PicksInSix Review: Disney's FROZEN The Broadway Musical-Paramount Theatre

For the First Time in Forever…
PicksInSix® Review | Ed Tracy

Paramount Theatre’s sensational production of Disney’s “FROZEN The Broadway Musical”— featuring the electrically-charged performances of Emily Kristen Morris and Beth Stafford Laird—opened Friday in Aurora to the thunderous cheers of fans both young and old who have helped to canonize the 2013 film’s anthems “Let It Go” and “For the First Time in Forever” into Disney’s musical lexicon and made modern day icons of a rambunctious reindeer with an attitude and a playful snowman with joie de vivre and a yearning for a summer vacation.  

The show that garnered three 2018 Tony nominations (Best Musical, Book and Original Score) features music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and book by Jennifer Lee based on the smash hit 2013 Disney animated film written by Lee. Paramount’s Midwest Regional premiere is directed by Trent Stork with a top-flight creative team including choreographer Tiffany Krause and music director Kory Danielson who also conducts the orchestra.

The story begins in the mythical kingdom of Arendelle and follows the child sorcerous Elsa (Everleigh Murphy shared with Genevieve Jane) and her younger sister Anna (Avelyn Choi shared with Elowen Murphy) whose loving relationship for each other is severed when their parents King Agnarr (Brian Hupp) and Queen Iduna (Allison Sill) discover that Elsa’s inability to control her mystical powers are a direct threat to Anna’s life. When Anna is saved by the Hidden Folk with no memory of the encounter, the parents venture off for a cure and disappear. As time passes, the coming-of-age Anna (Laird) is confused by her sister’s self-isolation in the castle and yearns to be reunited with Elsa (Morris). On the day of Elsa’s coronation, Prince Hans (Jake DiMaggio Lopez) arrives, sweeps Anna off her feet and proposes marriage. Elsa refuses to bless the sudden union and in a frustrated rage, drops her guard and is forced to flee from the castle when her powers are revealed. In the wilderness, Elsa then creates an icy sanctuary of her own, unaware that her awakening has plunged the kingdom into an endless winter. Anna, despondent and desperate, is left with no choice but to pursue her sister and try to bring her back. She is soon joined by the mountain man Kristoff (Christian Andrews), his trustworthy reindeer companion Sven (Adam Fane) and the irrepressible snowman Olaf (Ryan Stajmiger)—courtesy of puppet designer Jesse Mooney-Bullock. Not far behind is Hans and the conniving Duke of Weselton (Jason Richards) who have diabolical plans of their own.

Scenic designer Jeffrey D, Kmiec, projections designer Paul Deziel and lighting and sound designers Greg Hofmann and Adam Rosenthal have created a magical, ever-evolving icy landscape with superb scenic projections—including a wink to Aurora’s Fox River—and eye-popping special effects. Mara Blumenfeld’s stunning costume design has magical treats all their own.

The shimmering and flawless performances of Laird’s “For the First Time in Forever” and Morris’s “Let It Go” are highlights in a score that includes brilliant ensemble arrangements and specialty numbers including the fine company with Oaken (David Blakeman) in the hilarious trading post number “Hygge,” with Elsa in “Dangerous to Dream,” and Kristoff, Olaf and Hidden Folk in “Fixer Upper.”     

Life lessons abound here about remaining positive in the face of adversity, coping with loss and isolation, and understanding ourselves and our place in the world around us. But it’s Anna’s determination to put her love for others above all else that will warm your heart for “FROZEN,” a fun-filled musical extravaganza for the entire family.

PHOTO|Liz Lauren

PARAMOUNT THEATRE
presents
FROZEN
The Broadway Musical
through January 19, 2024

23 East Galena Boulevard
Aurora, IL 60506

(630) 896–6666

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PicksInSix Review: Toni Stone - Goodman Theatre

“…wide, tender eyes and knowing delivery.”
Ronald Keaton | Guest Contributor | PicksInSix® Review

“Why would I eat crackers in your bed?”  The character of Toni Stone asks this literal question of a prospective lover, as well as other hugely unconventional issues in Lydia R. Diamond’s sparkling, creative play “Toni Stone,” now playing at the Goodman Theatre. Stone is a historic figure who infuses her world with all kinds of sociological change, being the first woman to ever play on the field in men’s professional baseball… in this case, the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues in the 1940s and 50s.

