Displaying items by tag: Lillian Castillo

If anyone has ever told you to buckle up and enjoy the ride, they were talking about life—and even if they didn’t know it, they were talking about Ride the Cyclone, the musical.

When six teenagers die in a rollercoaster accident and end up in purgatory, each arguing their case to be reborn (in song form) to a fortune-telling machine, the audience is given the gift of seeing six individuals as they really are—no pretense, but maybe with some well-earned bells and whistles—as they unapologetically define themselves and fight to extend their too-short earthly lives.

Canadian composers and lyricists Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell bring a carnival disaster and its afterlife to life in their 2009 Ride the Cyclone the musical, which first premiered at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre in 2015. This Arlington Heights Metropolis Performing Arts Center production is directed by Lillian Castillo, one of the original Ride the Cyclone cast members from the 2015 Chicago Shakespeare Theatre production and on the world premier cast recording, bringing her unique insight to this long overdue 2026 production in the Chicago suburbs, with musical direction by Carolyn Brady.

Front Row: Rylee Michelle as Constance Blackwood, Eldon Warner-Soriano as Ricky Potts, and Alex Merkel as Ocean O’Connell Rosenberg Back Row: Peyton Owen as Noel Gruber and Eric Amundson as Mischa Bachinski. Photography by Jennifer Heim.

Set in the remote town of Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Cyclone follows six members of the St. Cassian High School chamber choir as they ride the Cyclone rollercoaster (not to be confused with New York City’s Coney Island Cyclone built in 1927) and meet their demise when its sends them all plummeting to their deaths before they’d ever really gotten to experience life—or had they?

As the six choir kids wake in a purgatory ruled by the fortune-telling machine Karnak (played impressively by Dave Honigman, who looks and moves like an actual animatronic) they are told that one of them may be reborn to begin again the life that ended for them so swiftly—if, and only if, their fellow choir members unanimously vote for them to be reborn.

Thus begins the real ride, the wild, colorful journeys each teenager takes the audience on as they show us who they are, what they want, and what they each make of their life. And in doing so, they challenge the notion that a short life, or a quiet life, or a purely imaginative life, is not a life well lived.

Dave Honigman as The Amazing Karnak. Photography by Jennifer Heim.

The overachieving Ocean (played delightfully annoyingly and with nuance by Alex Merkel, who straddles the line between a try-hard class president and an unlucky teenage girl struggling to make sense of her fate) sings about her accomplishments, intellect, and drive, brutally putting down her choirmates in the process. 

Others live out the inner life they always wished for on earth, like the only gay kid in town Noel dreaming to be a disease-riddled French prostitute in the 1930s (played with fabulous conviction by Peyton Owen), or the disabled boy Ricky (played charmingly by Eldon Warner-Soriano) sharing his inner reality where he rules a planet of hot humanoid cats.

Eldon Warner-Soriano as Ricky Potts, Alex Merkel as Ocean O’Connell Rosenberg, Peyton Owen as Noel GruberPhotography by Jennifer Heim.

Misha, the Ukrainian transplant, played with the perfect of blend of teenage-boy posturing and vulnerability by Eric Amundson, first raps in hilariously obnoxious autotune before laying his heart bare expressing his love for his online girlfriend Talia. 

Constance, the naive pushover of the group, played with authenticity and sweetness by Rylee Michelle (stepping in for Diana Marilyn Alvarez), sings about the liberation she felt flying through the air to her death and reveals she may have actually been the most worldly and experienced of them all.

Like the Cyclone itself, it’s quite a ride.

Amelia Tam as Jane Doe. Photography by Jennifer Heim.

It even has a spooky factor beyond its dark subject matter: the headless girl, Jane Doe. Losing her head in the accident, Jane’s body was unclaimed at the coroner, she has no memories of who she was, and she’s replaced her head with her doll’s head, giving her a vacant, black-eyed stiffness that makes her creepy but also pitiful.

Played hauntingly and heartbreakingly by Amelia Tam, Jane Doe’s movements and presence are hypnotizing, scary, and sad all at once. The only character who sings in an operatic soprano, Jane steals the show every time she’s featured, her “Ballad of Jane Doe” possibly being the strongest song in the musical, where she first laments then rages about her death and the tragedy of being anonymous even to herself.

As director Lillian Castillo describes in her director’s note, composer Jacob Richmond wrote this show in response to his sister’s tragic and unexpected death. When she passed and became an anonymous statistic in a news story, “her wholly singular and marvelous existence boiled down to a number—that was the jumping off point, restoring individuality to a group of people who died suddenly.”

