Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"... The stock of talent is eye-popping. But it's the imagination behind this staging that makes this show so surprising and special; Rockwell has no current peer in town when it comes to conceiving family entertainment. The storytelling is clear and fluid and the comedy in the piece is not only freshly re-imagined (Gaston's flunkies, known as the Silly Girls, have never been more amusing), but the emotions of the show are uncommonly rich and true. One of Rockwell's biggest assets is the brilliant videographer Mike Tutaj, whose new digital projections, part of a set by Scott Davis, seem to draw the environments just as the characters are walking into them. The best example (of many) is the famous scene where the Beast (played, with heart and truth, by William Travis Taylor) shows bookish Belle the library; books suddenly appear as the pair walk, and Belle's delight is so palpable, you get a big lump in your throat."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"... The show’s director-choreographer (Rachel Rockwell) is pure A-list, as is the large, marvelously gifted cast, and the musical director (Doug Peck), who oversees a small but mighty “orchestra.” Also top of the line is the entire design team, with Scott Davis (sets) and Mike Tutaj (projections) forging a particularly innovative collaboration."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...William Travis Taylor is alternately frightening and touching as the beast, while Emily Rohm is charming as Belle, the young woman whose love saves him. David Lively, Mary Ernster, and Bernie Yvon make a great comic trio as the enchanted household items that move the story forward. If there's a problem, it's buried in the Disney DNA. Like every product from the house that Walt built, this show feels overproduced—planned and polished and polished again within an inch of its artistic life. But then, that’s what makes Disney Disney."
Centerstage - Highly Recommended
"... Chicago’s current must-see family production has played Broadway for over 5,000 performances, has been seen in multiple tours and has been produced by almost every high school, college and community theatre in the country. So what makes CST’s production so wonderfully special?Two words: Rachel Rockwell. As director, choreographer and innovative visionary, Ms. Rockwell makes this 70-minute version’s professional premiere feel anything but abbreviated, especially when it comes to talent, creativity and enchanting kid appeal."
Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended
"... The Chicago Shakespeare Theater is presenting the best musical production of the summer, but audiences will have to see it in the daytime. The production is Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and while it’s billed as a family musical (a code phrase for children’s show), this show distributes its pleasures equally among young and adult, even those adults who paid massive ticket prices to take their kids to see the Disney show when it played the Loop."
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"... What a delightful romp through vivid songs and dazzling choreography displaying excellent voices and skilled routines,. Kudos to director, choreographer Rachel Rockwell. The scene where Belle is invited to dine at the Castle (initially against her will), is a showstopper with the cast delightfully performing:”Be Our Guest.”"
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"... This is by far the best children's show I have seen since I have started reviewing and my 5 year old Ella agrees. I do think kids should be at least 5 years old to attend. If you have younger ones get a sitter and take the 5 year old since it is 75 minutes without intermission. Kids younger than that won't remember it and have a hard time sitting that long or they will scream and cry at the wolf scene. Please feed your kids before you go and also while you are there teach them the discipline of sitting in their seats and not hanging onto a railing if you are in the balcony. Just a little theatre etiquette lesson free of charge."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"... Leave it to the people at Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier to scale down the Disney “Beauty and the Beast” to make it a sharper and cleaner piece for true family viewing. This version, directed and choreographed by the brilliant Rachel Rockwell, who truly knows that value of allowing the entire family the opportunity to share their theater experience, this is a 75 minutes of captivating story telling, solid music ( under the skillful direction of Doug Peck) re-imagined on the thrust stage of Chicago Shakespeare Theater."
