Year in Review–2022’s Best Musicals

January 16, 2023 theaterinchicagoreviewsAddie Morales, Alex Goodrich, Anna Marie Abbate, Ashton Norris, Austin Nelson, Caleigh Pan-Kita, Chicago Lyric Opera, Chicago Shakespeare, Copley Theater, Drake Wunderlich, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Elizabeth Stenholt, Emilie Modaff, Evita, Fiddler on the Roof, Fun Home, Godspell, Goodman Theater, Heidi Kettenring, Hello Dolly, Honey West, Jeffrey Kringer, John Cordoza, Jordan Tyson, Josh Houghton, Life After, Marriott Lincolnshire, Mercury Theater, Milla Liss, Milwaukee Rep, Paul Alexander Nolan, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Rebecca Hurd, Richard Bermudez, Roosevelt University, Samantha Williams, Shaun White, Steve Pacek, Steven Skybell, The Notebook Musical, The Pajama Game, Theo Ubique, Titanic the MusicalLeave a comment

My list of the top 10 musicals of 2022 is a little belated. Note that I focused on Chicago-based productions, but this was also an outstanding year from Broadway-in-Chicago with traveling companies of Hadestown and Come From Away visiting early in the year, and Six holding a residency for several months at the CIBC.

#1 Fiddler on the Roof (Lyric Opera)

In the opening scene of director Barrie Kosky’s production (which he originated in Berlin), a modern American boy opens his bedroom closet to find not just Tevye but the entire tremendous cast stream through a set of double doors onto the crowded stage. The impact is a masterful articulation of the way that Fiddler connects the decedents of immigrants to the cultural hardships their ancestors reluctantly left behind. Steven Skybell as Tevye led an outstanding cast, and set designer Rufus Didwiszuz created the most memorable effect I can even remember viewing by covering the vast Lyric Opera stage with snow for the second act.

#2 Titanic the Musical (Milwaukee Rep)

The opportunity to see this rarely performed 1997 Best Musical Tony winner inspired my first visit to this wonderful theater complex in downtown Milwaukee. A true ensemble show with actors performing multiple roles, Titanic engages the audience with the stories of characters from different social classes, who communicate their hopes and dreams via songs from composer Maury Yeston. The heart-wrenching second act was beautifully orchestrated on the gigantic Quadracci Powerhouse stage with fantastic scenery and lighting design.

#3 Fun Home (Copley)

(front to back) Milla Liss, Elizabeth Stenholt & Emilie Modaff

Perhaps because it is one of less extravagant, more cerebral Broadway successes of the last decade, Fun Home has enjoyed a number of strong Chicago revivals. With music by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics by Lisa Kron, every song conveys an important puzzle piece as the three versions of Alison Bechdel explore the clues of her father’s closeted homosexuality. Emily Rohn (Helen) received exceptional reviews as Alison’s conflicted mother, and Milla Liss (who shared the role of Small Alison with Maya Keane) was another standout.

#4 Godspell (Theo Ubique)

Anna Marie Abbate, Alix Rhodes & Quinn Simmons

After seeing productions at the ultra-intimate Theo Ubique, I often wonder how I could ever view that same musical again on a larger stage. The experience works particularly well with Godspell in which the audience is meant to feel like we are watching the musicalized gospels from a close distance. Austin Nelson, Jr., and Anna Marie Abbate led the young cast in which every member of the ensemble impressively soloed one of Stephen Schwartz’s songs.

#5 Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Mercury)

The costumes are always center stage in a production of Priscilla, and costume designer Bob Kuhn did excellent work contriving the fashions as three drag queens drive in their bus across a desolate stretch of Australia. The show, led by Josh Houghton (Tick/Mitzi), Shaun White (Adam/Felicia), and Honey West (Bernadette), is at its best during the full company numbers like “Go West,” “I Love the Nightlife,” and “We Belong.”

#6 Evita (Drury Lane)

Richard Bermudez, Addie Morales & Sean MacLaughlin

Evita ranks high on my list of all-time musicals (and tops among Andrew Lloyd Weber’s works) largely because every song is a winner. Drury Lane’s production directed by Marcia Milgroom Dodge built upon this strong foundation with emphasis on the ways that memories from Evita’s past propelled her later ambitions. Richard Bermundez’s very mellow and melodic vocals as Ché complimented Addie Morales’s powerful belting as Ava.

