‘Beauty and the Beast’ is a winner at Lauderhill’s LPAC

‘Beauty and the Beast’ is a winner at Lauderhill’s LPAC

    Photo by Carol Kassie Belle (Rebecca Rene Kelley) and the beast (James Arthur Douglas) dance with each other.   By AARON KRAUSE LAUDERHILL — With incidents of bullying and resultant suicides in the news, it’s an appropriate time to mount a production of Beauty and the Beast. Sure,...

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Slow Burn’s ‘A Christmas Story: The Musical’ is a holiday treat to savor

Slow Burn’s ‘A Christmas Story: The Musical’ is a holiday treat to savor

Photo by Rodrigo Balfanz Jean Shepherd (Matthew Korinko) is riveted on his younger self, Ralphie Parker (Michael Norman) in Slow Burn Theatre Company’s production of A Christmas Story: The Musical. By AARON KRAUSE FT. LAUDERDALE — “Who could want much more,” sing Parker family members, of A Christmas Story fame....

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Inaugural Broadway in Broward season starts with compelling ‘West Side Story’

Inaugural Broadway in Broward season starts with compelling ‘West Side Story’

Photo by Carol Kassie Jacob Tarconish appears as Tony and Alexa Lopez as Maria in West Side Story at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center     By AARON KRAUSE LAUDERHILL — It is virtually impossible to walk away from West Side Story without vividly remembering something. Indeed, whether it’s the strongly...

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Stage adaptation of ‘Tootsie’ improves upon the film

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...

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Song and dance are strong points in Broadway bio-musical ‘Ain’t Too Proud.’

Song and dance are strong points in Broadway bio-musical ‘Ain’t Too Proud.’

  Photo by Matthew Murphy The core group as depicted in Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations.   By AARON KRAUSE NEW YORK, N.Y. — If you want to hear current members of the famed musical group The Temptations perform live this year, you’re out of...

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Faithful, fervent Oklahoma! revival reveals a darker tale

Faithful, fervent Oklahoma! revival reveals a darker tale

    Little Fang Photo Ado Annie (Ali Stroker) and Ali Hakim (Will Brill) share a moment in the current revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!  By AARON KRAUSE NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. — The wording on the Playbill at Circle in the Square Theatre does not deceive your eyes:...

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‘Come From Away’ renews our faith in humanity

‘Come From Away’ renews our faith in humanity

Photo by Matthew Murphy Here are cast members of the First North American Tour of Come From Away. By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI — Do yourself a favor: Do not think about Come From Away as just another show “about 9/11.” To be sure, this remarkable true story would not exist...

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A House of Blue Leaves well worth visiting at Palm Beach Dramaworks

A House of Blue Leaves well worth visiting at Palm Beach Dramaworks

    Photo by Samantha Mighdoll Bananas (Elena Maria Garcia) and Artie (Bruce Linser) pray during Pope Paul VI’s televised broadcast from Yankee Stadium in The House of Blue Leaves.   By AARON KRAUSE WEST PALM BEACH — As anyone familiar with John Guare’s The House of Blue Leaves knows,...

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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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‘Waitress’ remains timely, touching and empowering in national tour

‘Waitress’ remains timely, touching and empowering in national tour

Photo by Philicia Endelman Jenna Hunterson (Christine Dwyer) appears contemplative in the national equity tour of Waitress   By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI — Jenna Hunterson likely makes the #MeToo movement proud. Certainly, her new-found confidence and nerve inspire many in the Tony-nominated best musical Waitress. In particular, one scene should...

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