Island City Stage’s From White Plains packs an emotional punch
Photo by George Wentzler Ethan (Todd Bruno) and John (Alex Alvarez) live it up in Island City Stage’s production of From White Plains. By AARON KRAUSE WILTON MANORS, Fla. — William Faulkner wrote, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” And in a devastatingly honest...
Dynamic ‘Memphis’ is a rousing hit at Actors’ Playhouse
Photo by Alberto Romeu Huey (Eddie Egan) and his mother (Margot Moreland) argue in a scene from Actors’ Playhouse’ production of Memphis: The Musical. By AARON KRAUSE CORAL GABLES, Fla. — About a year ago, Ft. Lauderdale-based Slow Burn Theatre mounted a dynamic production of the highly-charged, Tony-winning musical, Memphis. Today,...
Crossing Delancey is heartwarming at the Levis JCC
PHOTO BY ALAN NASH Izzy (Hannah Marks, far left) clearly doesn’t want to hear what Hannah the matchmaker (Betsy Lichtman, far right) is saying in the Levis JCC Sandler Center Theater production of Crossing Delancey. Pictured between Izzy and Hannah are Sam (Mark Kirschenbaum) and Bubbie (Fern Katz). ...
Director learns from actors while staging complex classic ‘A Raisin in the Sun’
(Ryan Arnst Photography/Courtesy) Walter Lee Younger (Jovon Jacobs) is in obvious agony. Jacobs plays a suffering, flawed offspring in New City Players’ powerful production of A Raisin in the Sun. By AARON KRAUSE FT. LAUDERDALE — The prospect of directing A Raisin in the Sun thrilled Mary Elizabeth Gundlach....
‘Race’ is vital, engrossing theater at Main Street Players
(Photo by Dennis Lyzniak) Attorney Jack Lawson (Christopher Dreeson) is animated while making a point. Listening are his client, Charles Strickland (Brian McCormack), law assistant Susan (Trittney Huzzie) and law partner Henry Brown (Keith Oliver). By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI LAKES – In Main Street Players’ riveting, unmissable mounting...
Head of new South Florida theater company hopes to produce experimental work
Thomas Bazar (Photo by Isabel Bazar) By AARON KRAUSE DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — Like any artistic head of a theater company, Thomas Bazar wants his new troupe, A Band of Actors, to become “more vibrant, more visible.” But it did not take long for the organization, one of...
Florida Shakespeare Theater’s uneven Romeo and Juliet is on the move
Logo taken from https://www.shakespearemiami.com. By AARON KRAUSE PINECREST, Fla. — While Florida Shakespeare Theater’s current production of Romeo and Juliet offers strong moments, the production mostly fails to touch – and break – one’s heart. Any successful mounting of this play requires heartfelt, passionate chemistry between the title characters. Unfortunately, there’s practically no...
‘Superior Donuts’ done mostly well at Main Street Players
Photo by Dennis Lyzniak Franco Wicks (Roderick Randle) tries to engage Arthur Przybyszewski (Mark Krocynski) during a scene from Main Street Players’ production of Superior Donuts. By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI LAKES — Parts of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tracy Letts’ Superior Donuts are as sweet as a sinful confection in the...
A sunny ‘Annie’ at The Wick
Photo by Amy Pasqantonio Sandy leaps up to his new best friend, Annie (Peyton Ella) in The Wick Theatre’s wonderful production of the beloved musical. By AARON KRAUSE BOCA RATON, Fla. — A director mounting an evergreen such as Annie doesn’t have to dig deep to unearth modern relevance. After all,...
Hello, indeed, to a devoted, dear Dolly!
Photo by Julieta Cervantes A graceful, thankful Dolly (Betty Buckley) takes in the loving atmosphere at the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant in the national equity tour of the most recent Tony-Award-winning Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly! By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI — The woman of the moment rises. She approaches us...