#7 The Notebook (Chicago Shakespeare)

John Cordoza, Jordan Tyson, John Beasley, Maryann Plunkett, Ryan Vasquez & Joy Woods

So far I can tell, there is still no word as to whether The Notebook is finally going to make its intended leap to Broadway. If it does, maintaining the lavish set design by David Zinn should be a priority. The various locations within this small New England town perfectly reflect the two main characters at different points in their lives. The music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson add credibility to this emotional story of two people whose love has endured for 55 years.

#8 Life After (Goodman)

Paul Alexander Nolan & Samantha Williams

This daring work by Canadian Britta Johnson (who is the bookwriter, composer, and lyricist) plays out as a compact, one-act mystery as the teenaged Alice (Samantha Williams) tries to trace why her father (Paul Alexander Nolan) ended up in a fatal car accident one night when he was supposed to be far away on a book tour. Alice struggles to communicate with a variety of characters including her mother and sister, but the flashback interactions between Alice and her father are the backbone of this musical.

#9 The Pajama Game (Roosevelt University)

I am elevating this college production above some fantastic professional shows partly because I had no idea how much fun this 1953 musical is. The plot about union relations at a pajama-making factory might be a thin, but that doesn’t matter much when songs are as catchy as “I’m Not at All in Love,” “Hernando’s Hideaway,” and (my favorite) “Seven-and-a-Half Cents.” The talented cast included notable performances by Caleigh Pan-Kita as Babe and Ashton Norris dancing to Bob Fosse’s original choreography for “Steam Heat.”

#10 Hello Dolly (Marriott Lincolnshire)

A few other professional shows in 2022 might have been more consistent, but Marriott’s Hello Dolly featured two of the most memorable numbers of the year. The first was “Elegance,” which was particularly fun with Chicago stalwarts Alex Goodrich as Cornelius and Rebecca Hurd as Irene Molloy. The second was the titular “Hello, Dolly.” Atop a series of platform lifts surrounded by the ensemble of waiters, Heidi Kettenring drew out all of the correct emotions from this infectious Jerry Herman standard that I was still humming weeks later.

2022 Honorable Mentions:

Camelot (Musical Theater Works)
Avenue Q (MadKap)
Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella & The Sound of Music (Paramount)

Camelot — Music Theater Works (10/21/22)

October 29, 2022January 1, 2023 theaterinchicagoreviewsCamelot, Christine Mayland Perkins, David Lee, Music Theater Works, Nathe Rowbotham, Parker GuidryLeave a comment

The version of Camelot currently being produced by Musical Theater Works is an experiment in evolving old-school musicals. Other productions of Camelot that I have seen have always involved large casts and long run times. In fact, a 2012 staging by Light Opera Works (which became Music Theater Works several years ago) ran over three hours despite cutting “Fie on Goodness!”—one of my favorite songs. The current version playing at the Center for Performing Arts in Skokie is just under two hours and features a minimal cast of just nine actors.

The origins of this version of Camelot date back to 2014, when New York director David Lee revised the script condensing almost all of the exposition to sentences narrated by various cast members. The philosophy is that the strength of Camelot is the songs by Lerner and Loewe, while its original book (also by Lerner) is bogged down with too much Arthurian lore. Does this version work? Yes, in many ways it does.

Christine Mayland Perkins (Guenevere) and the rest of the cast minus Arthur and Lancelot perform “The Lusty Month of May.”

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Godspell—Theo Ubique (7/16/22) & Jesus Christ Superstar—Cadillac Palace (7/20/22)

July 26, 2022July 30, 2022 theaterinchicagoreviewsAnna Marie Abbate, Austin Nelson Jr, Broadway in Chicago, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Theo UbiqueLeave a comment

I’ll begin with the disclaimer that this comparison of productions of Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar might imply a strong bias for Chicago’s storefront theaters over the Broadway in Chicago touring companies. I love both, but it does happen that this production of Godspell from Theo Ubique exemplifies the best of storefront theater, and the 50^th Anniversary tour of Jesus Christ Superstar is all volume and glitz with no substance.

Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar are linked in many ways. Both premiered in the early 1970’s (Godspell Off-Broadway in 1971; JCS on Broadway in 1972) and explored the concept of Jesus as an anti-establishment hippie. Godspell is the first hit from American composer Stephen Schwartz, and Jesus Christ Superstar is the first hit from British composer Andrew Lloyd Weber, who was notably born just 18 days after Schwartz. Behind The Lion King, Schwartz’s Wicked and Lloyd Weber’s The Phantom of the Opera rank as the second and third most profitable musicals of all time.

Austin Nelson, Jr., directs a parable with Matthew Hunter at the center.

One of the advantages of a storefront theater like Theo Ubique is the potential for an intimate connection between the cast and audience. One of director Christopher Pazdernik’s main conceits for Godspell is that the actors are all playing versions of themselves. The exceptional lead Austin Nelson, Jr., is referred to as Austin (rather than Jesus) as he manically conducts the rest of the cast in acting out parables. The evidence of Nelson’s conviction to his role is present in the layer of sweat that streams down his face from beginning to end. Anna Marie Abbate is referred to as Anna Marie (rather than Judas or John the Baptist), and she plays the role with commendable subtly, displaying skepticism toward Austin’s teachings that foreshadows the character’s later betrayals. The entire cast is given a great freedom in acting out the parables, and they often insert modern allusions for comedic effect.

(front) Austin Nelson, Jr., Izzie Jones, Hannah Efsits & Ashley Saul

The set is a path running across the floor creating a perception that the characters are meeting in a park, and the audience are passersby who cannot help but watch the scenes emerging before them. The main cast of 10 manages to perform intricate choreography that never feels limited by the long, narrow shape of their stage, but the most significant highlight is the singing. Each of the 10 leads performs a song beginning with Izzie Jones’s infectious “Day by Day.” Matthew Hunter is another standout using powerful lead vocals in “Light of the World” before sending the audience into the intermission. All told, Godspell succeeds beyond expectations at using its small space to provide a memorable experience for its audience, who is close enough to touch the action.

Jesus Christ Superstar, on the other hand, seems to be working toward the opposite ambition of isolating its audience from the emotions of a powerful musical. Early on, I realized that the presentation was more consistent with a rock concert than a performance of musical theater. The lead actors held microphones and often played guitar during their solos (remaining mostly stationary to the action), which is an interesting idea for a rock opera. However, in practice it led to a sense that each song was its own separate entity. Therein lies the main problem with this production. When the talented Jenna Rubaii as Mary sings a countrified version of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” she is more reminiscent of Carrie Underwood singing on stage rather than a character dealing with complex issues. Similarly, Aaron LaVigne as Jesus seems to be channeling Steven Tyler during “Gethsemane” (known by the repeating lyric “I’d Want to Know, My God”). He demonstrates his frustration at God by throwing the microphone stand upstage, but such antics are a distraction when the song itself—usually my favorite in the musical—communicates so much about Jesus’s mindset. Omar Lopez-Cepero as Judas focuses more on jumping around his significant vocal range than articulating what Judas had to say. What astonished me most was I left the theater not humming a song, which was far from the case after my two viewings of the superior 2017 production at the Paramount Theater.

Aaron LaVigne (Jesus) & Jenna Rubaii (Mary)

The concept is consistent with the origins of this official 50th anniversary tour, which began at the open air theater at Regent’s Park in 2016, and what I sat through in Chicago would have worked well in an outdoor amphitheater with half the seating of the Cadillac Palace. At the very least, the opening chords of the overture would have been less ear-splitting in their volume. This production is not unbearable, but it needed someone at some point to consider that less can be more when starting with a compelling story and a full roster of memorable songs.

Both Godspell at Theo Ubique and Jesus Christ Superstar at the Cadillac Palace run through July 31.

