Reviews by Carol Moore

**** Highly Recommended **** "Six", a glitzy pop-rock concert musical starring the six wives of Henry VIII, has been on my personal list of top ten musicals since I saw it at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2019.  That cast has gone to Broadway, but there’s a new group of queens in town – and they’re fabulous!  I loved this new so much that I downloaded the soundtrack – and bought tickets to see it again!  How’s that for a recommendation?  I’m telling you, get your tickets today!  4 BIG Spotlights

*** Recommended *** "A Recipe for Disaster" revisited … I was surprised to get an invitation to experience "A Recipe for Disaster" recently, since I’d reviewed the show last fall.  In the meantime, co-creators Rick Bayless and Amy Rubenstein joined the cast on select dates, so Windy City invited us back.  Although there are several new cast members, the story is the same – everything that could go wrong on influencer night at the Contumacious Pig, does go wrong.  The show is a lot of fun, even the second time around, and the food and drink samplings are mostly delish.  Bayless and Rubenstein even stick around for a Q and A after the performance.  3 Spotlights   

**** Recommended ****  How the Hell Did I Get Here? is a charming autobiographical musical starring Lesley Nicol, a British actress whose most famous part here in America, at least, was that of Mrs. Padmore in Downton Abbey.  Nicol uses a light-hearted approach to sharing her life story using songs, pictures and anecdotes.  How the Hell Did I Get Here? isn’t ‘rocket science’ as far as musicals go, but it was definitely entertaining.  3 ½ Spotlights

**** Recommended **** "Sweat" is the first production in the Bold Series at the newly renovated Copley Theater inside North Island Center, across the street from the Paramount Theatre, Aurora.  The new Copley is a 165 seat, state-of-the-art space.  Before the show, my friend Nancy and I had a delicious dinner at Amy Morton’s newest restaurant, Stolp Island Social, next door to the Paramount at 5 E. Galena Blvd.  Altogether, we had a wonderful evening.  4 Spotlights