The Pirates of Penzance presented by Music Theater Works at Cahn Auditorium

Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended

"...An exhilarating excuse to make your heart happy, Hogenmiller's revival could not deliver more contagious fun. The fact that it must close in just over a week amounts to a crime against culture. Make your month and see this show."

Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...To tell a story, filled with music and to entertain the audience for almost three hours, taking their minds off the problems of their world, or in fact, the problems of the world. Most people are aware of Gilbert & Sullivan through "The Mikado" and "HMS Pinafore", but Music Theater Works ( formerly Light Opera Works) under the skilled direction of Hogenmiller, is presenting the enchanting and highly comical "The Pirates of Penzance" on its stage at Cahn Auditorium, and doing it with a powerful cast of players. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo"

Chicago Theater and Arts - Highly Recommended

"...Director Rudy Hogenmiller and choreographer Clayton Cross have the not so ferocious Pirate King (Larry Adams) stretched out horizontally across his comrades in his name song. They have the daughters of the Major- General stumbling as they take-off shoes and stockings to wade then, hurriedly attempt to put them back on when pirate apprentice Frederic (Ben Barker) announces his presence."

Picture This Post - Highly Recommended

"...Sullivan's score has earned the descriptor of "timeless" in its own right even if the sort of melodramas Pirates parodied are no longer commonly performed. Linda Madonia conducts them ably, so that even an audience member who is fresh to the play can leave humming several tunes. Hogenmiller strikes the right balance of silliness while moving the show along."