An impressive South Florida co-production offers a peek into ‘Sordid Lives’

An impressive South Florida co-production offers a peek into ‘Sordid Lives’

Photo courtesy of ArtBuzz Theatrics and Empire Stage The women of Sordid Lives are eccentric yet well-meaning.    By AARON KRAUSE In a scene from the hilarious and moving hit play, Sordid Lives, a small-town Texas therapist in 1998 tries to “dehomosexualize” a gay male transvestite. The scene, which may...

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‘Tracy Jones’ is moving, funny at Island City Stage

‘Tracy Jones’ is moving, funny at Island City Stage

Photo by Matthew Tippins Cast members Sara Grant, Irene Adjan, and Niki Fridh act out a comical scene from Island City Stage’s production of Tracy Jones.     By AARON KRAUSE Comedy can be an effective tool for playwrights to deliver messages to audiences. Indeed, once we start at least...

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PPTOPA’s ‘Pippin’ entertains, invigorates

PPTOPA’s ‘Pippin’ entertains, invigorates

Here is the cast of Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts’ production of Pippin.     By AARON KRAUSE If you think about it, Pippin is the kind of show that seems fit for the 1960s. Indeed, the titular character takes a stand against his royal father’s tyrannical policies....

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‘Refuge’ shines at Theatre Lab as rolling world premiere continues

‘Refuge’ shines at Theatre Lab as rolling world premiere continues

Photo by Morgan Sophia Photography Performers tell the story using a variety of techniques.   By AARON KRAUSE “I may be a wolf but I’m afraid all the time,” the wild animal tells us in the compelling new play, Refuge. He lives in “a state of fear even in my...

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Palm Beach Dramaworks poised to perform ‘August: Osage County.’

Palm Beach Dramaworks poised to perform ‘August: Osage County.’

Sarah Morsey and Kathy McCafferty appear in a scene from Palm Beach Dramaworks’ upcoming production of August: Osage County.   By AARON KRAUSE The last time Nikki Fridh performed in front of an audience, she did so on Palm Beach Dramaworks’ (PBD) stage, or more specifically, in the dead of...

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Maltz Jupiter Theatre triumphs with ‘Oliver!’

Jason Nuttle Photography Mr. Bumble (Troy J. Stanley) is astonished after Oliver Twist (Benjamin Pajak) asks for more gruel.   By AARON KRAUSE Maltz Jupiter Theatre’s current production of Lionel Bart’s beloved classic musical, Oliver!, is mostly a winner. The professional, nonprofit company has assembled a talented cast that includes...

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’42nd Street’ sparkles at LPAC

’42nd Street’ sparkles at LPAC

Photo by David Popken The cast performs a scene from the Broadway at LPAC’s production of “42nd Street.”      By AARON KRAUSE In the classic Broadway musical, 42nd Street, a character invites another to “come on along and listen to…the lullaby of Broadway.” But a current professional production of...

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‘Wicked’ is a winner in Miami

Photo by Joan Marcus Lissa deGuzman plays Elphaba in an equity national touring production playing in Miami.   By AARON KRAUSE Clearly defining the megahit musical Wicked can prove almost as daunting as defying gravity. Indeed, it is part origin story, part musical, part fantasy, part prequel, part fable, part...

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‘Chicago’ remains entertaining and terribly timely

‘Chicago’ remains entertaining and terribly timely

Photo by Jeremy Daniel Billy Flynn (Jeff Brooks) makes a point during a performance of the national non-equity touring production of Chicago.   By AARON KRAUSE During the age of Donald J. Trump, “Fake News,” “Alternative Facts,” and George Santos, the musical Chicago seems torn from today’s headlines. Indeed, although...

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‘The Science of Leaving Omaha’ a new moving play at PBD

Photo by Tim Stepien Baker (Nicholas-Tyler Corbin) gets the attention of Iris (Georgi James) in the world premiere production of The Science of Leaving Omaha.   By AARON KRAUSE In his classic poem, Harlem, Langston Hughes wondered what happens to a “dream deferred.” In particular, he wrote: “Does it dry...

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