You may ask: “Why does the world not know more about her?” That is beginning to change with this expertly-crafted memory play that maps out Stone’s path in a pleasingly helter-skelter manner, allowing for a full and articulate explanation of who she is, what she wants, and how she gets there.  Doesn’t matter that it might be a tad confusing to some; that’s the nature of our memories, after all, and what they mean to our own histories.  Ms. Diamond has infused Toni Stone with an unflinching, iron-clad commitment to not only the game, but how she fits into it.  Her very first monologue talks of her own ‘reach’ through the ‘weight’ of the ball itself; she holds the ball for the audience as if it were her own child.  And in essence, that’s how committed, singular paths make their own mark.

The wonderful Tracey N. Bonner inhabits Toni Stone with a child’s longing, a woman’s continual feist against conformity, and an athlete’s endless vision.  Ms. Bonner presents someone absolutely on point in her feelings about baseball, almost obsessively so.  Stone is a baseball computer; she uses her knowledge of baseball players and statistics as a salving tool in constant recitative to survive what is thrown at her on the diamond by opposing teams and, indeed, the world at large.  The self-advocating side of Stone only serves to further strengthen the obvious calling that baseball was to her; Bonner offers this in wide, tender eyes and knowing delivery.  This is an actor’s masterclass in fully inhabiting one’s character in a show that I would see again and again.

There is much gorgeous work here. Jon Hudson Odom as the madam Millie is not only a soothing influence on Stone; we see from the actor a total calm and command from the get-go. As Stone’s lover and eventual husband, the marvelous Chiké  Johnson imbues his Alberga with a strong, yet quiet pseudo-Nick Arnstein presence for us to hold our collective breath, in his three-piece dark blue suit and habitual smooth.  The supporting cast portrays a rogue’s gallery of characters – mothers, bartenders, team owners, baseball players and coaches. The fabulous ensemble – Kai A. Ealy, Joseph Aaron Johnson, Travis A. Knight, Victor Musoni, Matty Robinson, Edgar Miguel Sanchez, Terence Sims, and Jabari Khaliq – use every Diamond phrase, both intellectual and profane, to full advantage in support of the storytelling.

The impressive Todd Rosenthal set design is a suggested baseball field – in fact, the name on it was Victory Field in Indianapolis, where this writer attended games as a child. Mara Blumenfeld’s costumes are simple and excellently functional for the character changes the ensemble are assigned.  Keith Parham designed soft layers in a variety of ever-moving lighting effects, effortlessly following the Toni Stone life road.  Andre Pluess and his period music/sound design literally inhabits Stone’s mind as they assist to buoy the script in those memories. And Mike Tutaj once again imbues his projections with touches of elegance and documentary-like effect (“Jack’s Tavern” the on-the road landscapes for the team).

Ms. Diamond has always been a favorite writer at the Goodman, and she’s earned it – a real Chicago treasure.  “Toni Stone” is among her best work.  And the celebrated director Ron OJ Parson has given this play and these actors a clear, accessible and fully non-conformist track that keeps up with Ms. Bonner’s inventive and keen actor/storyteller.  Everyone in this process, in fact, either is or became an expert storyteller.  The fact that it all comes through one of the most inventive characters written in a long time only magnifies the quality of every creative person involved here.

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR | RONALD KEATON received an Equity Jeff Award for the performance of his one-man show CHURCHILL www.solochicagotheatre.com 

PHOTO|Liz Lauren

GOODMAN THEATRE
presents
TONI STONE
through March 20
Albert Theatre
170 N. Dearborn St.

(312) 443-3800

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PicksInSix Review: SWEAT

SIZZLING ‘SWEAT’ FEATURES POWERFUL CORE PERFORMANCES

“Sweat,” the 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Lynn Nottage that opened Monday in a crisply directed Ron OJ Parson Chicago premiere production at Goodman Theatre, is set in Reading, Pennsylvania, a steel mill town in the midst of the cyclical industrial turmoil that threatens blue-collar families in communities across America.  

