Displaying items by tag: Steve McDonagh
Porchlight Music Theatre’s 'Anything Goes' Features Standout Cast
To those familiar with Cole Porter’s 1930s musical, you may recognize the opening notes as the live orchestra begins to play the title number. Reno Sweeney (played with dazzle by Meghan Murphy) bounds on stage, and the Opening Night crowd erupts in cheers. Sweeney takes in the applause and adoration as she starts to sing:
“Times have changed
And we’ve often rewound the clock.
Since the puritans got a shock.
When they landed on Plymouth Rock.”
As Murphy’s belt swells and rings through the theater, this audience only cheered harder. This is the 11 o’clock number, and the artistic team does not disappoint. As the ensemble joins Murphy on stage, Choreographer Tammy Mader pulls all the stops. Tappers, ballroom dance, and everything in between. Lighting Designer G. “Max” Maxin IV fills the space with color that is only heightened by the exquisite costume design full of sparkle. Looking around at the audience, it was clear that I was not the only one bouncing along in my seat. Before Murphy even hits the final lyrics, the crowd was on their feet, eager to reward this show-stopping number with everything that they had.
Directed by Michael Weber, Anything Goes follows Billy Crocker (Luke Nowakowski), a man hopelessly in love with Hope Harcourt (Emma Ogea). The one problem? She is engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (Jackson Evans), and her mother is eager to see that this wedding takes place. Billy sets out as a stowaway onboard the ocean liner S.S. American – desperate to win the love of his life. Ultimately, if he wants to succeed, he finds that his only hope is to trust his alliances with nightclub singer Reno Sweeney (Meghan Murphy) and two wanted criminals - Moonface Martin (Steve McDonagh) and Erma (Tafadzwa Diener).
With music and lyrics by Cole Porter, the score features famous hits including: It’s De-Lovely, Friendship, and of course, Anything Goes. Full of love triangles, mistaken identities, and missed opportunities, you might just find yourself on the edge of your seat – eager to see what twist or turn might come next.
The die-hard fans of the classic musical know Cole Porter hits audiences with one larger-than-life number after another. Weber and his team fill the small stage to the brim with impressive designs and jaw-dropping choreography. Especially when combined with the stellar vocalists, those numbers ranging from You’re the Top to Blow, Gabriel, Blow certainly stand out. However, if you’re anything like this writer, you might also find that the intimate, smaller numbers truly hit the heart of the show.
It’s De-Lovely comes towards the end of Act I. Hope is discouraged, knowing deep down that she loves Billy, but her mother will never let her end the engagement. Alone on the ship deck, Billy finds her, and the two begin to sway and sing.
“The night is young, the skies are clear
So if you want to go walking, dear,
It's delightful, it's delicious, it's de-lovely.”
The lights dim to a deep blue, creating the feel of moonlight. As the song continues, the two become lost in each other, and start to dance. Other couples join and dance alongside them, but for Billy and Hope, it’s clear that the world only exists between the two of them. To put it simply, Ogea and Nowakowski enchant the Opening Night audience with their sweet duet. As the ending note plays and Billy dips Hope in a final pose, an audible sigh could be heard from the crowd.
Inspiring vocalists and a jaunty score make Anything Goes a night of fun. If you’re a classical musical fan, then this is the show for you. If you have yet to experience a production of Cole Porter’s classic, Porchlight Music Theatre certainly offers an exciting introduction as we hit the show’s 90th anniversary.
RECOMMENDED
Running through February 25, 2024 at Ruth Page Center for the Arts – 1016 N. Dearborn St. 773-777-9884
*Extended through March 10th!
