This weekend my friend and I had a girls’ weekend with three theatre shows in the Midwest. Our plan was to meet up in Kansas City for shows on Thursday and Friday, travel to Madison, WI for a show on Saturday, and return home on Sunday. It’s always lovely to spend quality time with a friend and catch up and the shows were an added bonus. One topic of conversation was how we would rate each of the shows and I thought it could be fun to share! I haven’t seen many theatre shows but I hope to grow the list over time. 

A quick note about my rating system. I use a 10-point scale with no half point increments. A rating of 1 is terrible, 5 is average, and 10 is excellent. Here are my ratings to date. 

Come From Away: 8/10

The musical is based on events in Gander, Newfoundland during the week after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. Following the attacks, 38 commercial planes, carrying approximately 7,000 passengers, were diverted to Gander International Airport. The characters are based on actual residents and the stranded travelers they rallied around to house, feed, and comfort. The story is a poignant reminder of the human capacity of kindness and the triumph of humanity over hatred. 

I rated Come From Away an 8 because the story beautiful, clearly told, and not overly difficult to follow. The talent was phenomenal and the music well scored. I laughed, cried, and thoroughly enjoyed the entire performance. This is a show I would happily see again and, because it was my first theatre show, it holds a special place in my memories. 

Hamilton: 9/10

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical biography of Alexander Hamilton lives up to the hype. Based on the 2004 biography by Ron Chernow, Miranda reimagined the life of the Hamilton during the American revolution and early political history of the United States, telling the story in a combination of song and rap verses. The influence of hip hop, R&B, pop, and soul are intricately wound with a traditional style of show tunes. The diverse cast delivers the story of “America then, told by America now” as Miranda has described his creation. The two acts also include a historical A-list of characters including Marquis de Lafayette, Aaron Burr, John Laurens, Hercules Mulligan, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, Angelica Schuyler Church, Peggy Schuyler, Philip Hamilton, Maria Reynolds, George Washington, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Charles Lee, Samuel Seabury, George Eacker, and Philip Schuyler. 

I rated Hamilton a 9 because I was immediately hooked on the musical style of the show. Miranda’s blending of different musical styles matches my own taste in music and the differing tempos add to the story. The story is clear and easy to follow and there are a mix of emotions throughout. The entire cast delivers in their performance and you can’t help but leave the show humming the catchy lines that get stuck in your head. I watched the original cast perform in the recorded Hamilton performance available on Disney plus as well as saw the show live. Both performances were incredible! I think the live version slowed the music down a beat or two compared to the streaming version. This did not detract from the performance or the pace of the songs (several are still fast), but I was able to hear certain words/lyrics I hadn’t quite caught before. I would definitely see it again!

Wicked: 9/10

The genealogy of this musical is connected to multiple books going back to the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum which formed the basis of the 1939 film adaptation of the same name. Wicked is told from the perspective of the witches in the Land of Oz. The plot begins before and continues after Dorothy arrives in Oz. The story centers around unlikely friends Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (later Glinda the Good Witch), who struggle to build and maintain their relationship. Opposing personalities and views, a shared love interest, reactions to the Wizard’s corrupt government, and Elphaba’s ultimate fall from grace all serve as obstacles for the witches to overcome. 

I rated Wicked a 9 because I enjoyed the show immensely and understand the hype. The new take on the classic story brings cheeky humor and feel good vibes for this fresh perspective and, maybe, the Wicked Witch of the West wasn’t so terribly wicked after all. The story is clear and is brought to life by an amazing cast. The emotional range of the story had me laughing, crying, shaking my head, and cursing some of the nefarious characters along the way. The music is phenomenal and you will leave with several catchy lines stuck in your head. I would happily see this show again without hesitation! 

Great British Bake Off The Musical: 10/10

The Great British Bake Off Musical is a musical comedy based on the British television baking competition of the same name. The GBBO competition brings a group of amateur bakers together to compete against one another in a series of rounds, attempting to impress two judges with their skills. Each round one contestant is named Star Baker and one contestant is eliminated. The winner is selected from the three bakers who make it to the final round. 

I rated Great British Bake Off The Musical a 10 because I adored this production. Loved it and am sad I was only able to see it once due to the limited run in the West End. As a fan of the TV series, I identified similarities between the theatre characters and actual contestants on the show which gave me an immediate connection to the show. The cheeky humor and lighthearted story had me laughing, crying, and every experiencing emotion in between. The story is clear, easy to follow, and details the trials and tribulations of love, loss, and baking. The phenomenal cast delivered the best performance I have attended. It is impossible to leave feeling anything less than exceptionally happy while humming the notes to the intro song. I hope the show will come back for additional performances and I will make the trip across the pond to see it again!

Dreamgirls: 6/10 

The story follows Effie, Deena, and Lorrell, a musical trip called the Dreamettes, through the 1960s and 1970s. An ambitious manager, Curtis Taylor, spots the act at a talent show and offers the chance of a lifetime, to be backup singers for a national star. Taylor takes on more and more control of the group, eventually pushing them into the spotlight. As personal interests develop and change, the Dreamettes begin to learn the true cost of fame. Formerly a tightknit trio, one becomes the star, forcing another out.

I rated Dreamgirls a 6. The music was good and the cast delivered an incredible performance but the story fell a little flat with several lost or unclear aspects. While not outright addressed in the show, there are themes of alcoholism and bribery which contribute to the heavier aspects of the story. It is a tale of the costs of fame and trusting people who only have their interests in mind. I’m glad I saw Dreamgirls once, though it isn’t a performance I would actively pursue for a second time. 

Jagged Little Pill: 5/10

Alanis Morissette’s 1995 album has been turned into a musical to tell one family’s story. As one would expect from the 90s era, there was plenty of teenage angst and parental rebellion. A workaholic dad, a perfect son learning life isn’t so perfect, a bisexual adopted daughter, and a drug-addicted mom form the family unit of the story. 

I rated Jagged Little Pill a 5 because the story is focused on severe themes of drug abuse and sexual assault. The cast was amazing, their vocal range impressive, and they absolutely smashed the songs. I was familiar with some of the songs and not familiar with others so didn’t feel a particularly strong connection to the music. This is not what I would consider a fun theatre show and, while glad I saw it, it is not one I would actively pursue for a second time. That isn’t to say it is a bad show, more that it isn’t on my list of favorite shows. 

SIX: 10/10

SIX is a British musical comedy and is a modern retelling of the lives of Henry VIII’s six wives. The wives tell their side of “herstory” in the form of a pop concert. Each of the wives (Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr) have a turn telling their story, each trying to outdo the others with the suffering they endured from Henry VIII. 

I rated SIX a 10 because it is a short 80. minute production (no intermission) and it delivers the fun factor from the first note. The pop music tempo increases the energy and fun from the onset and continues throughout the performance. I downloaded the soundtrack immediately after the performance because several songs were stuck in my head (or at least a line or two from multiple songs). There is just enough girl power without being man-hating as the six wives take back the power of their stories that history has sidelined for so long. Highly recommend this show and would like to see it again!