Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...Those disappointments notwithstanding, there are a few laughs. Granny fishes for fixins' in the swimming pool. Elly May gets off some zingers. Jed is likably dumb. And a few of Opelka's lyrics are really witty: "When I'm with you, the taters grow / The cows give milk at twice the flow." So there is potential here, especially since all of the principal players are capable, with Stemberg (who is very funny) the most at ease with the material."
Chicago Sun Times - Recommended
"...The hit television series devised by Paul Henning, which ran on CBS from 1962 to 1971, has now been turned into “The Beverly Hillbillies, The Musical,” with a high-spirited score by Chicago composer Gregg Opelka, and a book by David Rogers and his daughter, Amanda Rogers. And it is currently receiving an elaborate world premiere at Theatre at the Center in Munster, where director David Perkovich (expertly backed by musical director William Underwood and choreographer Nicole Miller) has assembled an ideal cast to embody the story’s iconic characters."
Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...So the book isn't idiotic after all. It's nostalgic. And if you can stand about 140 minutes of this kind of nostalgia, well, knock yourself out. Just be warned that you'll also have to contend with Gregg Opelka's dull score and David Perkovich's ungainly, off-pace direction. The only fun I had was watching highly trained professionals, like Jim Harms as Jed, doing their playful best to make a silk purse out of possum innards."
Chicago Stage Review - Recommended
"...The success of The Beverly Hillbillies, The Musical lies in the particular performances of the actors. Much of the credit here can go to Director David Perkovich. Perkovich let some of the actors get away with straight out impressions of the TV actors in the same roles, while other cast members developed their own takes on these familiar characters. Several of the actors in The Beverly Hillbillies, The Musical are among the heavy hitters of Chicago's musical-theatre scene: James Harms, Kelly Anne Clark, Norm Boucher, Summer Naomi Smart, and Bernie Yvon have been name-above-the-title stars in other musicals around town."
ShowBizChicago - Recommended
"...The Theatre at the Center in Indiana in many ways provides the perfect launching pad for the world premiere of Beverly Hillbillies - The Musical. Much of the older, Midwestern audience related to and loved the show. They caught the humor (you have to be blind, deaf and dumb not to) and left feeling entertained. In their advertisement however, they talk potentially of Broadway. That is overreaching given this show, its history, mostly self-conscious delivery and largely mediocre musical score."
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...As a world premiere on a modest budget The Beverly Hillbillies The Musical is audience ready- it'll make you laugh as it delivers a sophisticated Broadway musical in the Golden Age style: it plays like a 40′s - 50′s style musical -and - that's a good place to be. Gregg Opelka has lifted The Beverly Hillbillies The Musical into a slick, tuneful, and heartfelt musical. The opening night audience in Munster loved this sweet show. The folks at Broadway In Chicago and the Goodman Theatre need to see this show so they can consider moving it to downtown Chicago. With all the hype around the mega-musicals we keep seeing, it is refreshing to see a heartwarming, fun, simple yet slick Broadway musical that audiences will enjoy with cute songs and toe-tapping numbers. Gregg Opelka is a major talent whose work deserves an audience."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Recommended
"...If you are looking for a light-hearted evening of entertainment, you will find it here. “The Beverly Hillbillies, The Musical” is as light and frothy as those long ago TV shows."
Around The Town Chicago - Recommended
"...There are times, not often, that I find it difficult to rate a show/production. Sometime it is that the script is weak but the performances are superb. Other times, the show is strong, but the performers do not do it for me. Last night I witnessed the World Premiere of a new musical that is based on a Television Show, “The Beverly Hillbillies” that filled our homes with laughter every week on the “magic picture box” during the 1960′s.. Under the direction of David Perkovich, on a set that is worth the ticket price for by Ann N. Davis at Theatre at The Center in Munster Indiana ( just a short trip past the “crik” and the big city of Chicago), you will find yourself going back in time as Jed ( James Harms truly has this character down), Granny ( the adorable Kelly Ann Clark in a whole new light), Jethro ( (deftly handled by John Stemberg) and of course, tom-boy Elly Mae (played to perfection by Summer Naomi Smart) lead us on a special episode, that could be called the “pilot” for what was to become."
Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended
"...This debut musical won’t change the world. There isn’t a message or lesson to be learned. But every show needn’t be a “Les Miserables” or a “Next to Normal.” It’s simply a pleasant summertime diversion for audiences looking for a good time. Judging from comments overheard at Wednesday’s matinee, it filled the required bill as a funny, familiar slice of nostalgia. And “E-e-e, doggies” is it a stompin‘ good time."
