Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...Assuming you can understand him, John Cudia makes for a sexier, somewhat more outre Phantom than many of his predecessors. And while she struggles at the edges of her role's notoriously difficult vocal range, Sara Jean Ford is a pleasant Christine."
Chicago Sun Times - Recommended
"...The first-rate cast in this touring production also brings an intriguing degree of realism to their roles. John Cudia (who has played both the title role and Raoul on Broadway) is a most imposing Phantom, with a clarion voice and unaffected acting style."
SouthtownStar - Highly Recommended
"...Although it's the fifth incarnation of the legendary musical, it proves you can never get too much of a good thing. The show, about a masked musical genius who lives beneath the Paris Opera House, is as good as theater gets. It is at the top of my list of the greatest musicals ever."
Windy City Times - Highly Recommended
"...Opening with a cadaverous auctioneer shilling Lot 666, ( a chandelier in pieces ) and closing in the echo of a thousand tri-note minor chords, The Phantom of the Opera is pure escapism, an opiate of hallucinatory spectacle. And say what you will about the subtle-as-an-acid-bath book, Webber’s got a snappy shorthand when it comes to capturing certain universal elements of the Human Condition."
EpochTimes - Highly Recommended
"...All the effects that are special to this production creating some of the Phantom's special skills are in place and of course the chandelier is perfect, but of greater import, the cast is superb. John Cudia is a dynamic Phantom who not only has great vocal range, but the ability to act as well."
Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...Prince’s shadowy staging is mostly luminous, even spectacular (the chandelier is famous for crashing, but its ascension during the overture is far more exciting), with the exception being poorly judged purple indulgences in the dungeon sequences. Meanwhile, Gaston Leroux’s original creepy novel is betrayed by Hart’s Cheez Whiz lyrics and Webber’s midcareer slouch toward treacle-pop."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"...The Phantom of the Opera is an entertaining and well-crafted diversion. It doesn't raise any important issues and there's no subtext - what you see is what you get - but it does have the same mix of humor and melodrama that characterized Leroux's original novel."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"...The whole cast had this ability to really bring you into their world and feel the passion, sorrow, love and loss of the text. Sara Jean Ford was perfect as Christine. Her voice was inspiring and she had perfect pitch as well as a great ability to strongly hit those high notes Webber demanded."
