Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...Only Evan Tyrone Martin, who stars as Jesus, really sticks to the traditional phrasings. Martin was a late replacement in this role, and he is a phenomenal Chicago talent. But the impact of this incredibly honest and moving actor not really letting loose vocally - and both this piece and certainly this production give him all the freedom in the world - is to make Jesus seem less charismatic. It's not that Martin is doing anything wrong; in an ideal world, though, his singing would fit better with the reinventions of the whole."
Daily Herald - Recommended
"...Conductor Tom Vendafreddo and co-music director and associate conductor Kory Danielson keep the production on solid ground musically. Predictably, Vendafreddo's 14-member orchestra savors every note of Webber's funk-rock score from the organ licks and bursts of brass to the deliciously nasty, 1970s-era guitars."
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...I honestly have to say this is the best version of Jesus Christ Superstar I have ever seen. Why should that surprise me when Jim Corti has been hitting every show out of the ballpark as of late?"
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Since the rebirth of this Aurora showplace, The Paramount has brought us one solid hit after another, using their wonderful stage to its fullest advantage. This production is staged to perfection by Ron Kellum, who also handles the choreography on a magnificent set designed by Kevin Depinet, with moveable pieces allowing transformation from scene to scene with no break in the action."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...This is one impressive finale to a season that offered so many exciting, luminary performances. Ron Kellum’s dynamic, heartfelt production, accompanied by Tom Vendafreddo’s full, rich pit orchestra and co-musically directed by Vendafreddo and Kory Danielson, is a spectacle of light and shadow, fear and hope. Working its way all over the Paramount stage, among the deteriorating Roman columns of Kevin Depinet’s massive scenic design, projected with images by Mike Tutaj and lit with eerie moodiness by Greg Hofmann, this cast tells a never-to-be-forgotten story of a people and a time when Heaven was on their minds."
Let's Play - Recommended
"...Throughout this incredible retelling of one of the greatest stories played out on stage, we heard boisterous voices like angels singing, which made this iconic piece of musical theater go down in history as a first Jesus Christ Superstar in the United States on this scale with an all African- American cast!"
Picture This Post - Highly Recommended
"...All of these choices bring JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR into the present day. It's a must see for long time lovers of the musical looking for a new, unique spin on it and for anyone willing to be blown away by the stunning voices of this cast. This powerful and moving musical hits every mark."
NewCity Chicago - Recommended
"...Hot on the heels of Christianity's yearly examination of the crucifixion, resurrection and subsequent martyrdom of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Aurora's Paramount Theatre brings us the 1970 Webber/Rice rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar" in a lavish production befitting the 1931 movie palace edifice and, as is most often the case, ignoring the originators' vision of an intimate telling of the Jesus myth as seen through the eyes of the conflicted, compelling character of Judas. Yet myth speaks the language of parable, ringing differently on every ear and no whispering or shouting of this tale can ensue without mention of miracles and prophesies, leaving every window flung open to individual, spiritual resonance."
