It’s showtime: ‘Beetlejuice’ blends weirdness, whimsy, and a whole lot of heart
Photo by Matthew Murphy The titular character (Justin Collete) appears in a scene from an equity national touring production of Beetlejuice the Musical. By AARON KRAUSE Beetlejuice the Musical may resemble a freaky carnival or haunted house, but at its core, the show is about a lonely, grieving...
Humor abounds in POW in the Park’s inaugural production of ‘Forum’
Photo courtesy of Plays of Wilton Lourelene Snedeker performs as Pseudolus in POW in the Park’s inaugural production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. By AARON KRAUSE These days, many of us can probably identify a “lecherous, lewd, lascivious, loathsome, lying, lazy, dirty old...
‘Legally Blonde’ will win you over at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center
Photo by Jerahmeel James All eyes are on Elle Woods (Ariela Pizza) in ACM Theatricals’ production of Legally Blond, part of the Broadway at LPAC series. By AARON KRAUSE Omigod you guys and gals! Elle Woods is so much more than a stereotypical blonde in Broadway at LPAC’s dynamic...
LPAC delivers a winning ‘9 to 5’ to open season
Photo by Jerahmeel James Employees Doralee Rhodes (Anna Cappelli), Violet Newstead (Dalia Aleman) and Judy Bernly (Caiti Marlowe) express themselves in LPAC’s production of 9 to 5. By AARON KRAUSE Broadway at LPAC’s engaging and believable professional production of 9 to 5 is a fitting tribute to country music...
Slow Burn’s ‘Anastasia’ sparkles
Photo courtesy of Slow Burn Theatre Company The titular character (center, Mikayla Cohen,) receives lessons in gracefulness from conmen Dmitry (left, Jarod Bakum) and Vlad (right, Aaron De Jesus). By AARON KRAUSE Who are you? While you probably know your name, maybe you have not studied your family’s past...
‘Some Like it Hot’ sizzles as it tours Florida
Photo by Matthew Murphy Tavis Kordell as Jerry/Daphne plays opposite to Matt Loehr’s Joe/Josephine in the equity touring production of Some Like it Hot. By AARON KRAUSE No offence to Marilyn Monroe, but her likable character in the 1959 classic comedy film Some Like it Hot is still little...
‘The Last Christmas’ at New City Players may make you feel less alone
By AARON KRAUSE It is nearly midnight on a pitch-black Christmas Eve. Everybody is sound asleep, and it’s deathly quiet. Suddenly you feel lonely and dreadful. But then a soft yet reassuring voice from the radio fills the vast space and instantly puts you at ease. Such a scene may...
Modern version of ‘The Fantasticks’ soars at Island City Stage
Photo by Matthew Tippins Kevin Hincapie and Jonny Lee played lovers in Island City Stage’s production of an LGBTQ rewrite of The Fantasticks. By AARON KRAUSE Whether it’s between a man and a woman, two men, two women, two robots, or two animals, love is love. A modern version...
The Wick’s ‘Joseph’ is stirring entertainment
Photo by Amy Pasquantonio The cast of The Wick Theatre’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat performs on the production’s functional set. By AARON KRAUSE The titular garment is hardly the only impressive aspect of The Wick Theatre and Museum Club’s admirable professional production of the unforgettable classic musical...
PPTOPA’s ‘Putting it Together’ is engaging
Photo by Ron Pollack Erica Gouldthorpe and Elijah Pearson-Martinez play young characters in love in Putting it Together. By AARON KRAUSE With skill, elegance, and humor, Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts (PPTOPA) is paying tribute to late musical theater great Stephen Sondheim by staging the engaging musical...