Evita–Drury Lane (3/17/22)

May 2, 2022July 26, 2022 theaterinchicagoreviewsAddie Morales, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Evita, Richard Bermudez, Sean MacLaughlinLeave a comment

Back in the mid-1980’s, Andrew Lloyd Weber seemed to have a Midas touch that would never fade. Just looking at my own history of musical viewing reveals a giant Lloyd Weber fingerprint: Joseph was the first professional show I even saw (at the Marriott Lincolnshire), and not long after Cats was my first big-budget, downtown musical. Soon enough, Phantom arrived at the Auditorium with a massive traveling show, and it stands in my memory as the first show I left disappointed following tremendous hype.

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Musicals from Disney Theaterical Productions

December 30, 2021April 10, 2022 theaterinchicagoreviewsAida, Beauty and the Beast, Devin DeSantis, Disney, Frozen Broadway musical, Goodman Theater, Jonathan Butler-Duplessis, Kari Yancy, Mary Poppins Broadway musical, My Strongest Suit song, Newsies, On the Record show, Tarzan, The Jungle Book musical, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Usman AllyLeave a comment

Disney’s Frozen continues its run at Chicago’s Broadway Palace through January 22, and it is worth seeing not only for the theatrical effects but also for the songs and story. Seeing Frozen led me to consider the progression of musicals from Disney Theatrical Productions, which began its Broadway affiliation more than 25 years ago with the premier of Beauty and the Beast.

This post will look back at the 11 Disney Theatrical musicals that I have seen. For a more complete list including shows in production, check out this link. In addition to ranking the musicals, I am also going to look at each musical’s role in the 25-year progression of Disney’s theater arm.*

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Great Broadway Solos (sung by women)

December 31, 2020 theaterinchicagoreviewsA Chorus Line, Acid Queen, Broadway Solos, Cabaret, Cabaret musical, Caroline or Change, Charlotte d'Amboise, Company musical, Follies musical, I Have Four children song, I'm Still Here song, Kelly Felthous, Liza Minnelli, Music and the Mirror, No good deed song, Patti LuPone, Polly Bergen, Shoshana Bean, Stephanie J Block, Tanya Pinkins, The Ladies Who Lunch song, The Who's Tommy, Wicked musicalLeave a comment

Few experiences in musical theater can match the exhilaration felt by the audience and the performer during a remarkable solo. The best of solos – the true upper-echelon – provide a deep insight into not only the character’s mind but also the unique world in which he/she lives.

For this blog, I am going to focus on some of the best solos in which female performers put everything on the line. They are experiencing some form of crisis, and by the end of the song the character’s inner turmoil reverberates through our brains as much as the song’s melody. Some of these songs are recognized Broadway canon, but a few are more unique to my tastes and memories.

#7 – “Acid Queen” (The Who’s Tommy)

What it’s about: desperation and addiction

I could not find any quality photos from “Acid Queen” in the original Broadway run, but I do vividly remember the Gypsy’s bright yellow dress.

The Who’s Tommy was my first Broadway musical, an interesting choice for a sheltered middle-schooler more familiar with REO Speedwagon than The Who. I don’t remember if I even knew what “dropping acid” meant when I walked into the theater, but I sure knew by the number’s end as the silhouetted Gypsy shoots heroine into her arm. At intermission I peppered my mother with questions about how “Acid Queen” fit into the plot, and she responded, “In the 60’s, some people just liked to write songs about drugs.” Years later, as I found myself listening to this song on near repeat (maybe even belting along when I was alone), I realized that the greatness of “Acid Queen” is that the performer’s manic intensity is an embodiment of the character’s addiction. The Gypsy needs Captain Walker’s money, and to get it she is willing to “tear [Tommy’s] soul apart.” “Acid Queen” is the Gypsy’s only song, yet it serves as the rock bottom of the psychedelic experience that is Tommy’s journey.

#6 – “I’m Still Here” (Follies)

What it’s about: persevering in the long game

Polly Bergen’s performance as Carlotta is immortalized in her performance at the 2001 Tony awards. The main link (which is the full song) is from the Drama Desk Awards.

