Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...One of the great pleasures of the artistic renaissance at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora is seeing what it can do for Chicago actors. Take Larry Adams, for example, who is playing Julian Marsh in director Rachel Rockwell's mostly boffo production of "42nd Street." You wouldn't want to insult Adams, who has a fine voice and a palpable heart, by calling him a journeyman actor. But he goes with the work around Chicagoland. He has sung in front of his share of pre-recorded tracks and thin bands. On Friday night, though, I watched Adams do what an actor like him most likes to do: stand in the middle of a grand old palace of varieties, eye a thousand or so faces ready to receive, and belt out "42nd Street," one of the great and timeless anthems of the indispensable art form known as American musical theater, with a huge orchestra underpinning his every note."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...Talk about a knockout opening in the grand tradition of old Broadway: Just take a look at what has been done by director Rachel Rockwell, choreographer Tammy Mader, music director Doug Peck and his superb orchestra, and the brilliant rat-a-tat-tat dancers of "42nd Street," the latest show to get the razzle-dazzle treatment as part of the Broadway Series at Aurora's historic Paramount Theatre."
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...42nd Street is the perfect musical to introduce youngsters to the joy and pleasure of classical Broadway musicals. The tap dancing and the extravagance staging will impress them. They'll leave entertained with a smile on their face. 42nd Street is irresistible!"
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"...Paramount’s 42nd Street is the best possible Chicago production of the show you are likely to see. The first 10 minutes will lift you out of your seat, with Tammy Mader’s hot choreography and Rachel Rockwell’s comical direction of the ‘Audition” and “Shadow Waltz” selections. That sets a very high bar, and the remaining 2:30 minutes of the show do not sustain that perfection. But there are fine lead performances, a tireless ensemble, a dazzling orchestra, and nicely executed designs. And when Larry Adams stands alone on stage for Julian Marsh’s reprise of the title song, it raises goose-bumps. You, no doubt, like the rest of the audience, will be standing and cheering."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...The drive to downtown Aurora gets shorter every time I head out to the Luxurious Paramount Theatre. The current production on their gloriuos stage is "42nd Street" ( music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Al Dubin), the standard story of little town girl makes it big on Broadway, and one that almost every theater in the Chicago area has brought to their stage over the years. On the drive, on a winter storm watch day in January, I wondered what couth the staff at Paramount do differently than the productions of the past. Then I realized that this production was being directed by Rachel Rockwell and that means a re-imagination of an old classic. Ms Rockwell looks at each production an dwhile they stay true to some of the original choreography ( in this production, Tammy Mader takes on this job) of Gower Champion, but with the talent assembled by this company, we are treated to an evening that you will not forget!"
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...Theatre goers seeking a show that absolutely has it all should look no further. Paramount offers a large, talented, professional cast singing and dancing to a joyously familiar score, while wearing breathtaking costumes on incredible sets. What more could anyone want? This show is definitely worth the trip to Aurora, if only to bring some warmth and light to Chicago's frigid, snowy winter. Once again the Paramount can boast productions that are consistently "Better than Broadway," because they're proof, indeed, that there is truth in advertising."