Tootsie Reviews

Adrienne C from Chicago, Illinois

BRILLIANT!

Saw the Pre-Broadway show on 9/29. It was hilarious, with writing & music perfectly balanced between the original story and a new thread that updated it, and touched on current political & social issues w/o being heavy handed. You loved all the characters by the end of it. The songs were great, and a few should rise to memorable with repeated playing, unlike some shows I've seen recently. It was perfectly staged with great costumes for Dorothy Micheals, and intricate scenery changes. In fact we were at a performance where they had to briefly stop because one of the mechanisms to move the scenery froze, so they brought down the curtain, fixed it, then went on! The only area I thought a little weak was the Micheal's big reveal. He had no back story (like the movie did with Micheal being Dorothy's twin, and proudly and indignantly coming clean). It really needs one! Having Micheal just act guilty & confess just didn't ring true for me. Still a terrific theater experience overall!!!

Fred Fischrup from Chicago, Illinois

WOW!

A perfectly formed musical with the best of everything in acting, singing, set design, musical scores and originality. New Yorkers really have something to look forward to when it, unfortunately, leaves Chicago. One of the best musicials I have ever seen.

JJ from Chicago, Illinois

TOOTSIE IS TOPS!

An evening of pure delight from start to finish! First a lovely dinner at Trattoria 10, then a quick walk to the fabulous Cadillac Palace Theatre. We had great seats (especially for the ticket price) The acting, music, singing, sets, dancing were all spot on! Even a glith with a stage trap door was handled with humor and grace on Thursday night. Almost like it was part of the show. I tend to get bored easily in musicals and I was thoroughly engaged through the entire production. Have already recommended it to many friends and would love to see it again.

Ronald Wideman from Chicago, Illinois

SO MUCH FUN!!!!

We saw Tootsie last night (9/23) and it was just fabulous! Santino Fontana was just outstanding as the lead; Lilli Cooper was amazing as Julie Nichols and her voice is simply fantastic and Sarah Stiles as Sandy Lester was just a riot. The actors performed tremendously and the music interludes numbers throughout the performance were just amazing. The orchestra was top notch. It was funny and witty; so good that the time just flew by and before you knew it, the play was over. It left me wanting even more. This production is certainly ready for Broadway. I hope I can get to New York to see it when arrives there. I highly recommend this production.

Celeste M. from Chicago, Illinois

TOOTSIE IS GREAT!

Entertaining and hilarious! Perfect comic timing, everyone was spot on. Oh, except for that pesky trap door Thursday night but we had the perk of Dorothy taking questions from the audience. Lovely night!

from Chicago, Illinois

FANTASTIC

Wonderful, enchanting and hilarious show with superb acting and singing to go with it. I PROMISE you, if you go to see Tootsie you will have an enjoyable time at the theater.

Linda S. from Los Angeles, CA

GREAT FUN!

I saw Tootsie last night and the strong cast pulled off snappy one liners and great musical numbers. Well worth the price of admission. I would see it again! Despite seats on a far side, my view was unobstructed. It’s a fun night out for tourists, like me.

Bob Stenzel from Chicago, Illinois

TOOTSIE IS TERRIFIC

Loved it, daring Dorothy does it perfectlly. Santino Fontana is outstanding and makes it look easy. Every cast member is great. Want to see it again.

Sheri Levin from Milwaukee

READY FOR BROADWAY NOW

Saw the 3rd preview performance of Tootsie in Chicago at the Seot. 15 matinee and everything about it was the outstanding! That includes the story, the acting, music, costumes, dance and all else. It kept us laughing to tears and the time flew. It is NOW ready for Broadway and should be a tough ticket to get there. Definitely recommend it. We walked down the block to the restaurant 312 which was so convenient and excellent.

NS from Chicago, Illinois

GREAT COMEDY; FORMULA MUSIC; HAVEN’T LAUGHED SO HARD IN YEAR

It took me a bit to realize the opening number was a parody of an opening number, as I was settling in for a ho-hum evening in response. The shift came during “Dorothy’s” audition, where Santino Fontana pulls off a show-stopper. Once the show took off, it was a comic genius, reminding me of FunnynThing Happened...inits patter and comic delivery. The music was at its best in the comic numbers like “You F**d Up”, as much for the delivery as the music. The rest of the score was formula at best, as is a lot of show music in our era unfortunately. All that said, I was entertained and laughed till it hurt, and even without tweaking, I would predict an enthusiastic reception in NY (where I am from). It did leave me thinking about just how much B’way loves to gaze at its own navel, since 42nd Street through Chorus Line and many others, the “let’s put on a show!’ fallback is alive and well. Tootsie was a hoot...already recommended it to my NY friends.