The action occurs at pivot points in 2000 and 2008, bookends that allow for the dramatic elements of the storyline to evolve in vignettes that initially include parole officer Evan (Ronald L. Conner) in meetings with Jason (Mike Cherry) and Chris (Edgar Miguel Sanchez) who have recently been released from prison.

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The livelihood of every character in Nottage’s compelling story is tied to the prosperity of the Olstead steel tubing plant. In the opening scene set eight years earlier at a local bar managed by Stan (Keith Kupferer), three women who have worked together on the factory floor since high school–Chris’s mother, Cynthia (Tyla Abercrumbie) who is African-American, Jason’s mother, Tracey (Kirsten Fitzgerald), and their over-served wingman Jessie (Chaon Cross)–are celebrating Tracey’s birthday.  Stan’s Colombian employee Oscar (Steve Casillas) is present, as well as Cynthia’s ex-husband, Brucie (André Teamer), whose life and familial relationships have spiraled out of control since he lost his job.  

A supervisor opening at the mill has everyone talking. Cynthia views the promotion as a chance to finally leave the floor and applies. However, when she gets the job, the friction riles her relationship with Tracey and Jessie, who know that a change in their work association will be fatal to the friendship. It all starts to unravel when a notice is distributed in Spanish; lines are drawn and tempers begin to flare.

The sizzling emotional interaction of Abercrumbie and Fitzgerald–alternating between sisterhood and disdain for one another–provide the show’s powerful core performances. Kupferer is terrific in the role of the former mill worker whose career was cut short due to injury. The entertaining Cross spends most of the evening delightfully inebriated, while the friendships between the women is mirrored in the fine portrayals of the sons by Cherry and Sanchez, who, with Casillas, raise the dramatic tension of the piece to a fever pitch.

The creative design team–Kevin Depinet (set), Mara Blumenfeld (costumes), Keith Parham (lighting) and Richard Woodbury (sound)–have created a stunner for this production that evokes the pre-911 post-market collapse span of the era as a defining moment for generations of factory workers whose lives and world view have been irreparably altered. Nottage’s profoundly insightful work reminds us of the collateral damage that hateful dialogue and pent-up rage can inflict on others–a stark and valuable lesson for our time. 

PHOTOS|Liz Lauren

GOODMAN THEATRE
Presents
SWEAT
through April 14th
ALBERT THEATRE
170 NORTH DEARBORN
(312) 443-3800

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PicksInSix Review: ACT(S) OF GOD

Six characters in search of something.

With a teasing setup about a family gathering impacted by a letter that will alter lives, Kareem Bandealy’s dark comedy “Act(s) of God” was already a fascinating curiosity before anyone took their seats at Lookingglass Theatre Friday evening. As the play unfolds, it becomes curiouser and curiouser—a sprawling three-act theatrical experience better to be discovered than recalled.

There is, as advertised, a family weekend in a desert-plains home. It begins Friday, April 13, 2029, in a living room that has a ’60s-era retro-provincial feel. An old-time radio broadcasts an interview on a cosmic anomaly. While Mother (Shannon Cochran) busily sorts the mail, Father (Rom Barkhordar), a theologian, philosopher and narcoleptic, reads nearby. One of the letters is impossible to open. When their son Middle (Anthony Irons) arrives with Fiancée (Emjoy Gavino) and Youngest (Walter Briggs), and the power appears to fail, it becomes clear that other forces are at work, particularly when Eldest (Kristina Valada-Viars) finally drops in.

The deep convictions of Bandealy’s characters form the context of Director Heidi Stillman’s finely paced production about six characters in search of something. Mother provides the spiritual center of the family, a woman whose faith in God is reflected in her two sons, and shared by Father, although the men are skeptical about her conviction that God is a woman. Eldest, a lesbian writer, is more attuned to Father’s pragmatic views. She is at odds spiritually with Mother and Middle, whose grounded nature has brought him success, but little confidence or emotional security with his long-standing Fiancée. The impressionable Youngest has teetered between Mother’s obsessive nurturing and the radical views of Eldest all his life.

