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...
Island City Stage’s ‘One in Two’ is eye-opening
Photo by Matthew Tippins The cast of Island City Stage’s production of “One in Two” prepares to face the audience. By AARON KRAUSE The last show that Island City Stage (ICS) mounted elicited plenty of laughs. After all, the play was the hilarious 1984 spoof, The Mystery of Irma...
Explosive ‘Armature’ erupts at Island City Stage
Photo by Matthew Tippins Shod (Michael Ford) and Evan (Matthew Salas) appear in a passionate scene from Island City Stage’s world premiere production of Armature. By AARON KRAUSE Shod, a gay man in Andrew Kramer’s sexy and searing, dark and disturbing new play, Armature, removes his white, sleeveless shirt....
Artist and advocate during the AIDS crisis dies at 84
Larry Kramer Photo by David Shankbone via Wikimedia Commons Larry Kramer, a fiercely passionate playwright, screenwriter, and advocate whom many credited with jump-starting the response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in America, has died in Manhattan. He was 84 and less than a month from his 85th birthday. His husband,...
World premiere of ‘Starmaker’ shines bright at Island City Stage
Photo courtesy of Wentzler Photography Henry Willson (David Edwards) feels like he’s on top of the world, surrounded by his star “creations” in Michael Leeds new play, “Starmaker.” The work’s debut production runs through Sept. 8 at Island City Stage, near Ft. Lauderdale. By AARON KRAUSE WILTON MANORS — It’s...
Little-known Holocaust-era photograph is subject of new play being presented
The cast of Moisés Kaufman’s The Album MIAMI BEACH –Moisés Kaufman’s father survived the Holocaust. So you can imagine what the younger man thought when he saw photos of Nazis partying at a resort near an infamous concentration camp. “When I saw these pictures, something very personal happened,” said the renown...
See The Sound of Music from a different perspective with Radicalization of Rolfe
Photo credited to Wentzler Photography Herr Zeller (Michael Kehr, standing), shows tough love toward Rolfe Gruber (Jordan Armstrong) in The Radicalization of Rolfe. WILTON MANORS, Fla. — In a way, The Radicalization of Rolfe is to The Sound of Music as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is to Hamlet. Consider:...
‘Zanna, Don’t!’ charms, engages
Photo by George Wentzler Zanna (Conor Walton) communicates with his pet bird in Island City Stage’s production of Zanna, Don’t! WILTON MANORS, Fla — You’d have to be a fuddy-duddy or a complete cynic not to feel refreshed and uplifted after seeing the award-winning Off-Broadway hit musical, Zanna, Don’t! This...
Island City Stage scores a triumph with outrageous season-opening HIR
Photo by George Wentzler Lawrence Buzzeo (front) as Arnold Connor appear in a scene from Island City Stage’s production of HIR. Pictured in the back are Daniel Capote as Isaac Connor and Mia Matthews as Paige Connor. WILTON MANORS, Fla. — The curtain opens, revealing a cheery, brightly-colored home sporting...
World premiere about musical masterwork as related to life performed with flair by Island City Stage
WILTON MANORS, Fla. — Shakespeare wrote “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” But have you ever found yourself wishing that you were the director of your life – one with the power to say something like, “OK, let’s stop right there and...
