Moulin Rouge The Musical is visually striking, theatrical

Photo by Matthew Murphy Robert Petkoff and cast appear in a scene from an equity national touring production of Moulin Rouge the Musical.   By AARON KRAUSE You will surely marvel at the many gorgeous visuals in Moulin Rouge! The (Stage) Musical.  Undoubtedly, they are breathtaking to behold. Therefore, as...

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‘Pretty Woman’ adaptation wins us over anew in non-equity national touring production

‘Pretty Woman’ adaptation wins us over anew in non-equity national touring production

Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade Chase Wolfe and Ellie Baker co-star in “Pretty Woman: The Musical” at the Adrienne Arsht Center. The touring stop in Miami runs through Sunday, Dec. 10.   By AARON KRAUSE Fans of the hit 1990 romantic comedy film, Pretty Woman will be happy to...

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Critics honor playwrights for their work

Critics honor playwrights for their work

    Anderson   By AARON KRAUSE Playwright Christina Anderson brought home a major national award for her play, the ripple, the wave that carried me home. Anderson was one of six playwrights vying for the national honor. A group of critics annually presents the award to the best plays...

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‘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...

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‘Tina’ triumphs in national touring production

Photo courtesy of Broadway Across America Naomi Rodgers slays as Tina Turner in an equity national touring production traversing the U.S.   By AARON KRAUSE Tina Turner reportedly said that she summoned her “Inner Lion” to make it through various challenges. Certainly, the renowned performer’s fierce inner strength, fire, and...

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‘Aladdin’ astonishes anew

    The titular character (Adi Roy) touches gold in an equity national  touring production of Aladdin.     By AARON KRAUSE The last time Aladdin visited South Florida, life as we knew it was still operating. Specifically, a little less than three years ago, in January 2020, virtually nobody...

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Touring production of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ offers a relatable titular character

Touring production of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ offers a relatable titular character

  Photo by Matthew Murphy, Evan Zimmerman, MurphyMade Jesus Christ (Aaron LaVigne) stands out in this dance number from the 50th anniversary national touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar.    By AARON KRAUSE Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s glorious music is front and center in the moving and intense,...

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Critics group bestows thousands of dollars in new play awards

Critics group bestows thousands of dollars in new play awards

  A national theater critics organization has presented more than $40,000 in awards to four playwrights to recognize their prestigious accomplishments. The American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) presented Chiara Atik with the Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award for one of her plays, Poor Clare. The...

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‘Cats’ still wins us over

‘Cats’ still wins us over

Photo by Matthew Murphy The Jellicle Cats appear close together, suggesting a tight-knit group.   By AARON KRAUSE They cartwheel, crawl, kick, shake, sing, slide, spin, somersault, speak, jump, kneel, tap dance, talk, walk, and leap – right into our hearts. Even after more than four decades, these felines still...

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‘Tootsie’ tickles the funny bone, inspires in national tour

‘Tootsie’ tickles the funny bone, inspires in national tour

Photo by Evan Zimmerman Jeff Slater (Jared David Michael Grant) looks on amusingly as Michael Dorsey (Drew Becker) argues with Sandy Lester (Payton Reilly) in a non-equity national touring production of Tootsie.    By AARON KRAUSE There is at least one time for celebration in Tootsie, the engaging and compelling,...

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