Praise and Reviews
From American Theatre Magazine: 6 Theatre Workers You Should Know
"Hill’s former colleague at Columbia College Chicago, called him an 'extremely thoughtful, dedicated, and thorough collaborator. Jermaine is a passionate advocate for finding a new path forward for musical theatre training and education, always seeking solutions to improve access and reduce the impact of systemic harm.'"
For Choir Boy at Steppenwolf Theatre Company
"What I didn’t expect... was the beauty of the music in the show now, especially when sung at this level."
-Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
"Music director Jermaine Hill ensures that the spirituals, hymns and occasional Boyz II Men/New Edition mashups woven into the story are as rich and essential as the spoken words....Another jaw-dropping vocal highlight is a dreamlike rendition of 'Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child,' sung as the five choir members strip down and shower...Pharus isn’t the first person to describe music as 'honey in the rock.' But music director Jermaine Hill makes it flow with the power of the tides..."
-Catey Sullivan, Chicago Sun-Times
"Hardwick, Domally, David, Brown, and Jackson have positively stunning harmonies in Choir Boy. When they bring their five voices together, the effect is absolutely chilling. Each of their characters goes on a distinct emotional journey, but these actors come together like a real choir when they sing. In particular, the 'Rockin' Jerusalem' sequence is breathtaking and epitomizes music's power to convey emotion and mark moments of transition - for both the characters and the audience...the stunning vocal arrangements and music are icing on the cake for what's already a deeply emotional, spiritual play."
Rachel Weinberg, Broadway World
For Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies at Porchlight Music Theatre
"The revue...begins with Hill's seven-piece orchestra unleashing an incandescent overture that sounds like a this-cannot-possibly-be-topped-finale. Then, it just keeps getting better."
-Catey Sullivan, Chicago Reader
"..let the blazing talent of its multitalented, 15-person Chicago-based cast...under the splendid music direction of pianist Jermaine Hill...convince you that this show deserves a life that extends far beyond its current stage."
-Hedy Weiss, WTTW News
"One other note here: There is a palpable sense of racial unity in this show, of partnership, of sharing, of tolerance, of mutual caring and belonging. The Duke would have loved everything about that feeling."
-Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
For The Color Purple at Drury Lane Productions
"Under music director Jermaine Hill, [director Lili-Anne] Brown's 19-strong ensemble does right by the show's magnificent score...When the ensemble finishes the final, ethereal notes of the title tune, the harmonies don't seem of this earth."
-Catey Sullivan, Chicago Sun-Times
For The Music Man at Goodman Theatre
"Mary Zimmerman's new Goodman Theatre production has its strengths....very robust renditions of the musical numbers under the peppy baton of Jermaine Hill..."
- Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
"...Willson's score gets thrilling treatment from musical director Jermaine Hill, leading a 12-piece orchestra, and a cast of strong singers."
-Kris Vire, Storefront Rebellion
"Best of all, music director-pianist Jermaine Hill and his 11-piece orchestra sound marvelous, from the lush, opening strains of the overture to the triumphal closing reprise of 'Till There Was You.'"
-Catey Sullivan, Chicago Reader
For The Total Bent at Haven Theatre in association with About Face Theatre
"The score, featuring a blistering array of funk, gospel, soul, blues and rock, fills the small space at Haven with a six-piece band under Hill's music direction. The Total Bent...is the best storefront show of the winter."
-Kerry Reid, Chicago Tribune
For Memphis at Porchlight Music Theatre
"What makes Memphis worth seeing is its mighty sound. Under the virtuosic music direction of Jermaine Hill, a quintet of on-stage musicians back the vocals with a sound that is positively orchestral. The vocals are smoking hot - whether it's the whole ensemble raising the rafters for the gospel truth of 'Make Me Stronger,' or as a lone clarion soloist searing the stage with 'Colored Women' and 'She's My Sister.'"
-Catey Sullivan, Chicago Sun-Times
"A transformative evening in the theatre, it features...a powerhouse onstage band driven by music director/pianist Jermaine Hill, and a large, fiercely talented cast that brings an electric energy to the storytelling...[and] who sing and dance up a storm (and even jump rope), and could easily compete with the chorus of any Broadway company."
-Hedy Weiss, WTTW
"Memphis reflects our times, but it also provides a needed dose of fun and catchy, expertly performed music."
-Rachel Weinberg, Broadway World Chicago
For Madagascar at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
"Music director/pianist Jermaine Hill (a driving force in Griffin Theatre's recent Ragtime) brings snap, crackle and pop to every number, winningly tearing through Matt Deitchman's terrific orchestrations."
-Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times
For Ragtime at Griffin Theatre Company
"This production unveils a 'smaller' Ragtime...To say that Ragtime loses none of its musical or emotional power is the honest truth; to say that director Scott Weinstein and musical directors [and pianists] Jermaine Hill and Ellen Morris have knocked it out of the park is nothing less than this production deserves."
-Jonathan Abarbanel, Windy City Times
"Griffin's production gives the material new oomph even as it approaches every note with the utmost determination and respect."
-Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
"Hill’s former colleague at Columbia College Chicago, called him an 'extremely thoughtful, dedicated, and thorough collaborator. Jermaine is a passionate advocate for finding a new path forward for musical theatre training and education, always seeking solutions to improve access and reduce the impact of systemic harm.'"
For Choir Boy at Steppenwolf Theatre Company
"What I didn’t expect... was the beauty of the music in the show now, especially when sung at this level."
-Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
"Music director Jermaine Hill ensures that the spirituals, hymns and occasional Boyz II Men/New Edition mashups woven into the story are as rich and essential as the spoken words....Another jaw-dropping vocal highlight is a dreamlike rendition of 'Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child,' sung as the five choir members strip down and shower...Pharus isn’t the first person to describe music as 'honey in the rock.' But music director Jermaine Hill makes it flow with the power of the tides..."
-Catey Sullivan, Chicago Sun-Times
"Hardwick, Domally, David, Brown, and Jackson have positively stunning harmonies in Choir Boy. When they bring their five voices together, the effect is absolutely chilling. Each of their characters goes on a distinct emotional journey, but these actors come together like a real choir when they sing. In particular, the 'Rockin' Jerusalem' sequence is breathtaking and epitomizes music's power to convey emotion and mark moments of transition - for both the characters and the audience...the stunning vocal arrangements and music are icing on the cake for what's already a deeply emotional, spiritual play."
Rachel Weinberg, Broadway World
For Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies at Porchlight Music Theatre
"The revue...begins with Hill's seven-piece orchestra unleashing an incandescent overture that sounds like a this-cannot-possibly-be-topped-finale. Then, it just keeps getting better."
-Catey Sullivan, Chicago Reader
"..let the blazing talent of its multitalented, 15-person Chicago-based cast...under the splendid music direction of pianist Jermaine Hill...convince you that this show deserves a life that extends far beyond its current stage."
-Hedy Weiss, WTTW News
"One other note here: There is a palpable sense of racial unity in this show, of partnership, of sharing, of tolerance, of mutual caring and belonging. The Duke would have loved everything about that feeling."
-Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
For The Color Purple at Drury Lane Productions
"Under music director Jermaine Hill, [director Lili-Anne] Brown's 19-strong ensemble does right by the show's magnificent score...When the ensemble finishes the final, ethereal notes of the title tune, the harmonies don't seem of this earth."
-Catey Sullivan, Chicago Sun-Times
For The Music Man at Goodman Theatre
"Mary Zimmerman's new Goodman Theatre production has its strengths....very robust renditions of the musical numbers under the peppy baton of Jermaine Hill..."
- Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
"...Willson's score gets thrilling treatment from musical director Jermaine Hill, leading a 12-piece orchestra, and a cast of strong singers."
-Kris Vire, Storefront Rebellion
"Best of all, music director-pianist Jermaine Hill and his 11-piece orchestra sound marvelous, from the lush, opening strains of the overture to the triumphal closing reprise of 'Till There Was You.'"
-Catey Sullivan, Chicago Reader
For The Total Bent at Haven Theatre in association with About Face Theatre
"The score, featuring a blistering array of funk, gospel, soul, blues and rock, fills the small space at Haven with a six-piece band under Hill's music direction. The Total Bent...is the best storefront show of the winter."
-Kerry Reid, Chicago Tribune
For Memphis at Porchlight Music Theatre
"What makes Memphis worth seeing is its mighty sound. Under the virtuosic music direction of Jermaine Hill, a quintet of on-stage musicians back the vocals with a sound that is positively orchestral. The vocals are smoking hot - whether it's the whole ensemble raising the rafters for the gospel truth of 'Make Me Stronger,' or as a lone clarion soloist searing the stage with 'Colored Women' and 'She's My Sister.'"
-Catey Sullivan, Chicago Sun-Times
"A transformative evening in the theatre, it features...a powerhouse onstage band driven by music director/pianist Jermaine Hill, and a large, fiercely talented cast that brings an electric energy to the storytelling...[and] who sing and dance up a storm (and even jump rope), and could easily compete with the chorus of any Broadway company."
-Hedy Weiss, WTTW
"Memphis reflects our times, but it also provides a needed dose of fun and catchy, expertly performed music."
-Rachel Weinberg, Broadway World Chicago
For Madagascar at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
"Music director/pianist Jermaine Hill (a driving force in Griffin Theatre's recent Ragtime) brings snap, crackle and pop to every number, winningly tearing through Matt Deitchman's terrific orchestrations."
-Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times
For Ragtime at Griffin Theatre Company
"This production unveils a 'smaller' Ragtime...To say that Ragtime loses none of its musical or emotional power is the honest truth; to say that director Scott Weinstein and musical directors [and pianists] Jermaine Hill and Ellen Morris have knocked it out of the park is nothing less than this production deserves."
-Jonathan Abarbanel, Windy City Times
"Griffin's production gives the material new oomph even as it approaches every note with the utmost determination and respect."
-Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune