PBD tries, and succeeds, in its re-mounting of touching drama, ‘Trying’

PBD tries, and succeeds, in its re-mounting of touching drama, ‘Trying’

Photo by Tim Stepien Judge Francis Biddle (Dennis Creaghan) and his secretary, Sarah Schorr (Kelly McCready) struggle to get along early on in Joanna McClelland Glass’s historical drama, Trying.    By AARON KRAUSE If you look closely at the program for Palm Beach Dramaworks’ (PBD) polished and poignant production of...

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‘Anything Goes’ at The Wick is a much-needed respite

Photo by Amy Pasquantonio Billy Crocker (Jeremy Benton) and Reno Sweeney (Aaron Bower) live it up in The Wick Theatre’s production of Anything Goes.   By AARON KRAUSE Try to look away from her. Just try. She’ll captivate you, my pretties! And her castmates will too! With a clarion voice, cool,...

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‘Grease’ pulsates with energy at Lauderhill’s LPAC

‘Grease’ pulsates with energy at Lauderhill’s LPAC

Photo by Amy Pasquantonio/Amatista Photography Jessie Dez as Sandy, and Jordan Gonzalez as Rizzo appear in MNM Theatre Company and North End Theater Company’s co-production of Grease in Lauderhill.   By AARON KRAUSE Some arrived at the theater wearing outfits emblazoned with the word “T-birds.” Others came clad in clothing containing the...

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Boca Stage’s riveting ‘Warrior Class’ exposes the underbelly of political campaigns

Boca Stage’s riveting ‘Warrior Class’ exposes the underbelly of political campaigns

Photo by Amy Pasquantonio Political “fixer” Nathan Berkshire (Wayne LeGette) comforts assemblyman Julius Lee (Paul Wong) in Boca Stage’s production of Warrior Class.   By AARON KRAUSE Early on in Kenneth Lin’s fierce, fast-paced, at times humorous political drama, Warrior Class, a character explains how a particular restaurant makes a...

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Area Stage’s immersive ‘Annie’ shines

Area Stage’s immersive ‘Annie’ shines

Photo by Giancarlo Rodaz The orphans look up to Annie in Area Stage Company’s immersive production   By AARON KRAUSE Young, visionary director Giancarlo Rodaz’s winning approach in Area Stage Company’s (ASC) current unorthodox, yet triumphant production of the classic musical Annie features eight actors playing all roles. That compares to a...

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MNM’s ‘Closer Than Ever’ is creative, heartfelt

MNM’s ‘Closer Than Ever’ is creative, heartfelt

  Photo courtesy of MNM Theatre Company. Thanks to technology, actors are able to look as though they’re near each other, and even holding hands, in MNM’s Closer Than Ever.   By AARON KRAUSE The telling and timely stage picture appears at the end of West Palm Beach-based MNM Theatre...

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Director learns from actors while staging complex classic ‘A Raisin in the Sun’

Director learns from actors while staging complex classic ‘A Raisin in the Sun’

(Ryan Arnst Photography/Courtesy) Walter Lee Younger (Jovon Jacobs) is in obvious agony. Jacobs plays a suffering, flawed offspring in New City Players’ powerful production of A Raisin in the Sun.   By AARON KRAUSE FT. LAUDERDALE — The prospect of directing A Raisin in the Sun thrilled Mary Elizabeth Gundlach....

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Hello, indeed, to a devoted, dear Dolly!

Hello, indeed, to a devoted, dear Dolly!

Photo by Julieta Cervantes A graceful, thankful Dolly (Betty Buckley) takes in the loving atmosphere at the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant in the national equity tour of the most recent Tony-Award-winning Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly!      By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI — The woman of the moment rises. She approaches us...

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‘La Cage’ marks a remarkable debut for Stage Door Theatre at new venue

‘La Cage’ marks a remarkable debut for Stage Door Theatre at new venue

Photo by George Wentzler Some of the La Cage aux folles’ girls surround Georges (Jamie Michael Parnell) with feather-like materials.   By AARON KRAUSE LAUDERHILL, Fla. — …So hold this moment fast…and make this moment last. Surely, these lyrics from La Cage Aux Folles are apropos for Stage Door Theatre’s...

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‘Dancing Lessons’ is a touching, thoughtful play

‘Dancing Lessons’ is a touching, thoughtful play

Photo by Justin Namon Senga Quinn (Lindsey Corey) reaches out to Ever Montgomery (Caleb Scott) in Zoetic Stage’s fine production of Mark St. Germain’s Dancing Lessons   MIAMI — People attend live theater because they “feel other people’s emotions, see the world like they do,” opines a character in Dancing...

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