‘Chicago’ remains entertaining and terribly timely

‘Chicago’ remains entertaining and terribly timely

Photo by Jeremy Daniel Billy Flynn (Jeff Brooks) makes a point during a performance of the national non-equity touring production of Chicago.   By AARON KRAUSE During the age of Donald J. Trump, “Fake News,” “Alternative Facts,” and George Santos, the musical Chicago seems torn from today’s headlines. Indeed, although...

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‘A Chorus Line’ can make us reflect on unheralded heroes

‘A Chorus Line’ can make us reflect on unheralded heroes

  Photo by Amy Pasquantonio Cast members appear in one of the iconic scenes from A Chorus Line.   By AARON KRAUSE BOCA RATON — Hopefully, sooner rather than later, Coronavirus will disappear. Then, the media may choose to highlight “unsung heroes” in the battle against the virus. Specifically, these...

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‘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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Wick Theatre’s ‘The Music Man’ mesmerizes

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...

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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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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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A shattering ‘Streetcar’ at Palm Beach Dramaworks

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...

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New City Players’ bleak ‘Macbeth’ reflects the zeitgeist

New City Players’ bleak ‘Macbeth’ reflects the zeitgeist

      Photo courtesy of New City Players Macbeth (Seth Trucks) makes a point to his wife, Lady Macbeth (Laura Plyler) in New City Players’ production of “The Scottish Play.”   By AARON KRAUSE FT. LAUDREDALE — If you ask most people, they may tell you that they’ve always...

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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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