Displaying items by tag: america blues theater
Little Shop of Horrors Makes You Feel Good
Once in awhile a musical comes around so weird that you have to see it to understand it. Based on a 1960 b-movie of the same name, "Little Shop or Horrors" tells the story of a man-eating plant raised by a nerdy guy working in a flower shop. Legendary composers Alan Menken and Howard Ashman collaborated on a musical version of it as a tribute to 60s rock 'n roll and drive-in movies. It started as an Off-Off Broadway show in 1982 and then transitioned to the Off-Broadway Orpheum Theatre, where it ran for five years. The film version followed in 1986 and is considered one of the best movie musicals ever made.
It's no surprise American Blues Theater had to extend their production by popular demand. Jonathan Berry directs an excellent "Little Shop of Horrors" for American Blues Theater with musical direction by Austin Cook. From the get-go, audiences will find themselves caught in the tentacles of this plant tale. Real-life married couple Michael Mahler and Dara Cameron play Seymour and Audrey. Both have incredible voices and make these characters their own. The result is very charming. The stoop urchins: Chiffon, Ronette and Crystal (aptly named after the girl groups they sing in the style of) are so good they may even outshine the plant. Camille Robinson, Jasondra Johnson and Eunice Woods crush their roles as the doo-wop Greek chorus. It seems like these three fantastic voices are having a blast working together. That said, the voice of the man-eating plant, Audrey II, provided by Lorenzo Rush Jr is really powerful, with a contagious evil laugh.
Despite the strong talent on the stage and in the pit, this "Little Shop of Horrors" further succeeds in its well designed set by Grant Sabin. This show requires a good puppet master. Sarah E Ross' Audrey II puppets are awesome. The puppet creates some of the best laughs of the evening, especially in the finale.
Like "Rocky Horror", and "Grease" - the music of "Little Shop of Horrors" makes you feel good. The team behind this musical was also responsible for Disney's string of critically acclaimed animated musicals like "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast." "Little Shop of Horrors" at America Blues Theater is a show you'd have to be a mean, green, mother not to enjoy. (John Accrocco)
Through June 26th at The Greenhouse Theatre. 2257 N Lincoln Ave. 773-404-7336
Delightful Send-up of 1930s Musicals, 'Dames at Sea' Nearly Sunk by Bad Sound
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'Blue' Holds Mirror to Race in America
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Disney's The Little Mermaid at Drury Lane: An Inspiring and Delightful Production Celebrating Girls' Unique Voices
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Pegasus Theatre Chicago Announces Dates, Plays and Playwrights for the 38th ANNUAL YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL, Jan. 5 - 26, 2025
15 November 2024 in Upcoming TheatrePegasus Theatre Chicago is proud to announce the authors and plays being presented at the 38th Annual Young Playwrights Festival, January 5 - 26,…
A Christmas Cabaret: A Magical Night with Thee Ricky Harris!
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Moving, Engaging 'Every Brilliant Thing' Shines at Writers Theatre
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Northlight to produce world premiere adaptation of Little Women
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Music Theater Works Announces its LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL Cast and Creative Teams, Dec. 19 - Jan. 19
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BrightSide Theatre to present JEKYLL AND HYDE IN CONCERT January 17-26, 2025. Full cast announced!
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Hell in a Handbag's Rudolph THE RED-HOSED REINDEER Returns December 13, 2024 – January 5, 2025 at Center on Halsted
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Sixth performance added! Steppenwolf Theatre Celebrates the Holidays with Jane Lynch's A Swingin' Little Christmas
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THE JOFFREY BALLET CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAYS WITH RETURN OF CHRISTOPHER WHEELDON'S CHICAGO-SET THE NUTCRACKER
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Shucked coming to CIBC Theatre in January
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The Babes with Blades are a DREAM! A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
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Chicago Tap Allstars' Holiday Performance WINTER WONDERLAND Returns for One Performance Only - Saturday, Dec. 14
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Steppenwolf Theatre's LEROY AND LUCY - October 24 – December 15, 2024 - World Premiere!
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'Into the Woods' an Exciting Musical Fairytale Mashup at Chopin Theater
29 October 2024 in Theatre in ReviewI’ll admit it: I knew little about “Into the Woods” before seeing the new production at Chicago’s Chopin Theatre. I’m…
Botanical Bedlam: Music Theatre Works' Little Shop of Horrors Thrills with Campy Delight!
29 October 2024 in Theatre in ReviewMusic Theatre Works’ Little Shop of Horrors, featuring music by Howard Ashman and a book and lyrics by Alan Menken,…
Review: Giordano Dance's 'Soaring' at Harris Theater - Recommended!
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IDENTITY PERFORMING ARTS Presents Fall Concert “Embrace”
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American Blues Theater to produce 23rd Annual It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!
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CHICAGO TAP THEATRE PROUDLY ANNOUNCES ITS 2024-2025 SEASON
28 October 2024 in Upcoming DanceChicago Tap Theatre (CTT) has recently returned from a successful European Tour and is pleased to announce its 2024-2025 season and…
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'Blue' Holds Mirror to Race in America
Written by Betsy SchmittWhen 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… -
Review: 'Falsettos' at Court Theatre
Written by John AccroccoEven 40 years later, the AIDS crisis continues to shape American life. Long before Hollywood brought AIDS stories to the cultural mainstream, the theatre was a safe place for actors and writers to explore their fears and sense of injustice… -
Delightful Send-up of 1930s Musicals, 'Dames at Sea' Nearly Sunk by Bad Sound
Written by Bill EslerOverall Citadel Theatre’s ‘Dames at Sea’ has a smashingly great cast of singers and dancers, perfect for a musical comedy satirizing the over-the-top 1930s movies and Broadway revues that were light on plot and heavy on costumes, dance routine, and… -
Disney's The Little Mermaid at Drury Lane: An Inspiring and Delightful Production Celebrating Girls' Unique Voices
Written by Kimberly KatzI thoroughly enjoyed Drury Lane's enchanting stage production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid from start to finish. While few are overly familiar with Hans Christian Andersen’s original, darker tale of ill-fated romance, the Disney animated film and this stage adaptation,…
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