Displaying items by tag: singing
Raven Theatre Delivers a Revelatory, Unmissable Octet
There’s a rare kind of theatrical experience that transcends personal taste. Even if a genre is not typically your first choice, the sheer level of artistry on display is impossible to deny. That is exactly what director Keira Fromm’s production of Octet accomplishes: a vocally astonishing, emotionally resonant, and meticulously staged production that leaves you in complete awe of the performers.
Centered around a support group for people struggling with various forms of internet and technology addiction, Dave Malloy’s 2019 chamber choir musical somehow feels even more relevant now. Octet explores the strange, funny, isolating, and deeply human ways people use the internet to cope, connect, and self-destruct. Each member of the eight-person ensemble embodies a different facet of online dependency, from social media obsession to gaming to pornography to niche internet rabbit holes.
While the characters are intentionally heightened at times, what makes the show so effective – and a little scary – is how recognizable they still feel. The humor comes easily, but it is the moments of uncomfortable self-recognition you experience with each and every character that linger long after the show ends.
The production is, above all else, a staggering vocal achievement – made even more impressive by this marking Raven Theatre’s first musical production. Performed almost entirely through a cappella and chamber-style music, Octet demands an unbelievable level of precision, memorization, and endurance from its cast. The eight performers remain onstage for the full show, seamlessly moving between emotionally vulnerable monologues, intricate harmonies, comedic ensemble numbers, and soaring solo ballads without ever losing momentum. The result is one of the most impressive live vocal performances I have seen in quite some time.
What makes the cast especially remarkable is not just the technical perfection of the singing – though there genuinely was not a single noticeable missed cue, stumble, or musical lapse throughout the performance – but the way every performer remains completely locked into their character while executing extraordinarily difficult material. The ensemble operates like a perfectly synchronized machine, yet never sacrifices emotional authenticity for precision.
Two particular standouts were Teressa LaGamba (Paula), whose warmth and compassion radiated through every interaction and whose vocals carried extraordinary emotional clarity, and Sam Shankman (Henry), whose flamboyant humor and painfully relatable awkwardness made him both hilarious and unexpectedly touching. Shankman’s chemistry with the rest of the ensemble elevated nearly every scene he was part of, reinforcing the deeply interconnected energy that makes the show work so well.
Technically, Octet is relatively minimalist, but Raven Theatre’s production proves how impactful thoughtful simplicity can be. Utilizing the backstage area of the company’s black box theatre to create the atmosphere of a sparse church basement, scenic designers Milo Bue and Wynn Lee embrace an intentionally unpolished environment that perfectly suits the material. Every design choice feels purposeful.
The true technical standout, however, is Maximo Grano De Oro’s lighting design (with Ruby Lowe and Emmitt Socey as Master Electricians). Great lighting often goes unnoticed because of how seamlessly it integrates into a production, but the work here is impossible not to appreciate once you begin paying attention. Countless meticulously timed lighting cues transform otherwise ordinary fluorescent fixtures into an incredibly dynamic storytelling device, adding depth, tension, warmth, and unease in ways that subtly shape every moment of the show. The precision of the programming and cue choreography demonstrates an extraordinary level of care and intentionality, elevating the entire production without ever distracting from it.
With a newly announced film adaptation directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and featuring an all-star cast already generating major excitement, Raven Theatre could not have picked a better time to stage Octet. Their production captures everything that makes the musical so singular: its humor, its humanity, its discomfort, and its breathtaking musicality. It is a deeply modern show presented with extraordinary care, and it sets an incredibly high bar for any future stagings.
Octet is running at Raven Theatre through June 7th. Tickets are available at https://www.raventheatre.com/stage/octet/.
This review is proudly shared with our friends at www.TheatreInChicago.com.
