Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...I had a sense this touring cast of "Sister Act" was going to be good when I heard its young star, Ta'Rae Campbell, sing in Millennium Park in September. Campbell has a ways to go as a comic actress, but she sounds fabulous and, just as importantly, she packs a guileless brand of sincere and infectious honesty, affording the show much of the warmth it needs (E. Clayton Cornelious, who plays her cop wannabe-boyfriend, helps there too). Campbell does not have the only formidable set of pipes in this road show: The fabulous Lael Van Keuren, who plays the postulant Mary Robert, massively dispatches her ballads so that they reverberate around the venerable Auditorium Theatre. On Broadway, Mother Superior was played by Victoria Clark, who played Big Momma with a certain mannered irony. But not Chicago's own Hollis Resnik. Oh no."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...Let it be said that "Sister Act" is pure cartoonishness, but it also happens to be wholly enchanting - full of both pop music sendups and nunsense, all packaged with a winning mix of socko numbers and a lightness of touch that invariably puts laughter before preachiness. Based on the hit movie, it has been "musicalized" to perfection, with a score by Alan Menken that is an ideal mix of disco-era pastiche and Broadway showstoppers, deliciously clever lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner and the ever acerbic Douglas Carter Beane. What's more, the national touring production that opened Wednesday night at the Auditorium Theatre is sensational - with Jerry Zaks' fast-paced direction, Anthony Van Laast's playfully boogeying moves, a vibrant orchestra, and a cast that puts several immensely talented women in the spotlight and backs them up with a large ensemble of gifted character actors."
Centerstage - Highly Recommended
"...It’s a fun evening in the theater. The excellent cast is led by two powerhouse performances by Ta’rea Campbell as Deloris, and Hollis Resnick as the Mother Superior. Ms. Campbell takes control of the show from the first moment, and Ms. Resnick’s Mother Superior is a tower of strength, desperately trying to maintain control of her domain. The ensemble of nuns is uniformly strong, particularly Lael Van Keuren as Sister Mary Robert, the naïve nun who slowly comes out of her shell, and Florrie Bagel, as the fun-loving Sister Mary Patrick. Jerry Zaks directs the show with a contagious sense of playfulness the cast embraces wholeheartedly. "Sister Act" is a great way to usher in the holidays."
ShowBizChicago - Highly Recommended
"...Judging from the audience reaction on opening night, Sister Act is one of those shows that could sustain a long run in a downtown theater The crowd was on their feet all the way through curtain call and that was the same reaction the show received in London. There is something miraculously infectious about Sister Act and with the holiday season again upon us, this is the perfect show to ignite your spirit."
Stage and Cinema - Not Recommended
"...If you can forgive Whoopi Goldberg for producing this mess, then do yourself a favor: dust off your old VHS copy of the Sister Act, watch, and forget this musical ever happened."
ChicagoCritic - Not Recommended
"... Given that the movie was one of the top grossing films of the 90s, it’s understandablethatit wouldbe an appealing franchise to exploit in the ever growing list of movies-turned-musicals that look like a safe bet for investors. Having already been reworked several times as it crosses the country (and London), it’s possiblea good musical may yetbe born of the concept. All thatreally needs to be done is remember what made the original a success and getbackto that blend of genuine sweet and sassy soul insteadofthis crass commercial cash grab."
Around The Town Chicago - Recommended
"...The musical numbers make telling the story very easy to follow and with the voices of this cast, in particular Ms Campbell and Ms Resnik and the special number by Ms Van Keuren's "The Life I Never Led" and the different versions of "Take me To Heaven" and "It's Good To Be A Nun" along with the big finale" Spread The Love Around". You can't help but leave the theater feeling a lot better than when you entered it. "Sister Act" is only here until December 2nd so if you want to experience the magic, I suggest you do not delay in ordering your tickets."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...With such a built-in following, this production will undoubtedly draw more believers into its congregation of devoted fans. This old-fashioned musical doesn't break any new ground, but it's comforting, warm, funny and big-hearted celebrating the strength in seeing the world from another's point-of-view. It's also a tribute to the girl power inherent in a sisterhood of friends. This production sparkles with comedy, heart and, thanks to Lez Brotherston's blindingly stunning, habit-forming costumes, more sequins than in Cher's closet."
