Wick Theatre’s ‘The Music Man’ mesmerizes
Photo by Amy Pasquantonio John Tartaglia works his magic as Harold Hill in The Wick Theatre’s production of The Music Man. By AARON KRAUSE BOCA RATON –Before Lin-Manuel Miranda there was Meredith Willson. Sure, Miranda’s bold use of non-traditional musical genres in Hamilton may have changed...
Stage adaptation of ‘Tootsie’ improves upon the film
Photo by Matthew Murphy The cast of “Tootsie” with Santino Fontana, center, as Dorothy Michaels. By AARON KRAUSE NEW YORK, N.Y. — Dorothy Michaels is unstoppable. We learned that much in the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical adaptation of Tootsie. It is based on the popular Academy Award-nominated 1982 movie with the...
Adaptation of Thornton Wilder’s ‘Bridge’ triumphs at Miami New Drama
By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI BEACH — In David Greenspan’s winning adaptation of Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer-Prize winning 1927 novel, “The Bridge of San Luis Rey,” the adapter describes a Peruvian performer as possessing “wit and grace, intelligence, elegance and command of rhyme.” Of course, one can attribute the same qualities to...
Measure for Measure’s ‘In the Heights’ is touching, electric
Photo by Kelly Johnson Abuela (Sophia Molfetas) and Usnavi (Spencer Landis) perform in Measure for Measure Theatre Company’s production of In the Heights. By AARON KRAUSE SUNRISE — A strong sense of culture, community and camaraderie pervades Washington Heights in the award-winning Measure for Measure Theatre Company’s solid...
New City Players rise to the challenge of presenting the touching, honest play, ‘Falling’
Photo courtesy of New City Players Tami (Arlette Del Torro) comforts her 18-year-old severely autistic son, Josh (Timothy Davis) in New City Players’ production of Falling. By AARON KRAUSE FT. LAUDERDALE — Characters either prepare sweet foods or eat them in Falling, Deanna Jent’s heartfelt, empathy-building and beautifully-written play....
A shattering ‘Streetcar’ at Palm Beach Dramaworks
Photo by Samantha Mighdoll Stanley Kowalski (Danny Gavigan) pleads with his wife, Stella (Annie Grier) to forgive him in Palm Beach Dramaworks’ stellar production of A Streetcar Named Desire. By AARON KRAUSE WEST PALM BEACH — Brutal reality shatters sensitivity, fragility and illusion with the force of a monster...
‘Wiesenthal’ is a winner at GableStage
Photo by George Schiavone Simon Wiesenthal (David Kwiat) takes some time to reflect in the one-character play, Wiesenthal. By AARON KRAUSE CORAL GABLES — An admirable quality of one-person plays is their ability to establish an especially intimate connection between the audience and the character. Such a bond can...
Main Street Players ‘True West’ is solid but uneven
Photo by Dennis Lyzniak A crazed Austin (Tyler Grimes) chokes Lee (Christopher Millan) in Main Street Players’ production of “True West.” By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI LAKES — The aroma of freshly toasted bread wafts throughout the Main Street Playhouse’s intimate theater space. If you didn’t know better, you’d swear the...
MNM’s ‘Man of La Mancha’ delves into material’s darkness
Courtesy of Jacek Photo Don Quixote (Michael McKenzie) and Sancho (Mark Kirschenbaum) stand and sit tall and proud in MNM’s production of Man of La Mancha. By AARON KRAUSE WEST PALM BEACH — This isn’t how your grandparents experienced Man of La Mancha. No, the nonprofit, professional MNM...
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...