The 2001 Tony Awards were dominated by The Producers, which set the record by winning 12 Tony Awards, a sweep of every musical category except Leading Actress. However, I contend that amid all the hype was one of the greatest gaffs in Tony Awards history. Namely, the late Polly Bergen should have beaten The Producers and won Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance of “I’m Still Here” in the Roundabout revival of Follies. As the title implies, “I’m Still Here” is a tour-de-force number. Sung by the character Carlotta Campion, the aging actress tells the story of career setbacks and humiliations articulated by some of Stephen Sondheim’s most glorious lyrics (“First you’re another sloe-eyed vamp / then someone’s mother, then you’re camp”), and ultimately her success is attributed to the fact that she relied on no one but herself. Bergen’s performance was a lightening-in-a-bottle moment followed of waves of applause that started thunderous, then died down before reigniting multiple times, ending only after Bergen signaled her exit stage right.

#5 – “Music and the Mirror” (A Chorus Line)

What it’s about: needing a chance

Broadway veteran Charlotte d’Amboise gave a commanding performance as Cassie in the 2006 revival. The full 10-minute scene is linked.

A number of moving parts contribute to the anticipation of “Music and the Mirror.” Subtle inferences that Zack and Cassie have a troubled past build to a fever pitch when the two finally share a dialogue. With Cassie exposed on center stage and Zack unseen from his director’s booth, Cassie is forced to beg just to continue her audition: “I need a job. I need a job and I don’t know any other way to say it. Do you want me to say it again?” Once the music begins, an actress must convey the desperation of the lyrics (“Put me to work, you would think that by now I’m allowed. I’ll do you proud.”) over the increasingly intense trumpet flourishes and drum licks. Other characters in A Chorus Line sing about their love for dancing, but Cassie is in a higher plane: her need to dance is expressed in every step of the 5-minute dance solo. As a character, Cassie is extremely vulnerable, but when she dances she takes full control of the stage.

#4 – “The Ladies Who Lunch” (Company)

What it’s about: existential crisis

Patti LuPone performed as Joanne in the 2011 filmed version of *Company*, which also starred Neil Patrick Harris as Bobby.

My first exposure to this Sondheim classic from 1970 was, unfortunately, in the form of the Forbidden Broadway parody “The Ladies Who Screech,” which is more obnoxious than funny (although Elaine Stritch’s rendition does become a bit screechy). What I have since discovered is that the extended belting at the end of the song (“Everybody rise. Rise. Rise, rise.”) is the musical embodiment of how Joanne perceives her own existence – she is bored, trapped in a tedious life with little to drink to beyond wealthy women who hide their own banality by shopping and taking art classes and (of course) meeting for lunch. The lyrics for “The Ladies Who Lunch” provide opportunity for each actress to tell a unique story. The best interpretation belongs to Patti LuPone, but don’t discount the Camp version in which a teenaged Anna Kendrick accentuates her anger by shattering her own martini glass.

#3 – “No Good Deed” (Wicked)

What it’s about: the dark side of human nature

I have seen many actresses perform Elphaba, and Stephanie J. Block was my favorite. She is seen here reading from the Grimmerie during “No Good Deed.” The main link is Shoshana Bean performing.

The first act of Wicked focuses heavily on plot development, moving from Elphaba’s birth to her renunciation of the Wizard. The second act of Wicked slows the pace and emphasizes Elphaba’s internal struggles as she becomes The Wicked Witch, and the anchor of that second act is “No Good Deed.” Beginning with a rhythmic chant of magical words, the song lulls the audience into Elphaba’s turmoil before Stephen Schwartz’s lyrics expose the frustrations of her failures. When Elphaba sings, “One question haunts and hurts / Too much, too much to mention. / Was I really seeking good / Or just seeking attention?” Schwartz manages an ingenious summary for Gregory Maguire’s novel. The musical is lighter in tone than its source material, but “No Good Deed” creates a momentary glimpse into the question surrounding Elphaba’s life: was she predestined toward wickedness, or is her wickedness a result of her own actions? For both melody and emotional impact, “No Good Deed” is the best song in Wicked – greater even than the more popular “Defying Gravity.”

#2 – “I Have Four Children” (Caroline, or Change)

What it’s about: working hard but still getting nowhere

Tanya Pinkins starred in the original 2004 production of *Carline, or Change*, taking on one of the most physically and emotionally grueling roles in musical theater.

