‘Tracy Jones’ is moving, funny at Island City Stage
Photo by Matthew Tippins Cast members Sara Grant, Irene Adjan, and Niki Fridh act out a comical scene from Island City Stage’s production of Tracy Jones. By AARON KRAUSE Comedy can be an effective tool for playwrights to deliver messages to audiences. Indeed, once we start at least...
Main Street Players’ ‘Sweat’ sizzles
Photo by Olimac Media Clear tension exists between Brucie (Warren Welds) and his estranged wife, Cynthia (Chasity Hart) in Main Street Players’ production of Sweat. By AARON KRAUSE “What the f–k is NAFTA? Sounds like a laxative,” a woman opines. She is speaking in Lynn Nottage’s explosive, wildly engrossing,...
PPTOPA’s ‘Pippin’ entertains, invigorates
Here is the cast of Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts’ production of Pippin. By AARON KRAUSE If you think about it, Pippin is the kind of show that seems fit for the 1960s. Indeed, the titular character takes a stand against his royal father’s tyrannical policies....
New City Players’ ‘Cry Old Kingdom’ emits a vital sound
The artist Edwin (Denzel McCausland) and his wife, Judith (Odlenika Joseph) harbor different ideas about how to deal with the murderous Duvalier regime in 1960s Haiti in New City Players’ production of Cry Old Kingdom. By AARON KRAUSE What sacrifices would you make for freedom? What about just to...
‘Refuge’ shines at Theatre Lab as rolling world premiere continues
Photo by Morgan Sophia Photography Performers tell the story using a variety of techniques. By AARON KRAUSE “I may be a wolf but I’m afraid all the time,” the wild animal tells us in the compelling new play, Refuge. He lives in “a state of fear even in my...
2023 finalists announced for annual new play award
Six playwrights are vying for a national theater award which a group of critics presents annually to the best plays that premiere professionally outside of New York. The top award carries a $25,000 prize and two citations carry a value of $7,500 each. The presentation will take place...
’42nd Street’ sparkles at LPAC
Photo by David Popken The cast performs a scene from the Broadway at LPAC’s production of “42nd Street.” By AARON KRAUSE In the classic Broadway musical, 42nd Street, a character invites another to “come on along and listen to…the lullaby of Broadway.” But a current professional production of...
‘The Science of Leaving Omaha’ a new moving play at PBD
Photo by Tim Stepien Baker (Nicholas-Tyler Corbin) gets the attention of Iris (Georgi James) in the world premiere production of The Science of Leaving Omaha. By AARON KRAUSE In his classic poem, Harlem, Langston Hughes wondered what happens to a “dream deferred.” In particular, he wrote: “Does it dry...
‘Last Night in Inwood’ is a cautionary tale for our time
Photo by Morgan Sophia Photography Here is the cast of Theatre Lab’s world premiere production of Alix Sobler’s comic drama, Last Night in Inwood. All of the cast members are in this scene, except for Jovon Jacobs, who portrays Cal. By AARON KRAUSE “Sometimes you just have to… encourage...
