City Lit: Scaramouche
The cast of Scaramouche
City Lit Theatre Presents SCARAMOUCHE Review - A New Musical For Adventurers and Traditionalists Alike
TLDR: Following a traditional musical and story structure, Scaramouche is filled to the brim with songs and an adventurous journey trope. It’s a new musical that will speak to people who love shows with lots of action, fans of literature adaptations, and classic musical theater lovers alike.
Ethan Smith and Connor Ripperger
It’s All About Andre
The stage is set, both literally and even more literally as a smaller stage sits front and center of the City Lit stage. Our actors come onstage as other actors ready to become characters in this play within a play. We’re already seeing the meta of a commedia dell'arte form. Our actors open a trunk and start pulling out scarves, fans, masks, anything to transform themselves into someone else. They’re about to tell us the tale of one man who goes on an unexpected journey of awakening and self-discovery.
Adapted from a novel of the same name, City Lit is putting on this world premiere of a new musical here in Chicago. Our main character Andre-Louis Moreau starts as a lawyer and as his eyes are slowly opened to the injustices of the world around him, his whole world is turned upside down and finds himself on the lam. He manages to use his litigating skills to talk his way into beneficial situations as he tries to stay one step ahead of those after him. On his journey, he finds himself in the company of an acting troupe, rousing a revolution, the apprentice to a swordsman, and in a final battle that has us questioning his morality.
Scaramouche has it all. It’s an exciting journey that has everything from swashbuckling, to sardonic humor, to villainy, to a surprise twist, all wrapped up in a happily ever after.
The cast of Scaramouche
World Premiere Musical
Scaramouche is the perfect sized musical for the City Lit theater. There’s a live orchestra playing with not too many musicians that overpower the space, but still enough to give us a gorgeous full sound. When we have those full ensemble numbers, we’re treated to harmonies and pick up everything as they set the scene for us. Though I will say, when it came to some of the solo numbers, I do wish some of the actors had been mic’d just because their voices didn’t carry all the way through the theater during some parts.
Scaramouche has so many musical numbers that it's an almost sung through show, but not too many that we lose a chance for the cast to show off their comedy chops.
Ethan Smith delivers each of Andre’s lines with both Andre’s signature dry humor at times and others with cunning persuasiveness when he needs it.
Shea Lee takes as many beats as necessary to either deliver a witty punchline, letting it simmer and settle over the audience before laughing out loud or milking the moment when she needs to cross the stage as an elderly housekeeper.
Alicia Berneche clacks her fan as Madame with as much drama as her facial expressions, but turns heartfelt when she becomes Aline’s aunt. Similarly, Kent Joseph also plays dual characters turning from haughty Marquis de la Tour to a never-stop-similing, slapstick fool in the acting troupe.
Scaramouche balances rich musicality with sharp comedic performances, as the cast seamlessly shifts between heartfelt emotion, dry wit, and broad physical comedy in this production.
Alicia Berneche
The After Party Thoughts
After seeing this show, I can now say I understand the reference in “Bohemian Rhapsody,” but no this show has nothing to do with Queen or any other pop culture reference. For those of us not immediately familiar with commedia dell'arte, we finally understand the reference to Scaramouche as a stock comedic character as our titular character finds himself playing the role during his journey.
Scaramouche is an adventure musical that has a traditional musical structure and sound à la Rodgers and Hammerstein, with a hint of Les Mis as we encounter the French Revolution, and just a dash of She Loves Me as there’s the familiar enemies to lovers trope. If none of these are up your alley, then this might not be the show for you. However, If a mixture of any of those sound appealing and you enjoy new musical works, then Scaramouche would be an amazing fit for you!
RECOMMENDED
Ethan Smith and Laura Michele Erle
When
Now through June 14, 2026
Where
City Lit Theater
1020 W. Bryn Mawr
Chicago, IL 60660
Runtime: 2hrs 30min, including intermission
Tickets
$37+
Tickets can be purchased by calling (773) 293-3682 or through the City Lit Theater website
Photos
Steven Townshend of Distant Era
Find Allie and The After Party featured on Theatre in Chicago
The cast of Scaramouche
CAST
Ethan Smith (Andre-Louis Moreau / Scaramouche)
Henry Michael Odum (Manager / Gavrillac)
Laura Michele Erle (Aline)
Conor Ripperger (Philippe)
Kent Joseph (Marquis de la Tour)
Alicia Berneche (Madame de Sautron)
Shea Lee (Columbine)
Ed Rutherford (Chapelier)
India Huy (Climene)
Rushil Byatnal (Pierrot)
Ryan Smetana (Understudy Moreau)
Brian James (Understudy Manager / Gavrillac)
Matthew Benenson Cruz (Understudy Marquis de la Tour)
Will Ehrlich (Understudy Philippe)
Alex Stetkevich (Understudy Aline)
Emma Jean Eastlund (Understudy Madame de Sautron)
CREATIVE
Kingsley Day (Bookwriter / Composer / Lyricist)
James Glossman (Co-Bookwriter)
Beth Wolf (Director)
Trevor Dotson (Scenic Designer)
Jackson Mikkelsen (Lighting Designer)
Jennifer Mohr (Costume Designer / Commedia Consultant)
Meg X. McGrath (Props Designer)
Kevin Zhou (Music Director)
Tyeese Braslavsky (Assistant Music Director)
DJ Douglass (Projections Designer)
Maureen Yasko (Violence and Intimacy Design)
Ray Post (Assistant Director)
Grace Elizabeth Mealey (Stage Manager)
Dylan Hirt (Assistant Stage Manager)
Alexa Berkowitz (Production Manager)
Becca Holloway (Casting Director)
Teseela Sokolin-Maimon (Technical Director)
Sara Johnson (Production Electrician)
Bruce Bennett (Scenic Charge)
Aubrey Pierce (Production Carpenter)