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New Number added to Could It Be Magic?
"In light of the tragedy, Barry Manilow has added a new number to his "Could It Be Magic?" show at the Mercury Theater. The patriotic "Let Freedom Ring," originally penned by Manilow to mark the 200th anniversary of the Constitution, also was performed at Bill Clinton's first inauguration. It will be added to the show beginning tonight."

Bill Zwecker 09/28/01
Chicago Sun Times

Revues for Could It Be Magic?
Daily Herald on July 6
"Could It Be Magic?' casts a spell on ex-Manilow critic Barry Manilow is one of those entertainers who is impossible to only kinda like. Some people love him. Others hate him. I once belonged to the second camp. As a child of the '70s, I thought of him as that impossibly annoying pop star who further discredited himself by crossing into disco. (I know there are lots of people who love him for the very same reason, but that's show biz.) Having seen his new musical revue, "Could It Be Magic?", I am willing to admit I may have been too hard on the guy who wrote the songs. Manilow doesn't perform in this show. That may be bad news to his hard-core fans, but the fact that his tunes (and the tunes others wrote that he made famous) are sung by a terrific five-member cast, lead by the incomparable E. Faye Butler, made it easier for me to appreciate Manilow's strengths. When I heard Manilow's songs on the radio in the '70s I thought they were the weakest things, unlikely to be remembered, much less played, 20 years down the road. But I was wrong. His tunes hold up. Manilow, for all his connections to pop and disco, wrote in the great tradition of the great songwriters from the '30s, '40s and '50s. His tunes have melody, his words have real emotional heft. And when you put a strong voice or two behind them, watch out. As a director, Manilow is remarkably subtle. His staging is intimate and suits the Mercury Theater well. His choice of local performers was superb. Butler has a nice, strong, gospel voice. And Keely Vasquez adds a nice, spicy Latina quality to the show. She is a sexy dancer and her voice is wonderful. I do wish the person who did the sound design had been similarly sensitive to the size of the space. The music blasts at us as if we were sitting in the Rosemont Theatre. Likewise, the lighting gets a little garish. Still, this is a fun evening. Just make sure you check your brain and your prejudices at the door. "Could it be Magic?" is being performed at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. For tickets and showtimes, call (773) 325-1700.
For those who love Barry Manilow and his songs, the World premiere of the review, "Could It Be Magic? The Barry Manilow Songbook" is in Chicago at the Mercury Theatre on Southport. For 25 years, Barry Manilow has introduced songs that made the whole world sing. This all new musical revue is a tribute to not only Barry, but to the many writers who have created the classic songs. The music is brought to life by an ensemble of five very talented performers and a six piece band (on stage). The facade of the stage has the names of all of the songwriters and as each song is performed, the name or names of the writer is lit up. At the very end of the show, all of the names will be lit. More than 30 songs in all make up this slick revue which seems to be designed more for a Vegas room than a theater. The cast plays well with the audience and well it should; The majority of the audience members were true Manilow fans recognizing each song by the first downbeat. They also seem to enjoy themselves and audiences like that. Barry Manilow once said" From 1975 to the present I have had the privilege of introducing songs that make people laugh, cry and boogie; that make people feel." This production proves that he is right. Ken & Mitzi Welch (The Carol Burnett Show) came up with the idea and co-wrote and directed the production with Barry Manilow. The choreography and staging by Kye Brackett is very smooth. He himself dances up a storm as well as sings from a range of bass to falsetto (but is able to carry it off). His "mime" rendition of "I Can't Smile Without You" is fantastic. He also brings a little bit of Broadway with his tap dancing. Mr. Brackett's interplay with another bright spot performer, Keely Vasquez is charming and a delight to watch. Their "The Last Duet" pillow fight is just plain fun! Michael K. Lee, although small in stature is quite large in talent. His voice is solid and he brings tears to the eye with his "Ships." The cast is filled out by E. Faye Butler and Lori Holton Nash (filling in for Debra Byrd). These ladies both have fine vocal range and great stage presence. It appeared as Ms. Nash was unsure of a few steps, but she handled herself quite well. Ms Butler has one powerful voice, but there were a few instances where the music took on a gospel flavor (and I don't think that the old time Manilow fans expected that). The flow of the show is smooth with songs being grouped into themes and very little dead stage time. From "One Voice" to"I Write The Songs," we have lots of "Beautiful Music" and the answer to the question,"Could It Be Magic?" is positively YES! I am sorry to say that the run is only scheduled through August 5th (but they may extend). Ticket prices are $40 ($45 on Friday and Saturday). Performance times are Tuesday-Friday 8 P.M.;Saturday 5:30 and 9:00 P.M. and Sunday at 3 and 7 P.M.. Tickets are available at the Theatre box office at 3745 N. Southport Ave. or by calling the box office at 773-325-1700 or you can visit any Ticketmaster outlet or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For additional information log on to www.manilow.com.
Bill Zwecker Chicago Sun-Times Fox TV Chicago

"Could It Be Magic" is a total delight and will surprise even the most avid Barry Manilow fans. This is no simple cabaret show. It's a rollicking, high-energy blast of musical entertainment-with something for everyone. From pop to hip-hop to gospel and rock, the talented cast delivers it all!