“Time After Time” the Songs of Jule Styne

Recommended*** Many theater people are unfamiliar with the cozy little storefront theater in Rogers Park known as Theoubique, but they should make it a point to seek out this charming little cabaret where they bring us quality musical theater as well as cabaret musicals. While the Jeff Award winning  “Light In The Piazza” is continuing to attract audiences, this is an extra added attraction and will run in repertory thru July 29th at The No Exit Cafe, located at 6970 N. Glenwood Avenue. Jule Styne was a prolific wruter who was involved with many hit Broadway productions ( “Gypsy”, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”, “3 Coins in The Fountain” “Bells are Ringing” and “Funny Girl” to name a few) and TheoUbique, in its new production continues to find talent that knows the beauty of bringing a song to the stage with the heart and soul of the writer.

Director David Heimann, uses the stage area to its best advatage, understanding the limits placed on him by having the beautiful “Piazza” set to work around. Emily Rogers does the choreography for this enchanting evening of music, once again, limited by the ste in place, but she achieves the mood an dthe feeling of each of the musical numbers. At the keyboard, Aaron Benham who also did the arrangements to blend the music with the story-telling which is why Theoubique shines at “Cabaret” performance.

Five singers deliver almost two hours of musical memories in this very intimate setting- three women and two men and while I know that the male singers did a good job, it seemed that the women truly were the stars of this production. Songs like “Some People” and “Don’t Rain On My Parade” as performed by Danielle Brothers ( what a wonderful performer she is) are energy packed with the perfect feeling that I am sure Styne meant for an audience to feel. Stephanie Herman is sheer perfection for “Cabaret” with her solid voice and stage presence ( she sure knows how to play the audience) as she does songs like “The Music That Makes Me Dance”,”Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend” and “You Make Me Dream Too Much” and  the adorable Khaki Pixley does a great job with much lesser known songs.

I am not forgetting the men,Christopher Logan and Andrew Sickel, both doing their first turn at TheoUbique, who are talented but younger and while they have nice voices and can move well, they don’t measure up to the standards that the women set for this powerful look at the works of Styne. Just think of the musical theater talents that Styne worked with: Comden and Green,Sammy Cahn, Stephen Sondheim and Bob Merrill to name a few and you know that you are in for an entertaining evening. Of course, anyone who has attended any production at TheoUbique, knows that they are in for a treat as these young performers who are also your waitstaff make your evening a memory that will last for a long time.

This particular show, as I said is somewhat limited to performances as follows:

Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays ( from July 1 thru 29th) at 7 p.m. and a special Monday night show on June 25th at 7:30 p.m.

There are also some week-end performances: July 20 and 21 and 27 and 28 at 8 p.m.

Ticket prices range from $29-$34 and for $20 additional you can make the experience a dinner/theater “night on th etwon” or enjoy a cocktail and a dessert ( $5.00 for dessert) To order your tickets call 800-595-4849 or visit www.theoubique.org

Free parking is available at the lot , Morse and Ravneswood with shuttle service to the theater or you might find some street parking in the area. Best bet is the RedLine stop at Morse Avenue and you are right there.

If you have not been to The No Exit Cafe located at 6970 N. Glenwood, make it a point to see these two shows- they truly show the talent that Chicago has to offer.

For more info on this show, visit the “Time After Time” page at www.theatreinchicago.com