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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‘The Berlin Diaries’ come to believable life at Theatre Lab

Photo by Morgan Sophia Photography Avi Hoffman and Niki Fridh are animated as they portray characters in The Berlin Diaries.   By AARON KRAUSE Playwright Andrea Stolowitz found lost relatives as she developed her autobiographical play, The Berlin Diaries. And now, while watching the funny and moving piece, you have...

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Controversial ‘Bent’ is a cautionary play for our times

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...

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Live, in-person audience to join ‘Belle of Amherst’

Live, in-person audience to join ‘Belle of Amherst’

  By AARON KRAUSE When Margery Lowe starred as Emily Dickinson last year in a filmed theatrical co-production of William Luce’s 1976 Broadway play, The Belle of Amherst, the performer lacked her scene partner. Fortunately for Lowe, the partner will be back when she soon reprises her role as the...

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Island City Stage’s ‘The Twentieth Century Way’ proves fun, relevant in 2021

Island City Stage’s ‘The Twentieth Century Way’ proves fun, relevant in 2021

Photo courtesy of Island City Stage Clay Cartland (left) and Alfonso Vieites get intimate in Island City Stage’s production of The Twentieth Century Way.   By AARON KRAUSE “I want the truth,” a character says in Tom Jacobson’s highly theatrical play, The Twentieth Century Way. Without a doubt, Jacobson believes...

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ICS’ ‘The Niceties’ neatly captures the zeitgeist

ICS’ ‘The Niceties’ neatly captures the zeitgeist

Photo by Matthew Tippins Zoe (Rachel Michelle Bryant) is clearly unhappy with her professor (Lisa Kay King) in Island City Stage’s production of The Niceties.   By AARON KRAUSE “What are you doing to promote equality?” a black college student demands of her white professor in Eleanor Burgess’s taut, intense,...

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Lowe shines as poet in ‘The Belle of Amherst’

Lowe shines as poet in ‘The Belle of Amherst’

  Photo courtesy Palm Beach Dramaworks and Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre Award-winning actor Margery Lowe shines as Emily Dickinson in ‘The Belle of Amherst.’   By AARON KRAUSE If you search Emily Dickinson on Google, one of the photos you’ll find is that of an austere-looking woman dressed...

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Song and dance are strong points in Broadway bio-musical ‘Ain’t Too Proud.’

Song and dance are strong points in Broadway bio-musical ‘Ain’t Too Proud.’

  Photo by Matthew Murphy The core group as depicted in Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations.   By AARON KRAUSE NEW YORK, N.Y. — If you want to hear current members of the famed musical group The Temptations perform live this year, you’re out of...

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These ‘Men on Boats’ will win you over

These ‘Men on Boats’ will win you over

Photo by Dennis Lyzniak Nobody said a group of explorers in 1869 had it easy. But they proved fiercely determined, as Jaclyn Backhaus’ play Men on Boats demonstrates in Main Street Players’ production.   By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI LAKES — Chances are, you won’t hear many people equate Jaclyn Backhaus’ play Men...

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Anastasia offers eye-popping visuals, soaring music and heartfelt emotion

Anastasia offers eye-popping visuals, soaring music and heartfelt emotion

      Photo by Matthew Murphy Anya (Lila Coogan) basks in the glow of lights in one of the stunningly vivid projections.   By AARON KRAUSE FT. LAUDERDALE — Dramamine is not one of the products for sale in the theater lobbies where the Broadway musical adaptation of Anastasia plays. But...

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