Queenie Pie presented by Chicago Opera Theater at Harris Theater

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...Duke Ellington died in 1974, the same year that the city's second opera company, Chicago Opera Theater, was founded. That neat historical coincidence is marked by the new production of the great American composer and bandleader's only opera, "Queenie Pie," which opened COT's 40th anniversary season Saturday at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park."

Chicago Sun Times - Somewhat Recommended

"...As Queenie, Karen Marie Richardson, a Bloomingdale, Ill. native, seemed to be having a bit of opening-night trouble taking control of the enormous stage. But there was so much in her performance musically, comically and dramatically that I'm sure she will shift into full and delightful gear in the subsequent three performances. Young Anna Bowen, who writes on biracial issues as well as singing attractively about them, had some odd miking problems in Act Two which one hopes can be resolved. Keithon Gipson as the male love interest and then island king is the only opera artist in the cast, and the tall, athletic bass-baritone deservedly won the most applause for his two numbers."

Chicago On the Aisle - Somewhat Recommended

"...Ellington traveled the world, soaked up musical traditions, had a thousand ideas and created nearly as many works. There is no doubt that completing the commissioned opera occupied his last thoughts, and no reason to assume the category-blasting composer wasn’t headed toward something far more intriguing than what little he wrote. He simply ran out of time. “Queenie Pie” remains unfinished, beyond the reach of good intentions."

Around The Town Chicago - Recommended

"..."Queenie Pie" is Ellington's unfinished vision of an opera, unknown to most of us; it blends his big band sound with the musical styles of opera, jazz, and musical theater. He was still working on it when he died in 1974. There have been several attempts to complete his work, only bits and pieces remained, but most have been unsuccessful. The Chicago Opera Theater presents its new adaptation of "Queenie Pie" to kick off its 40th season at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park. This new production features interpolated additional songs from Ellington's canon to complete the score, a new adaptation of the Libretto by Ken Roht, and new orchestrations by Jeff Lindberg."