The Christmas Schooner Reviews
Time Out Chicago- Recommended
"...Met with overwhelming demand, the Christmas Schooner becomes a beloved yearly tradition hardly slowed even by its originator's death by shipwreck a mere five years into the enterprise. One's enjoyment of these proceedings will depend largely on one's attitude toward Christmas in America and the commerce it exults. Humming carols while frolicking through the mall? This show will fill your heart with holiday cheer; the rest of us will just have to shiver out in the cold."
Stage and Cinema- Highly Recommended
"...Anchors aweigh! Twenty-two years after its advent, this show has become as essential to Chicago's Christmas as the LEDs on the Magnificent Mile, the parade on State Street, the "Zoolites" of Lincoln Park, the skating rink by the Park Cafe, or the Joffrey Ballet's Nutcracker at the Auditorium Theatre. (I'd include A Christmas Carol at Goodman Theatre, but that cash cow/chestnut lost its authenticity when Larry Yando turned Scrooge into a vaudeville ham.)"
Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended
"...What has been amazing about this show , is that no matter who takes the ship out of port to bring those precious Christmas Trees to Chicago, the ship arrives, the tradition grows and I shed my annual tears of happiness. The story is based on a German story and tradition, and was written by John Reeger (book) with the music and lyrics by Julie Shannon. I have been attending on the opening night for many years so that I can thank Reeger in person ( this year I missed the opener due to a conflict), so John, let me say "Thanks for the beautifully written story"!"
Chicago Theatre Review- Highly Recommended
"...Excellent holiday productions abound everywhere in Chicago. Many have become much-loved family traditions at this time of year. But they include more than just Clara and a Nutcracker Prince, or a child named Tiny Tim and a miser named Scrooge. For a more intimate, truly heartwarming folksy family Christmas musical, that also sheds light on a forgotten chapter from Chicago history, book your voyage on the beautiful Molly Doone, before this shipload of love sails away for another year. You'll be glad you did."
Chicagoland Musical Theatre- Recommended
"...Schooner is always a good choice for the season.Local actor and playwrite John Reeger’s script is broad, certainly — no more than Don Forston as Gustav, Peter’s grizzled deadpan vater. Sentimental, certainly, but the ending is hard to resist, when other cultures have adopted the tannenbaum for their own for another American reason: the neighbors have one."