Loki - The End of the World Tour Reviews

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...The connections among the gods are upset by the arrival of trickster Loki, who is half giant and half god and played with oodles of charisma by Jack Chylinski. Odin initially believes that Loki might be a secret weapon for the impending Ragnarok, the apocalyptic final battle prophesied in Norse legend, and makes him a "blood brother." But when he meets Loki's children-the dark goddess Hel (Grace Reidenauer), wolf Fenris (Anthony Kayer), and serpent Middy (Avery Thompson)-he fears that they represent the creatures of Asgard's destruction he saw in his visions."

Talkin Broadway - Highly Recommended

"...As part of its forty-third season, Lifeline Theatre is presenting Loki: The End of the World Tour. In its world premiere production at Lifeline Theatre, the rock musical, developed by Christina Calvit (book) and George Howe (music and lyrics) along with director Heather Currie, offers a story that holds together well enough to rise above a mere stitching together of Norse myths, as well as a lineup of musical numbers with far more hits than misses. Lifeline's usual excellence in staging builds on this strong foundation, resulting in a highly entertaining evening that is thoughtful, to boot."

Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended

"...A corner of a decrepit night club greets you as you walk into Lifeline Theatre’s performance space. Shabby chandeliers hang from the ceiling. Tinsel and trash are everywhere. Above the instruments, a broken entablature hangs askew, with a sun at its cornice. Elsewhere in Lindsay Mummert’s scenic design, peeling blue paint merges into the grays to evoke a cloudy sky."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended

"...This is a dark show full of sex and rock and roll and gods behaving badly, just like us. As the Gods speak of honor and truth, but lie and are cruel to one another, which causes the end of their existence, one has to see the parallel with this moment in history as our “gods” in the form of our sacred institutions fail."

Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended

"...The entire cast is terrific, both individually and collectively, each creating strong characters and employing their powerful singing voices. In what may be the best show this year, the story is always captivating and keeps the audience guessing the direction in which it’s headed. Even theatergoers who are familiar with Norse mythology, the Gaiman books or the Marvel films will find something new and astonishing in Lifeline Theatre’s dynamic and daring rock musical. LOKI—THE END OF THE WORLD TOUR is bold and brash, and the music is loud and the lights are blinding. But it all works. So just sit back and bask in the incredible, magical, mythological World of Fire and Ice."

Buzz Center Stage - Highly Recommended

"...Get ready for a cosmic comedy of gods, monsters, and mayhem that refuses to play by the old rules. That’s right - the universe is ending, and apparently it booked a headliner."

Third Coast Review - Highly Recommended

"...Lifeline Theatre concludes its 43rd season with the world premiere of the rock musical Loki—The End of the World Tour. With Loki, director Heather Currie leans into the company’s mission of reimagining literary works, delivering a high-energy reinterpretation of Norse mythology backed by a bold original score."

Chicago On Stage - Highly Recommended

"...This incredible ensemble effort has created what, 4+ months into the year, is easily the best show of 2026 so far: a show that could have been complicated and confusing instead hits every note and every emotion. This layered show ultimately boils down to a tribute to parental love, whether it is the misguided effort by Odin to save his family and their beloved Asgard or the desperate love of Loki for his “little monsters”: a thoroughly inventive and impassioned way to bring this story of gods down to earth. See this show if there is any way to do so: you don’t want to miss it."

BroadwayWorld - Highly Recommended

"...Lifeline Theatre’s LOKI – THE END OF THE WORLD TOUR opens with an irresistible premise: Ragnarök staged as an eternal arena-rock concert. In this wildly imaginative new musical, the apocalypse is not a singular cataclysmic event, but a doomed performance repeated endlessly by a house band known as The Norns who are condemned to replay the destruction of the Norse gods night after night. It is audacious, strange, deeply heartfelt, and exactly the kind of ambitious storytelling that reminds audiences why Chicago theatre remains one of the most exciting and vibrant theater communities in the country."