HAMILTON returns to Chicago in 2026
19 May 2025 in Upcoming TheatreBroadway In Chicago announced today that HAMILTON will return to Chicago for a multi-week engagement beginning March 4, 2026 through April 26,…
Hiplet Ballerinas: A Daring Dance Revolution at Auditorium Theatre
18 May 2025 in Dance in ReviewAn electrifying evening of artistic fusion unfolded at the Auditorium Theatre as Hiplet Ballerinas, the professional company of the Chicago…
Blank Theatre’s SWEET CHARITY Charms with Talented Cast and Standout Choreography
17 May 2025 in Theatre in ReviewWe are inside the Pompeii Club. From everything Charity has told us, the club is the place to be, and…
The Antiquities: A Thought-provoking Look at Today from the Future
13 May 2025 in Theatre in ReviewWith AI and other technological advancements continuing to change the landscape of how we work and interact with one another,…
![Riots of Laughter Greet World Premiere of 'R.U.R. [Rossum’s Universal Robots]'](/media/k2/items/cache/63d6788acfa364724d695afe54efe853_S.jpg)
Riots of Laughter Greet World Premiere of 'R.U.R. [Rossum’s Universal Robots]'
13 May 2025 in Theatre in ReviewRiots of laughter greeted the City Lit Theater world premiere of “R.U.R. [Rossum’s Universal Robots]” Wait. Could this be the…
Paramount Theatre extends Million Dollar Quartet until January 4, 2026
12 May 2025 in Upcoming TheatreParamount Theatre’s smash hit Million Dollar Quartet, a “roof-rattling…rapturous celebration of early rock ‘n’ roll” (Daily Herald), won’t stop rockin’ anytime…
See Chicago Dance Announces 2025 Chicago Dance Month Performers and FREE Events
12 May 2025 in Upcoming DanceSee Chicago Dance, the dance industry's nonprofit service organization celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, is proud to announce organizations…
Tickets for Disney's The Lion King On Sale Now
12 May 2025 in Upcoming TheatreBroadway In Chicago announced today that individual tickets for Disney’s The Lion King, are now on sale to the public. Tickets ranging…
Cats pounces onto the Paramount stage taking the legendary musical to soaring new heights
11 May 2025 in Theatre in ReviewI’ll just say it - Cats is going to blow your mind. Now running at the Paramount Theatre, this spectacular…
Trap Door's 'Galileo,' Beautifully Produced, Is a Knowing Parable for Our Times
11 May 2025 in Theatre in Review“Galileo” written in 1938 by German playwright Bertolt Brecht, tells the straightforward story of the 17th century physicist and astronomer’s…
Humble and Radiant: Charlotte's Web at Greenhouse Theatre
11 May 2025 in Theatre ReviewsThe adage goes that you can’t choose your family but you can choose your friends. Throughout our lives, we meet…
Hell in a Handbag Productions Presents World Premiere of QUEEN FOR A DAY
09 May 2025 in Upcoming TheatreHell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to conclude its 2024/25 Season with the world premiere of QUEEN FOR A DAY written by…
A Chicago May Must See: Time Is A Color And The Color Is Blue at Bramble Arts Loft
06 May 2025 in Theatre ReviewsIf our day-to-day lives were a collective color, it would probably be the color blue. Whether you are feeling blue,…
Steppenwolf Theatre Presents YOU WILL GET SICK - June 5 – July 13, 2025 - Chicago Premiere!
06 May 2025 in Upcoming TheatreSteppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to present Noah Diaz's whimsical, wild, unpredictable and deeply moving Chicago…
Review: Remy Bumppo's 'Art' at Theatre Wit
06 May 2025 in Theatre in ReviewA fool and their money are soon parted as the old expression goes, but what do you do when that…
BACK IN CHICAGO BY POPULAR DEMAND! TONY AND GRAMMY-WINNING BEST MUSICAL, HADESTOWN IS NOW PLAYING
06 May 2025 in Upcoming TheatreBroadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that HADESTOWN, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best New Musical and the…
Definition Theatre Presents World Premiere of Black Bone by Tina Fakhrid-Deen
05 May 2025 in Upcoming TheatreDefinition Theatre is proud to present the world premiere of Black Bone, a bold new satire by Chicago playwright Tina Fakhrid-Deen…
Hymn at Chicago Shakespeare Theater – A Soulful Exploration of Brotherhood
04 May 2025 in Theatre in ReviewStories that explore the emotional lives of men—especially Black men—are still far too rare on the American stage. Outside the…
Chicago Opera Theater presents world premiere of She Who Dared by Jasmine Arielle Barnes & Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton
02 May 2025 in Upcoming TheatreChicago Opera Theater (COT), Chicago’s foremost producer of new and rarely staged operas, proudly presents the world premiere of She Who Dared by…
Outrage Made Manifest in “Bust: An Afrocurrentist Play”
30 April 2025 in Theatre in ReviewSomething extraordinary happens on a street in Huntsville, Alabama. Mr. Woods (Keith Randolph Smith), a hard-working Black man in the…
THE DEN THEATRE ANNOUNCES JUNE COMEDY SHOWS
30 April 2025 in Upcoming TheatreThe Den Theatre today announced upcoming June 2025 shows at the theatre's Wicker Park stages at 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., including "Anatomy…
Redtwist Theatre's GARY: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus: Who mops up after the royals' butchery?
