Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...It's a very kind and compassionate work that, if you know a kid of the right age, might do a lot to make their broader environment not only feel less scary to them (who is not scared of cities as a kid?), but also help them understand the stories that their fellow citizens can tell, if only they take a moment to listen. And while they're having that realization, you can chill and tap your toes to some new Dozier-style riffs and tunes. Worth an hour of anyone's time."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...It’s a tricky business, moving a beloved book from page to stage. But playwright Cheryl L. West and composer/lyricists Paris Ray Dozier and his father Lamont Dozier succeed with their world-premiere musical adaptation of de la Pena’s story, which celebrates the every day wonders of a bus ride across the city, with plenty of stops for adventure along the way."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...Henry Godinez’s spirited musical production, adapted from Matt De La Pena’s multi-award winning picture book, is eye-popping and engaging. It’s a story of about what’s important in life and the things that are mere fleeting fancies. It’s a beautiful tale of cross-generational bonding and demonstrates that material poverty doesn’t necessarily mean emotional and creative barrenness. As it entertains, the story reminds audiences, of all ages, the important lesson found in the Golden Rule. During a fast-paced hour, a little boy named CJ comes to understand how satisfying it is to help others and the importance of releasing a jar of butterflies to freedom with a newfound friend."
Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Highly Recommended
"...With an acknowledgment that the key to all good theatre, particularly children's theatre, lies behind the doors the key opens, Market Street is an excellent vehicle to discuss differences among races, cultures, ages, neighborhoods and socio-economic statuses. It might also start conversations about a little less screen time."
Third Coast Review - Highly Recommended
"...Chicago Children’s Theatre’s new production, Last Stop on Market Street, is a sunny, colorful collage of music and dancing with some serious messages for kids and their adults. Director Henry Godinez manages to pack a lot of pleasure into the one-hour production with his lively direction."
Chicago On Stage - Highly Recommended
"...As we left the theater, my son and I couldn’t stop talking about what we had just seen. We decided we have to bring his 3-year-old brother back and maybe even his 9-year-old brother, too (though I think the best age range for this show is about 3-7). My son loved how the “cracks in the set” mentioned earlier were so the houses could be transformed to the graffiti-covered buildings on Market Street and also thought it was cool how the ensemble members played different characters throughout the production. We will probably be going back and I would recommend anyone who is looking to introduce their child to live theater to see this production before it closes."
PicksInSix - Highly Recommended
"...The new musical adapted by Cheryl L. West with a hip score by Motown legend Lamont Dozier and his son, Paris Ray Dozier, is based on the 2016 Newbery award-winning children's book written by Matt de la Peña and illustrated by Christian Robinson. Add the considerable stage and vocal talent of E. Faye Butler, a terrific ensemble with musical direction by Andra Velis Simon, ingenious staging(John Musial), choreography(Stephanie Paul), costumes (Izumi Inaba), sound(Ray Nardall) and lighting(Alexander Ridgers), and with a bus that appears virtually out of nowhere, Last Stop on Market Street is truly a "bowl of soul" for all ages."
