"Beehive: The 60’s Musical"

**** Highly Recommended  I was a teen in the 60’s – graduated from high school in 1963, from Indiana University in 1967 – so Every Single Song in Marriott’s production of Beehive: The 60’s Musical brought memories.  Director/Choreographer Deidre Goodwin called the show “a love letter to the music of the 60’s,” but it’s really a love letter to the female singers of the sixties – the early girl groups, Leslie Gore, Marianne Faithful, the Supremes, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin and more – who often didn’t get the headlines, but were just as good as the guys!  4 BIG Spotlights

The show starts when the members of the all-female Beehive Band are introduced and get seated onstage. They are Celia Villacres (Conductor/Keyboard), with Karli Bunn (Tenor Saxophone), Kellen Hanas (Lead Trumpet), Stephanie Chow (Guitar through 6/30), Ariel Glassman (Guitar beginning 7/2) Lauren Pierce (Electric Bass) and Camila Mennitte (Drums). 

In a unique twist, the cast of Beehive all use their own names throughout the show.  Singing an early 60’s hit, The Name Game, they introduce themselves to the audience. The cast includes Emma Grace Bailey, Grace Bobber, Lucy Godinez, Miciah Lathan, Leah Morrow and Aisha Sougou.  Morrow acts as narrator, letting us know what’s going on in the world – setting the scene, the timelines and the fashions. 

Most of the songs from the early 60’s, including the first medley, It’s My Party/Where Did Our Love Go/Come See About Me, as well as Sweet Talkin Guy, You Can’t Hurry Love, My Boyfriend’s Back and Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? are ensemble numbers.  Other songs like Where the Boys Are, Son of a Preacher Man and To Sir with Love are solos.   

Tina Turner made an appearance with River Deep – Mountain High/Proud Mary.  An Aretha Franklin medley included Chain of Fools, Never Loved A Man and Natural Woman.  A fabulous Janis Joplin medley included Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) and Me and Bobby McGee. 

Styles in the sixties changed rapidly.  Poodle skirts and shirtwaist dresses disappeared.  Beehive hairdos and pedal pushers were replaced by miniskirts, hip huggers and bell bottoms. And then there was Woodstock and the flower children.  Kudos to Costume Designer Amanda Vander Byl and Wig Designer Miguel A. Armstrong for the darling costumes and wigs.   

Beehive: The 60’s Musical runs through August 11th at Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriot Drive, Lincolnshire. Parking is free; valet parking is also available.  Running time is 90 minutes, no intermission.   

Performances are Wednesdays at 1:00 & 7:30 pm; Thursdays at 7:30 pm; Fridays at 8:00 pm; Saturdays at 4:00 and 8:00 pm; Sundays at 1:00 and 5:00 pm with select Thursday 1:00 pm matinees.  There are a limited number of dinner-theatre packages available on Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Tickets start at $60 (excluding tax & handling fees).    FYI (847) 634-0200, www.ticketmaster.com or www.marriotttheatre.com.