Island City Stage’s ‘At the Wedding’ Is Sharp, Funny, and Deeply Human”
Photo by Matthew Tippins Victor (Steven Guez) and Eli (Timothy Mark Davis) try to keep a wedding cake upright in Island City Stage’s triumphant production of At the Wedding. By AARON KRAUSE Want a neat, perfect wedding? You won’t find one in Bryna Turner’s funny, energizing, and emotionally sharp comedy,...
Fierstein’s ‘Torch Song’ Still Sings — and Simmers
Ma (Lourelene Snedeker), Arnold Beckoff (Alex Martinez) and David (Jackson Goddard) in an upbeat scene from Plays of Wilton’s powerful production of Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song. By AARON KRAUSE “There’s still a stain on the sidewalk,” teenage David tells Ed in Harvey Fierstein’s classic, complex, and relevant play, Torch...
New City Players’ Confederates: A Fierce, Funny Look at Slavery’s Lingering Shadows
Photo by Kevin Ondarza Sara (Nai Fairweather) is unafraid of battle in Dominique Morisseau’s powerful play Confederates. By AARON KRAUSE Slavery’s chains still bind in unexpected ways, and Dominique Morisseau’s bold, nuanced dramedy Confederates urges us to unshackle ourselves—and one another—from their lingering grip. New City Players’ (NCP) riveting professional...
New City Players to tackle race, resistance, and resilience in ‘Confederates’
Cast members Gemma Berg, Toddra Brunson, Nai Fairweather, and Denzel-McCausland. By AARON KRAUSE When you think of live theater during the summer, lighthearted, escapist fare may spring to mind. Understandably so — in the sweltering heat, who wouldn’t want to sit back, relax, and simply enjoy the show? But while...
Pollution, Power, and the People: ‘A Class Act’ Hits Hard
Pictured from left are Rick Prada as John Dubliner, Ben Paryz as Ignatio Perez, Carey Brianna Hart as Dorothy Pilsner, and Johnbarry Green as Edward Duchamp. By AARON KRAUSE “These big corporations are getting away with murder,” declares a character in Norman Shabel’s gripping play, A Class Act....
City Theatre’s Summer Shorts returns with satire, scripts in hand, and a new venue
Jannelys Santos as Rhonda Sanchez in Summer Shorts Festival Hosted by Rhonda Sanchez. By AARON KRAUSE This year’s Summer Shorts Festival, presented by City Theatre, will look different from previous editions. For instance, this year’s version will run just four days—down from more than two weeks in 2024. Actors will...
Nature and nostalgia unite in POW’s Innovative Staging of ‘The Sound of Music’
Maria Rainer (Abbey Alder) embraces nature and music in POW’s production of The Sound of Music. By AARON KRAUSE The von Trapp children energetically circle Maria Rainer in a fresh, believable South Florida production of The Sound of Music—one that is as smart as it is lively. But the...
‘Dangerous Instruments’ is a harrowing, human story we cannot afford to ignore
Photo by Curtis Brown Photography “Cool Mr. P” (Matt Stabile) comforts single mother Laura Hammond in Palm Beach Dramaworks’ world premiere production of Dangerous Instruments by Gina Montet. By AARON KRAUSE The determined and desperate mom in playwright and educator Gina Montet’s new play, Dangerous Instruments, shakes with despair....
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ ‘Purpose,’ Rob Ulin’s ‘Judgement Day’ earn top honors from critics
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Rob Ulin Playwrights Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and Rob Ulin are among this year’s recipients of major national awards presented annually by theater critics. Jacobs’ play, Purpose, has received the 2025 Pulitzer Prize...
“Boca Stage’s ‘Dry Powder’ Offers a Timely, Sharp Critique of Capitalism’s Costs
Photo by Amy Pasquantonio (From left) Wayne LeGette as Rick, Autumn Kioti Horne as Jenny, Christopher Dreeson as Jeff, and Michael Scott Ross as Seth. By AARON KRAUSE When GableStage mounted a fine production of Sarah Burgess’s brutally honest play Dry Powder in 2017, it felt like a serious...