These ‘Steel Magnolias’ will win you over at Empire Stage
Photo courtesy of Art Buzz Theatrics and Florida Theatrical Events Shelby (Alexandra Van Hasselt, front) and Clairee (Elissa D. Solomon) laugh during an upbeat scene from a South Florida co-production of the Robert Harling comedy-drama, Steel Magnolias. By AARON KRAUSE In the script for his funny and moving 1980’s-set...
‘Falsettos’ feels vital in South Florida co-production
Photo by Amy Mahon Jason (Jackson Goddard) insists to his mother, Trina (Seana Nicol) that he will not see a psychiatrist. By AARON KRAUSE Sometimes, even adults must grow up before they can properly help the children in their life mature. That is one of the timely takeaway messages...
An impressive South Florida co-production offers a peek into ‘Sordid Lives’
Photo courtesy of ArtBuzz Theatrics and Empire Stage The women of Sordid Lives are eccentric yet well-meaning. By AARON KRAUSE In a scene from the hilarious and moving hit play, Sordid Lives, a small-town Texas therapist in 1998 tries to “dehomosexualize” a gay male transvestite. The scene, which may...
‘Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks’ charms, touches at ArtBuzz Theatrics
Photo by Amy Mahon Lily Harrison (Lory Reyes) is clearly not pleased as Michael Minetti (Larry Buzzeo) is comically over-the-top. By AARON KRAUSE Since its Los Angeles premiere and Broadway opening, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks has undergone translations into 14 languages and traversed the globe with productions...
Controversial ‘Bent’ is a cautionary play for our times
Warning: This play contains brief nudity, disturbing images, and subject matter. Photo by Preston Bircher Max (Matthew Salas) tries to get a point across to Rudy (Ben Shaevitz) in a co-production of the historical play, “Bent.” By AARON KRAUSE If Martin Sherman’s moving and disturbing, at times implausible...
‘Educating Asher’ is an emotionally-satisfying new play
Photo by Carol Kassie The ghost of Elliot Weiss (Murphy Hayes) tries to express himself but Asher (Eytan Deray) is having none of it. By AARON KRAUSE If you were blessed with an Elliott Weiss in your life, Educating Asher, a heartfelt and humorous new play, will touch you...
‘Helen on Wheels’ is a fun, meaningful ride at Pigs Do Fly Productions
Photo by Carol Kassie Helen Wheeler (Beverly Blanchette) and Elmer (Michael Gioia) share a moment in Pigs Do Fly Productions’ mounting of Helen on Wheels. By AARON KRAUSE Few among us can resist feisty, foul-mouthed septuagenarians such as Helen Wheeler. We find them funny because, well, we do...
New City Players offers plenty of proof of cast members’ skill in production of relateable, powerful play
FT. LAUDERDALE –For the majority of us, our parents are among the closest, most familiar, dear and rock-solid support people in our lives. They made us, after all. Without us even knowing it, however, our parents can take on other characteristics: unpredictable, mystifying and scary. We may wonder: Which characteristics and...
