Still, while plugging his hip hop pal’s new release, Def Jam Record’s president Jay-Z let everyone in the sold-out House of Blues crowd know why he is still the undisputed “King of the Rap Scene” as he aggressively unleashed tracks from his brand new Gangster. With fury and top-notch showmanship, the 37-year-old Jay-Z...

Rzeznik’s voice was album perfect, the songs were tight and the two added touring musicians did add a lot to their live sound that I best compare to Bon Jovi meets Eddie Money. For every rock ballad the Goo Goo Dolls dished out they balanced it with a more upbeat, rocking number including three in which Robby Takac...

It was hard rock madness this past Saturday night at Chicago City Limits where Ion Vein led the charge in celebrating Halloween with a high energy set of loud, abrasive, in-your-face metal.

It was an amazing night of music and fun Saturday night at Martyr’s (3855 N. Lincoln), where Keaton Simons, on tour with Pete Francis of Dispatch, treated Chicago to a lively set of the inspirational, fun-loving numbers for which he is getting known. The very charismatic Keaton, on tour in support of his latest release Can You Hear Me...

Last Friday night my craving for classic metal got the best of me to which I headed over to Nite Caps at 5007 W. Irving Park Road, a Chicago hangout that regularly delivers the sounds of crunching guitars and cavernous bass drums. To be honest, it wasn’t at all random as to why I ended up there that night. I went to see Judas Rising...

Guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen made his presence known in Chicago when he thrilled a packed hall last night at the House of Blues. Yngwie’s faithful arrived in full force, enjoying every riff-soaked moment of the 90-plus minute power set. The renowned shredder is currently touring his new album, Perpetual Flame...

If you want dancing – amazing dancing, then yes, “Billy Elliot” certainly delivers, and does so with flair, imagination and precision. However, if it’s music you want to take home with you and hum around the house, you might be hard pressed to remember any of it. Despite the fact that Elton John composed the music that was nominated for a record nine Oliver Awards (winning Best Musical), I found many of the songs to be plain and even a bit drab, not to mention over-hyped. But the songs did allow for astounding dance routines.  Elton John, who was present for the Chicago premiere, also gave the fans a thrill when he took to the stage in a tutu during the big finale. 

The story takes place in a small English town where the miners are on strike, causing tension throughout with those who cross the picket lines. Billy Elliot, the 11-year-old son of one of the mentioned striking miners, is expected to find interest in boxing and others boy-like hobbies, but is obsessed with ballet dancing instead. Billy (startlingly played by a rotation of Giuseppe Bausilio, Cesar Corrales and J.P. Viernes). Emily Skinner, a true notable in the Chicago production, plays Mrs. Wilkinson, a dance teacher that works with Billy when she realizes how gifted the 11-year-old is. At first she has to teach Billy in private because his father and older brother, Tony (Patrick Mulvy), are adamantly against him ballet dancing – endearingly called “bay-lee” throughout the show. It is not until Mrs. Wilkinson convinces Billy’s family that he is talented enough to audition for the prominent Royal Ballet School in England that they begin to support his dancing.

Armand Schultz is powerful as Billy’s father and Cynthia Darlow is charming as “Grandma”, as the two veteran stage actors provide a solid presence within the story while showing off their honed singing voices.

There are plenty of things to like about “Billy Elliot” – its touching story, dazzling dance numbers, commanding acting performances, its big-production set, a good share of laughs and even the engaging English accents used throughout. Still, the show was not without its flaws. Apparently, based on its award nominations, I’m in the minority when I stated the music was not very memorable, but I also felt that it ran a bit too long and began to drag. Still the biggest problem for me was the omission of the film’s ending when Billy is shown as the lead in Swan Lake. To me this explains that he was a true standout overall – not just in his small town – that Billy was truthfully exceptional. 

 “Billy Elliot the Musical” might not be as enjoyed by those who have seen the film. However, on the whole, the production is still worth checking out because of its mind-blowing dance numbers alone. But to dub it as one of the best musicals in recent years, if not the best…that would fall a bit short.   

“Billy Elliot” is currently playing at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre. For more information, please visit www.broadwayinchicago.com. 

