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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Broadway — Avoid at all costs (Review of preview)

It is so rare I need to write something like this, but this is more an expose than it is a review. Seen in a preview this week, the show should just shutter right now and rethink everything before proceeding. As is, this is a show to be avoided at all costs, unless you areContinue reading “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Broadway — Avoid at all costs (Review of preview)”

Cabaret at Cutting Edge Theatre is beautifully done (Review)

Chalk up another wonderful musical for Cutting Edge Theatre in Stephanie L Dennehy’s production of Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret. Seen at its sold-out final performance at the Nederhauser Community Hall in Sylvania, OH, the production was a solid bare-bones show that focused on songs, scenes, and the terrific talent that seems to follow Dennehy wherever sheContinue reading “Cabaret at Cutting Edge Theatre is beautifully done (Review)”

Almost, Maine – terrific theater at AACT (Review)

This past weekend, Ann Arbor Civic Theatre presented John Cariani’s play ALMOST, MAINE – and it was COMPLETELY, PERFECT. I wish I had been able to get a review out after opening night, but I was opening my own show this past weekend so I didn’t get a chance to see the play until itsContinue reading “Almost, Maine – terrific theater at AACT (Review)”

How a warehouse became “Spring Awakening” (Stagecraft)

Every now and then everything comes together in the right venue in the right way at the right time — such is the current production of SPRING AWAKENING I have just directed for 4th Wall in Jackson (it runs through March 25th). The comments we’ve heard most consistently during this remarkable run so far areContinue reading “How a warehouse became “Spring Awakening” (Stagecraft)”

A weekend of regional theater offerings in SE Michigan

It was a busy weekend of theater going: URINETOWN, currently being presented by Ridgedale Players in Troy, is funny and audience-pleasing. There is a terrific performance by Kevin Kaminski as Bobby Strong, and Bridget Styles is a very good Hope Cladwell. The set is spiffy with fast scene changes. Not everything is always smooth sailingContinue reading “A weekend of regional theater offerings in SE Michigan”

Lively and funny “Barefoot in the Park” at The Dio (Review)

The Dio is offering a lively and funny mid-winter treat in Neil Simon’s first mega-hit “Barefoot in the Park.” Newlyweds Corie and Paul Bratter (Mary Dilworth and Peter Crist) have just moved into their 5th Floor walkup in New York City, and the comedy quickly mines the travails of too-small, overpriced, crumbling starter apartments, surpriseContinue reading “Lively and funny “Barefoot in the Park” at The Dio (Review)”

This “Chicago” will Blow You Away – Downriver Actors Guild (Review)

Downriver Actors Guild is on a roll — now comes Kander and Ebb’s great musical Chicago, a rollicking good time in a spectacular production directed by Denny Connors and Choreographed by Betsy Genrich, with Musical Direction by Melanie Aue. This is not-to-be-missed musical theater brought to you by way of our friends in Wyandotte. BothContinue reading “This “Chicago” will Blow You Away – Downriver Actors Guild (Review)”

Spring Awakening at Dexter Community Players

DCP is currently presenting Spring Awakening, the 2006 Steven Sater/Duncan Sheik alt-rock musical that won a slew of Tony awards and was recently revived to acclaim. This production breaks with traditional staging and as such is somewhat hard to review since the convention of having the singers/performers always on stage with the band entering scenesContinue reading “Spring Awakening at Dexter Community Players”

Avenue A Capella Auditions

Caught up in the acapella craze yet? Well if you are a vocalist and you like acapella music, here’s your chance! Wyandotte’s Downriver Actors Guild has a terrific group now going on its second season called Avenue A Capella and they are holding replacement auditions on February 12th beginning at 6:00 pm. The groupContinue reading “Avenue A Capella Auditions”

Fantastic “Dear Evan Hansen” and Acapella “In Transit” on Broadway (Reviews)

There’s a new force of nature in the musical theater world and his name is Ben Platt who has arrived in a mail-the-Tony-to-him-now performance as the title character in “Dear Evan Hansen” at the Music Box Theatre — able to play both a lonely, communication-inept, misfit teenager and alternately explode in self-assured musical numbers withContinue reading “Fantastic “Dear Evan Hansen” and Acapella “In Transit” on Broadway (Reviews)”