Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"..."Les Miserables" is a long way from "Lend Me a Tenor," and Drury Lane's high-budget production, which features the Broadway veteran Ivan Rutherford and a reasonably healthy orchestra, is entirely respectable and, in some places, impressive. The barricade sequences are powerful. Matthew Uzarraga, kid extraordinaire, is the world's most enthusiastic Gavroche. Travis Taylor, the best singer of the night, nails Enjolras in the most exciting way. David Girolmo understands the pivotal importance of that gorgeously scored scene between Valjean and the Bishop of Digne. Elsewhere, you see actors reaching for tough roles, like Christina Nieves as Eponine and Skyler Adams, who makes a very vulnerable Marius opposite Emily Rohm's lovely Cosette."
Chicago Sun Times - Recommended
"...Directed by Rachel Rockwell, with music direction by Roberta Duchak, this Drury Lane production is notable for its overall vocal lushness, and for the altogether ravishing sound that emerges from the pit, where conductor Ben Johnson elicits a fitting opera house grandeur from his orchestra."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...The cast's powerful singing held me in my seat for this three-hour performance. I only wish the actors hadn't chosen to signal high-stakes moments by cracking their voices. "
Chicagoist - Recommended
"...Drury Lane's production is polished where it needs to be and gritty where it counts. When the student revolutionaries, led by the deeply moving Travis Taylor as Enjolras, are fighting hopelessly at the barricade, its hard to fight the swell of emotion, even if you know all too well what comes next. And for an audience that could very well have Les Mis fatigue, that's a refreshing sentiment."
ShowBizChicago - Highly Recommended
"...Some call it a masterpiece, others call it an overreach in cramming Victor Hugo’s great saga into three hours of stage time. Regardless of critics’ personal opinions, there is no doubt that Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg’s musical opera of Les Miserables ranks in the top ten pantheon of the greatest shows of all time. From the musical’s humble beginnings as a French concept album (my personal favorite recording) to the current mega tour heading by Ramin Karminloo which will anchor back on Broadway in the coming months, the fan base for this show is like no other. And whether one loved or loathed the film version, no one can deny that it too was a game changer in how movie musicals will now be filmed."
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...The power of the live stage and haunting music rings so true. See Les Miserables once again and rekindle your spirits. This beautiful show is artful that teens will enjoy. It is one of my all-time favorite shows and the Drury Lane production works so well on its smaller stage that brings forth the richness of the material. I was able to hear and understand every lyric due to the fine enunciation and articulation of the cast. You’d be hard pressed to hear a stronger cast of singer/actors than this cast that Rachel Rockwell has assembled. Kudos to Executive Producer Kyle Desantis for sparing no expense to produce a world class production of one of the greatest musicals (operas) of all-time. Don’t miss this stunning masterpiece!"
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Rockwell's cast is solid as the rock of Gibraltar in bringing this story to the Drury Lane stage, as we go on a time trip through three decades of 19th Century history in France and watch the life of one Jean Val Jean ( an amazing, stunning and outstanding performance by Ivan Rutherford) , a man who was imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread and is now ruined for life as he is followed by the sanctimonious Javert ( the incredible Quentin Earl Darrington) who cannot see that change is possible. Based on the work of Victor Hugo, this amazing musical with a book by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg with lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and music by Mr. Schonberg is filled with wonderful, dynamic musical numbers such as "On My Own", "Drink With Me" "One Day More", "In MY Life","I Dreamed a Dream" and "Bring Him Home" and so many more as the entire story telling experience is in the music itself."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...This epic musical, that's on its way to becoming a theatrical staple worldwide, will seldom be seen produced with such fine attention to detail. From Rachel Rockwell's creative genius to a dream cast of local talent, this magnificent production should not be missed. Highlighted by Scott Davis' astounding scenic design paired with Sage Marie Carter's unbelievable projections and Greg Hofmann's brilliant lighting, and cloaked in Erika Senase and Maggie Hofmann's multitudes of period costumes, this astounding, near perfect production sets the bar high for other theatres. "At the End of the Day," this is the quintessential production of "Les Miz.""
Chicagoland Theater Reviews - Highly Recommended
"...The Drury Lane has built an exceptional track record with its superior stagings of large-scale musicals, as anyone who enjoyed the theater’s “Ragtime” or “Young Frankenstein” will verify. But the musical and visual demands of “Les Miz” are unique. Drury Lane employs more than 30 people in its cast and they all sing superbly (with allowances made for the children who play the young Cosette and Eponine). The staging is flawless in capturing the show’s sweep and drama, immersing the audience in an earlier world of heroism, bravery, cowardice, romance, and some comedy. Rockwell injected a few personal bits to illuminate moments in the show but basically she gives the audience the show as conceived by Boublil and Schonberg, the only way to go. There is no room for revisionist thinking in “Les Miz.” Rockwell provides the artistic leadership, and the Drury Lane Theater provides the design tools and ensemble, generously reaching into very deep pockets to make this momentous production happen."
