New musical has promise, but flaws hamper it
Photo courtesy of Ronnie Larsen Presents Daniel #1 (Cody Jenkins) snuggles up with Greg #1 (Conor Walton) in the world premiere production of Now & Then. By AARON KRAUSE WILTON MANORS, Fla. — Time flashes years forward and backward in sometimes sunny beams of hope and love, but also darker...
GableStage’s ‘White Guy on the Bus’ is a necessary ride
Photo by George Schiavone Ray (Tom Wahl) makes a point to Shatique, who reacts with disgust in GableStage’s production of White Guy on the Bus. By AARON KRAUSE CORAL GABLES, Fla. — You might hear yourself talk about race when you listen to Molly, a fictional character in a...
New City Players offers touching ‘Constellations’
Photo by Ryan Arnst Marianne (Jessica Schulte) and Roland (Jordon Armstrong) share a moment in New City Players’ production of Constellations. By AARON KRAUSE FT. LAUDERDALE — Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election. Or perhaps, at the same time, Hillary Clinton bested her Republican challenger in the popular vote...
Actors’ Playhouse ends season with a much-anticipated, strong ‘Bang’
Photo by Alberto Romeu Ken Clement and Nick Santa Maria star in The Big Bang, now through Sept. 2 at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. By AARON KRAUSE CORAL GABLES, Fla. — It’s too bad Max Bialystock didn’t attend a backers’ audition for the latest proposed musical. Certainly,...
GableStage’s riveting ‘I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard’ is a hit
(Photo by George Schiavone) David (Tom Aulino) seems more interested in his booze than his daughter, Ella, in GableStage’s production of I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard. CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Our desire for affirmation that others value us is sometimes as strong as our hydration needs on...
New universally-relevant McKeever play receives strong world premiere
(Photo by George Wentzler) Mr. Parker (Michael McKeever) and Justin (Samuel Maya) enjoy a playful moment in the world premiere production of Mr. Parker. WILTON MANORS, Fla. — You don’t have to be gay to find resonance in Mr. Parker, a funny, touching play receiving its world premiere at Island...
Little-known Holocaust-era photograph is subject of new play being presented
The cast of Moisés Kaufman’s The Album MIAMI BEACH –Moisés Kaufman’s father survived the Holocaust. So you can imagine what the younger man thought when he saw photos of Nazis partying at a resort near an infamous concentration camp. “When I saw these pictures, something very personal happened,” said the renown...
‘Avenue Q’s curriculum is funny, life-affirming at MNM Theatre Co.
(Photo by Jacek Gancarz) The cast of MNM Theatre Company’s production of Avenue Q WEST PALM BEACH — As most musical theater aficionados are aware, there are plenty of words in the potty-mouthed puppet musical Avenue Q that might cause you to recoil. But in today’s economically, politically and socially-troubled...
Victor/Victoria is a welcome comic treat at South Florida’s Stage Door Theater
(Photo courtesy of Stage Door Theater) “Victor” (Dalia Aleman) is surrounded by the cast of Stage Door Theater’s production of Victor/Victoira MARGATE, Fla. — Stage Door Theater has just the antidote for the persistent rain and dark, cloudy skies south Florida has experienced over the past couple weeks. The reprieve is...
Powerfully-staged ‘Equus’ at PBD proves terribly timely
(Photo by Samantha Mighdoll) Alan Strang (Steven Maier) has a disturbing obsession with horses in Peter Shaffer’s Equus. WEST PALM BEACH — In the wake of recent school shootings, some undoubtedly and understandably harbor emotions too raw to ponder psychological motivations behind heinous crimes. Yet, theater has a responsibility to...
