Sleeping With Beauty at Pride Arts Center

Windy City Times - Highly Recommended

"...With unflagging energy, director Bryan McCaffrey brings this whole enterprise to life. Rooted around phallic scenery and costume designs, courtesy of dementedly inventive creators like Brett Baleskie, Emma Ferguson and Vicki Jablonski, McCaffrey takes his cast skillfully, through their paces (and multiple costume changes). Choreographer Kristine Burdi, meanwhile, brings out her subjects' innate athleticism in numbers that range from "Padam, Padam," Kylie Minogue's latest club stomp, to Mariah Carey's seasonal trick or treat, "All I Want for Christmas is You.""

Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended

"...Still, I can’t deny the show was fun and I think it could easily be a part of a night out this holiday season. Ultimately, this show is exactly what it says on the label, and whether that sounds like you’ll enjoy that or you won’t, you are almost certainly correct."

Chicago On Stage - Highly Recommended

"...Sleeping With Beauty is a panto, so you can’t go into it expecting, I don’t know, Beckett. It’s risqué, goofy, boisterous, and just plain fun if you give in to it. It’s also the most entertaining thing I’ve seen at PrideArts in a long time. With this new holiday panto tradition, artistic director Jay Españo has placed his own imprimatur on a venerable company that seems to be getting better and better."

Spotlight On Lake - Recommended

"...Of course, a script like "Sleeping with Beauty" needs a solid cast of actors to truly sell it. Thankfully, director Bryan McCaffrey has assembled a very lively bunch indeed. Kelly, as the Queen, has remarkably good comedic timing and a quick wit. On opening night, he was tossing off ad-libbed one-liners left and right, most of them directed at a very good sport seated in the front row who was clearly enjoying the interaction. Yonan has just the right balance of bitchy bravado and meek self-deprecating slyness as Malefic*nt. Her demonic swagger is delightful."