The Wick’s stirring ‘I Love a Piano’ will make you nostalgic

The Wick’s stirring ‘I Love a Piano’ will make you nostalgic

Photo by Amy Pasquantonio Cast members perform while surrounding the titular piano.    By AARON KRAUSE If America’s favorite Little Orphan Annie were a real person, you couldn’t help but believe that the vibrant red-headed young girl would have befriended composer-lyricist Irving Berlin (1888-1989). And vice versa. Surely their shared...

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Irish Repertory Theatre’s ‘George M. Cohan Tonight!’ is a hit

Irish Repertory Theatre’s ‘George M. Cohan Tonight!’ is a hit

Photo courtesy of Irish Repertory Theatre Jon Peterson appears as George M. Cohan in George M. Cohan tonight!   By AARON KRAUSE “Hello Broadway. Gee, you’re good to see. You look good to me,” theatrical legend George M. Cohan sings. Well, George, you sure do look and sound spry yourself,...

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Not your ordinary Town Hall event

Not your ordinary Town Hall event

  Two Broadway legends on Aug. 3 will discuss a new book and the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical that is the book’s subject. Specifically, “an intimate digital conversation event” will feature Tony Award-winning playwright and director James Lapine, as well as legendary composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim. The event’s purpose is to celebrate...

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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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Musical wunderkind wows critics, audiences

Musical wunderkind wows critics, audiences

Photo courtesy of Joshua Turchin Out of all of the instruments he plays, Joshua Turchin likes the piano best.   By AARON KRAUSE Joshua Turchin plays a dozen or so instruments. In addition, he wrote the book and lyrics, and composed the music, to an original, award-winning, Broadway-bound musical which...

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This ‘Forum’ is a hoot at MNM Theatre Company

This ‘Forum’ is a hoot at MNM Theatre Company

  Photo by Amy Pasquantonio Johnbarry Green (left) appears as Pseudolus and Michael Scott Ross as Hysterium in MNM Theatre Company’s production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.    By AARON KRAUSE WEST PALM BEACH — “Think of musical comedy, the  most glorious words in the English...

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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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Love, Linda offers a stylish, charming recollection of the Porters’ starry marriage

Love, Linda offers a stylish, charming recollection of the Porters’ starry marriage

  Photo courtesy of publicist Daniel Demello Stevie Holland as Linda Porter in Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter By AARON KRAUSE NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. — By Linda Porter’s own admission, the 1946 film Night and Day portrays the “perfect” love story between Porter and her husband,...

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New musical has promise, but flaws hamper it

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...

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A darker Oliver! is still tuneful, hopeful, compelling at Goodspeed Opera House

A darker Oliver! is still tuneful, hopeful, compelling at Goodspeed Opera House

  Photo by Diane Sobolewski The Artful Dodger (Gavin Swartz) takes Oliver (Elijah Rayman) under his wing in Goodspeed Musicals’ production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver!   By AARON KRAUSE EAST HADDAM, Conn. — Goodspeed Musicals’ impressive production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! isn’t shrouded in darkness and dismay. But, make no mistake: This...

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