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 +

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

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 +

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Quinn Delaney

The novel version by Margaret Atwood of The Penelopiad was released in 2005. Soon afterwards, a theatrical version was performed at the Canadian National Arts Center and Britain’s Royal Shakespeare Company. And now, in March of 2024, it opens at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.

Odysseus is the hero of Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey. Penelope is his wife. This is her story. 

The cast includes Penelope, played by Jennifer Morrison (House), and her 12 maids played by Aja Alcazar (Cambodian Rock Band), Demetra Dee (Nacirema Society, Relentless), Maya Lou Hlava (Spring Awakening), Noelle Kayser, Elizabeth Laidlaw, Helen Joo Lee (Fantastic Super Great Nation Numero Uno), Tyler Meredith (Campaigns, Inc., Spinning), Ericka Ratcliff, Andrea San Miguel (How to Defend Yourself), Laura Savage (Tommy, West Side Story), Allison Sill, and Hannah Whitley.

Cost of a ticket: $55 (Rear Main Floor)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +

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Get tickets now for The Penelopiad through March 31^st.

Quinn Delaney

Bill W. is an alcoholic and he is struggling to keep it together. He needs to find another drunk to talk to. No one else will understand what he is going through. So, he finds Dr. Bob, an alcoholic surgeon. Just talking to him helps more than anything else ever has. Together, they decide to put together a program which eventually becomes Alcoholics Anonymous.

It’s a very interesting and heartwarming play. Alcoholism is defined as the inability to control drinking due to both a physical and emotional dependence on alcohol. The characters are truly suffering from this dependence as they reach their rock bottom, but then they slowly pull themselves out of it.

Ronnie Marmo (I’m Not A Comedian… I’m Lenny Bruce) is great as Bill. Marmo is very invested in the role as he has been attending meetings since he was 17. Steve Gelder is excellent as .Dr Bob, who displays such a full range of emotions on his journey to sobriety. Katherine Wettermann (Gigi’s Party) is excellent as the very understanding wife of Bill. Elizabeth Rude is superb as Dr. Bob’s wife. Phil Aman is amazing as a variety of drunks who are the first people Bill and Bob try to reach. Marla Seidell is so joyful as many fun characters.

See the full program here.

Cost of a ticket: $74.50

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It –

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Get tickets now for Bill W. and Dr. Bob through April 14^th.

Quinn Delaney

A man takes his girlfriend to a small cabin near a river. He teaches her how to fish and then he cooks their fresh catch. He tells her that he loves her and that he has never taken another woman here before. However, the girlfriend sees clues that another woman has been in the cabin. The girlfriend walks off the stage and another girlfriend walks on, which leaves the audience to figure out what is happening.

Jez Butterworth has written a very funny, romantic, and dramatic play. Loose Cannon has done a great job capturing each of those elements. Considering this is only their second production, their future looks bright.

Cameron Schmalz is great as the man who has a developed a routine to win over his girlfriends. Greta Schultz is great as the girlfriend who pretends she doesn’t know how to fish. Ellie Duffey is excellent as the girlfriend who teases him about talking to another fisherman at the river. Lastly, Abbie Rasmus is solid in her supporting role.

See the full program here.

Cost of a ticket: $26

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It  

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Get tickets now for The River through March 10^th!

Quinn Delaney

Here are the Top 5 reasons to see Black By Popular Demand:

1. In one sketch, four cast members come out with balloons and/or pillows stuffed into the back of their pants for the big booty sketch. It’s absolutely hilarious. One of them jokes that he can’t use a fireman’s pole because when he hits the ground, he just bounces all the way back up! Arlieta Hall shines in this sketch.

2. In another scene, a young woman’s family is appalled at her new bangs. Also, they can’t believe that she listens to Paramore. Faith Valerie is so funny in this one as the young woman.

3. The dancing in the show is fantastic. Most of the cast has a dance solo that has the crowd cheering. Sameul B. Jackson’s dance is one of the best.  

4. There is also a card magic show by Deshawn Mason that features Adonis Holmes on a mic giving hilarious commentary.

5. In one sketch a young couple is on their balcony talking to an old couple also on their balcony in Wrigleyville. Both couples are played by Breanna Ghostone and Samuel B. Jackson in a hilarious fashion.

Cost of a ticket: $48

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It

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Get tickets now for Black by Popular Demand: A Black Excellence Revue through May 25^th!

Quinn Delaney

The novel version by Anne Fine, titled Madame Doubtfire, was released in 1987. The film version of Mrs. Doubtfire was release in 1993 starring Robin Williams, Sally Field, and Pierce Brosnan. The musical version first premiered in Seattle at the end of 2019. It opened on Broadway in December of 2021. And now in February 2024, it opens at The Nederlander Theatre in Chicago

A married couple with three children are having issues. The father is being unresponsible and doing things against her wishes. So, the mother decides to divorce him and she is awarded full custody. Since the father only gets visitation rights once a week, he decides to dress up as an old Scottish woman and apply to be their nanny.

In this production, they truly captured the spirit of the movie and successfully added to it. The musical is so funny and heartfelt too. The songs by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick fit right into the story and truly elevate it.

The entire cast is fantastic. The performance by Rob McClure (Tony nomination for his Broadway performance in this role) as Mrs. Doubtfire is absolutely amazing. His funny voices are so great and the amount of costume changes is mind-boggling. Maggie Lakis is excellent as the mother. It’s a tough role to play and she nails it. Also, Lakis and McClure are married in real life. Leo Roberts is great as the mother’s new love interest. He is perfectly cast as the counterpoint to the father.  

This is a very impressive and must-see show! This touring version has definitely maintained it’s Broadway worthiness.

Cost of a ticket: $110 (Orchestra)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +

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Get tickets now for Mrs. Doubtfire through March 10^th!

Quinn Delaney

Topdog / Underdog premiered off-Broadway starring Don Cheadle and Jeffrey Wright in 2001. It transferred to Broadway the following year. It was revived in 2022 on Broadway and won the Tony for Best Revival of a play. And now, in February of 2024, it opens at the Windy City Playhouse, the new home of Invictus Theatre Company. (Their old home was The Frontier in Edgewater.)

Two brothers are living in a squalid house. Lincoln plays the 16^th president in an arcade, who repeatedly gets shot by the customers. Booth steals from department stores, but he wants to run a 3-card-monty game. He wants Lincoln to teach him so he can make a lot of money and win over Gracie.

This play is very well written by Suzan-Lori Parks. The drama slowly builds to an intense climax. It’s a very intimate stage. During the curtain call, the weight of the performance is still hanging on the actor’s faces and in the audience.  

Mikha’el Amin is excellent as Lincoln, who is glad he stopped playing the game and got a steady job. DeMorris Burrows is fantastic as Booth, who envisions great wealth coming from the game.

Cost of a ticket: $28 (Previews and Mondays)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +

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

Get tickets now for Topdog / Underdog at Windy City Playhouse through March 31^st!

Quinn Delaney