‘Tracy Jones’ is moving, funny at Island City Stage
Photo by Matthew Tippins Cast members Sara Grant, Irene Adjan, and Niki Fridh act out a comical scene from Island City Stage’s production of Tracy Jones. By AARON KRAUSE Comedy can be an effective tool for playwrights to deliver messages to audiences. Indeed, once we start at least...
Main Street Players’ ‘Sweat’ sizzles
Photo by Olimac Media Clear tension exists between Brucie (Warren Welds) and his estranged wife, Cynthia (Chasity Hart) in Main Street Players’ production of Sweat. By AARON KRAUSE “What the f–k is NAFTA? Sounds like a laxative,” a woman opines. She is speaking in Lynn Nottage’s explosive, wildly engrossing,...
PPTOPA’s ‘Pippin’ entertains, invigorates
Here is the cast of Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts’ production of Pippin. By AARON KRAUSE If you think about it, Pippin is the kind of show that seems fit for the 1960s. Indeed, the titular character takes a stand against his royal father’s tyrannical policies....
2023 finalists announced for annual new play award
Six playwrights are vying for a national theater award which a group of critics presents annually to the best plays that premiere professionally outside of New York. The top award carries a $25,000 prize and two citations carry a value of $7,500 each. The presentation will take place...
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...
‘Last Night in Inwood’ is a cautionary tale for our time
Photo by Morgan Sophia Photography Here is the cast of Theatre Lab’s world premiere production of Alix Sobler’s comic drama, Last Night in Inwood. All of the cast members are in this scene, except for Jovon Jacobs, who portrays Cal. By AARON KRAUSE “Sometimes you just have to… encourage...