Center: Eldon Warner-Soriano as Ricky Potts, Back Left to Right: Peyton Owen as Noel Gruber, Rylee Michelle as Constance Blackwood, Amelia Tam as Jane Doe, Alex Merkel as Ocean O’Connell Rosenberg, and Eric Amundson as Mischa Bachinski. Photography by Jennifer Heim.

And while the subject matter is dark, the theme and message aren’t. There’s so much humor—both irreverent and whacky—love, and authenticity weaved into every line and note of this show. Ride the Cyclone encourages you to live your life to the fullest, whatever your wildly individual definition of that is.

Because life isn’t about how it ends—it’s about the ride.

Ride the Cyclone is playing at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center Main Stage through October 25, 2026. Tickets can be purchased at MetropolisMetropolis or by calling the box office at 847-577-2121.

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights, 111 W. Campbell St., is proud to announce the cast and creative team for Ride the Cyclone, September 16 - October 25. Ride the Cyclone is presented with book, music and lyrics by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell. The Metropolis production is directed by original American cast member Lillian Castillo, and music directed by Carolyn Brady. Previews are Wednesday, Sept. 16 through Friday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. The regular performance schedule is Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. The performance on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. will be closed captioned and the performance on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. will be ASL interpreted. Tickets are now on sale from $25 to $49 at MetropolisArts.com or by calling the box office at 847.577.2121.

In a now-abandoned theme park not so long ago, six teenagers hurtled to their death on the roller coaster The Cyclone. Now, those teens are back from the afterlife, with all of their unlived dreams, potential, hopes, and fears in tow. They grapple with the lives they led on Earth and the choices they made – all except a mysterious and headless girl named Jane Doe, who has no memory of her past. As instructed by a fortune-telling machine named The Amazing Karnak, the teens need to decide who amongst them will receive the gift of returning to their life. As they fight to be the one to return, they realize that life's ups and downs, tragedies and victories, love and loss are all just part of the ride.

An added bonus to the Metropolis production features Director Lillian Castillo. Castillo is the original "Constance" on the world premiere cast recording. She originated the role in the American premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and continued performing in the Off-Broadway, Seattle and Atlanta productions.

The cast of Ride the Cyclone includes Alex Merkel (Ocean); Eric Amundson (Mischa); Eldon Warner-Soriano (Ricky); Diana Marilyn Alvarez (Constance); Dave Honigman (Karnak); Amelia Tam (Jane Doe); Peyton Owen (Noel); Connar Brown Sprenger (U/S Ocean); Eli Blanks (U/S Mischa); Aidan Leake (U/S Ricky); Rylee Michelle (U/S Constance); Ian Rigg (U/S Karnak); Z Mowry (U/S Jane Doe) and Joel D'Aroya (U/S Noel).

Ride the Cyclone's creative team is Lillian Castillo (director); Carolyn Brady (music director); Mandy Modic (choreographer); Angie Miller (scenic designer); Denise Karczewski (lighting designer); Sarah Ramos (sound designer); Rachel Boylan (costume designer); Miguel Ramos (wig and hair designer); Kelli Lawrence (props designer) and Tony Churchill (projections designer).

ABOUT LILLIAN CASTILLO, DIRECTOR

Lillian Castillo is honored to make her professional directorial and Metropolis debut. She is a proud Chicago actor, singer and acting coach who has had the pleasure of performing at many of Chicago's theatrical homes. Her most recent credits include: On Your Feet at Drury Lane Theatre; Titanic, Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat, 1776 and In the Heights at The Marriott Theatre; The Music Man at the Goodman Theatre and Comedy of Errors, Taming of the Shrew and of course the American Premiere of Ride the Cyclone at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Lillian spent 5 years workshopping Ride the Cyclone and bringing life to Constance Blackwood. She is thrilled to have punched her ticket to take this ride again from a new seat.