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Technologically, we seem to be all over the map in 2029. There are state-of-the-art smart phones and something called “Telepathy 2.0” with wall clocks, Bundt cake, fruit, whiskey and trains. In its most reflective moments, Father recounts parables while Middle references the sciences comparing Mother to lonsdaleite, an element much harder and rarer than diamonds.

When a misunderstanding arises between Middle and Eldest, the resulting pent-up hostilities spiral out of control like any other family where age-old frictions exist, pivoting the trajectory of the work in another direction. It is then that the seasoned ensemble navigates a series of twists and turns on the way to unravelling everything that has come before.  

The versatile Brian Sidney Bembridge’s set and lighting are exceptional feats of engineering. The Mara Blumenfeld costumes, Rick Sims sound—the aural experience of this production is in a class by itself— and the collective skills of a wide-ranging list of technicians and craftsmen, all help to make the otherworldly “Acts(s) of God” a clever, absurdist adventure.

PHOTOS|Liz Lauren

LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE COMPANY
Presents
ACT(S) OF GOD
through April 7th

821 N Michigan Ave.
(312) 337-0665

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PicksInSix Theater Review: "Twelfth Night" Writers Theatre

A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE ON ANY NIGHT!
by Jonathan Bourne

Say “what you will,” you will love the exuberant production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” now playing at the Writers Theatre in Glencoe through December 16th.  

The play opens to the aftermath of a shipwreck on the shores of Illyria. Twins, Sebastian (Luce Metrius) and Viola (Jennifer Latimore), each believe the other has drowned. Viola is so distraught she decides to dress up as a man in order to secure employment with the local duke, Orsino (Matthew C. Yee). The Duke is in love with Olivia (Andrea San Miguel) and he sends his new manservant, Cesario/Viola, to plead his case.  Olivia, however, is having none of it because she has also just lost a brother and wishes to remain cloistered for seven years of mourning.  Everything backfires when Olivia becomes enamored with Cesario/Viola and Cesario/Viola falls in love with Orsino!

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The subplot involves Olivia’s servant, Malvolio (Sean Fortunato) who is indignant about the boisterous and besotted antics of Olivia’s household, which includes her uncle, Sir Toby Belch (Kevin Gudahl), Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Scott Parkinson) and others. Malvolio, however, is such a priggish killjoy that they decide to play a cruel practical joke on him. Suffice it to say that it involves forged letters, unrequited love, yellow stockings and crossed garters.

Deftly directed by Michael Halberstam, the performances are all first-rate. Nevertheless, Sean Fortunato as the Puritanical Malvolio and Scott Parkinson as benighted Aguecheek merit special mention.

Visually, the production was entirely captivating. The set by William Boles looked like some sort of sunny Adriatic Brigadoon rising out of the Illyrian sea.  The costumes by Mara Blumenfeld were an explosion of bright floral prints and all worked perfectly. 

Quite simply, “Twelfth Night” is delightful. A wonderful experience on any night! Don’t miss it!

PHOTOS|Michael Brosilow

WRITERS THEATRE
Presents
TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL
through December 16th
325 Tudor Court
Glencoe
(847) 242-6000

WEBSITE

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PICKSINSIX Review: INDECENT

GRIPPING ‘INDECENT’ FEATURES STIRRING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCES

The play-within-the play “Indecent” by the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel, unfolds over decades and across continents to tell the story of the life and times of Sholem Asch and the players who perform his work, God of Vengeance, a singular piece of performance art that was revered, censored and then shamefully reviled in its Broadway debut. “Indecent” champions the ideal that our unending responsibility to protect the essence of art that brings us together – truth, acceptance, freedom and love – can be ripped away in a moment.  Director Gary Griffin, and the stirring ensemble playing multiple roles, deliver an inspiring and gripping production now playing at Victory Gardens Theater.

