New touring ‘Hairspray’ is mostly a hit
Photo by Jeremy Daniel Tracy Turnblad (Niki Metcalf) and Edna Turnblad (Andrew Levitt) appear in a scene from a new non-equity national touring production of Hairspray. By AARON KRAUSE Ever since Niki Metcalf witnessed the original 2002 Broadway production of the hit musical comedy, Hairspray, the young New York-based...
‘Joe Papp at the Ballroom’ offers an up-close look at a legend
Photo by Magnus Stark Avi Hoffman appears as Joe Papp By AARON KRAUSE If you wish to catch The Music Man on Broadway, a seat about four rows from the stage will cost you $714. That is not a misprint. And if you decide instead to sit in the...
Stirring Yuletide tale takes stage at Miami’s City Theatre
Photo courtesy of Justin Namon Jacob Marley’s ghost (Colin McPhillamy) prepares to scare Ebenezer Scrooge in Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol. By AARON KRAUSE It seems that no matter how many times we experience A Christmas Carol, we do not grow tired of this evergreen tale. That is not surprising....
GableStage’s ‘The Price’ is first rate
Photo by George Schiavone Victor Franz (Gregg Weiner, seated), Esther Franz (Patti Gardner), and Walter Franz (Michael McKenzie) appear in a tense scene from GableStage’s production of The Price, by Arthur Miller. By AARON KRAUSE These days, witnessing a theater company staging a live, in-person production with as...
What does ‘Thank you for your service’ really mean?
Live theater is a tool for change, empathy, learning, understanding, connection, and more. With that in mind, it is not surprising that a national group is using live theater to bridge the gap of understanding between ordinary Americans and veterans. Specifically, at six cities across the country, the Atlantic...
Frankenstein is a triumph at Miami’s Zoetic Stage
Photo by Justin Namon Gabriell Salgado shines as the creature in Zoetic Stage’s production of Frankenstein By AARON KRAUSE During an age in which some folks are swatting away science as though it were a mosquito, it makes sense to revisit a story that strongly suggests that we cautiously...
‘Fuacata’ is timely, touching, and humorous at Actors’ Playhouse
Photo courtesy of Chris Headshots Elena Maria Garcia (above) portrays more than a dozen characters in Fuacata!: Or, a Latina’s Guide to Surviving the Universe. By AARON KRAUSE Listening to and rooting for a “Super Latina Super Hero” might strengthen resolve during a time when Cubans are openly demonstrating...
GableStage’s upcoming season announced
Photo courtesy of Magnus Stark GableStage’s new producing artistic director, Bari Newport, will dive into the 2021-22 season with a special event in October. By AARON KRAUSE When GableStage rehearses Arthur Miller’s The Price in preparation for opening the recently announced 2021-2022 season, new producing artistic director Bari...
Award winning actor inhabits more than 20 characters in one-performer show
Photo courtesy of Elena Maria Garcia Elena Maria Garcia plays a variety of characters in her one-performer show By AARON KRAUSE By her admission, Elena Maria Garcia is the type of person who will easily complete 10 tasks if someone designates that many for her. So, it is not entirely...
Perhaps you’ve never heard of this ‘Cowboy.’
Photo courtesy of Christa Ingraham Theater artist Layon Gray directs and stars as deputy U.S. marshal Bass Reeves in M Ensemble’s Cowboy. By AARON KRAUSE If I don’t tell the stories, who will? It’s not just a rhetorical question but an attitude through which multi award-winning theater artist Layon...