Don't Make Me Over (In Tribute to Dionne Warwick) at Black Ensemble Theater

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...Jackie Taylor's famously generous appreciation for her subjects reaches new heights with "Don't Make Me Over," a shamelessly rose-colored but immensely enjoyable celebration of the life and music of Dionne Warwick."

Chicago Sun Times - Recommended

"...The musical elements of this Black Ensemble show -- the singers and the band -- are, as always, sensational. As always -- though a good deal more so this time around -- Jackie Taylor's script is a mess. The essential formula is still at work; it takes a loosely biographical approach to the singer that serves as a hanger for the thrilling performance of nearly two dozen songs. But there is far more pop psychology and Oprah-style "I'm talking to you, girlfriend" kind of stuff in this production."

SouthtownStar - Somewhat Recommended

"...The story is lukewarm, but Chicago's Black Ensemble Theater's presentation of "Don't Make Me Over: In Tribute to Dionne Warwick" is hot. The show offers such terrific music that we can forgive its lackluster script."

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...You won't hear anything but good about Dionne Warwick in writer-director Jackie Taylor's latest bio-revue, framed as a tribute concert hosted by the statuesque Ms. Divine. She trades lead vocals with three other actresses playing different aspects of Warwick, a studio vocalist who developed a solo career as the voice for such composers as Burt Bacharach."

Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended

"...The Dionnes (especially Rogers) can belt a note, and we briefly perk up at standards like “I Say a Little Prayer.” But with just-adequate vocals, these 20-some tunes sound like pale-imitation covers that leave us longing for the real thing."

ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended

"...Let me say that Dionne Warwick fans will be in heaven with this production and teens will enjoy this introduction to many of the classiest songs of the 60’s & 80’s. Jimmy Tillman’s band and the singers were so smooth that Bacharach & David’s song book stands out. Kudos to Jackie Taylor for this tribute to one of the best ever singers."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended

"...The divas rule here as Jackie Taylor continues her Salute to Women, and while they don't get nearly enough stage time, the gentlemen (including versatile Shay Ames as both Burt Bacharach and Barry Manilow, the dashing Gemini and the charismatic Dwight Neal) each light up the stage. Dionne Warwick came from some pretty impressive stock (Leontyne Price, Cissy and Whitney Houston were all relatives), and Jacqui Thomas as her domineering mother Lee, Toi Overton as her aunt Cissy, and Marquecia Jordan as her often overlooked sister Dee Dee all make strong impressions."