Sunday, 11 September 2022 11:09
Drury Lane’s ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ Delivers A Fine Whodunit the Leaves Us Guessing to the End
Written by Kimberly Katz
Ken Ludwig has adapted the beloved Agath Christie whodunit 'Murder on the Orient Express' in a rich and wonderful way. The play revolves around the murder of a wealthy businessman aboard a luxurious train. Detective Hurcule Poirot is on the case and there is no shortage of suspects aboard the…
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Theatre in Review
Monday, 12 September 2022 15:29
Review: 'Arsenic and Old Lace' at Court Theatre
Written by John Accrocco
Murder’s a hoot in Court Theatre’s revival of Joseph Kesselring’s “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Lighthearted and stylish, director Ron OJ Parson’s production makes for a charming season opener. Court Theatre was awarded a Tony award for best regional theatre and it feels fitting for a well-known classic to be this…
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Theatre in Review
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Tuesday, 06 September 2022 10:58
Babes in Blades 'Richard III' at The Edge Theater Very Highly Recommended
Sarz Maxwell
RICHARD III tells the story of Richard of Gloucester, Shakespeare’s cruelest yet most compelling protagonist. Richard III was the last king of the House of York. He was the last English king to die in battle, at the last battle of the Wars of the Roses, marking the end of the Middle Ages…
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Theatre in Review
Thursday, 01 September 2022 15:16
GIRLFRIEND at the PRIDEARTS THEATRE “IN A WORD: SWEET”
Sarz Maxwell
Sweet is the best word for GIRLFRIEND for several reasons. First, it showcases the songs of Matthew Sweet, and the book is by Todd Almond, to get another flavor in the mix. ‘Sweet’ also describes the era that GIRLFRIEND is set in – 1990’s: pre-9/11; before cell phones and PDAs;…
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Theatre in Review
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With MY BROTHER LANGSTON, Black Ensemble Theatre continues its 2022 Season of Excellence: The Season of Healings. This third of four world premiere musicals showcase the power of music to heal. Jackie Taylor, BET’s Founder & CEO, says: “… through these outstanding plays, the spirit of the music, the hope…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 14 August 2022 13:10
CAMPAIGNS, INC: the Origin of Fake News, circa 1934 at TimeLine Theatre
Sarz Maxwell
Smear tactics are nothing new in politics; Octavian became Emperor of Rome by distributing coins printed with negative slogans against Mark Anthony. The printing press provided a more easily reproduceable vehicle for misinformation, with the written material later reinforced by manipulated (long before Photoshop!) photographs. And now, of course, we…
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Theatre in Review
Midsommer Flight is a not-for-profit company that believes ‘Shared Joy and Flights of Fancy’ are for everyone, and that ‘BIPOC, LGBTQ, disabled, gender-diverse and body-diverse people are integral to our community.’ They are therefore the perfect troupe for A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, and last night was a midsummer night to…
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Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 23 July 2022 10:31
Review: 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert' at Mercury Theater
Written by CJ Burroughs
Arriving at the quaint Mercury Theater—a century-old nickelodeon turned comfy neighborhood cabaret—for Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the excitement of the other theatergoers coming and going, outside near the Music Box Theater and inside the Mercury’s cabaret room sipping their drinks, hinted at the show I was about to see.…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 25 July 2022 10:23
'The Kramer Project' at Center on Halsted - Highly Recommended
Sarz Maxwell
When George W Bush won his second term in November 2004 Larry Kramer delivered the watershed speech The Tragedy of Today’s Gays, a speech that was “the most difficult I’ve ever had to give”. Director David Zak worked with Kramer adapting the speech for theatrical performance, continuing after Kramer’s death…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 23 July 2022 18:02
'Jesus Christ Superstar' at Cadillac Palace and Jenna Rubaii's Magnificent Mary
Written by Ken Payne
I doubt I’m alone when I say that Jesus Christ Superstar is one of the greatest musical productions of all time. It’s easy to love. It has all the elements that make a potent stage experience from marvelous music to compelling leads to an engaging storyline to explosive dance numbers.…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 17 July 2022 10:34
There’s No Place Like Marriott Theatre’s 'Wizard of Oz'
Written by CJ Burroughs
You’ve got to give Marriott Theatre credit for always swinging for the fences. Just this past year, I’ve seen them put on The Sound of Music and West Side Story, two shows that any audience will know as well as the cast. But that’s because these beloved shows are beloved…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 17 July 2022 10:27
American Blues swings for the 'Fences' and hits a home run
Written by Wesley David
I’ve often said despite the larger houses producing August Wilson plays, they tend to work better in intimate spaces. After all, Mr. Wilsons’ inspiration came from intimate settings. He would write in bars, cafes, restaurants, and other places where his characters would be right in his face. He would often…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 11 July 2022 16:31
Review: 'The Playboy of the Western World' at City Lit Theater
Written by John Accrocco
Sometimes a play or a piece of music has such an effect on audiences that they can’t control themselves. Just as the premiere of Stravinky’s ‘Rite of Spring’ caused a stampede among patrons, John Millington Synge’s ‘The Playboy of the Western World’ incited a riot in its 1907 Dublin debut.…
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Theatre in Review
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