# Chicago Shakes' 'Play On' Feasts on Love and Jazz

> Chicago Shakespeare's 'Play On' blends Duke Ellington's jazz with Shakespearean romance for a vibrant musical feast.
- Title: Chicago Shakes' 'Play On' Feasts on Love and Jazz | Shortify
- Summary: Chicago Shakespeare's 'Play On' blends Duke Ellington's jazz with Shakespearean romance for a vibrant musical feast. Chicago Shakes' musical 'Play On'…
- Keywords: chicago shakes, duke ellington, play on, twelfth night, shakespeare, jazz, musical theater, harlem, vy man, duke, news, local
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/theater/2026/09/22/review-play-on-chicago-shakespeare
- Published: 2026-09-22T18:51:54.227+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: chicago shakes, duke ellington, play on, twelfth night, shakespeare, jazz, musical theater, harlem, vy man, duke, news, local
## Chicago Shakes' 'Play On' Review
Chicago Shakes' musical 'Play On' blends Duke Ellington's jazz with Shakespearean comedy for a vibrant show.

> If music is the food of love, then Chicago Shakes’ buoyant ‘Play On’ is a feast
## Vy-Man Meets Duke Ellington
Vy, an aspiring songwriter, dresses as a man to meet Duke Ellington after learning songwriting is a man’s world.

> She hopes to meet Duke Ellington but learns that songwriting is a man’s world.
## Lady Liv and the Love Triangle
Lady Liv falls for Vy-Man while Vy is smitten with Duke, creating a Shakespearean love triangle.

> By the rules of Shakespearean farce, Lady Liv falls in love with Vy-Man, while Vy is smitten with Duke.
## Duke Ellington's Music
The show features Duke Ellington's songs like 'Mood Indigo' and 'Don’t Get Around Much Anymore'.

> The musical, based on the music of Duke Ellington that borrows its scaffolding from Shakespeare’s romantic comedy “Twelfth Night,” shines with an exceptional cast that delivers show-stopping performances.
## Krystal Joy Brown's Performance
Krystal Joy Brown delivers a time-stopping rendition of 'Mood Indigo' with gorgeous sorrowful phrasing.

> Krystal Joy Brown, who portrays nightclub singer Lady Liv, delivered a time-stopping rendition of the song, with gorgeous sorrowful phrasing and effortless navigation of the melody’s tricky accidentals.
## Shakespearean Allusions
The show includes allusions to Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' and the phrase 'music is the food of love'.

> Shakespeare buffs will recognize several allusions to famous lines from 'Twelfth Night.' You probably already spotted the one in the title, about music as the food of love.
## Musical Excellence
The cast demonstrates exceptional musicianship with solo turns and tight harmonies.

> The level of musicianship among the cast is almost impossibly high, with all the principals capable of solo turns but ready for tight harmony.
## Jukebox Musical Challenges
The show addresses jukebox musical flaws by using Duke Ellington's jazz and Shakespearean comedy.

> The jukebox-musical format of building a show around preexisting tunes has several built-in flaws, all of which 'Play On!' either covers over or skirts impressively.
## Duke Ellington's Catalog
The show features songs like 'I’m Beginning to See the Light' and 'Prelude to a Kiss'.

> Throughout, the cast sprinkles in the songs of the real-life Duke Ellington, including, in addition to those already mentioned, 'I’m Beginning to See the Light,' 'Prelude to a Kiss' and 'It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).'
## The Show's Run
The musical runs through October 18 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

> When: Through Oct. 18 Where: Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand Ave. Tickets: $55, $135 Information: chicagoshakes.com Run time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, including an intermission
## The Musical's Success
The show's blend of jazz and Shakespearean comedy creates a vibrant musical experience.

> ‘Play On!’ is quite a banquet.
## The Final Performance
Krystal Joy Brown stops the show with 'I Ain’t Got Nothin’ but the Blues' after intermission.

> Brown stopped the show a second time after intermission with 'I Ain’t Got Nothin’ but the Blues'.
## The Show's Impact
The musical has been praised for its exceptional cast and seamless integration of jazz and Shakespearean comedy.

> The show shines with an exceptional cast that delivers show-stopping performances.
## What Happens Next
Chicago Shakes' 'Play On' continues to run through October 18, offering audiences a vibrant musical experience.

> The musical runs through October 18 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
## Key takeaway

Chicago Shakes' musical 'Play On' combines Duke Ellington's jazz with Shakespearean comedy to create a show where Vy-Man and Duke fall for each other.