Kristy from Rockford, Illinois

PERFECT "TOOTSIE ROLE"

Santino Fontana certainly makes this musical sing! It departs just enough from the original film to keep it fresh, yet still familiar. While some of the songs weren't incredibly memorable or catchy, the performances were stellar and the writing quick and witty. I recommend this for a good date night, And back to Santino, I don't think I could picture anyone better for this "Tootsie Role"

ChicagoBears from Chicago, Illinois

FUN PLAY, FAIR MUSICAL

Was surprised at the new take on this story... enjoyed the cast, the storyline, the one- liners, the production. As a play with a bit of music- it was a good comedy with some drama and heart. As a musical- it was fair, but not big hit songs that rocked the house. Overall worth seeing.. I do wonder if they will do any more tweaks before Broadway? ps Jeff was awesome!

Gini Hartzmark from Chicago, Illinois

SNOOZIE, THE MUSICAL

Scored half-price tickets for Tootsie on a discount site and decided that $45 for main floor seats to a legitimate Broadway (bound) show was a deal I couldn't pass up and at that price it was a good time. If I had paid more I would have felt robbed. Not that it's about the money. I go to a lot of theater, I am in New York for business every other month and I have probably seen every (non-Disney) musical that's played in the last two years. And I've got to say, Tootsie falls short. The story, adapted from the highly lauded movie, is formulaic at best and while the actors are excellent, they aren't given much to work with in terms of character. Every one of them is a cardboard cliche and while there is some sharp comedic writing and genuinely funny moments, they aren't enough to carry the production. The music is insipid and the lyrics dreadful. Really dreadful. In Act Two Julie, in the nightclub scene, belts out a list of cliches.

Pete Strop from Chicago, Illinois

BOOKS IS BETTER THAN THE MUSIC

It's an enjoyable night. The comedic elements are terrific, both in the book and in the music. Performers' timing is great. The overall music, however, is just not memorable. It's sluggish in pacing in places. The lyrics are not strong, and the audio mix the night we were there was poor. The romantic relationship is not terribly believable and there's not one non-comedic number that stands out. The staging and sets are fanastic and Broadway-ready.

CRC from Chicago, Illinois

GOOD COMEDY, BAD MUSICAL

Good comedy with a sharp cast that delivers non-stop clever one-liners. What a shame they made this a musical because the music is frantic & discordant & interrupts the flow. Tootsie delivers 1 good song & that is it.

WR from Chicago, Illinois

NOTHING EXCEPTIONAL

Went and it was enjoyable, but very forgettable. Funny script and well executed, but there isn't anything musical that will be remembered. A good time, but you'll forget everything about it by the time you get home.

Natalie from Chicago, Illinois

STRONG BOOK AND CHOREOGRAPHY- BUT LACKED MAGIC

The musical managed to capture the comedy of the original film, but the music and lyrics did nothing to elevate the material. Audiences go to movies "turned into" Broadway Musicals to experience the magic harmony, melody, catchy hooks and fabulous scores bring to their favorite stories. I left the show without a single tune in my head, nor can i remember the title of a single song. Santino Fontana was a gem as always (most will know him as Prince Haans from Frozen or Prince Topher from Cinderella), but even he could not bring life to mediocre songs. A retooling of the musical portion must be done before the Broadway opening, or the show will make little money- patrons will not be motivated to purchase the soundtrack. As the show stands I would save your funds and 2hrs of time- stream the Dustin Hoffman version and laugh your heart out.

Richard Heuberger from Chicago, Illinois

TOOTS

You know you are in for a long night when the songs are not listed in the program. Nice sets Talented actors, but no continuity. Songs , for the most part, had the melody of ‘the bands visit’ and we’re way too long

A fan of Tootsie from 1982. from Chicago, Illinois

WORST PRE-BROADWAY MUSICAL PREMIER EXPERIENCED THUS FAR

My opinion does not matter much, but I didn't see this musical as entertaining at all. The music, the costumes and script didn't work for me. I loved the original film and I was looking forward to seeing what Broadway could come up with, but it failed me. I didn't find it entertaining, and, actually a bit insulting with jokes of gender roles which feel outdated now particularly when the time of the musical is now and not early 1980s. The use of profanity as a tool to get cheap laugh was sad for me to experience. "You fucked up" number was irritating. I wish the cast and producers of this musical much luck, but it was not for me. Its a cynical situation : this show is about Broadway/stage actors who are hired to work in a bad production which Dorothy comes in and saves the productions by making it better. An immediate hit, but the fact was that the show it self was bad from start, middle and end. I didn't love any characters nor Dorothy Michaels.

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