| Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"... it is most assuredly a very special off-Loop show with an uncommon window into the humanism of E.L. Doctorow's expansive novel about turn-of-the-century America. And especially given the budgetary level of this theater and the youth of most of this cast, Eugene Dizon's musical direction of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahren's rich score is very impressive."
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Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...Now beautifully remounted at the 461-seat Apollo Theater (still a marvelously intimate arena for this epic musical drama), this 1998 Broadway musical looks and sounds more glorious than ever, with its emotionally fervent Tony Award-winning score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, and its savvy book by Terrence McNally that spins smartly off of E.L. Doctorow's syncopated historical novel."
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Daily Herald - Highly Recommended
"...With a marvelous score by composer Stephen Flaherty and lyricist Lynn Ahrens and book by Terrence McNally, “Ragtime” is truly a song-propelled show (which isn’t always the case in this era of pop pastiches and film retreads). Porchlight’s revival, with its glorious cast of singer/actors, emphasizes that beautifully."
SouthtownStar - Highly Recommended
"...With masterful director Walter Stearns at the helm, an expanded orchestra well led by Eugene Dizon, and an exceptional ensemble, this is the most ambitious and triumphant presentation by Chicago's Porchlight Music Theatre."
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Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...Terrence McNally's fluid dialogue, Lynn Ahrens's compassionate lyrics, and Stephen Flaherty's gorgeous variations on ragtime waltzes and cakewalks are grist for L. Walter Stearns's powerful Porchlight Music Theatre mill. This revival moves in every way, partly because it dispenses with the elaborate scene changes of Frank Galati's original Broadway production. The performances persuade, the dancing is period perfect, and the casting is unimprovable."
NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Porchlight Music Theatre's artistic director L. Walter Stearns succeeds where so many others have failed by having enough faith in the work to let it speak for itself and dictates what happens on stage. This is the largest production that Porchlight has mounted and all the stops have been pulled out, from first-class leads who can deliver the goods on the show's eleven o'clock numbers down to singing and dancing children."
Windy City Times - Highly Recommended
"...Musical director Eugene Dizon and his five instrumentalists have prepared miraculous orchestral reductions of the dazzling, full-orchestra originals. Adding a second keyboard, a second reed, trombone and trumpet to his usual three musicians, Dizon develops the full and varied sound Ragtime requires."
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Chicago Free Press - Highly Recommended
"...Epic musical theater lovers whose limbs begin to ache at the three-hour mark should take due note. By reducing cast members and dropping time-consuming scene changes, Porchlight Music Theatre presents a tighter, enormously effective version of “Ragtime.” In fact director L. Walter Stearns, with the immeasurable aid of assistant director and multiple “Ragtime” veteran Lili-Anne Brown, may have just crafted the most beautifully accessible version yet of this Tony Award-winning musical."
Gay Chicago Magazine - Highly Recommended
"...If you have seen this musical in the past and didn’t like or if you have never seen the show, I’d highly recommend getting your tickets immediately. I imagine this will be a sellout. Besides you’ll be hard-pressed to find another “Ragtime” as electrifying as Porchlight’s satisfying revival."
EpochTimes - Highly Recommended
"...This was a standout production at the smaller Theatre Building and with the re staged production on a larger stage with better sound equipment and a dynamic cast, this is theater that everyone should experience."
Time Out Chicago - Recommended
"...The actors rely on their own talent and charm, on Eugene Dizon’s solid musical direction and, of course, on Flaherty’s score to forge some musically thrilling moments like the thunderous all-cast opener "Ragtime" and Lina Kernan’s heart-thumping turn in "Till We Reach that Day." "
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ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...Prochlight’s Ragtime, staged in an intimate venue, allows the shows richly emotion elements to penetrate into our psychic. The many fine harmonies and melodies were memorable and heartwarming. Kudos to Porchlight Music Theatre for this triumph. Ragtime begins to be seen, come and rediscover the epic saga of America and bring your teens so they can discover musical theatre."
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Chicago Stage Standard - Recommended
"...Several of the performances here are solid gold winners. Charissa Armon’s glowing, full-voiced portrayal of Mother is splendid and truly anchors the heart of the story. Aaron Graham, a dead ringer for a young Mandy Patinkin, makes a fine Tateh, the immigrant artist who plies his moving silhouettes into a lucrative empire in the new medium of “moving pictures”. Jayson Brooks is so youthful in appearance you might think you were watching a high school production, but his dignified and vigilant Ragtime pianist Coalhouse Walker, Jr. is stalwart and first-rate."
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