“The supporting cast includes Chicago veterans Melanie Brezill (a vocal powerhouse), Alex Goodrich, Cory Goodrich and Molly Hernandez, who plays Holly's wife, Maria Elena (and a mean trumpet). Jordan Arredondo is teenage Ritchie Valens, who wins a seat on the ill-fated plane thanks to a coin flip, and David Stobbe plays The Big Bopper and doubles as DJ Hipockets Duncan who narrates the story of Holly's short life and unexpected death. Christopher Wren, a veteran of six
Buddy Holly Story productions, Ellie Kahn and Marcus Terell round out the cast.
“From 13 singer/instrumentalists, music director Matt Deitchman has shaped a tight, well-oiled ensemble, a crucial element for a show powered by three-minute deliciously twangy bursts of old-fashioned rock 'n' roll. Kudos to Deitchman and to Mak who make sure every one of them gets a moment or two in the spotlight. Sometimes a moment is all an artist gets. But sometimes, as with Holly, it's enough to change the world.”
—Barbara Vitello,
Daily Herald
YOU MAKE ME WANNA SHOUT!“Today, jukebox and biographical musicals make up a large portion of the productions playing on Broadway and the West End, and the public absolutely adores them. Telling the life story of a world-famous celebrity, while liberally peppering it with a playlist of the artist’s most beloved songs, has become a theatrical staple. But back in 1989 this was a new style of musical. Written by Alan Janes, and supported by Sir Paul McCartney… brought
Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story to London’s Victoria Palace Theatre. This toe-tapping, high energy musical story, which eventually transferred to Broadway, depicted the meteoric rise to fame of rock and roll legend Buddy Holly, proving to be an absolute crowd-pleaser, it played for 12 years and began a new trend of theatre called the jukebox musical. That trend continues today with shows like
Jersey Boys,
Ain’t Too Proud,
Tina and
MJ.
“Directed and choreographed with ardor, imagination and untiring energy, Amber Mak, ably assisted by Elizabeth Romero, brings this engaging and highly enjoyable musical to life on the Marriott stage. Staged in-the-round, audiences get a full, 360 degree perspective of how this young pioneer of rock and roll broke away from his Country/Western roots and, in just a few short years, became an icon of pop music. Matt Deitchman’s superb musical direction, manages both singers and musicians, and breathes pulsating life into this infectious show. For many audience members,
Buddy is a blast-from-the-past rock concert that conjures up many memories of their youth. For younger theatergoers, however, this toe-tapper will teach a great deal about the roots of rock...
“…this production absolutely belongs to Kieran McCabe as Buddy Holly. He carries this show with his signature horn-rimmed glasses, mellow vocals and unequalled musical talents on guitar and percussion. This charismatic, multitalented young actor/musician is truly the heart and soul of this production. Once he steps onto the Marriott stage he has the audience in the palm of his hand. Mr. McCabe was last seen in Marriott’s production of
Million Dollar Quartet, as well as in Paramount Theatre’s
Rock of Ages. But he knows this musical quite well, having played drummer Jerry Allison in American Blues Theater’s Jeff-Award-winning production of a few years ago.
“Kieran McCabe is a likable, boyishly handsome young performer who not only charms the audience, but also wins the heart of Maria Elena, who soon becomes his wife. Portrayed by lovely Molly Hernandez, another multitalented young Chicago actor, she makes a spunky and alluring partner for McCabe. Ms. Hernandez, who theatergoers may recognize from playing the title role in
Lookingglass Alice at Lookingglass Theatre, also astounds here as a jingle and backup singer, as well as a virtuoso on the trumpet. In fact, all the musical accompaniment for this production is not only onstage, but comes from practically every member of this phenomenally gifted cast.
“Making up Buddy Holly’s band, The Crickets, is the multi-gifted Jed Feder, who passionately attacks the drums as Jerry Allison; Shaun Whitley, as Joe Maudlin, who plays the heck out of the bass; and talented guitarist Michael Kurowski is the 4th musical Cricket member. The always awesome musician, actor and vocalist, Cory Goodrich portrays Shirley, plus a variety of other roles, while accompanying on the celesta. Ellie Kahn is Vi Petty, lending vocal support while also ferociously tickling the ivories of the piano.
“Donning the hats of several supporting characters, including Norman Petty, Murray Deutch and Hayrider, while also strumming the guitar, is Chicago favorite, Alex Goodrich. Christopher Wren is especially homey as Jack Daw, while additionally playing a Decca Records Producer, Lead Hayrider and a radio DJ. And bringing the audience to their feet, Marcus Terell and Melanie Brezill brilliantly play, among other characters, two sassy and super stellar performers at Harlem’s Apollo Theater. They dazzle, lighting up the stage with their spectacular, show-stopping rendition of “Shout”. Which is what audiences do as they leave the theatre, singing the praises of this new production.
Buddy is a don’t miss musical that really heats up Chicagoland’s Summer Theatre scene.
***Highly Recommended***
—Colin Douglas,
Chicago Theatre Review
‘BUDDY HOLLY STORY’ A TERRIFIC ODE TO ROCK LEGEND
“While director/choreographer Amber Mak’s production in Lincolnshire isn’t eligible for Tony Awards, I expect that at least Mak and (Kieran) McCabe may receive Jefferson Award nominations for this crowd-pleaser that had both young and older audience members clapping during and after musical numbers like “Peggy Sue,” “That’ll Be the Day” and “Oh Boy!”
“There’s so much talent here… So get tickets and go with your buddy to a far-from -“Everyday” kind of show.”
—Paul Lockwood, Northwest Herald
“The Jeff Award for The Cast Having the Most Fun in the Summer of 2023 goes to Marriott Lincolnshire’s Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story. Patrons, take note: your soul will thank you for taking an evening (or afternoon) to join them.
“A cast of impeccable actor-musicians put across signature renditions of the best of the Buddy Holly and friends’ songbook… (Amber) Mak cast the impeccable Molly Hernandez to reprise her performance from 2018’s American Blues Theatre’s two-act version. Here, Hernandez delivers the pivotal dramatic scene, standing up for herself and her Latina heritage against Holly’s chief influencers, leading Holly to embark on his solo career.
“A second genius stroke in this production comes during Holly and the Crickets’ performance at Harlem’s Apollo Theater. Marriott’s in-the-round setting casts the largely white, suburban musical audience as Black Apollo Theater patrons in 1957, watching the first-ever white performers on Apollo’s stage instead of the expected R&B group. The staging provides a strikingly tangible experience of racism from a varied perspective.
“It’s this kind of purposeful, Easter-egg subtlety that sparks particular joy in Mak-directed shows, the result of tireless, dedicated research. Telltale is her note in the show’s Playbill: “You can’t help but jump into the rabbit hole of all the articles, documentaries, books and movies searching for the clues to honor the authenticity of the characters and events portrayed,” she wrote. And to wit, she has McCabe playing drums at the Clear Lake, Iowa, concert before the fateful events on the day the music died. She obviously learned that Holly did just that for Dion and the Belmonts on Feb. 2, 1959.”
—Barry Reszel, Chicagoland Musical Theatre
“As the young star, Kieran McCabe is simply amazing… Also praiseworthy are the performances of… Melanie Brezill and Marcus Terell, who play the major performers and hosts at the Apollo, during a concert that was as dangerous—given the racial tension involved—as it was unbelievably successful. Watching Brezill and Terell morphing from sceptics to fans is almost as joyful as watching the band as it plays… Amber Mak directs and choreographs the show, and her work is simply wonderful. From the band’s movements to the dance sequences at the Apollo to the celebratory sequences at the final concert, she makes everything seem so natural…
“the kind of show that is pretty much a perfect fit for the Marriott: family-friendly, thoroughly entertaining… Whether you’re a Boomer who has lived all of their life with Holly’s music, a younger person who only knows some of his songs, or someone who knows nothing at all about him, Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story is a joyous celebration of his heart and his talent, as well as the exuberance of youth and the seemingly endless possibilities that young artists of his era enjoyed. Don McLean, in his song “American Pie,” famously called that plane crash “the day the music died,” but the thing about music is that, as long as someone sings or plays it, it simply can’t die; its spirit is kept alive with ardent zeal in shows like this one.”
