Joyful Classic Escape to Margaritaville at Music Theater Works

Jimmy Buffett’s songs created a culture of alcohol soaked island escapism, and Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville is a distillation of that, married with a classic music theater love story. All the boys will get the girls. Or maybe in this case the girls get the boys? There is an admirable amount of consent here. 

 And nobody renders a classic musical better than Music Theater Works.   From the colorful run down island resort set by Bob Knuth to the innumerable costumes that take us from frigid Boston to Cincinnati to a week of tropical island vacationing by kClare McKellaston this is a lush fully realized production that takes you away. 

The cast is fantastic.  Brian Acker’s Tully channels that bad boy singer who finally finds the One.  Kate McQuillan’s Rachel is the straightlaced scientific researcher that finally lets her hair down but won't let her dreams be derailed. Khaki Pixley is the perfect bride to be Tammy who is heading into a wedding with a lout. Chase Grabowski is charming and loveable as the bartender Brick who gets that bride, saving her from a loveless union.  The entire ensemble is joyous and fun.  And if it's a Brenda Didier directed and choreographed show you know it's chock full of big dance numbers that have you wanting to get out of your seat. Her choreography brings exuberance and joy to your heart. 

The villain here is the volcano, but even it won’t derail a plot laced with Parrot Head favorites like Five O’Clock Somewhere and Son of a Son of A Sailor. Jimmy Buffett fans will have fun guessing which beloved tune is next from the intro notes by the strong on stage band helmed by Linda Madonia. 

This show will take you far from your concerns and drop you back in Skokie heading to the parking garage with a giant smile on your face. For just 2.5 hours you can escape this troubled world. 

There were a few sound glitches as part of opening night jitters but this fable of women finding partners who support them for who they are is a gorgeous night of musical theatre. Also I need to note that I hate the AI graphics promoting this show because live theater is the one place you can go these days to be real, and make sure what you are looking at is human so I get that it saves time and money but please, let's all support human artists while it's still an option. 

Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville runs Wednesdays through Sundays through November 1, 2026 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie Illinois.  For tickets and information go to https://www.musictheaterworks.com/2026-season/margaritaville

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