The Wedding Singer at Circle Theatre

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...like the movie, it depends too much on charm and takes too long to tell its simple tale. What's more, it's predictable: even the twists (her fiance is a womanizer) are unsurprising. And the tunes, by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, are nothing special. Still, Kevin Bellie's energetic production makes the most of what's there, filling the stage with eye-pleasing dance numbers--many of them modeled on 1980s rock videos. In a cast packed with hot young talent, Kelli LaValle and Britni Tozzi sizzle."

Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended

"... unlike the film, the musical’s as charmless as they come. Though one or two of the show’s 20-plus songs have a compulsive, ’80s-synth catchiness, most resemble the mirthless “Note from Grandma,” sung by Robbie’s grandmother. “You’ll find a girl who loves you, sure as waves will find the shore,” goes the number, “and when you’re sad, remember, Linda is a skanky whore.” This smart-mouthed grandma is lifted right from the film; here, unfortunately, she’s given lyrics that hinge on a sour punch line you can spot a mile away. Swearing senior citizens, Ebonics-spewing white men and oversize car phones (Singer’s set in the ’80s) all feature heavily in this musical, as in the film. But slapdash (re-)writing zaps them of their onscreen charm."

Around The Town Chicago - Somewhat Recommended

"...While the music is not great in this show, Bellie manages to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear with his masterful choreography and direction which makes this production worthwhile to experience.The ensemble members do a great job and there are some outstanding supporting players; the very sexy Kelli LaValle, The very funny Shawn Quinlan, Patti Roeder ( a marvelous Grandma even though “rap” was not really in during this period) and the very sensual Britni Tozzi as Linda and others. The rest of the ensemble, Michael Mejia, Dennis Schnell, Toni Lynice Fountain, Jimmy Lis, Kendel Lester, Melody Latham, Sarah Conrad,Nathan Carroll, Kristen Calvin, Tommy Bullington, Jake Autizen and Tommy Thurston handle all the dance numbers with ease, have nice voices and keep the energy going for the 2 hours and 15 minutes of the production."

Chicago Theater Beat - Highly Recommended

"...The storyline is not a surprise but it is still fun. Robbie Hart is the leader of a wedding band called ‘Simply Wed’ who gets his heart broken and falls for the local banquet hall waitress. The waitress is of course waiting for a dual-life jerk executive to put a ring on it and keep her in claw hair and sparkly duds. Hart lives in Grandma’s basement somewhere in Jersey and what a grandma she is. Patti Roeder plays the role of a frisky grandmother who pulls out the rapping chops to great comic effect. Roeder brings down the house with her double entendres and libidinous one- liners."