American Blues Theater names Nia Akilah Robinson the recipient of the 2026 Blue Ink Award for her play Overnight at the Museum and announces featured finalists Benjamin Benne and Claire Crowley
07 August 2026 in Theatre BuzzAmerican Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the recipient of the 2026 Blue Ink Award is Nia Akilah…
Love and Time On Our Side: The Notebook: The Musical at Broadway in Chicago
06 August 2026 in Theatre in ReviewIn times of stress, we often turn to familiar and comforting things: a favorite song, a dog-eared book, a movie…
Grammy-Nominated Premiere Anchors 9th NEXUS Chamber Music Festival This August 12-14
06 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreChamber music may be one of music’s most misunderstood children. An early form of classical music, it has always been…
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company Announces Mud Row October 15 - November 15 at Theater Wit
05 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreRemy Bumppo Theatre Company is pleased to announce the cast, creative and production teams for the first production in its 2026…
Victory Gardens Theater presents the World Premiere of Zayd Ayers Dohrn's The Humanities beginning September 10th
05 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreVictory Gardens Theater (2433 N. Lincoln Avenue), an historic incubator for new play development, proudly announces the World Premiere staging of The…
Goodman Theatre Presents Dead Girl's Quinceañera September 26th Through November 1st
05 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreSecrets, sisterhood and solving crime take center stage this fall in the world premiere co-production of Dead Girl's Quinceañera by Miami native…
Steppenwolf Theatre Presents ADIRONDACK CHAIR CIRCLE – October 22 – December 6, 2026 – World Premiere!
04 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreSteppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to continue its 51st Season with the world premiere of Chicago playwright Stephanie…
Writers Theatre celebrates record-breaking 2025/26 Season with artistic growth and unprecedented ticket sales
04 August 2026 in Theatre BuzzWriters Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Artistic Director Braden Abraham, concluded its 2025/26…
Chicago City Opera presents a Mozart double feature of The Impresario and Bastien and Bastienne August 15th & 16th
04 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreChicago City Opera (CCO) presents an evening of two one act Mozart operas The Impresario and Bastien and Bastienne combined…
The Notebook - James M. Nederlander Theatre - Through August 16th
04 August 2026 in Now PlayingProducers Kevin McCollum and Kurt Deutsch, along with Broadway In Chicago are thrilled to announce THE NOTEBOOK, a new musical based…
Harris Theater Presents return of Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project, Aug. 28
04 August 2026 in Upcoming DanceFollowing last year’s smashing sold-out engagement, the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance proudly presents the return…
Guarneri Hall Launches 2026/27 Season with NEXUS Festival: Music for 8 and Two Premieres August 12-14, 2026
04 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreGuarneri Hall, an intimate state-of-the-art, custom-built classical music venue in the heart of downtown Chicago, proudly opens its 2026/27 season…
Chicago Magic Lounge Welcomes Back David Parr as Fall Artist in Residence with Time Traveler October 7 – December 16
04 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreChicago Magic Lounge welcomes back acclaimed magician David Parr as its Fall Artist in Residence with David Parr: Time Traveler, a new theatrical experience…
ETA’s for colored girls Honors the Enduring Power of Ntozake Shange
04 August 2026 in Theatre in ReviewNearly fifty years after its groundbreaking premiere, Ntozake Shange's for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow…
yo ho. Delivers Queer Pirate Chaos, Big Laughs, and Fierce Swordplay
03 August 2026 in Theatre in ReviewA quick history lesson: Anne Bonny and Mary Read are two of history’s most famous female pirates. Both women disguised…
The Outsiders - Cadillac Palace - Through August 16th
03 August 2026 in Now PlayingThe Tony Award® winning Best Musical, THE OUTSIDERS, based on the seminal novel by S.E. Hinton and Francis Ford Coppola’s landmark motion picture, returns to Chicago…
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre to present Play On! September 11–October 18
01 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreChicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the cast and creative team for Play On!, which opens the Theater's 40th Anniversary Season. This jazz musical tells…
Iceboy! Sets New Goodman Box Office Record
31 July 2026 in Theatre BuzzToday, Goodman Theatre achieves a new milestone in its 100th anniversary season: Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive…
