Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...The show starts with cast members leading the audience in Christmas carols, which is nearly as cheesy as it sounds but somehow feels appropriate in the context of the picture-perfect set. And the performance is both compelling and moving, leaving hardly a dry eye in the house. The entire cast is outstanding, but none more so than John Mohrlein, who morphs effortlessly from the evil Mr. Potter to the sweet, bumbling angel Clarence. Somehow even the the commercials, sung by the performers, are charming."
Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended
"...With original direction from Marty Higginbotham, It's a Wonderful Life! Live at the Biograph! is a tight, well-paced 90 minutes, broken only by musical messages from the show's sponsors- positively delightful rhyming ditties sung by the cast for Commonwealth Edison and Lettuce Entertain You restaurants-and "audio grams," which are notes from audience members written before the show and read throughout the performance. These notes make the night interactive and, for this shy critic, a bit shame-inducing: I'm still chastising my friends for using my real name and wishing me luck with my "online dating profiles," which became "dance cards" in the 1940's radio setting."
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...As adapted for this staged simulation by American Blues Theater and original director Marty Higginbotham (since 2004), Wonderful Life has been shortened to its core elements with no time to linger (after all, you can't have dead air on live radio). The brisk pacing and rapid-fire character shifts of the actors keeps the production nimble but no less heartwarming."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Directed by Marty Higginbottom with a cast of dynamic actors, this is 90 minutes of pure fun and pleasure with some very deep meaning and a great deal of newfound spirit and inspiration. The times are tough right now, just as they were in Bedford Falls back in the 1940′s and watching the likes of these actors, we leave the theater, joining them in the lobby for some milk and cookies, with a new smile on our face and a warm feeling of new hope in our hearts."
Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended
"... Marty Higginbotham’s direction was simple and concise. It was clear that he let the actors come across as themselves, as well as, bring elements of the characters we have come to know and love in the classic holiday movie. This deceptively difficult show gives us an appreciation of the past, while making us long for the future during this Holiday Season. Give this show to someone you love. You will want to ring a bell and give the next angel their wings."
Chicago Theater Beat - Highly Recommended
"... Although the show itself is a beautiful, well-crafted gift, ABT wraps their present in some pretty paper and shiny ribbons. Upon arrival, Michael Mahler and his real life wife Dara Cameron lead the audience in Christmas caroling. During commercial breaks, Mahler and Cameron sing clever jingles about the actual show sponsors, like Com-Ed and Zig Zag. During these breaks in the show, the audience is invited to submit audiograms aka holiday messages for the cast to read live. The interaction makes the holiday experience more personal. And the final bow on this one-size-fits-all holiday basket of goodies is cookies and milk in the lobby after the finale."
