Three friends go to visit the Queen of North America, who was their friend in middle school. The Queen has become a totalitarian ruler. The friends have come saying they are just there to hang out, but they are actually just trying to get insulin for a family member. 

Jojo Jones has written a very fun and interesting play. It really picks up steam and gets dramatic when they all re-enact significant memories from their childhood. 

The audience can’t help but compare the Queen to our current nation’s leader, who everyone sucks up to and often acts childish in his desire to be liked. 

At 90 minutes, it would be nice to have an intermission. There are plenty of scene changes where it could be easily added.  Join the Pro-Intermission movement here. 

Alexandra Chopson (In Quietness) is devilishly excellent as the Queen ordering everyone around. Jasper Johnson is spot on as the concubine, doing everything she says quickly. Jojo Brown, Carmia Imani, and Alice Wu are all superb as the three friends. 

See the program here. 

Cost of a ticket: $55

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value

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Get tickets now for Veal through November 9th. 

Quinn Delaney

Jess has just returned from the Afghanistan war after suffering severe burns from an IED explosion. Her sister throws her a welcome home party. Soon afterwards, she goes to see her ex-boyfriend, who works at a local gas station. He doesn’t recognize her at first, because of her burns. 

Lindsey Ferrentino has written a great play that has a good balance of comedy and drama, light-heartedness and heaviness. 

At 90 minutes, it would be nice to have an intermission to digest this complex play. There are plenty of scene changes where it could be easily added.  Join the Pro-Intermission movement here. 

Christina Gorman (London Road, The Moors) puts on a great performance in the difficult role of Jess. Christopher Acevedo (Plano) is excellent as her ex, who often doesn’t know what to say. Cyd Blakewell (Obliteration, The Locusts)  is splendid as her very caring sister. Eddie Martinez (Rightlynd, Fade) is so friendly as the sister’s boyfriend, despite the opposition he faces from Jess. Lastly, Barbara Figgins is solid as the voice at Jess’s therapy sessions. 

Cost of a ticket: $40

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value

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Get tickets now for Ugly Lies the Bone through November 15th! 

Quinn Delaney

Morgan James opens with “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC. It’s the opening track on her latest album, Soul Remains the Same. She later describes this album as what would happen if Aretha Franklin and AC/DC went into the studio together. 

She follows this up with “Plush” by Stone Temple Pilots. With this new soulful arrangement, the first few notes will give you goosebumps. This is because these soulful versions of alternative rock songs work so well. Since Stone Temple Pilots are touring without their original lead singer, they should consider hiring Morgan! 

Later in the night, she sings “Tonight, Tonight” by the Smashing Pumpkins. James sounds fantastically soulful. Billy Corgan and the Lyric Opera of Chicago are also reimagining this song and the entire iconic 90s album, Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness. 

Soon afterwards is “Better Man” by Pearl Jam. This version is hauntingly beautiful and would make Eddie Vedder proud.  

She plays a lot of great original songs as well. She introduces this one as a happy song called “Drown”, which definitely doesn’t sound like a happy title! 

Morgan James sometimes just plays with her husband, other times with a full orchestra, and tonight with a full band. They drive all over the country. Most recently they went from Knoxville to St. Louis to Chicago! With talent like this, they’ll surely continue to cris-cross the country for a long time! 

See the full setlist here. 

Cost of a ticket: $45

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value

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

Quinn Delaney

Constellations is the story of Marianne and Roland, played by Kaylah Crosby (Pro-Am) and Christian Davis Aldridge (Barefoot in the Park), across multiple universes. In the first universe, they meet at a BBQ while Roland is in a relationship, so they don’t connect. In another one, they are both single and they get together. Then, in one world, Marianne sleeps with another man. In an alternate world, Roland is the unfaithful one. The play goes on like this exploring the infinite possibilities of their relationship. It’s just like the improvisational game “Change” where whenever a bell is rung, the actor has to change their last line of dialog, which in turn can change the entire scene. As the options present themselves, the audience can’t help but hope for best possible outcome.

There are many big themes that emerge and big questions to ponder in this play by Nick Payne.  Does free will exist? Or, are we controlled by fate?  Do our choices matter in relationships, or will most things end up the same no matter what we do? Can a relationship survive infidelity? Can it survive a life threatening illness?

At 80 minutes, it would be nice to have an intermission to digest this complex play. There are plenty of scene changes where it could be easily added.  Join the Pro-Intermission movement here. 

The actors perform fantastically.  They expertly navigate multiple universes. With just a slight change of tone and a new word or two, they manage to create a completely different feeling for each world. Sometimes they repeat a lot more words than is necessary. The set is also unique. It looks like constellations with all the handing lightbulbs.  The entire production is world class.

See the program here. 

Cost of a ticket: $52

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It

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Get tickets now for Constellations through October 19th at the Athenaeum Theatre!

Quinn Delaney

Julius Ceaser is a tyrannical fascist leader. So, Brutus, Cassius, and the Senator crew conspire to assassinate him. 

This musical by the Q Brothers Collective has many very fun songs, such as a very long one about sandwiches, since Ceaser has banned bread. 

It includes many 90’s hip-hop references from just a line to a full song. It’s a very timely and satirical story about political violence. 

