New play reveals the ‘Real Cuba’
Photo by Tony Tur Cast members appear in a scene from the world premiere production of GringoLandia. By AARON KRAUSE If you talk to Miami native and Cuban-American playwright Hannah Benitez about Cuba today, she might quote a saying. It goes something like this: “If you visited...
Theatre Lab’s ‘To Fall in Love’ is relatable, heartfelt
Photo by Julia Rose Photo For much of To Fall in Love, Wyatt Grimes (Matt Stabile) and Merryn Thomas (Niki Fridh) struggle to connect. By AARON KRAUSE Can a study that scientists claim makes people fall in love actually help save a marriage splintered by tragedy? That is...
Approaching Anne Frank from another angle
Photo by Tim Stepien Amy Miller Brennan plays Miep Gies in the world premiere production of Michael McKeever’s play, The People Downstairs. By AARON KRAUSE Whenever Palm Beach Dramaworks (PBD) Producing Artistic Director William Hayes read or watched Anne Frank’s story play out on stage or screen, he wondered...
New City Players’ ‘Lungs’ is eye-opening
Photo by Ryan Arnst Marlo Rodriguez and Denzel McCausland appear in one of the more upbeat scenes in Lungs By AARON KRAUSE In Duncan Macmillan’s devastating drama, Lungs, a woman and her lover’s decision to have a kid could come with dire consequences. Let her explain. “I could fly...
Island City Stage’s ‘The Twentieth Century Way’ proves fun, relevant in 2021
Photo courtesy of Island City Stage Clay Cartland (left) and Alfonso Vieites get intimate in Island City Stage’s production of The Twentieth Century Way. By AARON KRAUSE “I want the truth,” a character says in Tom Jacobson’s highly theatrical play, The Twentieth Century Way. Without a doubt, Jacobson believes...
A Mastodon not easily forgotten
Photo by Morgan Sophia Photography Jess the Mastodon and her human friends coexist in Rachel Teagle’s new play, The Impracticality of Modern-Day Mastodons. By AARON KRAUSE Our roughly nine-and-a-half-foot tall heroine lumbers across the stage. Then, she settles into a chair in a vocational advisor’s office. Not long after,...
‘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...
Main Street Players presents strong world premiere of intense ‘Wolf and Badger’
Photo courtesy of Olimac Media Landon (Brandon Hoffman, middle) tries to impart a message to his half-brother, Maddox (Joshua Lyons) as Landon’s ex-girlfriend, Ainsley (Melissa Bibliowicz) looks on disgustedly. By AARON KRAUSE Wolf and Badger, a taut, intense drama receiving a mostly strong world premiere production at the professional...
Not your ordinary Town Hall event
Two Broadway legends on Aug. 3 will discuss a new book and the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical that is the book’s subject. Specifically, “an intimate digital conversation event” will feature Tony Award-winning playwright and director James Lapine, as well as legendary composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim. The event’s purpose is to celebrate...
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...