On my last viewing of Caroline, or Change, a brilliant 2018 collaboration by Timeline and Firebrand theater companies, I had a distinct lyric in my head at the start of intermission and even at the end of the show. Anchored by a rhythm reminiscent of the repetition of a basement dryer, Caroline sings, “And I am mean and I am tough but…/ Thirty dollars ain’t enough./ Thirty dollars ain’t enough.” This is an anthem for Caroline Thibodeaux, a maid in 1963 Louisiana struggling to support three children on her dismal salary (her oldest son is in Vietnam). This opening song with lyrics by Tony Kushner and music by Jeanine Tesori combines the soul of blues and the rigors of opera. Caroline’s tribulation is to hold tightly to a world which stacks the odds against her while knowing that she cannot last much longer. Caroline is one of the most difficult parts in any musical, and I have been very fortunate to see Tonya Pinkins (2004), E. Faye Butler (2008) and Rashada Dawan (2018) each excel in the role.

#1 – “Cabaret” (Cabaret)

What it’s about: making a definitive choice

Kelly Felthous starred in Paramount Theater’s exceptional 2018 production of *Cabaret*. The main link features the late Natasha Richardson in a rendition of “Cabaret” that demonstrates the depth and versatility of the titular song.

I remember the awe I felt upon seeing the song “Cabaret” performed live for the first time. This was the 1998 Broadway revival at Studio 54 and Molly Ringwald (performing in 2002) was one of many capable actresses to step into the role of Sally Bowles. I was well acquainted with the song and understood it to be a celebration of life: “Come taste the wine, / Come hear the band./ Come blow a horn,/ Start celebrating;/ Right this way, your table’s waiting.” In fact, Liza Minnelli’s movie performance (directed by Bob Fosse) is an ode to exuberance. Imagine my shock upon seeing that this number had been completely turned on its head for the revival. Gone was the carefree ignorance of the growing Nazi presence. It was replaced by Sally clinging to her last thread. The world is crashing around her, and suddenly the morbidity of a song about a deceased prostitute/roommate is foreshadowing the oncoming destruction – a calamity that Sally is unlikely to survive. The magic of “Cabaret” is that the song is remarkable either way. It can be a boisterous drinking song or a sad commentary about futility.

Thanks for reading. Theater was all but nullified for most of 2020, but I am hopeful that the arts will make a slow reemergence in 2021. If you have other favorite female solos, post them in the chat. I am planning on posting in the near future a similar blog featuring favorite male solos.

Tony Awards Tournament Finals — The Best Musical 2010-2019

August 17, 2020 theaterinchicagoreviewsBest Musical, Come from Away, Hamilton, Tony Awards2 Comments

Hamilton vs. Come From Away

Winner: Come From Away

Am I committing an act of musical-theater sacrilege by not naming Hamilton the best musical of the decade?

To begin with some similarities, both Hamilton and Come From Away are sung-through musicals exploring key moments in American history. They both begin with toe-tapping expositional songs (“Alexander Hamilton” and “Welcome to the Rock”) that introduce not only the characters and settings but also unique narration styles. They both have show-stopping power-ballads (“Wait for It” and “Me and the Sky”) in which characters connect their passions to their fears. They both have songs that explore the pressures of time (“Nonstop” and “On the Edge”) and songs that divert from the style of the show to relieve tension (“What’d I Miss” and “Screech In”).

*Hamilton*‘s Daveed Diggs performs “What’d I Miss.”

Hamilton is the more extensive musical – it’s an hour longer and covers a span of 28 years. It explores the political maneuverings needed to secure a strong federal government back in 1790, and by extension manages to communicate a great deal about the divided politics of today. For many, the casting of Hamilton emphasizes the degree to which America is and always has been a land of diversity.

Come From Away is much smaller in scale – it is under two hours with no intermission, features a cast of 12, and uses a limited set comprised mostly of chairs and creative lighting. Yet, while Hamilton persuades us to reexamine events that define America, Come From Away inspires us to find hope within the tragedy that defined an entire generation. I am sure everyone 30 years and older remembers the moment he/she first learned of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001. I was 23 on that day, working as a graphic artist in New Jersey, when our art director’s phone rang. While listening to his wife, he told me, “Someone just flew a plane into the World Trade Center.”

