Reviews By Genre

Be wary of your blood pressure before attending Christopher Durang’s rich, layered, prize-winning play “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” on-stage at Cleveland Play House’s Allen Theatre through April 26. 

Bellevue Senior High School theater director Angie Sommers said this year’s spring show is the most expensive the school has ever tackled. But expense hasn’t caused high school thespian troupes to shy away from “Beauty and the Beast.” The popular Disney tale about inner beauty, deceiving appearances and the capacity for redemption is one of the top five performed musicals among high schools, Sommers said.

Folks attending New London’s production of “Alice” will still be transported to Wonderland, but without the music.
The Wildcats will perform a non-musical production of the familiar tale at 7 p.m. April 10 and 11. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. and tickets will cost $7 for students and $4 for adults. The prices increase if you wish to sit at a table in the front row — an arrangement that features snacks and drinks. Front row prices are $9 for adults and $5 for students.

Bellevue Society for the Arts will begin its 2015–16 season with a bang. 
Irving Berlin’s “Annie Get Your Gun” will open the season on Friday, Sept. 18. 
Annie Oakley is the best shot around, and she manages to support her little brother and sisters by selling the game she hunts. When she’s discovered by Col. Buffalo Bill, he persuades the novel sharpshooter to join his Wild West Show.
 

In “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy didn’t know how great she had it at home until she was gone.

Willard High School theater director Cynthia Light, who will direct students in “The Wizard of Oz” in the final production held in the WHS performing arts center, may feel similar to Dorothy after this year.

Explosions slice and dice the air with a ferocity and as fast as a bullet train inside the intimate Dobama Theatre space during its riveting production of “Becky Shaw,” a shockingly funny comedy of rudeness and a Pulitzer-Prize finalist.

The promising playwright Gina Gionfriddo notes in her introduction that audience members after past productions couldn’t help but dislike and assign blame to the characters for the emotional carnage at the end. She also notes she doesn’t believe the characters are “bad or wrong or crazy or worthless or unlovable.”

What do Bob Feller and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre have in common?

leveland.

The former baseball great is synonymous with the city, having pitched the first opening-day no hitter in major league history. The Globe’s connection, while not nearly as famous, can serve as a valuable tidbit for Buckeye grade school students to meet Ohio history standards, any buff of the Bard or any fan of trivia.

A 1950s musical version of “Romeo and Juliet” with different character names,  an old-time favorite comedy from the witty pen of Neil Simon, a Tennessee Williams classic drama and a musical celebrating the 1980s make up the 2015 Huron Playhouse season.

The season will open July 7 with “West Side Story,” set in New York City and pitting two gangs, one American, one Puerto Rican, against each other. When one of the American gang members falls for the sister of the opposing gang, the events lead up to tragedy. 

Norwalk High School junior Lauren Steffanni has been drawn to Mary Poppins ever since she was little. The nanny with the magical umbrella that makes her fly is so perfect and confident, Steffanni said she could’t help but admire her.  

Soon, area residents — including, most likely, present-day little girls, will look up to Steffanni — literally. They’ll have to, since she’ll fly. And so will NHS senior Noah Little, who will play the equally mysterious Bert in the NHS production of “Mary Poppins.” A cast and crew of more than 40 will perform the show at 7 p.m. March 12, 13 and 14 as well as 3 p.m. March 15 in the performing arts center next to NHS.

Diane Paulus is a disguiser extraordinaire.

How else to explain the magic she’s accomplished by helming the high-flying, magical American Repertory Theater production of “Pippin?”

A re-imagined version of the hackneyed, predictable, thin story about a young man looking to do something extraordinary played on Broadway for 709 performances last year. It won four 2013 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival.