“Far and away the most successful of
Chicago Shakespeare Theater's annual summer projects... a veritable cascade of musical numbers that manage to be
fresh, catchy and complex.” — Chicago Tribune
“The Emperor's New Clothes is far and away the most successful of
Chicago Shakespeare Theater's annual summer projects to draw in the
thousands of families who visit Navy Pier. You'd be crazy to take your
family or guests to Navy Pier this summer without seeing this show…
Trust me, it's the best thing there. And the show skews slightly older
than you might be thinking. Given all the kid-power tech in the show and
the irreverence of the style, tweens sick of Miley Cyrus will have a
great time. And if you appreciate new musicals of quality, no kid is
required to attend. Young Alan Schmuckler will, mark my words, be a
major Broadway composer. And if seeing for yourself is preferable to
marking my words, you need only trot over to Navy Pier, where you will
be treated to a veritable cascade of musical numbers that manage to be
fresh, catchy and complex.” — Chicago Tribune
“New spin keeps The Emperor's New Clothes popping. In their newly imagined 75-minute family musical, now at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, composer-lyricist Alan Schmuckler (who did such a beguiling job with How Can You Run With a Shell on Your Back?) and writer David Holstein have devised a wonderfully zesty hybrid of Andersen's fairy tale. Sophisticated enough for any adult, the show also contains just enough goofy vaudeville to entertain 10-year-olds.” — Chicago Sun-Times
“Well-timed physical comedy, bright costumes and fun melodies engage young children, while the snarky lyrics and subtext will keep adults laughing.” — Chicago Parent
“This update of Hans Christian Andersen, smartly directed and choreographed by Rachel Rockwell, sports a book by David Holstein that holds comic appeal for kids and adults alike; rising composer Alan Schmuckler provides a clever, winning score. The eight-member cast is uniformly terrific.” — TimeOut Chicago
“Catchy tunes, eye-popping costumes, a magnificent fairyland set, a roly-poly jovial emperor with a pleasantly booming voice in the person of Don Forston—they're all part of The Emperor's New Clothes. the show fills a gap that theater rarely fills, appealing to teens and pre-teens with over a dozen jaunty songs and lyrics straight out of 21st-century jargon. Adults will appreciate the tongue-in-cheek references to the angst issues of our time. Oh what fun everyone will have in this fast-paced, delightfully updated version of this classic tale with music and lyrics created by Alan Schmuckler…” — The Beverly Review
“This show modernizes the classic Hans Christian Andersen fable, adding the spark and flare it needs to be a hit! All of the elements of this wonderfully silly play make it enjoyable for adults and children alike. It will have your foot tapping the entire time.” — Cheeky Chicago
“The songs, composed by Alan Schmuckler, are energetic and help the younger children in particular to engage with the storyline. … There are enough new twists to this old story to make it fresh no matter how many times you’ve heard it.” — Examiner.com Chicago