—Karen Topham, Chicago on Stage Review
NOT FADING AWAY - MARRIOTT’S REVIVAL OF 'BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY' SOARS“Alan Janes’s musical
Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story is a clever piece of work… I found the sections of the show that portray Holly and company in the studio composing Holly’s hits the most fascinating… when it is being revived by a company that has got what it takes and knows how to use it, the show flies high.
“Such is the case with the Marriott production. Not a moment of stage time is wasted; every performer is on point, every performance pitch-perfect. Director and choreographer Amber Mak uses Marriott’s challenging in-the-round stage well, taking care to choreograph scenes so the actors are constantly moving; no audience member ever has to look at the back of the actors for very long. Jeff Kmiec’s simple set design, which transforms the performing area so it looks simultaneously like a linoleum-tiled room and a huge, multicolored vinyl-disc—facilitates the actors’ many graceful stage moments.
“Taking the lead, Kieran McCabe makes a very compelling Holly, winning us with his acting and wowing us with his guitar playing. McCabe is not alone. The actors playing Holly’s band, the Crickets, (Jed Feder, Shaun Whitley, and Michael Kurowski) also play instruments, as do most of the other actors. This adds another layer of realism to the performances and most likely accounts for the show’s live concert-level energy. You would think a show that begins by revealing how Holly dies and wraps up with a recreation of Holly’s final concert in Clear Lake, Iowa, would end on a downer. But the material here is so strong, and Marriott’s performances so well executed, Holly’s hard-rocking tunes linger long after the lights come up, and we have to go home.”
—Jack Helbig,
Chicago Reader
“It was the first of the jukebox musicals premiering in 1989. It’s not just the story of the short-lived life of Buddy Holly but it also tells the story of rock ‘n roll in its infancy and the pioneers who created the sound.
“Elvis was not the only one... The Beatles and the Stones have talked about Buddy’s influence on their music. Then there’s Buddy’s MUSIC….. Amber Mak has put together a cast of actor-musicians who re-create the tight harmony that was Buddy Holly and The Crickets sound.
“Kiernan McCabe in his high-flying – literally - performance as Buddy, along with Jed Feder and Shaun Whitley as The Crickets, perform these classics with a studio-quality sound thanks to sound designer Michael Daly. Molly Hernandez (in her Marriott debut) portrays Maria Elena, Buddy’s sensitive and supporting wife… Marcus Terrell and Melanie Brezill are the Apollo entertainers who have the job of introducing Buddy to the Apollo audience. Quite the scene and the audience ate it up…
“The musicians are on stage and it is a treat to the ears to hear the music coming from all parts of the stage thanks to music director Matt Deitchman.
“It’s good to go back to the roots of the music that are such a part of our lives. Even better to hear and see the story of those artists who created it. Marriott’s
Buddy is the right show for that lesson. You won’t be disappointed. Go with some friends. Music takes us back to a certain time and place. Sometimes we need that transport to re-live a simpler time.”