ABOUT CAROLYN BRADY, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Carolyn Brady returns to Metropolis after her debut as MD/Piano Conductor in The Wedding Singer this past spring. She operates a Chicagoland and national voice studio where her clients have appeared in the Broadway casts of The Book of Mormon and & Juliet; National Tours of The Book of Mormon and The Prom; NBC's "The Voice" and locally at Drury Lane, Marriott Theatre, Mercury Theater, Music Theater Works, Paramount, Porchlight Music Theatre and more. A four-time nominated music director, she has MD'd for Drury Lane (A Chorus Line, Cinderella, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, A Christmas Carol), Steppenwolf (Lookout Series), Marriott Theatre (Elephant & Piggie), Paramount School of the Arts (The Lightning Thief, Mean Girls, & Matilda Jr.) and most recently she served as MD and Piano Conductor for Into the Woods at Saugatuck Center for the Arts in MI. She's a proud member of CFM Local 10-208. IG: @carolynbradymusic

ABOUT METROPOLIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre is a vibrant cultural hub that enriches the community through inspiring live performances, creative arts education and impactful partnerships. It fosters artistic excellence, cultivates multi-generational connections and offers inclusive experiences that engage and uplift all community members. Located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights, Metropolis is not just a theatre, it is the cultural pulse of the area, surrounded by premier shopping, dining and nightlife. Metropolis offers a dynamic year-round season of professional theatre, comedy, concerts and cabaret performances along with engaging arts education for ages 3 to 85 years old. Serving more than 65,000 patrons annually from across Chicagoland and beyond, Metropolis plays a pivotal role in the community. It provides arts education programs that support thousands of aspiring young artists, as well as community engagement initiatives like the Third Act Players (musical theatre for thespians over 50), Crescendo Chorus (for singers over 55), Flourish in the Footlights (for young artists with disabilities) and Clearbrook on Cue (for artists with disabilities). Metropolis is proud to partner with local organizations such as Endeavor Health, Arlington Heights Senior Center and Clearbrook. Scholarships are available for students at the School of the Performing Arts to ensure access to the arts for all.

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights, 111 W. Campbell St., is proud to announce the cast and creative team for Ride the Cyclone, September 16 - October 25. Ride the Cyclone is presented with book, music and lyrics by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell. The Metropolis production is directed by original American cast member, Lillian Castillo, and music directed by Carolyn Brady. Previews are Wednesday, Sept. 16 through Friday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. with a press opening Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. The regular performance schedule is Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. The performance on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. will be closed captioned and the performance on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. will be ASL interpreted. Tickets are now on sale from $25 to $49 at MetropolisArts.com or by calling the box office at 847.577.2121. 

As a lifelong aficionado of the ill-fated ocean liner RMS Titanic, I’ve always gravitated toward any experience that would leave me feeling immersed in that famous moment of an era that nobody any of us knows anymore is alive to remember. I’ve watched every grainy, dated video interview with actual survivors of the shipwreck I can find on YouTube. I’ve even listened to audio rips of ancient vinyl interviews with others who were there and who lived. One of the several times I saw James Cameron’s Hollywood opus during its initial 1997 theatrical run was seated on the flooded floor of an overbooked movie house during a torrential rainstorm; it was like virtual reality, but way soggier!

I’ve learned all I can about the unfathomable chain of events that left the liner many fathoms below the Atlantic. And I’ve tried just as hard to learn about that long-gone period in which the wealthy crossed seas on boats instead of private jets, and immigrants did the same to an America that once welcomed them. But despite the books and the videos and the museum exhibits, April 15, 1912, seems as long ago as Gettysburg or the pyramids.

That’s why I truly appreciated and enjoyed the Marriott Theatre’s current run of Maury Yeston and Peter Stone’s Tony-winning Titanic: The Musical. Instead of awing me with titanic recreations of the floating behemoth like Cameron’s film or an array of sunken artifacts recovered from the seabed over two miles below, this production directed and choreographed by Connor Gallagher made me think about the things that were really lost on that calm April night. The somethings, actually. The someones. 1,517 someones.

Utilizing the Marriott’s theater-in-the-round setup, Gallagher lets his cast—the people on board the boat—bring this early-20^th-century story well into the 21^st. And what a cast he brings along for the cruise!

But first, we feasted. The Marriott has transformed its Three Embers Restaurant into the White Star Grill. Featuring food that would’ve been served to the passengers of the White Star Line’s crown jewel, the eponymous Titanic, I was already being time-warped back to 1912 before I’d set foot in the theater proper. Braised short rib. Wood fired lamb. Poached king salmon. Chicken lyonnaise. It was all food a gourmand of the time might have expected prepared as they sailed the Atlantic. And they would’ve approved of the Marriott’s take on the fare. What a way to start a night out!

Waldorf Pudding at the White Star Grill

As dinner digested, we met the folks who, in less than two hours, would either be among the 706 survivors of the disaster, or the more than twice as many who’d be listed among the dead.

