PLAY ON!

Let me begin by saying that "Play On!" is an extraordinary theatrical experience and one of the year's best musical plays. This spirited production, conceived by Sheldon Epps, brings to life a captivating book by Cheryl L. West, complemented by the soulful, sophisticated jazz music and emotionally deep lyrics of the legendary Duke Ellington. The production stunningly blends the 1940s Swing era in Harlem with Shakespeare's classic comedy, Twelfth Night, gender-bending, mistaken identity, and romantic triangles, creatively redesigning the fictionalized location of Illyria to the lively streets of New York during the historical days of African American cultural, artistic, and intellectual movement of the Harlem Renaissance. The title of the musical is inspired by Duke Orsino's powerful opening line in Twelfth Night: "If music be the food of love, play on." Epps's masterful direction blends exceptional music, soulful singing, energetic dancing, and witty comedic timing, making Play On! a show-stopping extravaganza of pure magic. The Play features a visual extravaganza, with stunning stage design of The Cotton Club by Beowulf Boritt that captivates the audience with creative, elaborate details, amazing costumes by An-Lin Dauber, and thrilling dance numbers choreographed by Edgar Godineaux.

Play On! begins when Vy, an ambitious female songwriter, heads to New York hoping to start her career and seeks out her Uncle Jester to help her connect with Duke. Because the male-dominated music industry during the era disregarded the talents of female songwriters, Jester comes up with a plan to disguise her as a man named Vy-Man so she can pitch her tunes to Duke, who has lost his mojo, mourning a lost love of the glamorous Harlem nightclub owner and diva named Lady Liv. When Jester and Vy (Now Vy-Man) meet Duke, who sits in his dimly lit room at his piano, he's in a spiral of depression over Lady Liv, singing songs like "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good." But Vy-Man catches his attention and brings a glimmer of light back to his eyes, sharing that she, too, understands how the blues can affect your desire to write music. The Duke listens to one of her songs, which sparks inspiration and leads him to a plan to use Vy-Man's music as his own to woo Lady Liv back. In exchange, he will collaborate with him and promise to help him with his music.

Following Shakespeare's Twelfth Night scenario of gender-bending and mistaken identity, Lady Liv meets Vy-Man, ignores the Duke's advances, and falls in love with Vy-Man. Vy, still disguised, falls for the charismatic Duke; however, to pursue her dreams, she must keep her true identity secret to advance her music career. As the romantic triangle unravels, filled with Shakespearean passion and deception, Play On! delivers a magnificent production of Cheryl L. West and William Shakespeare's narrative of how the sufferings of love can strip people of reason, self-control, and clarity. Epps also directs the performance and showcases a spectacular all-African-American cast. The talented cast includes Krystal Joy Brown as Lady Liv, Alan H. Green as Rev, James Harkness as Jester, Kaylah Janssen as CC, James Earl Jones II as Sweets, Alanna Lovely as Miss Mary, and Edred Utomi as Duke. Hailee Kaleem Wright's performance as Vy and Vy-Man would have Shakespeare in awe. With her remarkable ability to act, sing, and dance, she captivates the audience, drawing them in with her sweet charm and commanding stage presence. Krystal Joy Brown, with impressive vocal talent, during a soulful version of "I Ain't Got Nothin' but the Blues, delivers an outstanding performance as the eccentric and often misunderstood Lady Liv, who, beneath the glamour, struggles to find genuine love with a man who sees beyond her fame and beauty and truly understands her. Alan H. Green delivers a spectacular portrayal of the mean-spirited Rev, whose love for Lady Liv comes with high demands of her staff. In Act One, Green is in a phenomenal scene where he is humiliated for his arrogance when Jester, Sweets, and Miss Mary teach him to be laid-back and streetwise when approaching Lady Liv about his love for her. It's a crude reminder of who he is and where he's from, and Green nailed the transformation of an awkward, no-rhythm black man into a hipster from the streets. Equally impressive are James Harkness and James Earl Jones II, who bring an electrifying energy to the stage as the streetwise, smooth-talking Jester and Sweets, respectively. Their dynamic duet of Ellington's "Rocks In My Bed" is a standout performance. I've always been impressed with Alanna Lovely's acting skills. Her performance as Miss Mary Sweet's main squeeze was outstanding, highlighting her impressive vocal abilities and her comedic timing. The priceless facial expressions she exchanges with Brown during their scenes are priceless. Also featured in the production are Ensemble members: Uria Bennett, Marquez Linder, Selena Robinson, Dylan C. Smith, Joey Stone, Shelbi Voss, Danny Dwaine Wells II.

The first act concludes with a breathtaking finale song titled "Solitude," from Edred Utomi, Alan H. Green, Hailee Kaleem Wright, and Krystal Joy Brown, creating a magical musical and theatrical experience, with the second act focusing mainly on resolving the tangled love triangle.

"Play On! boasts an impressive collection of 23 remarkable songs that truly capture the essence of jazz and swing. Among the standout tracks, not previously mentioned, are classics like 'Don't Get Around Much Anymore,' 'It Don't Mean A Thing,' and 'Drop Me Off in Harlem.' Remarkably, 22 of these songs were written by the legendary Duke Ellington, except for the iconic 'Take the A Train,' featured in the play and written by Billy Strayhorn. The production is a visual feast, brimming with dazzling dance performances and captivating singing scenes, making Play On! an unforgettable theatrical experience and this year's Must-See performance.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Play On!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Conceived by Sheldon Epps

Book by Cheryl L. West

Music by Duke Ellington

Directed by Sheldon Epps

SEP 11 – OCT 18, 2026

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