‘Medicine for the Soul’

‘Medicine for the Soul’

Tony Award nominee Josh Young portrays Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Soul Doctor.   By AARON KRAUSE Did you hear the one about the Orthodox rabbi who attended worship services at black churches and left inspired to compose a different kind of Jewish music?...

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Palm Beach Dramaworks presents a shattering ‘Topdog/Underdog’

Palm Beach Dramaworks presents a shattering ‘Topdog/Underdog’

Photo by Alicia Donelan Booth (Jovon Jacobs, right) concentrates heavily as Lincoln (George Anthony Richardson) demonstrates how to deftly operate a three-card monte game in Palm Beach Dramaworks’ production of Topdog/Underdog.   By AARON KRAUSE If a prize existed for malicious jokes, you would have to nominate the father of...

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‘Ben Butler’ is not your average play about war

‘Ben Butler’ is not your average play about war

Photo by Amy Pasquantonio Major Cary (Jim Gibbons) argues with Major General Benjamin Butler (Troy J. Stanley) in Boca Stage’s production of Ben Butler.   By AARON KRAUSE You normally would not expect to laugh uproariously while watching a play about the Civil War, set during that time period. But...

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Playwright peels away ‘The Niceties’ from her piece

Playwright peels away ‘The Niceties’ from her piece

  “We spend so much of our time berating the far right for being racist,” Island City Stage (ICS) Associate Artistic Director Michael Leeds says. However, “we don’t often look to ourselves to see how we might be perpetuating the system. We’re always the ‘nice’ guys. But what happens when...

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Nominations announced for 74th annual Tony Awards

Nominations announced for 74th annual Tony Awards

  While we still do not know when the 2020 virtual Tony Awards broadcast will take place, we at least now know the nominees. The Tony Awards’ presenters, The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, announced the nominees on Thursday. Alanis Morissette’s musical, Jagged Little Pill, leads the way...

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‘Gifts’ focuses on the power of story during dark moments

‘Gifts’ focuses on the power of story during dark moments

Photo courtesy of Irish Repertory Theatre (From left) Marty Rea, as Tom, Sean McGinley as Larry, and Marie Mullen as Rose.   By AARON KRAUSE What are some “gifts” that you’ve brought to dark, anxiety-inducing times, places, or situations? Perhaps you smiled brightly while visiting a lonely, scared person forced...

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New City Players’ bleak ‘Macbeth’ reflects the zeitgeist

New City Players’ bleak ‘Macbeth’ reflects the zeitgeist

      Photo courtesy of New City Players Macbeth (Seth Trucks) makes a point to his wife, Lady Macbeth (Laura Plyler) in New City Players’ production of “The Scottish Play.”   By AARON KRAUSE FT. LAUDREDALE — If you ask most people, they may tell you that they’ve always...

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Feisty women power on display in Main Street Players’ ‘Five Women Wearing the Same Dress’

Feisty women power on display in Main Street Players’ ‘Five Women Wearing the Same Dress’

Photo by Dennis Lyzniak Tripp (Kevin Rubi) gets himself into what he feels is the best position to snap the perfect photograph of the reluctant bridesmaids in Main Street Players’ production of Five Women Wearing the Same Dress. By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI LAKES — Five Women Wearing the Same Dress may not...

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‘Queen of Basel’ is an eye-opener of a play at Miami New Drama

‘Queen of Basel’ is an eye-opener of a play at Miami New Drama

(Photo by Stian Roenning) Rudi Goblen and Betsy Graver appear in Miami New Drama’s world premiere production of  Queen of Basel.   MIAMI BEACH — Is it possible to write and stage an August Strindberg play adaptation that’s #MeToo friendly? Playwright Hilary Bettis and Miami New Drama have succeeded admirably...

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Theatre Lab’s ‘The Revolutionists’ is an empowering, engaging experience

Theatre Lab’s ‘The Revolutionists’ is an empowering, engaging experience

  (Photo by Amatista Photography) Mia Matthews, Niki Fridh, Candice Marie Singleton and Nicole Stoica play different characters united behind similar goals in The Revolutionists. BOCA RATON, Fla. — Throughout theater history, sisterhood and the scaffold might never have blended so seamlessly, compellingly and invigoratingly as it has in Lauren...

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