Of course, there were the famous figures—famous in their time because of their social status and still famous because of their choice of transportation. There were Guggenheims and there were Astors. And just as rich, but as charming in their humility as they were onscreen and seem to have been in reality, were Isidor and Ida Straus, the elderly couple who co-founded Macy’s and who went down, together, with the ship. Mark David Kaplan’s Isidor was lovable, while his wife Ida, who’d loved him for over forty years, was played by Heidi Kettenring, whose vocal performances throughout the show were breathtaking.

Those known for the responsibility of Titanic’s existence and demise were well represented, as well. David Girolmo’s Captain Smith was as stoic and somber as the ancient mariner he already was on what was to be his final voyage after Titanic’s maiden trip. Christopher Kale Jones’ builder of the boat, Thomas Andrews, looked more haunted and heartbroken as the fate of his creation and himself sank in. And Adam Pelty played J. Bruce Ismay, head of the White Star Line, and as close to a villain as the story has, all business and bully and bluster as the boat makes its way toward the tale’s true villain, the iceberg.

Heidi Kettenring and Mark David Kaplan in Titaninc: The Musical at Marriott Theatre

But just as it was with the actual Titanic, the many other people along for the ride made the whole thing human, made it real, made us feel like we were there. If anyone could be called a hero in this story without any, it would be stoker Frederick Barrett, played by Darian Goulding. Goulding’s got the most fleshed-out storyline and maybe the most musical lines, too, and he makes the most of them with a wonderful voice and a way of portraying a guy from the days of coal-powered steam engines.

Another everyday person looking to make it across the pond is with-child Irishwoman Kate McGowan, played by Erica Stephan, who seems to fit into every role and production she’s part of. James Earl Jones II and Lillian Castillo also wow as American couple Edgar and Alice Beane who try to blend in with the other passengers, but who instead steal the spotlight with their own wonderful musical numbers. Another couple in love played by Francesca Mehrotra and Will Lidke were maybe my favorite vocalists of the evening, although Matthew Hommel’s dual roles as boy telegrapher Harold Bride and bandmaster Wallace Hartley reserved for him two of the evening’s best songs.

And, backing all of these varied performances and the ongoing score was as tight a Marriott orchestra as I’ve heard, conducted by Brad Haak.

When you head to Marriott Theatre’s Titanic: The Musical—playing now until June 1—you won’t find priceless trinkets plucked from the ocean floor, nor will you find lifelike walls of riveted steel. But you will find a lovely dinner followed by a truly immersive night to remember as you meet some of the people who lived, and who didn’t, on that calm Atlantic evening over 113 years ago.

*This review is also featured on https://www.theatreinchicago.com/!

What happens when a 1970s dance diva goes into hiding as a nun in a neighborhood parish, you might ask? Well, let’s just say she definitely makes an impact. After Delores witnesses a murder by her boyfriend (a gangster who is married), the sassy disco queen is thrust into a witness protection program by the Philadelphia Police Department where she assumes the identity of a nun, much to the dismay of Mother Superior. Two completely different worlds collide, as the strict and disapproving Mother Superior is forced to work side by side with Delores, who is more about living on the wild side and prefers beer and cheesesteak sandwiches over the church served mutton. Though completely at opposite spectrums from each other the two eventually teach each other valuable life lessons, which plays out nicely in this humorous and charming script.  

When we first hear the weak, out of key singing by the nuns, it doesn’t take us long to figure out that Delores, a seasoned vocalist, will serve a useful purpose in her new surroundings. We just don’t’ realize how amusing the journey will be.   

Based on the Whoopi Goldberg hit film, Sister Act is a ton of fun. Not only does the production nail the 1970s, parodying the era to perfection with spot on costume design and stereotypical character traits, but it is plenty funny and has a slew of enjoyable song and dance numbers such as “Take Me to Heaven”, “It’s Good To Be A Nun” and “Sister Act”.

Pairing perfectly are Hollis as Mother Superior and Broadway veteran Stephanie Umoh as Delores. Umoh is absolutely adorable in the role while Resnik displays an acting presence that of the talented veteran she is. It is not Resnik’s first run at the role as she had played Mother Superior is national touring productions in the past. Umoh and Resnik’s chemistry make this production work ever so smoothly as they play off each other flawlessly. And though both Resnik and Umoh each provide show-carrying caliber performances, they get a lot of help from a wildly hilarious and talented ensemble.    

