![]() By Colin Douglas The joint is jumpin’ and rockin’ and rollin’ up in Skokie because a new era is about to begin. Maybe it’s because, after well over a year, this was (to my knowledge) the first live production in the Chicago area. Maybe it’s the fact that this entertaining pop musical revue features so many wonderful hit songs that spark youthful memories for the majority of the audience. Or maybe because this is simply a superbly talented cast performing their hearts out in a beautifully sung and professionally staged production. In any case, we heartily welcome back live theatre and exciting performances, as exemplified by this fantastic celebration of the past! Kyle Dougan, the new and highly-anticipated Producing Artistic Director of the recently renamed Music Theater Works, co-directs this salute to the hits of the mid-twentieth century with Martin L. Woods. Together they collaborate with Jermaine Hill, the show’s Music Director and conductor of their live, incredibly skilled, five-member band that accompanies the cast. Together, they create a majestic production that’s sure to set every toe a-tappin’. With colorful, well-tailored fashion styling by Justin LeBlanc and lovely, period coiffures by Alice Salazar, this musical revue is—well—totally groovy. The seven-member cast includes some of Chicago’s finest musical talent. Each and every performer is a star, in their own right; together they create a mighty sound that brings the audience to their feet. The ladies include the incomparable belter Lydia Burke, the sensual-sounding Adia Bell, and the bluesy beauty, Robin K. DaSilva. The four gentlemen featured are the always impressive Evan Tyrone Martin, the exciting Gilbert Domally, the magnificent Curtis Bannister and the very accomplished Justin Brill. Each performer gets their own moment to shine as a solo performer, with many opportunities to harmonized in small group numbers and with the full company. And these seven singers are movers and shakers, as well. While the choreography has to be simple, to accommodate the abbreviated outdoor space, it’s always clean, sharp and perfectly synchronized. |
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