Becky Gulsvig performs as Beverly in the touring company of *Come From Away*.

What makes Come From Away so exceptional is its exploration of how the shock and horror following the attacks engendered unified experiences. It turns out there is no better place to explore community than Newfoundland. As “Welcome to the Rock” tells us, Newfoundlanders have survived harsh weather, grueling waters, and loss of loved ones, and yet they maintain overwhelming optimism grounded in their pride for being Islanders. From the moment that Bonnie says to Oz, “Jesus H, Oz! Turn on your radio!” Come From Away moves through the moments following September 11 that exist in our shared memories. Here are just five scenes that invoke significant emotional reactions:

In “Bedding and Blankets”, Newfoundlanders feel stir crazy from the constant, repetitive news coverage: “Can I help? Is there something / I need to do something / To keep me from thinking of / All of those scenes on the tube.”
In “Phoning Home”, the stranded passengers forego exhaustion and hunger for the chance to assure their loved ones that they are okay.
In “On the Edge”, Ali endures unwarranted hostility from other passengers because he is Muslim.
In “Costume Party”, Beverly (an American Airlines pilot) announces to the passengers on her plane that the United States airspace is still closed, and no one knows how long it will be before it reopens.
At the end of “Something’s Missing”, a song about how quiet Gander seemed after the passengers departed, Hannah calls Buelah to announce that “It’s over,” meaning that there is no longer hope that her son, a NYC firefighter, survived.

The Broadway cast performs “28 Hours”, in which passengers contend with being stuck in their planes on the runway for as long as a full day.

Even with scenes that so effectively pay tribute to all that was lost because of the terrorist attacks, Come From Away is more about generosity than despair. The 7,000 plane people discovered that they had landed in a world of front doors that are never locked, casserole dishes too heavy to lift, and even an alcohol-induced initiation involving kissing a cod fish. Irene Sankoff and David Hein wrote the book, music, and lyrics after conducting interviews at the 10-year anniversary in Gander. This anniversary event becomes the setting for one of the most rousing final numbers in musical theater history. For days I was actively bobbing my head and singing aloud the show’s anthem: “I am an Islander.”

The touring company of *Come From Away* performs “Screech In”, in which four come-from-aways are initiated as Newfoundlanders.

Hamilton is extraordinary, but Come From Away – a small-scale Canadian musical – holds its place as my favorite musical of the decade. Its inspirational storytelling and quality songs create the perfect depiction of how the modern world finds hope within the shadow of tragedy.

Tony Awards Tournament: Best Musical 2010 to 2019 (Part 4)

July 18, 2020 theaterinchicagoreviewsBroadway Tournament, Come from Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Fun Home, Hamilton, Nick Cordero1 Comment

Before continuing the tournament, I would like to pay tribute to Broadway actor Nick Cordero, who passed away from COVID-19 on July 5. Cordero had scene-stealing talent—his imposing 6ft, 5in frame making him a perfect fit for menacing roles. I saw Cordero perform in five shows: The Toxic Avenger, Rock of Ages, Bullets Over Broadway, Waitress, and A Bronx Tale. In The Toxic Avenger, Cordero threw himself with full manic energy into the role of nerd turned environmental superhero turned political. In Bullets Over Broadway, Cordero earned a Tony nomination for his turn as a mafia bodyguard with a secret talent for fixing bad scripts. Cordero will be greatly missed by the Broadway community. He is survived by his wife Amanda Kloots and his 9-month-old son.

Nick Cordero in his various roles. He starred as Melvin Ferd and as the titular superhero in *The Toxic Avenger* (with Celina Carvajal); as Cheech in *Bullets Over Broadway* (with Zach Braff); and as Sonny in *A Bronx Tale* (with Hudson Loverro)

Tournament Recap — the Final Four

Now that we are down to the elusive Final Four, trying to find flaws in any of the competitors is just nit-picking. Therefore, in this semi-final round I am going to celebrate the two musicals not moving to the finals with a consolation prize focusing on a Tony that each musical did not win in its respective year.