Director Craig Engel’s latest production to come to Bolingbrook’s Theatre on the Hill (TOTH) is a story many are familiar with, and, since presented with such a timeless magic about it, is a performance that can certainly be enjoyed by everyone once again. “The Elephant Man” a story of a severely deformed man, John Merrick, who suffers from the genetic disease neurofibromatosis is often sad as it delves into the cruelty dealt by those who judge and condemn by appearance, often treating him as an animal. However, Merrick’s spirit throughout is uplifting as well as that of those who care for him like a fellow human being.

Engel’s direction captures the heartache experienced by Merrick caused by the torment of others from severe beatings to the subtlest glares or comments by those who pass by. Encompassed also so well is Merrick’s desire to be a normal man and his true appreciation for those that showed him the common courteousness of a fellow human being. TOTH veteran Gus Gustafson again shows his versatility as an actor as John Merrick thanks to a compelling demonstration of pain, ignorance, hope and even humor. Dr. Frederick Treves is nicely played by Kevin Folliard and David Lichty (a force on stage) is professional as ever as Dr. Car Gomm. Kate Schultz is charming as Ms. Kendall, the woman who opened up to Merrick and presented to him new experiences that he had never dreamed.  

The story of the Elephant Man takes place in the late 1800’s and a joint effort by the cast, Michael A. Fudala and Scott Boland does a great job in taking the audience to the particular era with a keen eye for props and their detail to set construction. Julie Kinsey also boosts the believability to the time period with fantastic design and selection of costumes. Though the set and costumes made the play visually stimulating, one of the most important facets in making such a production so credible was in the make-up creation of John Merrick superbly handled by Craig Engel.

“The Elephant Man” will be performed each weekend through March 28^th. For more information visit www.tothbolingbrook.com.          

Once again making a triumphant return to Chicago is Mamma Mia!, now playing at the Rosemont Theatre (5400 N. River Road, Rosemont) through Sunday, January 24^th. With a national touring cast that is as energetic as they were talented, Mamma Mia is a wild ride full of catchy ABBA songs, laughs and well-choreographed dancing. .

The classic 1960’s sitcom, “The Addams Family” has radiantly been brought to life in the form of a musical that has its share of laughs, catchy numbers and, of course, the macabre and bizarre. Making its world premier at the Ford Center/Oriental Theatre in Chicago, “The Addams Family: A New Musical” sports a power-packed cast of Tony nominees, including two-time Tony winners, Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth as Gomez and Morticia Addams. While the entire cast is abundant in talent, the two veteran stage and film actors astound as the strange, famous couple, trading songs and punch lines with precision and an ease that allows the audience to sit back and really enjoy the show without effort. In short, Lane and Neuwirth, both dynamic as ever – and genuinely funny, could not have been more perfect for the part.

The story has daughter, Wednesday Addams, now 18 years old, finding love with a “normal” boy, Lucas Beineke, nicely played by Wesley Taylor. Naturally, this threatens Gomez as he fears his daughter is being “snatched away” from him. The fun really begins when the Addams have the Beineke’s over for dinner where peculiar occurrences and behaviors seem to astonish the guests as the two families try to acquaint themselves with one another. Dinner becomes an overnighter thanks to a contrived storm, in which the conservative Beineke’s are tested by the Addams and each other.

Krysta Rodriguez does an amazing job as the teenage Wednesday, showcasing her lively dancing and powerful voice, and ability to draw a laugh. Jackie Hoffman is terrific as Grandma and Kevin Chamberlain is hilarious as Uncle Fester, especially during the imaginatively comical number, “The Moon and Me”, which one really needs to see to appreciate. Playing Lucas’ parents, Mal and Alice Beineke, are Terrance Mann and Carolee Carmello, who takes advantage of the opportunity to display her great vocal range.   

The show’s many sets are nothing short of amazing, many subtly changing mid-scene from one section/room of the Addams’ house to another along with long stairways that moved from side to side, sometimes joining in the middle. Set props also include various house monsters including a giant squid that lives beneath the stairs.

In all, “The Addams Family: A New Musical” contains all the components for a very fun show as substantiated by the audience with one of the quickest standing ovations I’ve ever witnessed at a play’s end. As the curtains closed, there was not a soul in the crowd that wasn’t snapping to the Addams Family theme.

“The Addams Family: A New Musical” is playing through January 10^th at the Ford Center/Oriental Theatre. For more information go to www.BroadwayInChicago.com.