Photo credit: Steven Townshend | Distant Era
By Kingsley Day and James Glossman
An original musical adaptation of the novel by Rafael Sabatini
City Lit Theatre
May 1 – June 14, 2026
Reviews
“Director Beth Wolf, who is also the artistic director of the Shakespeare company Midsommer Flight, is a dab hand from her experience with the Bard at staging stories featuring complicated plots, hidden identities, and the clash of clowns and nobles.” RECOMMENDED
Chicago Reader, 05.13.2026
“City Lit Theater’s world premiere of the musical “Scaramouche” is one of the most promising shows this year. Smoothly directed by Beth Wolf… Captivating and compelling, “Scaramouche” encapsulates the turmoil and hardship of the French revolutionary era with comedy and tragedy rolled into one.”
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Around the Town, 05.2026
“This swashbuckling adventure tale is filled with vivid, colorful characters and lots of action and intrigue. Directed with humor and laser focus by Beth Wolf… An exciting, romantic swashbuckling musical to remember.”
RECOMMENDED
Chicago Theatre Review, 05.23.2026
“Beth Wolf, a two‑time Jeff nominee, leads the production with a deft, imaginative hand, weaving together its comedy, romance, and revolutionary spirit with remarkable ease. Her direction gives the piece a vibrant pulse that carries through every scene.”
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Buzz Center Stage, 05.11.2026
“A triumph of the directors’ arts and the actors’ domain and should be headed straight for Broadway!”
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Splash Magazine, 05.12.2026
“The show is directed by Beth Wolf, founder and producing artistic director of the wonderful Midsommer Flight, which does Shakespeare in Chicago parks. She knows how to keep things moving, and the action flies by … If you like a comedy-adventure-romance mixed with dueling and song, go see this show.”
RECOMMENDED
NewCity Stage, 05.13.2026
“It’s all completely ludicrous and all good fun. Director Beth Wolf is a veteran of Shakespeare’s comedies and knows her way around this silliness, keeping things moving at a brisk pace. The large cast seems to be having fun—very important in this kind of show—and their exuberance is infectious.”
Stage and Cinema, 05.18.2026
“With a suave lead, strong ensemble, swords galore, and solid source material adapted with eloquence and levity, Scaramouche is certainly a swashbuckling musical that will entertain.”
RECOMMENDED
Broadwayworld, 05.10.2026
Cast and Crew
Cast: Alicia Berneche, Rushil Byatnal, Laura Michele Erle, India Huy, Kent Joseph, Shea Lee, Henry Michael Odum”, Conner Ripperger, Ed Rutherford, and Ethan Smith. Understudies: Matthew Benenson Cruz, Emma Jean Eastlund, Will Ehrlich, Brian James, Ryan Smetana, Alex Stetkevich
Production Staff: Beth Wolf (Director), Kevin Zhou (Music Director), Grace Elizabeth Mealey (Stage Manager), Trevor Dotson (Scenic Designer), Jennifer Mohr (Commedia Consultant/Costume Designer), Jackson Mikkelson (Lighting Designer), DJ Douglass (Projections Designer), Meg X. McGrath (Props Designer), Ray Post (Assistant Director), Tyeese Braslavsky (Assistant Music Director), Alexa Berkowitz (Production Manager)