Dear Evan Hansen vs. Hamilton

Winner: Hamilton
Dear Evan Hansen consolation prize: Best Scenic Design

I have discussed how Dear of Hansen captures the fears and anxieties of today’s teenagers. The scenic design by David Korns embodies the paradoxical relationships we have with social media. During critical moments characters are surrounded by digital messages—big, small, relevant, immaterial, supportive, antagonistic. For Evan Hansen, this overload of technology contributes to his anxiety and his perception that no would listen to anything he has to say. The marvel of Korns’s work is that the flashing lights and moving screens do not distract from the characters on stage. Instead, they highlight that all of the characters feel this same sense of isolation at various times. Oddly enough, Dear Evan Hansen’s 9 Tony nominations did not include a nod for scenic design. My only explanation is the nominating committee fell for the allure of lavish sets in shows like Hello Dolly! and failed to grasp the more complex accomplishments of Evan Hansen‘s design.

Hamilton moves to the finals, but Dear Evan Hansen is worthy of its multi-year distinction as the second hottest musical ticket on Broadway.

Fun Home vs. Come From Away

Winner: Come From Away
Fun Home consolation prize: Best Featured Actress, Sydney Lucas

Sydney Lucas (with Michael Cerveris) in the iconic opening scene.

Fun Home lasted about a year and a half on Broadway, which is an achievement for a small-cast musical based on a very literary, autobiographical graphic novel. Alison Bechdel is split into three characters. Here oldest characterization is searching to find a reason behind her father’s suicide. Medium Alison is navigating the awkward first year when she acknowledged that she was a lesbian. However, Small Alison is the backbone for the entire show, and the actress playing her must convey innocence even as the audience begins to piece together the mysteries of her father. Why does Bruce tell her that he is “a bad man” when he is on his way to court? Where does Bruce sneak out to in the middle of the night in New York, leaving his kids alone in an apartment? Sydney Lucas singing “Ring of Keys” was the stand-out moment of the 2015 Tony Awards, and her brilliant performance lives on in Fun Home’s soundtrack.

Come From Away is a bigger, more universal musical making this particular bracket a mismatch, but Fun Home would be my choice in a tournament consisting just of the smaller musicals.

That leaves us with the final two shows: Hamilton and Come From Away. Check back soon to see which will be named the best Broadway musical of the 2010 decade.

Tony Awards Tournament: Best Musical 2010 To 2019 (Part 3)

June 21, 2020July 18, 2020 theaterinchicagoreviewsBen Platt, Come from Away, DearEvanHansen, Hamilton, Shuffle Along, The Book of Mormon2 Comments

Today we are continuing to the semifinals of the tournament to decide the best Tony-nominated musical of the 2010-2019 decade. I explained the methodology for choosing these musicals in part 1 of this series. These are the pairings for the semifinals. If you would like to see me explain my choices, here is a video.

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Tony Awards Tournament: Best Musical 2010 to 2019 (part 1)

June 4, 2020July 18, 2020 theaterinchicagoreviews4 Comments

The Tony awards, originally scheduled for June 7, are delayed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 crisis. You can still check the potential nominees for Best Musical and Best Play (original and revival) at tonyawards.com.

YouTuber Katherine Steele created a March Madness-style Broadway musical tournament titled Which Broadway Show is the Best?, which I recommend watching. Fair warning that Katherine’s energy will make you feel lethargic by comparison. I decided to create my own tournament to determine my pick for the best musical of the 2010’s decade. I will be presenting this tournament over four posts, with each post featuring four pairings. For those who prefer a verbal run down of my choices, I created a video. Check out the video here.

The Methodology

I started by including the Best Musical winner from each year from 2010-2019. Unfortunately, a glowing omission exists because I have not yet seen Hadestown, so the 2019 Best Musial winner is not in the tournament. However, the other nine Tony winners from the decade are included along with seven wildcards–my seven favorite nominees that did not win Best Musical in their respective years.

The Bracket

Consider playing at home before reading my pics. The first-round pairings are based on a commonality between the two shows. If you have not seen one of the musicals, you can give its competitor a bye for the round. Also, I included links to each show’s performance at its respective Tony Awards ceremony, so you can see a small piece of each for yourself.

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