Getting happy for the Sweet and Hot show are Kristofer Simmons, Sarah Hayes and Eric Lindahl.

Sweet and Hot: The Songs of Harold Arlen

Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times
“This revue is so superb on every level that you may find yourself standing in a line that extends down to the Gold Coast.”
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Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
“When the singing is this strong, and when the performers are this willing to stick their hearts on the line, you feel like you’re engulfed by waves of exciting sound. It’s acoustic sound too, which makes it all the more thrilling.”
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Kris Vire, TimeOut Chicago
“Decked out in ’40s-ish style by costume designer Bill Morey, the young sextet hits precise harmonies in group numbers (musical director Steve Carson’s vocal arrangements are top-notch).”
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Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune.
A Bow to the Neighborhoods. . .and Rogers Park.  
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Alan Bresloff, review for Sweet and Hot: The Songs of Harold Arlen
“After they won all the Musical awards for last season, I wondered how they could come back with something that would be on the same level. Guess what? They have done it again.”  
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Lawrence Bommer, steadstylechicago.com
“The setting for this two-hour triumph is a cabaret within a cabaret, where five drinkers and a bartender (all unmiked for the natural sound we deserve) converse through songs written between 1931 and 1954.”
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Tom Williams, chicagocritic.com and MyTheatreClub.com
“You’ll not find a finer cast of cabaret singers anywhere . . . sing their hearts out as they are in full command of Arlen’s tunes. It is so refreshing to see the 20-30 somethings enjoying hearing and singing the terrific tunes from the late 30’s through the 50’s.”
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Pat and Herb Simms, Chicago-Splash
“If you’re looking for a mellow, melodic evening of delicious music (and dinner served by the cast), don’t miss Sweet and Hot: the Songs of Harold Arlen.”
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Chess

Chicago Tribune:

The Profiles Theatre production of Tracy Letts’ “Killer Joe” and the Theo Ubique Theatre Company revival of “Chess” are the two big winners of the 2010 Non-Equity Jeff Awards. The honors for “Chess” continue the Jeff committee’s affection for Theo Ubique’s brand of storefront musical. Maggie Portman, winner in the actress in a principal role/musical category, has won that category two years in a row.
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Chicago Sun-Times:

“Chess,” the 1986 musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, is the latest success story for Theo Ubique, the oddly named little storefront cabaret company in Rogers Park where actors wait tables before coming onstage.
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PerforminkOnline.com

The Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee couldn’t agree on which plays were the best of the season, but they were in total agreement about which musical was most outstanding. Theo Ubique ’s production of Chess garnered seven awards at the Non-Equity Jeff Awards Monday night…
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Time Out Chicago:
Theo Ubique’s powerful, intimate revival puts the music and characters first, and a stellar cast keeps the story as riveting as the songs.
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Chicago Blogger:

While this was not my first production at Theo Ubique, it will also NOT be my last. Even though I did not love the book, the show was still of the highest level I have come to expect from Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre.
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BroadwayWorld.com
The same quality, talent and energy from last season’s production of Evita by Theo Ubique are being brought to Chess. All three directors worked together on Evita and walked away with Jeff Awards for Production/Muscial, Direction, Choreography and Musical Direction. Portman also won a Jeff Award for Principal Actress/Musical.
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5 Stars in TimeOut -Chicago / Ali Weiss:
“As Florence, the chess ’second’ caught in a love triangle between the Russian and American grand masters, Portman wins us over with fierce, heartfelt belting (especially on ‘Nobody’s Side’). Trager is vocally brilliant and achingly vulnerable as the Soviet player Anatoly, and Crouse is spot-on as Freddie, the insecure maverick American.
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TalkinBroadway.com / John Olsen:
This 11-person cast is consistently strong (and in the intimacy of the No Exit, you can judge the contributions of each). In the leads are some of the best voices currently working in Chicago musical theater, Equity or not….
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