Area Stage’s immersive ‘Annie’ shines
Photo by Giancarlo Rodaz The orphans look up to Annie in Area Stage Company’s immersive production By AARON KRAUSE Young, visionary director Giancarlo Rodaz’s winning approach in Area Stage Company’s (ASC) current unorthodox, yet triumphant production of the classic musical Annie features eight actors playing all roles. That compares to a...
Area Stage’s ‘Annie’ will be fresh, director says.
Giancarlo Rodaz By AARON KRAUSE For its next professional production, South Miami’s Area Stage Company (ASC) promises the musical Annie “like you’ve never seen before.” Still, ASC Associate Artistic Director Giancarlo Rodaz, who is mounting the production, said the award-winning, nonprofit professional company will present the classic next...
Everyone’s favorite ogre to rise again at Area Stage Company
Photo courtesy of Area Stage Company In the 2018 production, Shrek (Ryan Bauta) gives fair warning to anyone daring to enter his territory By AARON KRAUSE It really isn’t easy being green. In fact, in the fictional world, such characters as Wicked’s Elphaba, Jim Henson’s Kermit the Frog, and...
Theater company recording original 60’s musical as a radio series
By AARON KRAUSE Giancarlo Rodaz was not a child of the 60’s. But Rodaz, who is in his mid-20’s, loves music from the era, and researched the decade. Further, he feels that musical theater could use more 1960’s shows. So, the versatile, visionary South Florida theater artist...
Area Stage’s ‘Matilda’ is filled with humor, heart and magic
Photo by John Rodaz Katie Duerr as Miss Honey and Alejandra Bess as Matilda are deep in thought in Area Stage’s commendable production of Matilda. By AARON KRAUSE CORAL GABLES — The smell of rebellion from “revolting” children has rarely been sweeter. The aroma emanates these days from...
Minimalism means more in Area Stage Company’s Shrek
(Photo courtesy of Area Stage Company) Shrek (Ryan Bauta) gives fair warning to anyone daring to enter his territory. CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Can audience members believe in a world onstage even if the theatrical magic is simple and visible? After witnessing Area Stage Company’s (ASC) exhilarating production...
A unique stage experience is brought to vivid life
(Photo courtesy of Area Stage Company) Mallory Newbrough (Dora) and George (Robert Richards, Jr.) appear in a scene from Area Stage Company’s production of An Octoroon CORAL GABLES, Fla. — “If anything, the theatre is no longer a place of novelty,” says a character in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon. “The...