If/Then opened on March 30, 2014 on Broadway. It ran for a year on Broadway before it began a national tour on October 13, 2015. Idina Menzel played Liz on Broadway and for the first three months of the tour. And now in 2020, this big Broadway musical opens in the small Studio Three at the Athenaeum Theatre.

In the story, Elizabeth divorces her husband and moves back to New York City. She doesn’t have a job lined up yet. Thus, she has a lot of different possibilities of what she could do with her life. On one afternoon, two of her friends invite her to different events. The story splits into two stories, based on which event she chooses. These two paths diverge in many ways. She ends up with different jobs, different boyfriends, and so much more. It’s practically two plays in one!

The style of this musical is very similar to Rent and Spring Awakening. They are all fast paced with a strong focus on relationships. Also, the music is really good with strong lyrics.

Amanda Giles is impressive as Elizabeth. She is on stage for nearly the full 3 hours. Bridget Adams-King is powerful as one of her best friends. Parker Guidry is hilarious as the other best friend. Michael Peters is solid as a main love interest. Matthew Fayfer is charming as her coworker. Lastly, the rest of this 12 person cast plus 4 person band are great!

Get tickets now for If/Then through February 16!

Cost of a ticket: $34

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Exceptional Value

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

Quinn Delaney

This show is a tribute to the late great Duke Ellington. It features Duke’s biggest hits including “Mood Indigo,” “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “I’m Beginning to See the Light,” “Hit Me With a Hot Note and Watch Me Bounce,” “Perdido,” “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” and “In a Sentimental Mood”. The set designed by Angela Weber Miller is opulent. It perfectly sets the stage for the fantastic singing by the entire cast. Lorenzo Rush Jr. (Memphis), Donica Lynn, and Lydia Burke are especially impressive. The dancing is also outstanding ranging from tap to jazz to swing. Giordano Dance Company would even be impressed. Lastly, the band plays Ellington’s music fantastically. The music draws you into a trance and then suddenly it is two hours later!

Get tickets now for Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies through March 6!

Cost of a ticket: $72

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It

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

Quinn Delaney

A pair of undergrad women are waiting in a gym to take a self-defense class. They are also rushing a sorority together. The two teachers enter, who are members of the sorority. The class was started because one of their sisters was the victim of sexual abuse. They are all determined to learn how to defend themselves. Later on, a quiet and shy girl awkwardly joins. At last, two fraternity brothers show up. They immediately state that they don’t support the masculine culture that lead to the abuse as they try to keep their cool being the only men. 

The group really comes together and supports each other. There is a great moment when the music is cranked up for a great training scene. There is also a lot of funny dialog as they discuss their experiences with college. This leads to them building strong relationships which they then rely on to tackle the bigger issues. 

Isa Arciniegas (Fun Home, The Wolves) is excellent as Diana, the strong girl who is really looking forward to learning self-defense and working with guns. Ariana Mahallati is great as the innocent and cheery friend of Diana. Andrew San Miguel is so good as the awkward girl nervously making her way through class. Anna Crivelli is strong as the main teacher, who has something to hide. Netta Walker is complicated as the secondary teacher, who has a lot to say about her sexual preferences. Jayson Lee is very funny as the fraternity brother who is having a lot of trouble finding a girlfriend. Lastly, Ryan McBride is hilarious as the Andy Sandberg type fraternity brother who is naturally charismatic and good with the ladies. 

The entire play is great except for the ending. It kind of comes out of nowhere and doesn’t really fit the tone of the play and they should consider changing it.

Get tickets now for How to Defend Yourself through February 23!

Cost of a ticket: $51

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It

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

Quinn Delaney

There’s always a worry when a show tours that it will lose its energy once it leaves New York. The original cast is gone, the set is simpler and the venues are much larger. Certainly, for the revival of “Once On This Island” which played at the very intimate Circle in the Square in Manhattan and is now playing at the Cadillac Palace in Chicago, this last concern is no trifling matter. Compare a capacity of 840 to 2,344!

And so while it is inescapable that the tour is a different production in many ways, it was a delight to discover that the passion is the same.

https://open.spotify.com/album/4Gbxn6WBheHhcMXTC8jIQs?si=KetWRs_fQVGBPo0rCsH3iA

“Once On This Island” tells the story of Ti Moune, a peasant girl who falls in love with Daniel, a descendant of the French aristocracy. They meet when Daniel is injured in a car accident. Ti Moune nurses him back to health and when he returns to his side of the island, she follows him and enters his world. While Ti Moune and Daniel are learning about each other, the gods of earth, water, love and death are watching and intervening. They are challenging each other to see if love is stronger than death, based on what happens to the two lovers.

The highlights of the show are Courtnee Carter in the role of Ti Moune and Cassondra James as Erzulie (Goddess of Love). Carter brings a wide-eyed innocence to the role that allows you to sympathize with the character, rather than roll your eyes about a modern retelling of “The Little Mermaid” where once again, a girl makes grand sacrifices for a boy she has just met. But for a hint of her strength and defiance, preview her vocals on “Waiting For Life”:

Once on This Island

James also had big shoes to fill, stepping into a role played by Lea Salonga on Broadway. But her gentle “The Human Heart” was exquisite.And perhaps the one moment that truly makes you forget that you’re seeing the show in a large theater as opposed to a small theater in the round is during “Ti Moune’s Dance,” a pivotal (and lively!) moment of the show that the cast handles deftly.

The show is one act, 90 minutes with no intermission and once it’s over, you just might want to buy a ticket to see it again.

Get tickets now for Once on This Island through February 2!

Edward Boyle