SHAINA SUMMERVILLE - Reviews and Press

REVIEW: Annie at Citadel Theatre

4/1/2020

"The entire ensemble raises the roof with their spirited singing and dancing in production numbers like “We’d Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover,” “NYC,” “Annie” and “A New Deal for Christmas.” Nicky Mendelsohn slays as a very funny laundryman named Bundles, among many other roles; Jimmy Hogan is excellent as Bert Healy; Alexander Rubin leaves his mark as both Harold Ickes and Drake, the butler; Shaina Summerville dazzles as the Star-To-Be, as well as one of the Boylan Sisters, along with talented Emily Lewis and Alison Stake. And, in a wonderful performance, Bill Chamberlain is magnificent as President Franklin D. Roosevelt."

-Colin Douglas, Chicago Theatre Review

REVIEW: All Shook Up at Williams Street Repertory

7/9/2019

"These actors and the members of the ensemble all appear to be having the times of their lives – and for keeping the tempo, humor and plot twists flowing smoothly."

"When it comes to the dancing displayed in numerous production numbers, this fictional town’s citizens could show the townspeople of “Footloose” a thing or two."
--Paul Lockwood, Northwest Herald

REVIEW: Hairspray at Brightside Theatre

6/9/2018

"Effervescent and always delightfully captivating, Shaina Summerville returns to BrightSide, shining sweetly as a perfectly priceless Penny Pingleton, Tracy's, naive, best friend."
-Colin Douglas, Chicago Theatre Review

REVIEW: Bridges of Madison County at Brightside Theatre

11/4/2017

"Making his BrightSide debut, Matt Whalen plays Bud with strength, a pleasing vocal styling, but a little too much aggression. Whalen’s gruffness doesn’t balance with his affection toward his family. He spends most of the show playing opposite his two teenage kids (nicely portrayed by Shaina Summerville as Carolyn and Brandon Pisano as Michael).
-Colin Douglas, Chicagoland Musical Theatre

REVIEW: Beauty and the Beast at Brightside Theatre

11/12/2016

"Choreographer Jeni Donahue also creatively works in fantastic choreography with possibly the hardest working ensemble ever assembled. They tag in and out of dances, link arms and huddle in groups to allow for fascinating routines that in chant the audience. Special standouts are "Be Our Guest," always an audience favorite, which not only works in kicklines and cartwheels but also has the actors changing costumes during the dance to represent silverware and cups and other objects that came to life. The best dancing, however, is found in "Gaston," which employees crashing metal cups in ways that would impress Anna Kendrick."
-Jori Waldron, ChicagolandMusicalTheatre

IMPACT Children's Theatre

7/11/2016

IMPACT Theatre’s Shaina Summerville, Alejandro Senior and Cheech Manohar, from left to right, joke around backstage before performing their take on “Rapunzel” to a group of children at the Plainfield Town Hall on Monday, July 11, 2016. Based in Lincoln, N.H., IMPACT is an offshoot of Jean’s Playhouse, and aims to travel throughout the state performing children’s theatre during the summer. (Valley News - Mac Snyder) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com

REVIEW: GYPSY at Williams Street Repertory

10/15/2015

"No well-trained actor wants to appear to be a bad actor, but Schneider and Summerville strike that dangerous balance by playing talentless performers with skill and consistency."
-Anthony Walker, Northwest Herald

One Thousand Words at Chicago Musical Theatre Festival

7/3/2015

"Castmate Shaina Summerville, 24, agrees, calling the music "really, really beautiful."
The Rolling Meadows native said she welcomes the creative opportunities new musicals provide.
"With new works you have more leeway to make the part your own," said Summerville, who will appear in "Gypsy" at Williams Street Repertory in Crystal Lake in October."
--Barbara Vitello, The Daily Herald

REVIEW: Scarlet Sisters Everleigh at Three Cat Productions

11/15/2014

"Well, the music's nice anyway. Each scene in this Three Cat Productions show about legendary Chicago madames Ada and Minna Everleigh is punctuated with a song popular during the Gilded Age, like "Shine on, Harvest Moon"—and they're all sweetly sung."
- Tony Adler, Chicago Reader