Spotlight on Reviews

**** Highly Recommended   "BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical" is upbeat, exuberant and a throwback to the big old-fashioned Broadway extravaganzas of the ‘30s and ‘40s.  "BOOP!" is sparkly and colorful – even in the black & white scenes.  It’s also the perfect showcase for a brand new Broadway star, Jasmine Amy Rogers!  No kidding, Rogers has it all – the look, the voice, the dancing feet, the personality – and the moxie to WOW the audience.  This show is a must-see!  4 BIG Spotlights

***** Highly Recommended ***** The Joffrey Ballet’s “Chicago-centric” version of "The Nutcracker", choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, is quite simply magnificent.  By setting "The Nutcracker" amidst Chicago’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, Wheeldon gave the city a unique gift.  It’s become a holiday tradition at my house!  No matter how many times I see "The Nutcracker", I never get tired of the feeling of anticipation and excitement before a performance, waiting for that first chord of Tchaikovsky’s glorious music!  "The Nutcracker" is absolutely perfect in every way.  4 BIG Spotlights

Although the professional theater hasn’t reopened since Covid, there are small signs of life at Theatre at the Center.  "Christmas from the Farm with Phil Potempa" is a laid-back, welcome to the holidays, filled with stories, music and laughter.  Although it’s kind of corny, I had a lot of fun. 

**** Highly Recommended   Mel Brooks’ hilarious musical, "Young Frankenstein", has returned to Chicago.  You can catch the kids from Transylvania cavorting on the stage at Mercury Theater Chicago through December 31st.  If the 1974 movie starring Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle made you laugh, you’ll love the musical adaptation.  You don’t want to miss this production, it’s hilarious, in large part because Sean Fortunato is brilliant as the young doc.  4 BIG Spotlights