—Tina St. Angelo Wetzel,
Broadway World
'BUDDY – THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY BRINGS' THE MUSIC BACK TO VIBRANT LIFE AT THE MARRIOTT“…it’s wonderful to see Buddy Holly getting his due in this engaging, rollicking jukebox musical where the actors also play all the instruments live onstage, giving the proceedings an extra bit of zing… this is a big-hearted, high-energy production in which even folks who’ve never heard of Holly likely will find his music affecting and infectious. These pop and rockabilly gems will shine on”
Frank Sennett,
Chicago Culture Authority“This smash hit musical celebration is directed and choreographed by the acclaimed Amber Mak… The musicians in this production are all astounding. You will be transported to the ’50s and ’60s with their costumes, dance style, and vocals… I could not believe they were not just synching their sounds without a backup orchestra. I heard several audience members say this was the best show ever at the Marriott Lincolnshire. My guests and I loved this production”
—Susan Lillis,
Chicago Splash Magazine
"OH BOY!" MARRIOTT'S 'BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY' AMAZES IN EVERY WAY“The capable hands of this Buddy Holly are attached to Kieran McCabe… He brings a fresh-faced, boyish energy to the role. He’s no adult cosplaying as a kid. He’s a young rock ‘n’ roller with a pair of dark-rimmed specs on his face, a Fender Stratocaster strapped to his chest, and a whole life of possibilities ahead of him, not a care in the world. As McCabe’s Buddy leads us through Holly’s catalog of songs… he transports us not just to Buddy’s life in Texas and New Mexico and New York, but more importantly to a simpler, younger time of backbeats and rockabilly. Song after song after song, Kieran McCabe’s Buddy Holly rocks.
“The rest of the cast is rounded out by musical ringers, too… while Holly and Valens and Richardson and so many other rock ‘n’ rollers might have died far too soon, their music will always be alive, so long as there are youthful and talented singers and musicians to keep them that way. Sing and dance along…”
—CJ Burroughs,
Buzz Center Stage
KIERAN MCCABE ELECTRIFIES IN MARRIOTT THEATRE ‘BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY’ “
Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story earned a standing ovation and catcalls galore from an adoring, enthusiastic audience on opening night. And rightfully so… With scorching guitar skills, an infectious doo-wop voice, and the affable charm of Tom Holland, Kieran McCabe is refreshing, cool, and delightfully fun as Buddy Holly… As terrific as Buddy Holly and the Crickets are, Marcus Terell and Melanie Brezill steal the show with their performance of the classic feel-good song Shout during a segment taking place at The Apollo in Harlem. Both Terell and Brezill are vocalists with charisma to spare. Music industry A&R people should take note that Marcus Terell deserves a recording contract… The perfect escape from the day-to-day grind,
Buddy is campy, charming, and delicious… a really enjoyable show”
—Rikki Lee Travolta,
Life and Times of Rikki Lee Travolta
BUDDY HOLLY COMES TO LIFE - NEW SHOW AT MARRIOTT LINCOLNSHIRE A ROCKIN’ GOOD TIME“It’s impossible to not get into the music as they play hit after hit… you won’t be disappointed… It’s thrilling stuff, sure to get you clapping and singing along… If you want to learn more about the roots of rock ‘n’ roll, perhaps looking to rekindle some old musical memories or simply want a fun night of live theater, head up to Marriott Lincolnshire.”
—Steve Metsch,
Suburban Chicagoland
“
Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story is an exhilarating and engaging musical with outstanding performances and classic songs that had the audience on their feet. The energy and passion of the cast members were palpable, and the audience was utterly captivated from start to finish… With 25 songs packed into just 95 minutes, the play was a non-stop celebration of Holly's music and legacy. The audience was on their feet by the show's end, dancing and singing… high-octane, infectious, and electrifying energy that will blow you away…
“I highly recommend Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story to anyone who loves great music and theater. And if you're looking for a Broadway-quality experience in Lincolnshire, the Marriott Theatre is the place to be.”
**** (four stars)
—Rick McCain, Let's Play Theatrical Reviews
“This show elevates Buddy Holly’s lasting impact and influence in rock ‘n’ roll to celebrate the vibrancy of his iconic life… What a group of talented musicians on one stage!”
—Mira Temkin, Urban Matter Chicago
Photos courtesy of Marriott Theatre
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