Misha Davenport is the chief critic for Broadway World Chicago. A Chicago-based freelance writer, blogger, critic and singer. He studied playwriting at Michigan State University under the late Arthur Athanason. He covered theater in the Windy City for more than a decade at the Chicago Sun-Times. He is a fierce advocate and lover of live theater from shows in 50-seat storefronts to big Broadway blockbusters.
LEARN MORE ABOUT Misha Davenport
First Show:
Jesus Christ SuperstarFavorite Show:
The Secret GardenFavorite Stories:
- Nation Building with HAMILTON's David Korins -
- Review: THE WHO'S TOMMY Ignites the Goodman's Stage Like Never Before -
- Review: THE LIGHTNING THIEF Electrifies -
- BWW Review: National Tour Of MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL at Nederlander Theatre -
- REVIEW: A Magical PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT at Mercury Theater Chicago -
Review: Kokandy's JEKYLL & HYDE at the Chopin Theatre is not to be missed
October 27, 2025
October 27, 2025
What did our critic think of JEKYLL & HYDE at Kokandy Productions?
Review: DIANA at Theo Ubique
June 2, 2025
June 2, 2025
DIANA THE MUSICAL, the ill-fated Broadway musical about the former Princess of Wales (a filmed version of which was one of the top “hate-watching”programs on Netflix last year) is enjoying its Midwest debut at Theo Ubique.
Review: THE SECRET GARDEN at Theo Ubique
November 22, 2024
November 22, 2024
What did our critic think of THE SECRET GARDEN at Theo Ubique?
Review: DEATH BECOMES HER at Cadillac Palace
May 20, 2024
May 20, 2024
Move over Witches of Oz. There’s a new pair of Broadway-Bound divas looking to stage a wicked fight for supremacy eight shows a week. And you better best believe the stage becomes her, er, them.
Review: EMMET OTTER'S JUG-BAND CHRISTMAS IS A GIFT at Studebaker Theater
November 21, 2023
November 21, 2023
What did our critic think of EMMET OTTER'S JUG-BAND CHRISTMAS IS A GIFT at Studebaker Theater?
Review: BEETLEJUICE IS THE GHOST WITH THE MOST at Auditorium Theatre
November 10, 2023
November 10, 2023
What did our critic think of BEETLEJUICE IS THE GHOST WITH THE MOST at Auditorium Theatre?
Review: BAKED! THE MUSICAL at Theo Ubique
September 27, 2023
September 27, 2023
What did our critic think of REVIEW: BAKED! THE MUSICAL at Theo Ubique?
Review: THE WHO'S TOMMY Ignites the Goodman's Stage Like Never Before
June 27, 2023
June 27, 2023
A sensational and sumptuous feast for both the eyes and ears, you can’t help but fall under the spell of the pinball wizard TOMMY.
Review: JAGGED LITTLE PILL electrifies at James M. Nedlerlander Theatre
April 13, 2023
April 13, 2023
What did our critic think of JAGGED LITTLE PILL SCORCHES at James M. Nedlerlander Theatre?
Review: THE GOLDEN GIRLS: THE LOST EPISODES -THE OBLIGATORY HOLIDAY SHOW at Hell In A Handbag Productions
December 7, 2022
December 7, 2022
What did our critic think of THE GOLDEN GIRLS: THE LOST EPISODES -THE OBLIGATORY HOLIDAY SHOW at Hell In A Handbag Productions?
Review: SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET at Chopin Theatre
September 30, 2022
September 30, 2022
What did our critic think of SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET at Chopin Theatre?
Review: THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA at Nederlander Theatre
August 8, 2022
August 8, 2022
What did our critic think of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA at Nederlander Theatre? Haute mess. Fashion weak. Prêt-à-poor taste. I could go on with the fashion puns all day, but suffice to say THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, the new musical which opened Sunday in not quite ready for the runway in its current state.
REVIEW: A Magical PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT at Mercury Theater Chicago
July 29, 2022
July 29, 2022
What did our critic think of REVIEW: MERCURY'S MAGICAL PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT at Mercury Theater Chicago?
BWW Review: National Tour Of MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL at Nederlander Theatre
April 22, 2022
April 22, 2022
A grand, glitter and confetti-filled spectacle, the Tony Award-winning musical Moulin Rouge! The Musical officially opened the national tour at the Nederlander Theatre in Chicago on April 21 and those who attended may still be giggling from excitement while picking confetti out of their hair.
Review: Brilliant Performances Cannot Save a Stale WORKING
December 19, 2019
December 19, 2019
Acting and singing dazzle in an otherwise stale and dated WORKING.
Review: Take a Trip to The Land of Forgotten Toys
December 10, 2019
December 10, 2019
CPA Theatricals presents a winning new holiday musical, THE LAND OF FORGOTTEN TOYS.
PF&P's Damaged AMERICA'S BEST OUTCAST TOY
December 4, 2019
December 4, 2019
Holiday classic meets reality show parody in PF&P's mix bag AMERICA'S BEST OUTCAST TOY
BWW Review: Hell in a Handbag's Timely and Topical THE DRAG SEED
July 31, 2019
July 31, 2019
David Cerda scores another camp hit with the timely and topical THE DRAG SEED
Review: Kokandy's HEAD OVER HEELS Has Got The Beat
July 8, 2019
July 8, 2019
Elizabethan comedy meets modern constructs of gender fluidity in Kokandy's top-notch production of HEAD OVER HEELS.
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