Chicago Tribune
- Recommended
"...Sophisticated and modern (with occasional dollops of humor), the production's length lends it a cumulative power, but it actually moves at a decent clip. Composer Kevin O'Donnell's underscoring (smooth but intense rock noodlings performed live) wisely incorporates the melody from "Ride of the Valkyries" at the appointed moment, paired with leaping, industrial Valkyrie horse puppets. In fact, all of the design work is blazingly good, including the costumes, which are essentially street clothes with a twist. You won't find a breastplate or horned-helmet in sight."
Chicago Sun Times
- Highly Recommended
"...Wildly ambitious, brilliantly cohesive and sensationally inventive despite modest means, this six-hour marathon project (performed in two sections, with a picnic-on-the-stage dinner break part of the whole high-spirited experience) is just the latest example of how a young, half-crazed, crazily inspired troupe of Chicago artists working on a modest budget can pull off a long afternoon's journey into night with the greatest of flair."
Chicago Reader
- Highly Recommended
"...Nevertheless, the latest production from the Building Stage is an opera without the singing. And not just any ol' opera, either, but Richard Wagner's four-part, 15-hour behemoth The Ring of the Nibelung. Sounds like an ambitious project and a terrible idea—but, surprisingly, it works."
Time Out Chicago
- Highly Recommended
"...A fine 11-member ensemble is adept at both the comic and tragic elements encompassed in the foibles of the gods, and the directors keep things moving at a solid pace. It’s an epic journey, yes, but one well worth taking."
ChicagoCritic
- Highly Recommended
"...I must state that The Ring Cycle is my favorite show this year. It has everything anyone would want in a live stage show. Don’t miss this theatrical gem. The Building Stage should be proud of their ambitious work of art. They succeeded on a grand scale with this brilliantly executed show! They once again prove that Chicago theatre is magnificent!"
Chicago Stage and Screen
- Highly Recommended
"...The cast is superb, with many taking on many roles. Hats off to Daiva Bhandari, Wm. Bullion, Lucy Carapetyan, Lindsey Dorcus, Pat King, Darci Nalepa, Bill O'Conner, Chris Pomeroy, Sarah Scanlon, Nick Vidal and Mandy Walsh. These eleven performers must be exhausted doing this show but one can tell from their performances that they love every minute of it. I was very impressed by the work of Nick Vogel as Siegfried, the title of the third section, and from the very start Wotan, played to perfection by Chris Pomeroy. This cast and crew took on an enormous challenge in offering a 6 hour day at the theater and pulled it off making the entire audience want even more! That tells its own story. The musicians, who were onstage for the duration of the play were Evan Bivins, Andy Wagner, Rachel Ries, Chad Kenward and of course Mr. O'Donnell."
