Dave Malloy’s ‘Octet’ Is A Fearlessly Original And Captivating Musical

A bold and emotionally resonant a cappella musical, Octet blends breathtaking vocals, inventive staging, and surprising humor into an experience that feels wholly one-of-a-kind.

I am a huge lover of Chicago theatre. And to be clear, I love them together and apart. I love theatre, but I also love Chicago, because we do things the Chicago way. I like to joke that a Chicagoan will both swear at you in traffic and then give you advice on how to treat your cold after hearing you cough at the next traffic light. We are brazen, helpful, and in it together. Which is exactly the way our theatre community is as well.

Dave Malloy’s Octet is an a cappella musical about a support group on the North Side of Chicago. Eight people – always eight – collect to sing together, having been invited as a “friend of Saul.” With Saul unable to be there, Paula leads the group, with newbie Velma arriving at the last minute, and helps to guide the meeting through the standard phases.

This is an exhilarating show that is unlike anything else I’ve seen of late. Directed by Keira Fromm, with music direction by Nick Sula, and choreography by Laura Savage, Octet debuted at the Raven Theatre in Chicago and is currently in an extended run at Goodman Theatre. This is fantastic news for audience members because you get another chance to experience the magic.

There is an introduction to the cast during a preshow, where members are arranging chairs and organizing items on the table towards the back of the stage. Props are minimal and unnecessary, as you get everything you need from the actors and the narrative.

With an ensemble made up of Neala Barron, Elliot Esquivel, Joryhebel Ginorio, Jordan Golding, Teressa LaGamba, Ryder Dean McDaniel, Sam Shankman, and Grace Steckler, the vocals are superb. The story is structured so that each of the characters leads a song, with the rest of the cast members supporting the music and lyrics along with them.

Octet is special, though. While I can’t say I remember the lyrics or sang them afterward, the music touched me deeply. Songs range from a little bop to devastating ballads to spoken word-like pieces that reach your soul. There were a few times that I had to shake myself out of the moment and remember to clap, I was so deeply connected to a piece.

On the flipside, the show is also hysterically funny. The actors’ timing is excellent, and every joke and sarcastic comment hits the mark.

I was also particularly impressed with the lighting and the staging. Lights are used heavily, with individuals in spotlight or bathed in orange to convey emotion. There are handheld lights and multicolored sequences that make the show feel a bit like a game show, and it’s clear that a lot of care went into the lighting design.

The blocking of the show is fantastic, with gorgeous tableaus of actors that change from song to song. At one point there is a Greek chorus, revealing the desperately sad feelings of one character, and another time, everyone collects around one of the men, playing both the members at the meeting and the person he is talking to.

As I watched Octet, I found myself looking around the room, wondering if everyone else was having the same experience I was. It reminded me of the feeling I had the first time I saw Hamilton — not because the shows are alike, but because both left me with the sense that I was witnessing something genuinely new. Something wonderous.

Octet isn’t only a fascinating show – and what I wouldn’t give to travel back in time and be a fly on the wall during the creation of the book and lyrics – it is a must-see if you are a theatre nerd like I am. It is unique, and given the gift of being able to get tickets to this extended run, I highly recommend that you take it.

Octet runs for approximately 1 hour 40 minutes with no intermission. It is recommended for ages 15 and up.

Goodman Theatre: Octet Chicago Review – Octet is playing at The Goodman Theatre through 8/2/26. Tickets can be purchased on the Goodman Theatre website or by calling (312) 443-3800. Goodman Theatre is located at 170 North Dearborn in Chicago.