Reviews by Carol Moore

**** Highly Recommended  The Copley Theatre production of "Next to Normal" is a beautiful rock musical about a heart-wrenching subject, mental illness and its effect on a family.  It is gripping, emotional and beautifully performed (with some of the best voices I’ve heard anywhere).  I won’t give away all the plot turns, but be warned, all is not what it seems.  I give it 4 Spotlights.

**** Recommended **** I absolute love Mercury Theater’s production of "Rock of Ages"!  The boy-meets-girl plot is almost non-existent, but who cares, the music really rocks!  Seriously, the score includes 28 hits from artists like Bon Jovi, Journey, Styx, Pat Benatar, Poison, Twisted Sister, Steve Perry, Europe, REO Speedwagon and more.  I hesitate to use the term ‘cult icon’, but this jukebox musical is something special.  You’ll be dancing in your seat!  4 Spotlights

**** Highly Recommended **** Northlight Theatre’s production of "Marie and Rosetta" is not to be missed!  Marie and Rosetta features powerful performances by Bethany Thomas and Alexis J. Roston, two of the best voices in Chicago theater – and some of the best gospel music you’ll ever hear outside of church!  "Marie and Rosetta" is directed by another powerful Chicago voice, E. Faye Butler.  This is a fabulous show!  Don’t miss it.  4 BIG Spotlights

*** Recommended *** Kate Arrington’s new play, "Another Marriage", onstage in Steppenwolf’s newest space, is an interesting depiction of a relationship – the courtship, the marriage, the birth of a child, the girlfriend, the divorce, and the afterwards – all told from the teen daughter’s somewhat skewed perspective – of what she knew and what she guessed.  The relationship at the heart of Another Marriage is curiously superficial.  3 Spotlights