God of Vengeance, written in 1906, is a controversial love story involving a prostitute and a young woman whose father runs a brothel.  As this “true story of a little Jewish play” begins, the players tell the compelling story of the inception of Asch’s work and the long and successful runs in Paris, Berlin, Constantinople and other European locations that followed, before Asch immigrates to America.

In New York, the play has an extraordinarily successful run in the Yiddish theater circuit before a muted English translation moves to Broadway, a 1923 debut that is shuttered in mid-performance on charges of obscenity that lead to the arrest and conviction of everyone involved.

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At the dramatic center, the structure of Vogel’s fascinating piece – using subtitles in English and Hebrew, native language alternatives and dialects, and traditional music – accentuates the bitter attitudes of anti-Semitism and the heart-wrenching struggle for survival that Jewish immigrants faced in 1920s America and during the occupation in the ghettos of Warsaw during World War II.

This powerful ensemble piece features stirring performances from: Benjamin Magnuson (The Stage Manager: Lemml), Catherine LeFrere (The Middle: Halena), Noah LaPook (The Ingenue: Avram), Matt Deitchman (Accordian: Moriz Godowsky/Music Director), Kiah Stern (The Ingenue; Chana), Andrew White (The Middle: Mendel) Cindy Gold (The Elder: Vera), David Darlow (The Elder: Otto) and Elleon Dobias (Violin: Nelly Friedman).

In the concluding scene of “Indecent,” there is a glorious feeling of transformation to another place and time. That beautiful moment benefits from an amazing scenic treatment and the haunting musical score by Lisa Gutkin and Aaron Halva performed live and directed by Matt Deitchman. Deitchman also leads an inspiring pre-show performance by Dobias (Violin), LaPook (Mandolin) and Magnuson (Bass). The superb creative and production team assembled by Griffin includes Scenic Designer Jeffrey D. Kmiec, Costume Designer Mara Blumenfeld. Lighting Designer Keith Parham, Choreographer Katie Spelman, Sound Designer Christopher M. LaPorte and Projection Designer Stephen Mazurek.

PHOTOS|Michael Brosilow

VICTORY GARDENS THEATER
Presents
INDECENT
Written by Paula Vogel
Directed by Gary Griffin
through November 4th
2433 North Lincoln Avenue
(773) 871-3000

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PICKSINSIX Review: The Importance of Being Earnest

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"Ah! A life crowded with incident..."

What’s it about … Oscar Wilde’s hilarious unraveling of the double lives of two men who unsuspectingly propose to two women who will settle for none other than an ‘Earnest(ly)’ named gentleman.

How does the story unfold... With the aristocratic rogue Algernon Moncrieff(Steve Haggard) wondering where his next — and indeed, greatest — ‘Bunbury’ excursion will take him, his love-struck friend Ernest (Alex Goodrich) is forced to confide that he is in actuality ‘Jack’ Worthing in the country. There resides his lovely ward, Cecily Cardew(Rebecca Hurd), under the watchful eye of the matronly Miss Prism(Anita Chandwaney) and the well-intentioned Reverend Chasuble(Aaron Todd Douglas). After confessing his love and proposing marriage to Algernon’s cousin Gwendolen Fairfax(Jennifer Latimore), Jack is denied the privilege by her mother, the imposing Lady Bracknell(Shannon Cockran). Undaunted, he proceeds to hatch a plan to rid himself of his alter ego in the country, radify his lineage and thereby win Gwendolen’s hand. Things go quickly awry leading to an uproariously funny series of surprises with more than a few satisfying resolutions.

Who stands out... This is a superbly paced, colorful and visually stunning production with Wilde’s rich observations on society and stature streaming through Cockran’s blustering turn as Lady Bracknell who with Hurd and Latimore, are picture perfect. The contrast between Haggard’s dashing and clever Algernon and Goodrich’s staunch, be mused Jack, makes for a wildly entertaining evening. In the dual roles of Lane and Merriman, Ross Lehman performance is hilarious.

