Stirring Yuletide tale takes stage at Miami’s City Theatre

Stirring Yuletide tale takes stage at Miami’s City Theatre

Photo courtesy of Justin Namon Jacob Marley’s ghost (Colin McPhillamy) prepares to scare Ebenezer Scrooge in Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol.   By AARON KRAUSE It seems that no matter how many times we experience A Christmas Carol, we do not grow tired of this evergreen tale. That is not surprising....

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‘Helen on Wheels’ is a fun, meaningful ride at Pigs Do Fly Productions

‘Helen on Wheels’ is a fun, meaningful ride at Pigs Do Fly Productions

Photo by Carol Kassie Helen Wheeler (Beverly Blanchette) and Elmer (Michael Gioia) share a moment in Pigs Do Fly Productions’ mounting of Helen on Wheels.     By AARON KRAUSE Few among us can resist feisty, foul-mouthed septuagenarians such as Helen Wheeler. We find them funny because, well, we do...

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Humor and humanity are in ‘Groundhog Day’s’ forecast

Humor and humanity are in ‘Groundhog Day’s’ forecast

Photo by Rodrigo Balfanz Phil Connors (Clay Cartland) gets to know Rita Hanson (Kimmi Johnson) in the Slow Burn Theatre Co./Broward Center for the Arts co-production of Groundhog Day: The Musical. By AARON KRAUSE FT. LAUDERDALE — Whoever said “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”...

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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...

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Main Street Players ‘True West’ is solid but uneven

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...

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Anastasia offers eye-popping visuals, soaring music and heartfelt emotion

Anastasia offers eye-popping visuals, soaring music and heartfelt emotion

      Photo by Matthew Murphy Anya (Lila Coogan) basks in the glow of lights in one of the stunningly vivid projections.   By AARON KRAUSE FT. LAUDERDALE — Dramamine is not one of the products for sale in the theater lobbies where the Broadway musical adaptation of Anastasia plays. But...

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Island City Stage’s From White Plains packs an emotional punch

Island City Stage’s From White Plains packs an emotional punch

    Photo by George Wentzler Ethan (Todd Bruno) and John (Alex Alvarez) live it up in Island City Stage’s production of From White Plains.    By AARON KRAUSE WILTON MANORS, Fla. — William Faulkner wrote, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” And in a devastatingly honest...

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Dynamic ‘Memphis’ is a rousing hit at Actors’ Playhouse

Dynamic ‘Memphis’ is a rousing hit at Actors’ Playhouse

Photo by Alberto Romeu Huey (Eddie Egan) and his mother (Margot Moreland) argue in a scene from Actors’ Playhouse’ production of Memphis: The Musical. By AARON KRAUSE CORAL GABLES, Fla. — About a year ago, Ft. Lauderdale-based Slow Burn Theatre mounted a dynamic production of the highly-charged, Tony-winning musical, Memphis. Today,...

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Crossing Delancey is heartwarming at the Levis JCC

Crossing Delancey is heartwarming at the Levis JCC

  PHOTO BY ALAN NASH Izzy (Hannah Marks, far left) clearly doesn’t want to hear what Hannah the matchmaker (Betsy Lichtman, far right) is saying in the Levis JCC Sandler Center Theater production of Crossing Delancey. Pictured between Izzy and Hannah are Sam (Mark Kirschenbaum) and Bubbie (Fern Katz).   ...

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Quite a musical exhibition at Measure for Measure Theatre Company

Quite a musical exhibition at Measure for Measure Theatre Company

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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