An uneven yellow brick road at Stage Door Theatre’s ‘The Wiz’

December 19, 2018 0

  Photo by David Martinek Off to the Emerald City are: Ben Bagby (Tin Man), Darius J. Manuel (Lion), Nayomi Braaf (Dorothy), and Kedrick D. Faulk (Scarecrow).   By AARON KRAUSE LAUDERHILL — Soul and spirit are characteristics we would expect from a production of the multi-Tony-winning musical The Wiz. And,...

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A sunny ‘Annie’ at The Wick

December 7, 2018 0

  Photo by Amy Pasqantonio Sandy leaps up to his new best friend, Annie (Peyton Ella) in The Wick Theatre’s wonderful production of the beloved musical. By AARON KRAUSE BOCA RATON, Fla. — A director mounting an evergreen such as Annie doesn’t have to dig deep to unearth modern relevance. After all,...

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Hello, indeed, to a devoted, dear Dolly!

November 26, 2018 0

Photo by Julieta Cervantes A graceful, thankful Dolly (Betty Buckley) takes in the loving atmosphere at the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant in the national equity tour of the most recent Tony-Award-winning Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly!      By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI — The woman of the moment rises. She approaches us...

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Love, Linda offers a stylish, charming recollection of the Porters’ starry marriage

November 14, 2018 0

  Photo courtesy of publicist Daniel Demello Stevie Holland as Linda Porter in Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter By AARON KRAUSE NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. — By Linda Porter’s own admission, the 1946 film Night and Day portrays the “perfect” love story between Porter and her husband,...

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A sense of community, healing invigorate ‘Once On This Island’s Broadway revival

November 13, 2018 0

Photo by Joan Marcus Asaka (Alex Newell, in drag) shares a laugh with Ti Moune (Hailey Kilgore) in the Broadway revival of Once On This Island.  By AARON KRAUSE NEW YORK, N.Y. — Yes, that really is a live goat on stage. It’s leading its handler toward the audience in...

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You’ll be hungry for more of Lightning Bolt’s Little Shop of Horrors

October 8, 2018 0

Photo by Alissa Kane Outer space plant Audrey II demands that Seymour (Andrew Shultz) feed him in Lightning Bolt’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. By AARON KRAUSE BOCA RATON — Little Shop of Horrors has always had the type of effect on audiences that Orin Scrivello’s laughing gas container...

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A solid Sinatra revue at MNM Theatre Company

October 1, 2018 0

  Photo by Tom Tracy Here are the couples of My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra in MNM Theatre Company’s mounting. Photographed from left are Clay Cartland, Laura Plyler, Mark Sanders and Hannah Richter.    By AARON KRAUSE WEST PALM BEACH — “You can’t find a Frank Sinatra...

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Quite a musical exhibition at Measure for Measure Theatre Company

September 24, 2018 0

Photo by Clifford Spulock Allyson Nicole Ryan is a terror of a little girl to Ernest Gonzalez’ flustered father in Measure for Measure Theatre Company’s production of 35MM: A Musical Exhibition. By AARON KRAUSE BOCA RATON — While they’re still images, photographs are alive with narrative possibilities, color and meaning....

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‘La Cage’ marks a remarkable debut for Stage Door Theatre at new venue

September 9, 2018 0

Photo by George Wentzler Some of the La Cage aux folles’ girls surround Georges (Jamie Michael Parnell) with feather-like materials.   By AARON KRAUSE LAUDERHILL, Fla. — …So hold this moment fast…and make this moment last. Surely, these lyrics from La Cage Aux Folles are apropos for Stage Door Theatre’s...

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A darker Oliver! is still tuneful, hopeful, compelling at Goodspeed Opera House

September 4, 2018 2

  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...

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