Nothing rocks more than being a mom or dad, but after being on call 24/7, all parents deserve a night out to regroup, recharge and regain a little consciousness about the world outside of Elmo and Dora. Head to Drury Lane Theatre in Oak Brook to take in Thoroughly Modern Millie, the winner of 2002’s “Best Musical” Tony Award.
Set in 1922, Thoroughly Modern Millie tells the funny story of a small-town-girl with larger-than-life dreams, Millie Dillmount, who leaves Kansas behind and goes to the Big Apple to marry for money instead of love. As Millie flaps, taps and warbles her way through the Roaring ’20’s, the audience gets a glittery glance of the Jazz Age (think clubs called the Nutty Cracker Suite), where giggles and gaffes endlessly delight. And, when Millie’s life takes an unexpected romantic turn the hilarity grows, especially once her friends start to mysteriously disappear at the hands of her hotel proprietess turned white slave trafficker and her two kindhearted goons with a secret of their own.
Thoroughly Modern Millie began as a 1967 film starring Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore, and Carol Channing. In 2002, the film was transformed into a Broadway musical. The production would go on to win six Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Sunday afternoon’s performance was electric. Holly Ann Butler made Millie come to life as she literally sparkled on stage with efferevescent energy, humor and tangible passion, which was a wonderful juxtaposition to the serene richness that came with the impressive Melody Betts, who played singer Muzzy Von Hossmere. Randall Dodge and Dara Cameron – Mr. Trevor Graydon and Miss Dorothy Brown – had the audience in stitches with their comedically charming rendition of Ah! Sweet Mystery / Falling in Love, as did Sharon Sachs as Miss Flannery belting out Forget About The Boy, though I think most will agree that the true standouts in the show were its misled villians: Paula Scrofano as Mrs. Meers, and Richard Manera and Paul Martinez as Ching Ho and Bun Foo. The subtitles alone added to the hilarity, as did all that was lost in translation between the three.
This is really a must see (we didn’t start a standing ovation for nothing), and runs from October 29-December 20.
Win two tickets for your own date night!
To enter, leave a comment after this post answering the question: What year did Thoroughly Modern Millie first open on Broadway?
Entries will be accepted from November 1 until midnight CST on November 4, with one random winner to be announced on November 5. The winner will have a choice of dates for performances from October 22-December 18, on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., or Fridays at 8:30 p.m. at Drury Lane Theatre in Oak Brook.