First National Tour of OH, MARY! Announces Chicago's Mary Todd Lincoln
30 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreKevin McCollum & Lucas McMahon and Mike Lavoie & Carlee Briglia, along with Broadway In Chicago announced today that Tony…
Citadel Theatre announces EUREKA DAY, playing September 9 – October 11
30 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreLake Forest’s Citadel Theatre has announced the full cast and crew for its season opener - the satirical comedy EUREKA…
Rivendell Theatre Ensemble presents the third World Premiere in its 30th Anniversary Season Bonnie's Last Flight
30 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreRivendell Theatre Ensemble, Chicago's only professional theater that seeks to advance women through the power of storytelling, announces the cast for…
Definition Theatre presents How We Got On by Idris Goodwin Sept 11-27
29 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreDefinition Theatre is proud to present How We Got On, a mix-tape for the stage by playwright Idris Goodwin and directed by Tyrone Phillips. How We…
3Arts Awards Celebration uplifts Illinois' artistic community, Oct 26 at Harris Theater
29 July 2026 in Theatre BuzzThe nonprofit service organization 3Arts announces the date for its annual 3Arts Awards Celebration, a festive evening of dynamic performances by Chicago artists and the…
Mike Bartlett’s ‘An Intervention’ Zings in Chicago Premiere
28 July 2026 in Theatre in ReviewA new company, Heart of Gold Theatre, is presenting the Chicago premiere of Mike Barlett’s An Intervention. Bartlett is a…
Carmela misses her papi, because papi is missing some of his papers: Carmela Full of Wishes returns Oct. 25-Nov. 15 at Chicago Children’s Theatre
28 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreCarmela misses her papi, because papi is missing some of his papers.Chicago Children’s Theatre presents Carmela Full of Wishes, a…
Promethean Theatre Ensemble to stage BLOOD OF THE LAMB at The Den, September 3 -October 3
28 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatrePromethean Theatre Ensemble announced today it will stage the Chicago premiere of BLOOD OF THE LAMB, by Arlene Hutton, a gripping two-woman,…
Metropolis’ Wizard of Oz Rekindles Pure Childhood Wonder
26 July 2026 in Theatre in ReviewMetropolis Performing Arts Centre’s new staging of The Wizard of Oz sends audiences down the yellow brick road with a…
Jackalope Theatre Company Announces Plays, Playwrights and Casts for THE 17th LIVING NEWSPAPER FESTIVAL, August 20 - 24
24 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreJackalope Theatre Company is proud to announce the schedule for the 17th Annual Living Newspaper Festival, August 20 - 24, at the Jackalope Theatre…
Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre Announces 2026-2027 Season
24 July 2026 in Upcoming DanceCerqua Rivera Dance Theatre (CRDT), the Chicago-based dance company, is proud to announce its 2026 - 2027 season. In the coming year,…
Love Actually In Concert at Cadillac Palace Theatre Saturday, December 12th - One Night Only!
24 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreIt may be the middle of summer, but for fans of Universal’s “Love Actually,” Christmas comes early this year. GEA…
Latest Articles
-
Steppenwolf Theatre Presents ADIRONDACK CHAIR CIRCLE – October 22 – December 6, 2026 – World Premiere!
Written by Buzz Center StageSteppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to continue its 51st Season with the world premiere of Chicago playwright Stephanie Alison Walker's biting satire Adirondack Chair Circle, directed by Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon (Downstate, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), playing October 22 — December… -
Writers Theatre celebrates record-breaking 2025/26 Season with artistic growth and unprecedented ticket sales
Written by Buzz Center StageWriters Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Artistic Director Braden Abraham, concluded its 2025/26 season by shattering box office, attendance, and fundraising records, and cementing its position as a premier national hub for theatre excellence…
-
American Blues Theater names Nia Akilah Robinson the recipient of the 2026 Blue Ink Award for her play Overnight at the Museum and announces featured finalists Benjamin Benne and Claire Crowley
Written by Buzz Center StageAmerican Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the recipient of the 2026 Blue Ink Award is Nia Akilah Robinson for her play Overnight at the Museum. As part of the award, Robinson receives a $3,000 cash prize and a staged reading…
-
ETA’s for colored girls Honors the Enduring Power of Ntozake Shange
Written by Wesley DavidNearly fifty years after its groundbreaking premiere, Ntozake Shange's for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf remains one of the most important works ever written for the American stage. Neither conventional play nor musical,…
Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.