‘Zanna, Don’t!’ charms, engages
Photo by George Wentzler Zanna (Conor Walton) communicates with his pet bird in Island City Stage’s production of Zanna, Don’t! WILTON MANORS, Fla — You’d have to be a fuddy-duddy or a complete cynic not to feel refreshed and uplifted after seeing the award-winning Off-Broadway hit musical, Zanna, Don’t! This...
A show to die for is touring the country
Photo by Joan Marcus The touring cast of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder FORT LAUDERDALE — A word of caution: Do not heed the warning that “you’d best depart” the theater before the musical with an eyebrow-raising, attention-grabbing title begins. Those who are scared off will...
School of Rock: The Musical proves empowering, especially today
(Photo by Matthew Murphy) The kids rock out in the stage musical version of School of Rock’s national touring production Ft. LAUDERDALE — When School of Rock opened as a movie musical in 2003 and as a faithful, if somewhat formulaic Broadway stage musical in 2015, it was hard to...
‘Billy & Me’ a memorable memory play at Palm Beach Dramaworks
(Photo courtesy of Palm Beach Dramaworks) Tennessee Williams (Nicholas Richberg) and William Inge (Tom Wahl) share a moment during the world premiere production of Billy and Me. WEST PALM BEACH — Characters down alcohol with an equilibrium-upsetting frequency in Billy and Me, a new, engrossing, thought-provoking memory play receiving its...
Phantom sequel’s lush melodies, visuals enthrall
Photo by Joan Marcus The Phantom, regularly played by Gardar Thor Cortes (left), seduces Christine Daae (Meghan Picerno) in the national tour of Love Never Dies. FT. LAUDERDALE — There are moments in Love Never Dies, the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, that will likely startle, or...
New ‘Our Town’ helps open our eyes to diversity
(Photo by Arnulfo Maldonado) Emily Webb (Thallis Santesteban) takes a moment for contemplation in Miami New Drama’s world premiere production of a new staging of Our Town MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Birth isn’t one of the major life cycle events at the center of Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning classic Our...
New staging of musical offers fresh take on a classic
Maria (Jill-Christine Wiley) is at home amid the hills in Austria near the Nonnberg Abbey. FT. LAUDERDALE — Chances are, you’re familiar with The Sound of Music. But you’ll rediscover this classic musical anew once you’ve witnessed three-time Tony Award-winning director Jack O’Brien’s fresh, vital take on the beloved Rodgers...
GableStage’s The Humans shines with humanity
Photo by George Schiavone Deidre Blake (Elizabeth Dimon) tries to get include “Momo” (Carol Caselle” in the family’s Thanksgiving gathering in GableStage’s production of Stephen Karam’s The Humans. Looking on, behind “Momo” is her son, Erik (Michael Gioia). CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Creepy, foreboding music leaves a chill in the...
They’re ‘On Their Feet’ in Miami
Photo by Matthew Murphy Christie Prades and Mauricio Martinez play Emilio and Gloria Estefan in a national touring production of On Your Feet! MIAMI — Exactly two years after the bio-musical On Your Feet! The Emilio & Gloria Estefan Broadway Musical opened for previews on Broadway, the first national touring production...
Oleanna proves powerful, provocative in Boca Raton
Photo courtesy of www.eveningstarproductions.org. Carol (Sara Elizabeth Grant) presents which she feels is damning evidence against her professor, John (Todd Bruno), in Evening Star Production’s staging of David Mamet’s Oleanna. BOCA RATON — Depending on your point of view, and how it’s directed and acted, David Mamet’s scorcher of a play,...