Marriott Theatre’s ‘Beehive: The 60’s Musical’ Is A Fun Look Back
Beehive: The 60’s Musical is a high-energy tribute to the music, fashion, and social revolution of the 1960s. Featuring hits from The Shirelles to Mama Cass Elliot, this female-forward show will have you singing along.
Sitting here in 2024 and thinking of images of the 1960s, we often think of a very stereotypical model. This person is wearing bell bottom jeans with a flowy top, feathers in their long hair, and potentially has a peace sign drawn on their face.
But the 60s was a long, complicated, and ever-changing decade that really ran the gamut in terms of progress. Hair fashions included everything from beehives to short bobs to growth as long as possible, and clothing went from knee-length flowy skirts to short shorts and hippie couture. Beehive: The 60’s Musical captures it all.
Beehive: The 60’s Musical is a musical unlike most other stage musicals in that it doesn’t have a standard story with a plot and a beginning, middle, and end. It is unique in that it is actually a musical review of 60s life and music with female empowerment at the forefront.
With a six-person ensemble and a six-person band (positioned on stage for the entire show), this all-female cast packs a powerful performance full of girl power, staggering voices, and musical favorites.
Starting in the early 60s and wearing knee-length skirts with matching tops, we hear popular songs like “The Name Game” (complete with audience participation), “It’s My Party,” and “Come See About Me.” Innocent, fun, and quietly holding onto the decade before.
Soon we shift into mini skirts and short shorts with songs like “Where The Boys Are,” “Then He Kissed Me,” and “One Fine Day.” In the mid-60s, and with the Vietnam War on everyone’s minds, there are songs like “Abraham, Martin, and John” and “You Don’t Own Me” while wearing white and psychedelic neon dresses.
The audience is then treated to hits by Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, and Aretha Franklin, ending the show in some truly stellar hippie and late-60s garb.
The Marriott Theatre’s performance of Beehive is an interactive production. From the beginning, performers are asking audience members’ names, pointing at them for engagement, asking various questions, and encouraging some sing-a-long. They are funny, engaging, colorful, and inclusive.
Leah Morrow acts as narrator throughout the show, talking about things that teens in the 60s would be familiar with. As she mentions little quirks about growing up in the decade, you can see heads nodding around the theater. It is a blast from the past for some and provides insights for others who weren’t there for those moments.
The most stand-out moments of the show are the powerhouse performances of songs like “Son of a Preacher Man” and “Cry Baby” (by Lucy Godinez and Grace Bobber respectively), “Proud Mary” (by Aisha Sougou), and “Chain of Fools” (by Miciah Lathan) among others. Hearing Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, and Aretha Franklin honored by such powerful women with such powerful voices is fantastic.
Beehive: The 60’s Musical is a fun show full of music that you know and love or may have forgotten. No matter the case, you will walk out with at least one song (and one favorite costume!) stuck in your head.
Beehive: The 60’s Musical runs for approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.
Marriott Theatre: Beehive: The 60’s Musical – Beehive: The 60’s Musical is playing at Marriott Theatre through 8/11/2024. Tickets can be purchased through the Marriott Theatre website or by calling (847) 634-0200. Marriott Theatre is located at 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire, IL.