Janyce Carabello is very versatile as the intern and many other characters. Curtis Bannister (Understudy) is excellently evil as Caeser. Victor Musoni (Fat Ham, Toni Stone) is an acting force as Brutus. Danielle Davis (Clyde’s, Fun Home) truly shines, especially on the sandwich song. 

Cost of a ticket: $73 (Main Floor)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It

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Get tickets now for Rome Sweet Rome through October 19th! 

Quinn Delaney

Starcrawler, from Los Angeles, have a great stage presence. The lead singer, Arrow de Wilde, has a great entrance as she immediately grabs the microphone and sings “Goodtime Girl”, a 2021 single. It’s a great opener as it instantly showcases their talents.  

Midway into the set, they play “Stranded” from their 2022 album, She Said. “But now I wanna be with you … Shine on me”. It’s a great rocker that has everyone dancing along. 

To end their short 30 minute set, they play “Bet My Brains” from their 2019 album, Devour You. At the end of the song, Arrow leaves the stage and the band continues with an extended outro which includes the lead guitarist going out into the crowd while playing a shredding solo. Starcrawler definitely left the audience wanting more.    

See the full setlist here. 

Cost of a ticket: $85

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It

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Quinn Delaney

Francis Guinan (True West, Downstate) is excellent as Pete, the owner of an old TV store on Ashland in Chicago. He really wants to pass along his business to his daughter, Sam, played by Jenna Fischer (The Office). She and her husband, played by Chike Johnson (Hymn), are considering moving to LA to escape the winters and find new business opportunities. Sam is quite similar to The Office’s Pam Beesly in that she is very nice and loving and doesn’t want to disappoint anymore.  

Jess, played by Cordelia Dewdney, a former employee and mother of two, is living with Pete. The father of her children, a drug addict played by Will Allan (Campaigns, Inc.), has just come back into town. 

This play is very funny and heartfelt. It’s a love letter to Chicago. Everyone really cares for each other and struggles between doing what is best for others or what is best for themselves. Also, they all keep secrets from each other that are gradually revealed, too slowly. Perhaps some of these secrets should be revealed earlier to the audience, if not to the characters, to make the play more exciting early on.  

Cost of a ticket: $69 (Mezzanine)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +

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Get tickets now for Ashland Avenue through October 12th! 

Quinn Delaney

X Ambassadors have launched this tour is to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of their debut album, VHS. 

Midway into their set, they play “Georgeous”. “You’re so gorgeous / ‘Cause you make me feel gorgeous.” They rerecorded the entire album and the new version of this song sounds even more beautiful. 

They follow this up with “Unsteady”. “Hold, hold on, hold onto me / ‘Cause I’m a little unsteady”. The new version is very stripped down, so the old version wins on this fantastic song.  

Up next is “Renegades”, which is their most popular song on Spotify with over 919 million streams. “And I say, “Hey, hey-hey-hey” / Livin’ like we’re renegades”.  Both versions of this song are excellent. This one is a tie. 

In the encore, they play “Friend For Life”.  “I can hear them two kids in a basement / Singing Californication, and I know / We don’t talk now, but you’re on my mind”. This is a such a fun song about friendship. The lead singer, Sam Harris, says “Speaking of friends for life”, as he goes and sits down next to the keyboard player, his brother. 

Together they play “Follow the Sound of My Voice”. It’s a heartbreakingly beautiful song written by the lead singer about his brother, who is blind.   

Overall, it was a high energy night of music celebrating the 10^th anniversary of VHS and more! 

See a recent setlist here. 

Cost of a ticket: $53

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It

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Quinn Delaney

This fun musical is about Obama’s political career from 2004 to 2012 as remembered by Joe Biden.  It pokes fun at many of the political figures of that era including Mitch McConnell, Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton, Herman Cain, Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz, and Michelle. It also includes Obama’s biggest accomplishments and failures. 

The music is very catchy. You’ll definitely be singing the songs after the show, but watch out where you do, as a lot of the lyrics are full of profanity. 

The New York cast is fantastic. You won’t want to miss your chance to see them in Chicago. 

You can also find more videos of songs on their YouTube page that are not included in this version of the show including ones with John Boehner.

Cost of a ticket: $78.50 (Orchestra)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Discounted

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Get tickets now for 44 – The Musical through September 21st! 

Quinn Delaney

Lake Street Dive street dive kicks things off as the crowd arrives. One of their best songs is the title track from their 2014 album, Bad Self Portraits. “I’m taking night classes / I’m making sculptures / I’m painting bad self portraits / of a lonely woman.” It’s a heartbreaking song with such a joyful sound. 

St. Vincent is next up. She continues the theme of breakup songs with “New York” from her 2017 album, MASSEDUCTION. “Where you’re the only motherfucker in the city who can stand me / I have lost a hero, I have lost a friend / But for you, darling, I’d do it all again”. It’s an absolutely beautiful song. 

The lead singer of the Lumineers says “Some people tell me they chose one of our songs as their wedding song. When I ask which song, they say ‘Ho Hey’ (Their most popular song on Spotify, with over 1.5 billion streams). That’s a breakup song! I’d like to nominate the following song, ‘Dead Sea’ instead.” 

As a tribute to the lead singer’s younger brother who passed away, The Lumineers continue the New York theme by playing “New York State of Mind” by Billy Joel. It sounds absolutely fantastic. 

Cost of a ticket: $240 (Floor Seats)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Discounted

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

Quinn Delaney