|
WINDY CITY TIMES
|
|
|
THEATER REVIEW Schoolhouse Rock Live!
by Eric Karas 2016-07-14
|
|
This article shared 876 times since Thu Jul 14, 2016
|
|
Music and lyrics: Various individuals. At: Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St. Tickets: 800-775-2000; BroadwayinChicago.com; $16-24. Runs through: Aug 28
I'll "unpack my adjectives" and tell you about Schoolhouse Rock Live! at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower place. This musical revue is made up of educational songs from the well loved television cartoon shorts from the '70s. They take you from grammar to history to mathematics with fun catchy songs that you can't help but hum along to. ( The series was pretty ambitious tackling topics such as women's suffrage and how a bill becomes a law besides just explaining nouns ). This production is geared for kids, they have cut the amount of songs in the show and it runs 50 minutes without intermission. The kids in the audience were quiet and attentive throughout the show so it must be engaging them.
The cast of only four performers is energetic and are asked to do lots of things that are not easy. They move blocks in numerical order or pick out signs with words on them in order etc. I was very impressed with their dedication and high spirits. Jed Feder, as George, the goofy rocker type is the standout. He gets some pretty good laughs with his performance. Unfortunately the props look like things created for a high school musical. The worst part about that is they are very hard to read, even when up close. Not good for this type of educational show. The choreography, by Morgan Ashley Madison & Alex Seeley, is really cute.
I saw the original BAM production created by Chicagoans years ago and absolutely loved it. In subsequent years I have seen productions produced from theaters to gay bars and I have to say this is my least favorite. The other productions balanced the fun of the songs with a tongue in cheek show. This production feels more like something that should be at an assembly in a grade school. I did miss some of their song omissions like "Lolly Lolly Lolly get your adverbs here" and "Elbow Room". For something educational to take your kids to, and not expensive, this is a good show for you. For adults who want a nostalgia trip this is a miss. I wanted my "Interjections" to be WOW! but it was mostly "meh." |
|
|
|
This article shared 876 times since Thu Jul 14, 2016
|
ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE |
---|
|
| | City Lit Executive Artistic Director Brian Pastor talks theater, comics, queerness 2024-03-26 - City Lit Theater has announced its programming for the 2024-25 seasonwhich will be the company's 44th. It will also be the first season to be programmed under the leadership of Brian Pastor (they/them), who will assume ...
|
| | The Jeff Awards announces the 50th anniversary awards for non-equity theater 2024-03-26 --From a press release - A complete list of recipients can also be found online in the Non-Equity and News and Events sections at www.jeffawards.org. (March 25, 2024 - Chicago) — Celebrating its 50th anniversary awarding recognition for Non-Equity theater, the ...
|
| | SHOWBIZ Queer musicians, Marvel situation, Elliot Page, Nicole Kidman 2024-03-21 - Queer musician Joy Oladokun released the single "I Wished on the Moon," from Jack Antonoff's official soundtrack for the new Apple TV+ series The New Look, per a press release. The soundtrack, ...
|
| | THEATER Chicago's City Lit has anxiety on tap with 'Two Hours in a Bar' 2024-03-21 - Two Hours in a Bar Waiting for Tina Meyer by Kristine Thatcher with material by Larry Shue Text Me by Kingsley Day (Book, Music and Lyrics). At: City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.. Tickets: ...
|
| | Jamie Barton brings nuances of identity to her Lyric Opera 'Aida' performance 2024-03-18 - Chicago's Lyric Opera is currently featuring a production of Giuseppe Verdi's Aida starring Michelle Bradley as Aida, Jamie Barton as Amneris and Russell Thomas as Radamès. The opera runs through April 7, 2024, with Francesca Zambello ...
|
| | Queer Eye's Jai Rodriguez is set to slay at The Big Gay Cabaret 2024-03-05 - Out and proud performer Jai Rodriguez is set to play at The Big Gay Cabaret this March for three days. Presented by RuPaul Drag Racer Ginger Minj, this monthly series highlights the wide world of cabaret ...
|
| | THEATER 'R & J' puts a female, queer spin on Shakespeare 2024-03-05 - Romeo and Juliet is the theatrical gift that keeps on giving. It's been reworked for the masses numerous times, whether in direct adaptations or musicals such as West Side Story. Shakespeare's plotline points have even inspired ...
|
| | Center on Halsted hosts 6th Annual Intergenerational Talent Show 2024-03-03 - On the evening of Feb. 29, Center on Halsted held its 6th Annual Intergenerational Talent Show in front of a packed audience at the Hoover-Leppen Theater. The event brought together participants of the Center's youth and senior ...
|
| | THEATER When growth is paramount: Jim Corti helps fuel Aurora theater expansion 2024-03-01 - Out actor/director/choreographer Jim Corti made his Broadway debut in 1974, in the ensemble of Leonard Bernstein's musical Candide. Director Harold Prince's acclaimed Tony Award-winning revival is often cited as a ...
|
| | Theater Review: Billy Elliot, The Musical 2024-02-19 - Book and Lyrics: Lee Hall; Music: Elton John. At: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora Tickets: 630-896-6666 or Paramountaurora.com; $28-$79. Runs through March 24 Billy Elliot: The Musical may nearly be two decades old, but ...
|
| | 'West Side Story' gets a sex-positive spin with new burlesque show 2024-02-19 - In partial observance of National Condom Day, which was Feb. 14, Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) presented A West Side Story Burlesque at the Harris Theater for two hour-long performances on Feb. 17. The show, ...
|
| | Second Glance Productions hosts LGBTQupid Soiree 2024-02-16 - In celebration of Valentine's Day, Chicago based film and media production company Second Glance hosted The LBGTQupid Soiree. The event, which was focused on spinning attitudes on this particular day, was presented at The iO ...
|
| | Carisa Hendrix mesmerizes as Lucy Darling in Teatro ZinZanni 2024-02-12 - Since 2019, Teatro ZinZanni has gathered together amazing performers from all over the world to create an experience in Chicago under the Spiegeltent in the Cambria Hotel building, 32 W. Randolph St. Over the years, ticket ...
|
| | THEATER Dot-Marie Jones talks Goodman production, 'Glee,' 'Bros' 2024-02-12 - Running through Feb. 18 at the the Goodman Theatre, the production Highway Patrol works with a script conceived entirely from Emmy-winning actor Dana Delany's (TV's China Beach) digital archive of hundreds of tweets and direct messages ...
|
| | Dr. Lady J explains how opera can be a drag 2024-02-10 - On Feb. 8, Center on Halsted, in partnership with Lyric Opera of Chicago, presented a lecture by historian, drag activist, podcaster and curator Dr. Lady J. The event, titled "Castrated Superstars, Cross Dressed Divas, and Queer ...
| |
|
|
|
|