Apollo Theater is affectionately “Going Bacharach” in honor of the legendary composer

Photos provided by Russ Rowland

Few composers, songwriters, producers and pianists reached the stature or cross section of styles as Burt Bacharach, which is why he’ll be remembered long after his 2023 passing at a hearty 94-years-old.

The Apollo Theater is already making sure of that thanks to “Going Bacharach: The Songs Of An Icon” through Sunday, May 17, direct from New York and boasting the entire original cast and creative team.

Conceived by Jack Lewin of Lewin Productions and co-created with Will Friedwald, Adrian Galante and Tedd Firth, the revue showcases arrangements and orchestrations by Galante, musical supervision by Firth and direction by Tony and Olivier Award-winner David Zippel.

Not only are each of their visions flawlessly executed throughout the double act, two-hour evening, but vocalists Hilary Kole (a staple of the Big Apple’s jazz scene), John Pagano (personally chosen by Bacharach as a touring partner for 26 years) and Chicago’s own Ta-Tynisa Wilson (of Broadway’s “Hamilton” and “American Idol” fame) are top-tier interpreters of this extensive songbook spanning nearly seven decades, featuring Australia’s Adrian Galante playing piano, clarinet and directing a four-piece local band.

The amount of artists who recorded Bacharach’s material is nothing short of staggering, such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Barbra Streisand, The Carpenters, Neil Diamond, Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones, Elvis Costello, Christopher Cross, Adele, and perhaps most frequently, Dionne Warwick, to name a handful of the hundreds alongside frequent collaborations with legendary lyricists Hal David and Carole Bayer Sager.

Though it would be impossible to tackle everything, the track list certainly swings for the fences, including “Always Something There To Remind Me,” “The Look Of Love,” “I Say A Little Prayer” and so many more, while the three leads alternating between solos and duets.

Fascinating facts also abound tracing Bacharach’s involvement in everything from Broadway to “The Blob” or “Arthur” to “Austin Powers,” plus the principals share their personal observations, and in the case of Pagano, direct remembrances of the virtuoso behind the music.

There’s even a nod to some less familiar songs in Bacharach’s cannon capable of living up to his genius, despite not having as much visibility as say “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again.” “Alfie” or “What The World Needs Now Is Love.”

“Going Bacharach” naturally saves the increasingly iconic “That’s What Friends Are For” until last, re-introducing a creator who could always “count on me for sure” to deliver a hit and withstand the test of time.

“Going Bacharach” continues at the Apollo Theater through Sunday, May 17. For additional details, visit GoingBacharach.com and ApolloChicago.com.