Area Stage’s immersive ‘Annie’ shines
Photo by Giancarlo Rodaz The orphans look up to Annie in Area Stage Company’s immersive production By AARON KRAUSE Young, visionary director Giancarlo Rodaz’s winning approach in Area Stage Company’s (ASC) current unorthodox, yet triumphant production of the classic musical Annie features eight actors playing all roles. That compares to a...
Theater Up Close features Dickens, Sondheim, Frankenstein
By AARON KRAUSE A fresh adaptation of Frankenstein, a Stephen Sondheim classic, and a new twist on a Charles Dickens classic are among the shows comprising the 10th annual Theater Up Close series in Miami. The series, a collaboration between the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of...
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,...
This theatrical experience allows you to safely ‘travel’ around the world.
Photo by PopUp Theatrics June Romero awaits you in Miami. By AARON KRAUSE In a matter of hours, you can laugh in Miami, sing “Happy Birthday” in Paris, and kick some butt in Singapore. To zoom from one destination to another, you don’t need a passport, a suitcase...
‘It’s theater in your living room’ — and it’s live
Photo by Brian Love Jason Weiss, founder and artistic director of No Pants Theatre Company. By AARON KRAUSE “Shhhhhh! It’s about to start!,” someone commented in eager anticipation of No Pants Theatre Company’s production of Samuel Garza Bernstein’s drama, If You Are Reading This. Most likely,...
Powerful ‘American Son’ prevails at Zoetic Stage
Photo by Justin Namon A struggle breaks out between a father and a police officer in the riveting drama, American Son. Here, the officer, Paul Larkin (Ryan Didato) tries to restrain the dad, Scott Connor (Clive Cholerton). Flanking the strugglers are Scott’s ex, Kendra Ellis-Connor (Karen Stephens) and Lt. John...
Faithful, fervent Oklahoma! revival reveals a darker tale
Little Fang Photo Ado Annie (Ali Stroker) and Ali Hakim (Will Brill) share a moment in the current revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! By AARON KRAUSE NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. — The wording on the Playbill at Circle in the Square Theatre does not deceive your eyes:...
‘Wiesenthal’ is a winner at GableStage
Photo by George Schiavone Simon Wiesenthal (David Kwiat) takes some time to reflect in the one-character play, Wiesenthal. By AARON KRAUSE CORAL GABLES — An admirable quality of one-person plays is their ability to establish an especially intimate connection between the audience and the character. Such a bond can...