29 April 2025 in Theatre in ReviewI reviewed TITUS ANDRONICUS in mid-February, so I was eager to see the sequel! In TITUS, Shakespeare tells the story…
BrightSide Theatre announces cast and production team for season finale PIPPIN, June 13-29
29 April 2025 in Upcoming TheatreBrightSide Theatre, Naperville’s professional theatre company, has announced the cast for the final show of its 13th season – the…
Chicago Puppet Lab Showcase culminates eight-month residency with experimental live shows by emerging puppet artists, May 31-June 1 at Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center
29 April 2025 in Upcoming TheatreEight Chicago artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines have spent the last eight months in residence at the Chicago Puppet…
Gusto Performances in ‘Spring Awakening,’ Vibrant Staging of 1906 Basis of Broadway Musical
28 April 2025 in Theatre in Review“Spring Awakenings,” now playing at Chicago’s Greenhouse Theater Center, is not the Tony-winning 2006 Broadway musical “Spring Awakening,” but an…
Rosemont's Parkway Bank Park Announces 2025 Lineup for Rockin in the Park Free Summer Concert Series
28 April 2025 in Upcoming TheatreRosemont's Parkway Bank Park entertainment district (5501 Park Place, Rosemont) will turn up the volume this summer with the return of its…
‘Kairos’ Is One of the Most Enjoyable and Provocative Shows in Chicago
27 April 2025 in Theatre in ReviewLisa Sanaye Dring’s play “Kairos,” which just opened at The Edge Off Broadway theater, is one of the most thought-provoking…
A Half-Century in Harmony: Ryan Opera Center Shines in ‘Rising Stars in Concert’
27 April 2025 in Theatre in ReviewIt was a night of celebration, reflection, and breathtaking talent at the Civic Opera House. Fifty years of song echoed…
From Graphic Epic to Stage Triumph: Berlin at Court Theatre
27 April 2025 in Theatre in ReviewCourt Theatre’s world premiere of Berlin, adapted by Mickle Maher from Jason Lutes’ monumental graphic novel, is a breathtaking achievement.…
Rivendell Theatre continues 30th Anniversary Season with GORGEOUS in a co-production with Raven Theatre May 1 - June 7, 2025
25 April 2025 in Upcoming TheatreChicago's Rivendell Theatre Ensemble continues to celebrate its 30th Anniversary season with the World Premiere co-production of Keiko Green's GORGEOUS, directed by Kirsten Fitzgerald. The co-production…
Latest Articles
-
Hiplet Ballerinas: A Daring Dance Revolution at Auditorium Theatre
Written by Kimberly KatzAn electrifying evening of artistic fusion unfolded at the Auditorium Theatre as Hiplet Ballerinas, the professional company of the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center, dazzled audiences once again with their breathtaking production, Dipped in Versatility. Created by Homer Hans Bryant, Hiplet… -
HAMILTON returns to Chicago in 2026
Written by Buzz Center StageBroadway In Chicago announced today that HAMILTON will return to Chicago for a multi-week engagement beginning March 4, 2026 through April 26, 2026, at the CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe). Group tickets for 10+ are available now by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling 312-977-1710. Current… -
Blank Theatre’s SWEET CHARITY Charms with Talented Cast and Standout Choreography
Written by Lauren KatzWe are inside the Pompeii Club. From everything Charity has told us, the club is the place to be, and as the scene unfolds, it’s certainly no surprise. Costume Designer Cindy Moon does not hold back. The ensemble is dressed… -
The Antiquities: A Thought-provoking Look at Today from the Future
Written by Betsy SchmittWith AI and other technological advancements continuing to change the landscape of how we work and interact with one another, what does the future hold for humanity? What does it mean to be human in a world where robots and…
Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.