**** Recommended Stereophonic is kind of a difficult play to review. First, it’s a drama with music, not a musical. I think a lot of people didn’t like it, since many of them left at intermission. Maybe they thought it was going to be a jukebox musical. Second, it has four acts, one intermission, and comes in at a whopping 3 hours long (give or take five minutes). Finally, it felt like a documentary, gritty and truthful. I’m recommending Stereophonic, with a slight caveat – remember, creativity just doesn’t go in a straight line. 3 ½ Spotlights
Stereophonic is set in 1976 in a recording studio in Sausalito, California where a 70s rock band is beginning the process of recording their second album. Although friend really didn’t like the story, I know a bit about the creative process, and I’ve worked around musicians and recording process a time or two, and I thought Stereophonic was a really good illustration of the frustrations involved in recording for performers and sound engineers.
Jack Barrett as 'Grover' in the First National Tour of Stereophonic. Photo by Julieta Cervantes
By the way, David Zinn’s set is a masterpiece! Many recording studios include a green room where performers can relax as well as an engineering area with a window into a soundproof room where the actual recording takes place. On Zinn’s set, the sound engineer’s console is in the center of the comfortable green room. For easier viewing from the audience, the recording studio, equipped with multiple microphones and musical instruments, is elevated. Interestingly, all the recording equipment is real meaning what the audience hears at each performance is completely new.
The band: Peter (Denver Milord), guitar, vocals, Diana (Claire DeJean), vocals, tambourine, Reg (Christopher Mowood), bass, Holly (Emilie Kouatchou), keyboards, vocals and Simon (Cornelius McMoylen), drums. Grover (Jack Barrett) is their sound engineer, with Charlie (Steven Lee Johnson) assisting.
The First National Tour Cast of Stereophonic. Photo by Julieta Cervantes
The band members are thrilled to be recording a second album, but feeling pressure from the label to get it done quickly. Sessions are fraught with conflicts – retake after retake, personalities, drugs and booze, stress, frustration, even equipment problems.
Peter and Diana have been together for a long time – and they really know which buttons to push! Diana doesn’t have a lot of self-confidence, so even when she has the beginnings of a new song, she’s reluctant to tell Peter. She blames him for a lot of her issues. Peter is arrogant, controlling and quick to lose his temper. In his mind, this is his band.
(From L) Claire DeJean as ‘Diana’ and Denver Milord as ‘Peter’ in the First National Tour of Stereophonic. Photo by Julieta Cervantes
Simon, Reg and Holly are British. Reg and Holly are married, Simon’s wife and kids are back in the UK. Holly has put up with Reg drinking and drugging but she’s has had it. When she announces that she’s bought a condo, Diana freaks out because she’s moving away.
When the band’s first album climbs to the Number One spot on the charts, the label lets them have more time to work on their second, but the creative process is interrupted by disagreements and arguments. In one scene, although Holly, Diana and Peter are standing close together to record the chorus to a song, they’re not speaking. As Charlie starts and stops the recording, Diana and Peter begin sniping at each other, only stopping to sing.
(From L) Claire DeJean as ‘Diana’, Emilie Kouatchou as ‘Holly’, and Denver Milord as 'Peter' in the First National Tour of Stereophonic. Photo by Julieta Cervantes
While he’s waiting for the talent, Grover confides in Charlie, confessing that he claimed he’d produced an album for the Eagles. Eventually, when he finally gets credit as a producer for this album, he finds out that the band knew about the Eagles claim all along and hired him anyway.
Stereophonic was written by David Adjimi with music by Will Butler from the rock band, Arcade Fire. It is directed by Daniel Aukin. Stereophonic debuted off-Broadway in 2023, moving to the John Golden Theatre in 2024. It premiered in London’s West End in 2025. It won five Tony Awards in 1977, Best Play, Best Direction of a Play, Best Featured Actor in a Play, Best Scenic Design of a Play and Best Sound Design of a Play.
(From L) Denver Milord as 'Peter', Christopher Mowod as 'Reg', Claire Claire DeJean as ‘Diana’ and Emilie Kouatchou as ‘Holly’ in the First National Tour of Stereophonic. Photo by Julieta Cervantes
Stereophonic runs through February 8th at the CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe, Chicago. Running time is two hours, 55 minutes, with an intermission. Performances: Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at 7:00 pm; Wednesdays at 1:00 & 7:00 pm; Saturdays at 2:00 & 7:30 pm; Sundays at 1:00 pm. Tickets range from $40 to $135. FYI www.BroadwayInChicago.com.