Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...As is typical at the Paramount Theatre, "Rock of Ages" comes with a huge set - far bigger than the original Broadway design and much cooler, too. Jeffrey D. Kmiec pays homage not just to Tower Records and the other clatter and clutter of La La Land, but also to the mighty amp, images of which make up a truly eye-popping design, enough to blow you away even as you sit down. This show is also wig central, and the big 1980s hair provided here by Katie Cordts is a show on all on its own. Director Amber Mak's production also has a fine onstage band, led by Dan Peters on lead guitar, hair blowing in the breeze."
Daily Herald - Recommended
"..."Rock of Ages" embraces all the 1980s rock cliches -- from big hair and kohl-lined eyes, to bare chests and spandex, to the ubiquitous rock n' roll, hand-horn salute. And it does so with relish, as evidenced by Paramount Theatre's deliciously flamboyant, pandemic-delayed revival directed with a keen sense of humor by Amber Mak."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...How can a family style theater take on the challenge of producing "Rock of Ages" on their stage? Think back to when they did "Hair". A huge risk as this is not a "family play". It is a story within a concert or vice-versa" In the case of this production, a long awaited production that began its journey two years ago. The pandemic screwed up theater everywhere. After all, the theaters were the first businesses to shut down. Director of this show, Amber Mak never gave up hope that the show would go on, and here some two years later, with most of her original cast members , we get to see a powerful production that had the opening night crowd on its feet and hand clapping. What a show!"
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...Chris D’Ariezo’s loving ode to the music of the 1980s, with musical arrangements and orchestrations by Ethan Popp, isn’t a musical aimed at the more serious theatre patron. Anyone looking for a deep, complicated plot filled with thought-provoking subtext and inhabited by three-dimensional characters may be disappointed. This fun-loving comic book of a musical comedy, filled with stereotypes and overblown musical numbers, is a good-natured wink-and-a-nod to a more innocent time. It celebrates the era when America was enjoying the titillation of raunch and excess called Glam Rock. For audiences who want “More Than Words,” “The Search is Over.” They only need to brave the “Shadows of the Night” and head out to the Paramount Theatre, ready to “Feel the Noize.” Because “Anyway You Want It,” those theatergoers ready to have a good time, will be treated to “Nothin’ But a Good Time.""
Buzznews.net - Highly Recommended
"...As a reviewer I've attended many productions of Rock of Ages and Paramount Theatre's current production with its talented cast, wide-ranging set and rockin' hair band rates right up there with some of the best I've seen."
Splash Magazine - Highly Recommended
"...When you walk into a show and see a live band on stage, you know something good is going to happen. And the very first thing you see at Paramount’s Rock of Ages is the raised stage that will house the 5-piece rock band that is going to provide the soundtrack for the evening. Drums (Jim Widlowski), bass (Janis Wallin), keys (Kara Keselring), Lead (Dan Peters) and Guitar (Scott Tipping). These local pros that you’ve probably seen in their individual projects around town can do exactly what you need to get this rock musical off ground. And they all killed it throughout the performance. Kudos to the band."
BroadwayWorld - Highly Recommended
"...The Paramount has put on another great show! Director/choreographer Amber Mak has a high energy cast which delivers with every song. Her choreography is spectacular as well. Side note - this show was postponed from 2020 and auditions were done virtually. The costumes designed by Theresa Ham evoke the era. The band consists of conductor Kara Kesselring on keyboards, Bass - Janis Wallin; Drums - Jim Widlowski; Guitar 1 - Dan Peters; Guitar 2 - Scott Tipping. Bravo!!! The set, designed by Jeffrey D. Kmiec, had the bar on one side, the Venus on the other and the band in the middle. Perfect visual!"
NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Paramount Theatre delivers the goods with their amped-up and electrified-to-the-heavens "Rock of Ages." Supported every step of the way by an awesome onstage rock band, this musical features samplings from a who's-who of 1980s-era big-hair rock legends (pretty much everyone from Bon Jovi to Pat Benatar). Nominated in 2009 for a Best Musical Tony, the show is an unapologetic send-up of what many of us Generation Xers consider to be the golden era of MTV. This production may, in fact, shock and awe you back a few decades to when all you needed to get by was a bit of hairspray."
