The Wick’s ‘Gypsy’ is a gem
Photo by Amy Pasquantonio Mama Rose (Laura Hodos, right) has big aspirations for her daughter, Louise ( Melissa Whitworth). By AARON KRAUSE Mama Rose, from Gypsy, is an abusive parent. True, she might not get physical with her daughters. However, chances are that the words this mother of all...
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...
Miami New Drama’s ‘A Wonderful World’ is a show stopper
Photo by Ernesto Sempoll Juson Williams as Louis Armstrong and members of the cast of Miami New Drama’s “A Wonderful World.” By AARON KRAUSE Sure, it feels good to be positive and optimistic. And it can be healthy emotionally. However, there are times that call for reality and balance....
Magic might be in the air during this play
Photo courtesy of Palm Beach Dramaworks Cast members appear as their characters in Palm Beach Dramaworks upcoming production of Almost, Maine. By AARON KRAUSE For years, Palm Beach Dramaworks resident director, J. Barry Lewis, has wanted to stage Almost, Maine. In fact, it is one of the American theater’s...
New touring ‘Hairspray’ is mostly a hit
Photo by Jeremy Daniel Tracy Turnblad (Niki Metcalf) and Edna Turnblad (Andrew Levitt) appear in a scene from a new non-equity national touring production of Hairspray. By AARON KRAUSE Ever since Niki Metcalf witnessed the original 2002 Broadway production of the hit musical comedy, Hairspray, the young New York-based...
‘Joe Papp at the Ballroom’ offers an up-close look at a legend
Photo by Magnus Stark Avi Hoffman appears as Joe Papp By AARON KRAUSE If you wish to catch The Music Man on Broadway, a seat about four rows from the stage will cost you $714. That is not a misprint. And if you decide instead to sit in the...
‘Kinky Boots’ is the kind of show we need right now
Photo by Gregory Reed Lola (Elijah Word) and Charlie (Dominique Scott) find common ground in Slow Burn Theatre Company’s production of Kinky Boots. By AARON KRAUSE If ever there were a time that we needed a show to “raise us up,” surely it is now. With a pandemic destroying...
Stirring Yuletide tale takes stage at Miami’s City Theatre
Photo courtesy of Justin Namon Jacob Marley’s ghost (Colin McPhillamy) prepares to scare Ebenezer Scrooge in Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol. By AARON KRAUSE It seems that no matter how many times we experience A Christmas Carol, we do not grow tired of this evergreen tale. That is not surprising....
‘Helen on Wheels’ is a fun, meaningful ride at Pigs Do Fly Productions
Photo by Carol Kassie Helen Wheeler (Beverly Blanchette) and Elmer (Michael Gioia) share a moment in Pigs Do Fly Productions’ mounting of Helen on Wheels. By AARON KRAUSE Few among us can resist feisty, foul-mouthed septuagenarians such as Helen Wheeler. We find them funny because, well, we do...
‘The People Downstairs’ receive much-deserved recognition at Dramaworks
Photo by Alicia Donelan Photography Henk (Bruce Linser) and Miep (Amy Miller Brennan) comfort each other during a scene from Palm Beach Dramaworks’ world premiere production of The People Downstairs. By AARON KRAUSE If you knew him, you may not have wanted to invite Mr. Visser to your house....
