Review: Schoolhouse Rock Live! (Broadway Playhouse)

Energetic and delightful summer excursion

Review by Lauren Whalen

The original "Schoolhouse Rock" 1970's television spots were slightly before my time, but the legacy of learning in a hip way fostered by the Emmy Award-winning children's series lives on at the Broadway Playhouse through the end of August. Schoolhouse Rock Live! is a fun update to the classic series, resurrecting the iconic educational songs for today's audiences. Thanks to the upbeat music and lyrics, bubbly choreography and a quartet of effervescent performers, children and adults alike will walk away from the Emerald City Theatre remount with a song in their hearts and facts in their heads.

Schoolhouse Rock Live! is a loosely plotted one-hour concert, centering on nervous schoolteacher Tom (Ron King) on the eve of his first day of classes. Tom is worried he won't be able to reach his students, and during a fit of insomnia, grabs the remote control and finds the "Schoolhouse Rock" of his childhood come to life in the form of three enthusiastic singers. As Dori (Eliza-Jane Morris), George (Jed Feder) and Shulie (Emily Goldberg) guide Tom through math, vocabulary, history and civics, they remind him how much fun learning can be, and why he became a teacher in the first place.

Family-friendly programming is always a gamble to review: if a show is enjoyable to children, it might be supremely annoying to their parents, and vice versa. Thankfully, this issue doesn't exist in Schoolhouse Rock Live! Adults who may have grown up with the music every Saturday morning(and even children of the 80's and 90's can recognize "Conjunction Junction" and "Just a Bill") will love the catchy tunes of their youth, and the kids in the opening day audience excitedly clapped, bounced in their seats and gazed wide-eyed at cast members who ran through the aisles, jumped around and executed high-energy choreography with aplomb, while clad in bright colors and smiling with all their might.

Director Morgan Ashley Madison keeps the pace moving (a must for any children's theater production) and infuses Schoolhouse with a wonderful innocence that's endearing rather than cloying. Madison's choreography, assisted by Alex Seeley, is witty, athletic and an absolute joy to watch. Costume designer Sarah Jo White clearly had a great time outfitting the actors with a rainbow of color, and her fervor is contagious. And the four actors positively shine, radiating a passion for children and learning that's nearly ecstatic. King's gorgeous voice is only matched by his smooth dance moves, and Feder brings to mind a human pogo stick, so happily does he hop around the stage. As the ditsy Shulie, Goldberg displays excellent comic timing, and Morris' gorgeous smile and musical theater skills make her a true powerhouse.

In the span of just under an hour, Schoolhouse Rock Live! covers everything from pronouns to women's suffrage, all with a snappy wit that's aged well from its seventies heyday. Emerald City Theatre and Broadway in Chicago have a summer hit on their hands: every family with elementary-aged children and every grade school group should run, not walk (well, probably walk because it's safer than running), to this jubilant celebration of education. Even I'm rhyming now!

Schoolhouse Rock Live! continues through August 28th at the Broadway Playhouse, 175 E. Chestnut (map). Tickets are $16-$24, and are available by phone (800-775-2000) or online through Ticketmaster.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com ). More information at EmeraldCityTheatre.com. (Running time: 55 minutes, no intermission)

behind the scenes

Morgan Ashley Madison (director, choreography, set design), Scott Ferguson, George Keating, Kyle Hall (book), Lynn Ahrens , Bob Dorough, Dave Frishberg, Kathy Mandry, George Newell, Tom Yohe (music, lyrics), Alex Seeley (assistant choreographer), Alex Benjamin (music director), Sarah Jo White (resident costume designer), Claire Chrzan (resident lighting designer), Daniel Friedman (co-lighting design), Chris LaPorte (sound design), (asst. sound design), Greg Pinsoneault (props design), Michael Stanfill (projection design), Cameron Petti (master electrician), Mina Slater (production stage manager), Ellen Osborne, Marcus Carroll (asst. stage managers), Jacqueline Stone (artistic director), Johnny Knight (photos)

Tags: 16-0715, Alex Benjamin, Alex Seeley, Bob Dorough, Broadway in Chicago, Broadway Playhouse, Cameron Petti, Chicago musical theater, Chicago Theater, Chris LaPorte, Claire Chrzan, Daniel Friedman, Dave Frishberg, Eliza Morris, Eliza-Jane Morris, Ellen Osborne, Emerald City Theatre, Emily Goldberg, George Keating, George Newell, Greg Pinsoneault, Jacqueline Stone, Jed Feder, Jeff Meyer, Joe Court, Johnny Knight, Kathy Mandry, Kyle Hall, Lauren Whalen, Lynn Ahrens, Marcus Carroll, Michael Stanfill, Mina Slater, Morgan Ashley Madison, post, Ron King, Sarah Jo White, Scott Ferguson, Teressa LaGamba, Tom Yohe

Category: 2016 Reviews, Broadway in Chicago, Broadway Playhouse, Children's Theatre, Emerald City Theatre, Extensions-Remounts, Lauren Whalen, Musical Revue