42nd Street at Theatre At The Center

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...Pullinsi, who ran the old Candlelight Dinner Playhouse for years, has directed this particular attraction once or twice before. Indeed, many remember "42nd Street" as one of Pullinsi's signature attractions. He is a man who tends to his legacy, so the size of the show should not be a surprise. The old pro really does use this difficult space well here, building a full-blown proscenium (the game Jack Magaw is the designer) replete with a massive show curtain, yet still allows for the big thrust space to take the dancers out into the audience. And while I didn't check the province of the outsized quarters and other scenic paraphernalia that make up the set piece, props and specialty costumes for numbers like "We're in the Money," I wouldn't be surprised if some of these items have been languishing in some suburban warehouse for years, waiting for just such a revival of the Pullinsi school."

Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended

"... It’s a high-octane, kick-up-your-heels tap-dancing extravaganza, but “42nd Street” has so much more than fancy footwork going for it."

Stage and Cinema - Recommended

"... With little to no sets and some lengthy scene changes, it took a little while to warm up to this production. But the chorus of hoofing kids will assuage any doubts as they dynamically execute Linda Fortunato’s flabbergasting choreography; her pastiche of 1930’s tap combined with an original aesthetic is too wonderful to be called anything less than genius. The orchestra of six, led by William A. Underwood, sounded like it was the size of Paul Whiteman’s gigantic orchestra, big enough to fill Carnegie Hall. Costume Coordinator Brenda Winstead and Wig Designer Kevin Barthel are the ones who gave us a much-needed sense of time and place."

ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended

"...The costumes (by Brenda Winstead), the music (music direction by William Underwood) was first-class making this production more than a general regional theatre production. It evokes a extravagant look and the youthful dances sparked Gower Champion’s tap induced dances, faithfully recreated by Linda Fortunato, into a enticing trip backstage into a Broadway fable. We are grabbed from the first tap number and carried through the dance-a-thon into two hours plus of toe-tapping, often breathtaking, dances that pleases our senses. Who doesn’t love a tap show? This 42nd Street is worth the ride to Munster – you’ll be taping your way home after being enthralled with this 42md Street. Don’t miss it!"

Around The Town Chicago - Recommended

"... William Underwood’s musical direction is solid and as conductor of the five piece orchestra, makes it sound as if there are three times that number ( Barry G. Funderburg’s sound may have helped in this regard). What makes an old time musical special is the glitz of the costumes (Brenda Winstead), the set ( Jack McGaw who keeps it to a minimum), the lights ( Tim Fandrei), wigs (Kevin Barthel) and the many props that have been assembled (Lauren Earnshaw). It takes a lot of people doing their parts to make a Broadway Musical take hold of our hearts and souls, take us away from reality and allow us to forget all our troubles, cares and woes, at least fro two acts, roughly two hours! The production at Theatre At The Center, while not as energetic and glitzy as past productions have been is still an enjoyable evening out at the theater."