Every time gangster Curtis Jackson and his band of cronies come onto the stage you can expect a few good laughs. Mark Hood as lead thug, TJ, often steals the show with his far out boogie-like moves and 1970s jive talking while Todd A. Horman as Joey also makes several splashes as the wannabe hard ass sidekick. The gang hits the audience full throttle and are highlighted in their very funny number “Lady in the Long Black Dress”, a smooth ode to the ladies where they each think they are God’s gift to women.   

Mary Robin Roth, Marya Grandy and Lillian Castillo add a lot of oomph and personality to the flock of nuns while Johnathan Butler-Duplessis shines and Eddy otherwise known as “Sweaty Eddy”, the Philadelphia cop whose rich vocals really come to life in “I Could Be That Guy”.  

Don Stephenson’s directorial debut at The Marriott Theatre is “right on” while Melissa Zaremba works her magic on the show’s choreography, making this a well-rounded production that has a bit of everything one would look for in a musical comedy. 

Thoroughly entertaining, Sister Act is playing at Marriott Theatre through April 3rd.  For tickets and/or more show information visit www.MarriottTheatre.com.  

Chicago Children’s Theatre World Premiere invites you to “Wonderland, Alice’s Rock and Roll Adventure”, and to delve into your curious imaginations. Chicago director Rachel Rockwell and music director Michael Mahler reinvented Lewis Carroll’s books Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass into a wild adventure of self-actualization.

Small, troubled, 7½ year-old Alice wants to feel ten feet tall, because after all, nothing matters at all when you’re feeling small. But that does not stop Alice from reaching her dream of becoming queen. Rockwell describes Alice as “an active protagonist. We’re talking girl power here, empowering girls, in particular, to boldly discover their true selves.” Ariana Burks, 15 years, and Isabelle Roberts, 12 years, steal the audience’s hearts, brilliantly playing Alice (both young ladies will be alternating performances as Alice).

Rockwell and Mahler uniquely interpreted the classic “Alice” stories into an inspirational rock and roll adventure. A new Alice in Wonderland soundtrack was created featuring sounds similar to Aerosmith, Kiss, Joan Jett, and David Bowie. With the perfect cast and crew, this performance is seamlessly executed. The live rock soundtrack, varying from classic rock to punk to ska, surrounds Alice as she learns valuable lessons from her friends in Wonderland. The Mad Hatter tells Alice to “do what you like, and like what you do.” Ironically, the short tempered Caterpillar reminds Alice to keep her temper. The unicorn at the end of Alice’s journey tells Alice to believe in six impossible things before breakfast, with the underlying message “believe in the impossible, and the impossible will believe in you.”  

As far as vision goes, the set perfectly captures the Victorian-grunge look. The stage’s floor resembles a chess board, and projections of gardens and hallways are plastered behind the cast to aid in the visual adventure. Costumes are also very fun and innovative to complement the colorful set. Costume designer, Mara Blumenfeld, turns the Cheshire Cat into a 1970’s lavish David Bowie. Cheshire Cat, Andrew Mueller, follows Alice throughout her journey and always wears a grin on his face because he knows the punch line. The Queen of Hearts, Molly Callinan, rocks the Joan Jett look and is completely mad when it comes to order and fairness. All the while, the Red Roses, Lillian Castillo and Regina Leslie, wear red bows and puffy red skirts, providing Alice with ridiculous advice, like “it takes a lot of work to be a natural beauty!” The Jabberwocky, also Andrew Mueller, is your worst nightmare… a punk rock demon. Complete with intimidating black spiky hair and tall, black boots, Alice must defeat the Jabberwocky; the negative thoughts and harmful monster created in her head. In this case, Alice smashes her demons, with a sensational solo on the drums. At the end of this crazy adventure, Alice learns to believe in herself and to never instill self-doubt in her head.

This performance calls for kids, parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and school groups to join in the fun at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts! “Wonderland, Alice’s Rock and Roll Adventure” will make you laugh, it will make you shake, and it will tap your feet along with the beat.

“Wonderland, Alice’s Rock and Roll Adventure” performances are being held through May 24^th at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Tickets are $10-$38. Programs include fun activities for kids and lessons drawn from the themes of the play. For tickets and information, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.orgor call (872) 222-9555. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (773) 227-0180 x 13 to learn about deeply discounted group rates for schools, playgroups, birthday parties, and scouting trips. Note: Groups can book an ASL- interpreted or Autism-Friendly performance by calling (773) 227- 0180 x 13 with a minimum of two week notice.