks away from challenges, Mike Love was greeted with a bucket of ice water over his head in support of ALS awareness to put the finishing touches on a fully enjoyable experience.

Overall, though at times a bit sad to be reminded of our mortality and the inevitable aging process we all must endure, both bands were thoroughly entertaining, tight and most of all – fun. I can only hope both will return to Ravinia in 2015. Surf’s still up, boys! 

Published in In Concert

The critically acclaimed hit production of Obliteration returns

10 March 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Obliteration, LLC & The Revival Theater announce a limited engagement of Obliteration, written by Andrew Hinderaker, directed by Jonathan Berry, featuring Michael Patrick Thornton and Cyd Blakewell. Obliteration runs April 10-May 4,…

Red Clay Dance Company’s 16 centers perseverance and legacy in Vershawn Sanders-Ward Revival and Bebe Miller Premiere

10 March 2025 in Upcoming Dance

The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago announces 16 by Red Clay Dance Company for three performances only, April 17-19, 2025, featuring Founding Artistic Director and CEO Vershawn…

Stand Up Together Comedy stars unite during Chicago fundraiser to support California wildfire victims Thursday, March 27 at Laugh Factory Chicago

10 March 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Stand Up Together, a comedy benefit in support of artists impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires, hosted by Second City and SNL…

Luck Be a Lady Tonight: A Rollicking Review of Music Theatre Works’ 'Guys and Dolls'

09 March 2025 in Theatre in Review

Following a string of successful shows, Music Theater Works has once again hit the jackpot with their 2025 season opener,…

Auditorium Theatre’s Presentation of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Company Soars and Astounds

08 March 2025 in Dance in Review

Two dancers stand center stage. The traditional, spiritual music begins to play as they start to move. Very much in…

"HENRY JOHNSON," DAVID MAMET'S NEWEST PLAY, TO MAKE ITS CHICAGO PREMIERE AT VICTORY GARDENS THEATER APRIL 8 – MAY 4

07 March 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Victory Gardens Theater, in association with Relentless Theatre Group, will present the Midwest premiere of a new work by Pulitzer Prize-winner,…

Citadel’s I and You Delivers a Dynamite Story that Closes with a Knockout

01 March 2025 in Theatre in Review

Prolific, and routinely recognized as being one of the most produced playwrights in the country, Lauren Gunderson’s range is as…

Review: Titus Andronicus at Redtwist Theatre

26 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Do not bring the kids to TITUS ANDRONICUS; it has 14 killings, 9 of them on stage, 6 severed members,…

See Chicago Dances Launches New Website March 10

26 February 2025 in Upcoming Dance

See Chicago Dance (SCD), celebrating 20 years as the most comprehensive resource for dance information in Chicago and one of the…

HELL'S KITCHEN is Coming to Chicago

26 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Get ready, Chicago! AKW Productions and Broadway In Chicago are thrilled to announce that the 13-time Tony Award® nominated Broadway sensation, HELL’S KITCHEN, is set to…

Court Theatre announces casting for the world premiere of Berlin

25 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Under the continuing leadership of Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, with interim artistic leadership from Senior Artistic Producer Gabrielle Randle-Bent and Senior Managing Producer Heidi…

Ryan Opera Center celebrates 50th anniversary in concert, Apr 25

24 February 2025 in Upcoming Dance

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago's renowned artist-development program, will present its annual…

The Joffrey Ballet Announces 2025-26 Season at Lyric Opera House

24 February 2025 in Upcoming Dance

Ashley Wheater MBE, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, today announces the Joffrey's 2025-2026 season at…

Review: ‘Hedda Gabler’ at The Artistic Home at The Den Theatre

22 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

‘Hedda Gabler’ has mystified audiences for generations, as this was certainly Ibsen’s intention when creating this endlessly fascinating character. The…

Get It While It’s Hot: Waitress now serving at Paramount Theatre

22 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Sugar, butter, flour…beneath the flaky layers and buttery crusts of pies lay these three simple ingredients. They’re mixed and blended…

RIVERDANCE 30 - THE NEW GENERATION On Sale February 21st

20 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Broadway In Chicago is excited to announce individual tickets for RIVERDANCE 30 – THE NEW GENERATION will go on sale on Friday,…

'Clue' The Hilarious Whodunit Brings Mystery Mayhem to CIBC Theatre

20 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

I’m not a fan of board games. I’ve never finished a full game of Monopoly. Risk? No, thanks. But Clue?…

Rivendell Theatre launches 30th Season with world premiere of No Such Thing

19 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago's only women-centered Equity storefront theatre, ushers in its 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of No Such Thing by…

Full Casting Announced for Steppenwolf Theatre's THE BOOK OF GRACE - Chicago Premiere!

19 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

 Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to announce full casting for the Chicago premiere of The…

Celebrating 15th Anniversary of Joffrey Ballet's Winning Works at the MCA from March 14-23

18 February 2025 in Upcoming Dance

The Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet celebrates the 15th Anniversary of its choreographic competition, Winning Works, with five world premieres over…

Avalanche Theatre makes its Chicago debut with world premiere of Time is a Color and the Color is Blue by Melanie Coffey May 1–24, 2025

18 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Avalanche Theatre announces its Chicago debut with the world premiere of Time is a Color and the Color is Blue by Chicago playwright…

Reaching New Heights: Radvanovsky is Radiant at the Lyric Opera

17 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Do not believe the hype. AI will not replace the arts. By its very definition it is artificial, the antithesis…

A new "cult" classic: Missy Mazzoli's The Listeners comes to Lyric Opera, Mar 30

17 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Do you hear it? The haunting hum of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek's The Listeners will transfix audiences at Lyric Opera of…

Creepy-Crawly Circus Magic: OVO Dazzles at NOW Arena!

16 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

I’ve never seen Cirque and have always longed to. It was SO worth the wait! Here’s what I saw: Color.…

Northlight announces cast for Prayer for the French Republic in a co-pro with Theater Wit

16 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2024–2025 season with Joshua Harmon's celebrated play Prayer for…

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces the cast of its NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Production Sunny Afternoon

15 February 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces today the cast and creative team of its highly anticipated North American Premiere musical event Sunny Afternoon. Based…

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical - How a nice Jewish girl from Brooklyn gave us the songs that defined a generation

15 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a captivating tribute to the extraordinary journey of Carole King, tracing her path from…

Delightful ‘Circus Quixote’ Marks Lookingglass Triumphant Return to Water Tower

12 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

“Don Quixote of La Mancha” is considered the oldest European novel, but it gets a fresh and exciting new treatment…

Review: 'Fool for Love' at Steppenwolf Theatre

10 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Love is often jokingly referred to as a socially acceptable form of insanity, but in Sam Shepard’s ‘Fool for Love’…

Court Theatre’s "A Raisin in the Sun": Bold Choices, Timeless Struggles

10 February 2025 in Theatre in Review

Like the dream deferred in Langston Hughes' poem that inspired its title, Court Theatre's latest production of "A Raisin in…

 

 

         17 Years and counting!

Register

     

Latest Articles

Guests Online

We have 946 guests and no members online

Buzz Chicago on Facebook Buzz Chicago on Twitter 

Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.