‘The Last Christmas’ at New City Players may make you feel less alone
By AARON KRAUSE It is nearly midnight on a pitch-black Christmas Eve. Everybody is sound asleep, and it’s deathly quiet. Suddenly you feel lonely and dreadful. But then a soft yet reassuring voice from the radio fills the vast space and instantly puts you at ease. Such a scene may...
The Wick’s ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ bewitches
Photo by Amy Pasquantonio Albert Peterson (Jeremy Benton) and Rose Alvarez (Leah Sessa) share a moment. By AARON KRAUSE Witnessing The Wick Theatre & Museum Club’s current winning production of Bye Bye Birdie is the next best thing to traveling back to the 1950s in a time machine. No...
‘Little Montgomery’ to conclude New City Players’ current season
Photo courtesy of New City Players A struggle is in progress between Megan (Krystal Millie Valdes) and Rick Montgomery (Todd Bruno) in New City Players’ upcoming production of Stephen Brown’s play, Little Montgomery. You may have heard New City Players (NCP) present Stephen Brown’s play, Little Montgomery as a...
Palm Beach Dramaworks poised to perform ‘August: Osage County.’
Sarah Morsey and Kathy McCafferty appear in a scene from Palm Beach Dramaworks’ upcoming production of August: Osage County. By AARON KRAUSE The last time Nikki Fridh performed in front of an audience, she did so on Palm Beach Dramaworks’ (PBD) stage, or more specifically, in the dead of...
‘Wicked’ is a winner in Miami
Photo by Joan Marcus Lissa deGuzman plays Elphaba in an equity national touring production playing in Miami. By AARON KRAUSE Clearly defining the megahit musical Wicked can prove almost as daunting as defying gravity. Indeed, it is part origin story, part musical, part fantasy, part prequel, part fable, part...
‘Chicago’ remains entertaining and terribly timely
Photo by Jeremy Daniel Billy Flynn (Jeff Brooks) makes a point during a performance of the national non-equity touring production of Chicago. By AARON KRAUSE During the age of Donald J. Trump, “Fake News,” “Alternative Facts,” and George Santos, the musical Chicago seems torn from today’s headlines. Indeed, although...
‘The Science of Leaving Omaha’ a new moving play at PBD
Photo by Tim Stepien Baker (Nicholas-Tyler Corbin) gets the attention of Iris (Georgi James) in the world premiere production of The Science of Leaving Omaha. By AARON KRAUSE In his classic poem, Harlem, Langston Hughes wondered what happens to a “dream deferred.” In particular, he wrote: “Does it dry...
‘Rotterdam’ is relatable, touching theater at Island City Stage
Photo by Matthew Tippins Alice (Suzanne Ankrum) and Fiona/Adrian (Autumn Kioti Horne) play lovers in Jon Brittain’s touching play, Rotterdam. By AARON KRAUSE Change can be hard for anybody, especially when they least expect it. With that in mind, you may find it easy to identify with Alice,...