Anastasia offers eye-popping visuals, soaring music and heartfelt emotion
Photo by Matthew Murphy Anya (Lila Coogan) basks in the glow of lights in one of the stunningly vivid projections. By AARON KRAUSE FT. LAUDERDALE — Dramamine is not one of the products for sale in the theater lobbies where the Broadway musical adaptation of Anastasia plays. But...
‘Race’ is vital, engrossing theater at Main Street Players
(Photo by Dennis Lyzniak) Attorney Jack Lawson (Christopher Dreeson) is animated while making a point. Listening are his client, Charles Strickland (Brian McCormack), law assistant Susan (Trittney Huzzie) and law partner Henry Brown (Keith Oliver). By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI LAKES – In Main Street Players’ riveting, unmissable mounting...
A darker Oliver! is still tuneful, hopeful, compelling at Goodspeed Opera House
Photo by Diane Sobolewski The Artful Dodger (Gavin Swartz) takes Oliver (Elijah Rayman) under his wing in Goodspeed Musicals’ production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! By AARON KRAUSE EAST HADDAM, Conn. — Goodspeed Musicals’ impressive production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! isn’t shrouded in darkness and dismay. But, make no mistake: This...
Area Stage Company’s vibrant ‘Cabaret’ speaks to our times, implicates us.
(Photo by Giancarlo Rodaz) The flamboyant, charismatic Master of Ceremonies (Giorgio Volpe) interacts with the audience in Area Stage Company’s production of Cabaret. By AARON KRAUSE CORAL GABLES — Without warning, a group of Nazi flag-waving activists march down the aisle of the audience seating area, fervently singing the anthem...
‘Brigadoon’ enchants at The Wick in Boca
Scottish lasses dance in celebration during a scene from The Wick Theatre and Costume Museum’s production of Brigadoon. (Photo by Amy Pasquantonio) BOCA RATON — On the Playbill’s cover, gold, upper case letters spell out the title of the enchanting musical playing at The Wick Theatre and Costume Museum...
‘Zanna, Don’t!’ charms, engages
Photo by George Wentzler Zanna (Conor Walton) communicates with his pet bird in Island City Stage’s production of Zanna, Don’t! WILTON MANORS, Fla — You’d have to be a fuddy-duddy or a complete cynic not to feel refreshed and uplifted after seeing the award-winning Off-Broadway hit musical, Zanna, Don’t! This...
World premiere about musical masterwork as related to life performed with flair by Island City Stage
WILTON MANORS, Fla. — Shakespeare wrote “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” But have you ever found yourself wishing that you were the director of your life – one with the power to say something like, “OK, let’s stop right there and...
Cast of The Cripple of Inishmaan finds humanity behind characters’ oddities
WEST PALM BEACH — If he were a real person, Johnnypateenmike O’Dougal would never win a “Citizen of the Year” award. Guaranteed. He talks incessantly, regardless of whether anyone in the room wants to hear his babble. He’s a self-centered, rude, loud, crotchety, curmudgeon. Picture an individual walking into a...
Death and Harry Houdini amazes with captivating magic
By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI — It’s not every day that famed magician and escape artist Harry Houdini flings playing cards at you, interacts with you and even calls you up as a volunteer to participate in one of his tricks. Then again, it’s not every day that you witness a...
Slow Burn Theatre Company’s ‘Aida’ contains emotional depth
FT. LAUDERDALE — “Love Transcends Death” is a poem by Naoimh Spence, but it’s also a powerful premise in several theatrical shows, including “Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida,” a heartfelt, touching tale of honor, loyalty and forbidden love which is receiving a remarkable production by the Carbonell Award-winning, Ft. Lauderdale-based Slow Burn...
