Jersey Boys is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. It begins with Tommy DeVito deciding he wants to put together a band. They go through many iterations before they finally become The Four Seasons and release their first big hit, “Sherry”.

The “December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)” scene is absolutely hilarious. It’s a great party scene where one of the band mates finally gets some action. The line “And my, as I recall it ended much too soon” is met with a great amount of laughter. Also, this is their most popular song on Spotify with over 465 million streams.

The music in this show is legendary. “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Walk Like a Man”, and “Working My Way Back to You” are just some of the huge hits included. The buildup to “Can’t Take My Eyes off You” is awesome as they struggle to get the song released and then again to get it played on the radio.  

Adrian Aguilar is outstanding as Tommy DeVito with a great Jersey accent and Jersey attitude. Michael Metcalf (Rock of Ages) is superb as Frankie Valli. He showcases one hell of a voice while hitting all the high notes. Jason Michael Evans is great as Nick Massi (Anastasia, The Good Cop), who is always saying he should leave and start his own band! Andrew MacNaughton (Young Frankenstein, Clue) is great as Bob Gaudio, the last member to join the band.

Eric A. Lewis is fantastic in his many roles, especially as the supplier of the joints during “Oh What a Night” Grant Alexander is so funny as Joe Pesci, (yes, the famous actor Joe Pesci) who introduced Gaudio to the band. Adam Fane (Spamalot, Avenue Q) is hilarious as Bob Crewe. Kayla Shipman (Young Frankenstein, Rock of Ages) is stellar as many characters, especially as Valli’s first wife. Lastly, Carl Herzog, Maya McQueen, Jason Richards (The Producers, Avenue Q), and Haley Jane Schafer are solid in their supporting roles.  

All together, it’s an epic life story of a legendary band full of their fantastic songs. This production is Broadway worthy!

Cost of a ticket: $70

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Get tickets now for Jersey Boys through May 19^th!

You can also get tickets to see Frankie Valli live at the Rosemont Theatre on October 12^th!  See our review of his 2018 Chicago performance here.

Quinn Delaney

Peter Pan first appears as a character in J.M. Barrie’s novel, The Little White Bird, in 1902. Disney release their animated film version in 1953. This musical version first premiered in 1954. Robin Williams starred as Peter Pan in Hook, which was released in 1991. And now, it opens at the Nederlander Theatre in March 2024.

Peter Pan lives in Neverland, where children never grow up. He comes to the regular world to hear stories from Wendy’s mother. One day, Wendy finds him searching for Tinkerbelle. She asks if she can join him back to Neverland. He agrees on the condition that she will be the mother to him and the Lost Boys and tell them stories. Wendy also brings along her two younger brothers for the adventure. In Neverland, they join Tiger Lily to fight against Captain Hook.

This is a very family friendly show. The highlight is Peter Pan and many of the characters flying around the stage on wires. All the children were delighted by the show, but there isn’t a lot of appeal for adults.  

Cost of a ticket: $106

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Get tickets now for Peter Pan through April 7^th.

Quinn

The family is all gathering to celebrate the mother’s birthday along with the oldest son being released from prison. This son was caught embezzling money as a state senator. His wife must now serve her sentence. The youngest son arrives alone, but his female friend unexpectly arrives later because she has his phone. The mother convinces her to stay due to the impending storm. The crazy weather outside matches the circus at dinner when many secrets are revealed and emotions run high.

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins has written a masterpiece on the same level as Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County and Lee Edward Colston II’s The First Deep Breath. This production is epic in scale. The set created by Todd Rosenthal is an impressive two-story house. The play is riveting from start to finish and full of laughs and drama.

Glenn Davis (King James, The Christians) is fantastic as the oldest son, who is struggling to figure out who he is. Alana Arenas is great as his wife, who realizes she got in way over her head. Tamara Tunie (Law & Order: SVU) is fantastic as the mother, who is masterful about getting what she wants in her house. Harry Lennix (The Matrix series) is superb as the father, who is a legendary civil rights leader. Jon Michael Hill (True West, Pass Over) is exceptional as the youngest son, who is the narrator that guides us through all the chaos around him and within him.  Ayanna Bria Bakari (Relentless, Last Night and the Night Before) is perfect as his female friend, who brings everyone to tears.

This is Steppenwolf at its best. At just under three hours long with an intermission, it’s like a 2 for 1. It is Broadway and Tony worthy and an absolute must-see!

Cost of a ticket: $82.50 (Main Floor)

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Get tickets now for Purpose through May 12^th!

Quinn Delaney

A young adult man named Beane is very quiet and socially awkward. His sister is very protective of him. Her husband tries to have him do a personality test, but Beane isn’t answering the questions in a satisfactory manor. One day, Beane comes home and catches a woman who is stealing from him. He starts a relationship with her and it causes a big change in him. He becomes very talkative and outgoing, but the sister suspects that something is off.

John Kolvenbach has written a very interesting play about a young man being awaken by love. It’s very funny and modern. The title sounds like it would be a musical, but it’s definitely a comedy. This production is very well done with a very impressive set created by Joe Schermoly and a superb cast.

Terry Bell (Routes, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime at Steppenwolf)  is fantastic as the young man who is strongly affected by the relationship. Isa Arciniegas (How to Defend Yourself, The Wolves) is very mischievous and sly as the burglar. Sarah Coakley Price (The Wolves) is exceptional as the concerned sister. Ryan Hallahan (Straight White Men, Pass Over) is so funny as her husband, constantly challenging her ideas.

See the full program here.

Love Song first premiered at Steppenwolf in 2006.

Cost of a ticket: $36

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Get tickets now for Love Song through April 21!

Quinn Delaney

Lee Fields has been singing since the 1960s. He helped fellow stars Sharon Jones and Charles Bradley get their start. Now that they have passed, it is up to him to carry on their legacy and keep the classic soul music alive.  

Early in the set, they play “Ladies” from their 2009 album, My World. It’s their most popular song on Spotify with over 27 millions streams.  He truly shows his love for women on this one. “Short ones, tall ones, big ones, small ones! Beautiful ladies / Lovely ladies / You look so good in the summertime”. It’s such a fun a song that has everyone dancing along.

Lee says the following song was used in a Super Bowl commercial in 2023. It’s “Forever” from his 2022 album, Sentimental Fool. “I wanna hold you forever / I’m gonna love you forever / I know forever might seem like a / Mighty long time”. It’s a great slow love song that is perfect for a wedding.

Fields says that one day his woman comes to him and says that they don’t have enough money. She can’t buy the things she wants. This leads smoothly into “Two Jobs”, which is also on Sentimental Fool. “One o’clock (keep on working) / Two o’clock (keep on working) / Three o’clock (keep on working)”. In the breakdown, he keeps counting all the way up to 12, and then starts again at 1. It makes for a great singalong. Towards the end of the song, he sings “I’m so tired when the day is through / I’m working two jobs and one of them is you”. There is some truth right there. Relationships are hard work.

In the end it was clear that Lee Fields still loves to sing and is keeping soul music alive.

See a recent setlist here.

Cost of a ticket: $38

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +

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Quinn Delaney

Catherine is taking care of her ailing father, a famous mathematician at the University of Chicago. He is losing his mind, but he is fighting it and trying to continue to work on his math. In a pivotal scene, her father is sitting outside wearing a t-shirt in 30 degree December weather. He says he is really on to something now that will keep him busy for years. He refuses to go inside until Cathy reads it.  “Let X equal the quantity of all quantities of X. Let X equal the cold. It is cold in December. The months of cold equal November through February.” It’s heart-breakingly clear that the glimmer of hope that he was again lucid is gone. Cathy worries that she will also go crazy while at the same time hoping she did inherit her father’s mathematical mind.

In the intimate space at Theatre Wit, the drama plays out intensely along with some funny moments. This production does a great job showing why this play was the winner of the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2001. It was also turned into a film starring Gwyenth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins, Hope Davis, and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Dana Muelchi is great as Catherine, who struggles figuring out what to do with her life. Callahan Romen Crnich is excellent as Hal, who is perfectly awkward and likeable as the father’s protégé. Geoff Isaac‘s performance is superb as the father who exemplifies the symptoms of dementia. Taila Langman is solid as Catherine’s sister, who is doing her best to help out.

Get tickets now for Proof through April 6^th.  

Quinn Delaney

The Verve Pipe’s first show ever was in Chicago in 1992. The lead singer recalls that the microphones were shocking them, so they had to put their dirty socks over them to fix it. They’ve come a long way to now be playing at the City Winery, which is a long ways from a dive bar.

Early on in the set, they play “Never Let You Down” from their 2001 album, Underneath. This song jumps right into the joyful chorus:  “I’m trying to keep my feet on the ground / I’m getting to like this feeling I’ve found / I’m getting to love / The thought of having you around / And I will never let you down.” It keeps the high energy going the whole way though and it delights the audience.

Later in the set they play “Colorful”, which is also from Underneath. “I know I can be colorful, I know I can be gray / But I know this loser’s living fortunate / ‘Cause I know you will love me either way.” The lead singer, Brian Vander Ark, vocals truly shine on this one. The joy of singing can still be heard in his voice.

Towards the end of the night, they play “The Freshman” from their 1996 album, Villains. This is their most streamed song on Spotify with over 104 million streams on Spotify. “For the life of me, I cannot remember / What made us think that we were wise, and we’d never compromise / For the life of me, I cannot believe / We’d ever die for these sins, we were merely freshmen.” Everyone sings along to this huge hit that still sounds great today.

Brian describes the one of the last songs, “Found” as their version of a Paul Simon song. This track from their 2021 album, Threads, more specifically sounds like a Simon & Garfunkel song with it’s great vocal harmonies.

Cost of a ticket: $41

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +

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Quinn Delaney

Maddie Poppe won American Idol in 2018. She did a headlining tour a few years later that stopped at City Winery Chicago on January 4, 2022. Check out our review of the opener of that show, Marielle Kraft. And now, on March 20, 2024, she is back to support Joshua Radin.

Early on, an audience member requests “Not Losing You”. Maddie responds that song is about an ex, who she did lose, so she doesn’t sing that song anymore. Instead, she introduces “SOS I’m In Love”, which she wrote about a guy that she was falling in love with. Also, that guy happens to be playing guitar next to her on stage! The song is so funky, groovy, and soulful.

Later on she sings “Peace of Mind”, which she says is another love song about being with the guitar player, Gabe. It’s a very sensual song about being very comfortable in a relationship. “I’m letting down my guard so easy / Let you in and let you see me in ways that I never knew that I could do / Cause when it comes to you, you give me peace of mind.”

She also sings “Nothing Good Comes Out of California” about sticking to her roots in Iowa. She says it was funny to release this song on Hollywood Records. “Dance with the devil in the city of angels / They don’t know the words to the star spangled / Girl, you can’t say we didn’t try to warn ya / That nothing good comes out of California.”

Cost of a ticket: $73

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Discounted +

Rating Scale: Exceptional Value > Worth It > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Quinn Delaney