Brilliant design... The three compact acts have distinctly different textural and color patterns, lavish majestic columns and rich stone framework in a brilliant Collette Pollard design that with Mara Blumenfeld’s elegant costumes provides a fashionable turn-of-the-century backdrop in the Montcrieff study, the Worthing manor house garden and the morning-room at the Manor House.

A Wilde adventure... Writers Theatre has established an extensive audience engagement program initiative that provides discussion events with artists, educational outreach opportunities and many other activities for interested students and patrons.

What you may not know... Writers is also working with the Chicago Public Schools to conduct in-class student sessions and have made multiple performances available to students in support of their educational mission. A very worthy enterprise, indeed.

Photos|Michael Brosilow

WRITERS THEATRE
The Importance of Being Earnest
through December 23, 2017
325 Tudor Court, Glencoe

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847-242-6000
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"What do you see in it?"

HARD TIMES

What it's about ... an inspiring adaptation, originally staged in 2001, of the Charles Dickens classic by Lookingglass Artistic Director and Ensemble member Heidi Stillman, who also directs this story about the life and times, and the great divide between the upper class and working class of Coketown, a mining community in the grip of a powerful and arrogant owner who maintains benevolent control until the innocence of circus arts begin to turn widespread despair into hope.

Just the facts ... in and among Mr. Bounderby’s social circle is the upper crust Gradgrind family, a teacher, whose students include his daughter, Louisa, on whom Bounderby has affections, and wayward son Tom, and Sissy, a young girl raised in the circus who is taken in as a ward after being abandoned by her father, a circus clown. The story centers around Louisa’s evolving education and the unravelling of Stephen Blackpool, a common laborer whose morality transcends everyone else. As fate steps in, Blackpool becomes the unwitting victim of the power and greed of those who wish only to hide their darkest secrets from view at the expense of all others. All is not lost as love triumphs, and light, in the smoke-filled recesses of Coketown, ultimately shines through.

What stands out ... Dickens compellingly rich characters spring to life in Stillman’s absorbing production,  which reunites many original cast members with gloriously talented actors who have extraordinary circus and acrobatic skills. The aerial artistry, staged seamlessly with the story in sweeping fashion by Sylvia Hernandez-Distasi, is flawless. The versatile set by Dan Ostling, allows our imagination to trip from classroom to sitting room, from the squalor of a shabby apartment through a busy street to the grandeur of an elegant dining room, and back again, in the blink of an eye, enhanced impeccably by Mara Blumenfeld’s costumes, lighting by Brian Sidney Bembridge and sound by Andre Pluess.

Who to watch ... David Catlin, returning to the roles of Sleary and Stephen Blackpool, Raymond Fox, back as Mr. Gradgrind, and, Louise Lamson, who created the role of Louisa but here plays Rachael, are inspiring to watch together, contributing mightily to the vibrant textural and visual masterpiece. Troy West, once again the irascible Bounderby, brings a chilling level of obstinate authority that is perfectly aligned with the powerhouse performances of Cordelia Dewdney, a sultry Louisa, and Amy J. Carle, the diabolical Mrs. Sparsit. The entire ensemble is superb in multiple roles, however, this story unfolds early on through the eyes of Sissy, played exquisitely by Audrey Anderson, an extremely versatile and captivating newcomer in a breakout role. There is no doubt you will be seeing a lot of performances by Ms. Anderson on and above many stages, but don't miss this one. It’s a gem.

A moment or two to savor ... if you have ever been transfixed by a roaring fire and wondered what you see in it, there is a beautiful moment between Ms. Dewdney and JJ Phillips where the answer is revealed. You will also be in awe of the multi-talented Raphael Cruz right at the top.

Why you should go ... Lookingglass Theatre Company is celebrating their 30th season and an on-going association with The Actors Gymnasium, collaborating to develop engaging, story-centered ensemble productions. Hard Times, first created and produced in 2001, is now presented for the first time in their home since 2003, Chicago’s landmark Water Tower Water Works. A perfect holiday treat for the entire family.

Photos|Liz Lauren

LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE COMPANY
HARD TIMES
through January 14, 2018
821 N Michigan Avenue (at Pearson)
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 337-0665
TICKETS
WEBSITE