Author Archives: ronannarbor

“Les Miserables” at Croswell Opera House is stellar (review)

Eric Parker. I’ll come back to him in a moment, but I had to start the review with him. Over the course of the past year, almost every theater in America has performed the musical Les Miserables, and this was the 6th entirely different production of Les Mis that I have seen in that year.Continue reading ““Les Miserables” at Croswell Opera House is stellar (review)”

Les Miserables at University of Michigan Musical Theatre Program (Review)

There is some lovely music-making taking place at Power Center this weekend (don’t bother looking for tickets, UMMT’s Les Miserables has been sold out for months).  There are also some problems with this musical spectacular. Performances are top notch, as is expected for this musical theater program. The full orchestra is superb (though it couldContinue reading “Les Miserables at University of Michigan Musical Theatre Program (Review)”

Country fun at The Dio (“Country Roads”) Review

There’s a lot of country fun to be found in Leslie Jo Hood’s “Country Roads” which opened at The Dio in Pinckney last night. Let me preface this by saying that this is not a true musical comedy — its a musical entertainment following a typically delicious dinner at the venue. Here’s my advice: ignoreContinue reading “Country fun at The Dio (“Country Roads”) Review”

“Bullets Over Broadway” the musical…left me cold…(Review)

Seen in a preview performance on March 22, 2014 (the show opens April 10th — an inexplicably long time for a preview period for such a slight show) There is nothing really wrong with “Bullets Over Broadway” at the St. James Theatre. There is also nothing really right. The entire big-budget affair is commercial BroadwayContinue reading ““Bullets Over Broadway” the musical…left me cold…(Review)”

Heathers, the musical (review)… What’s Your Damage?

Seen in preview March 22, 2014 – the production opens officially on 3/31. Much in the way Kinky Boots won me over last year over all the larger budget musicals I had seen last spring, Heathers, the musical, now previewing at New World Stages off-Broadway won me over as this spring’s favorite new musical. WorkingContinue reading “Heathers, the musical (review)… What’s Your Damage?”

Rocky on Broadway is a technical knockout (review)

You will go home whistling the sets after Rocky the musical. What you won’t go home whistling is any of the tunes. That’s not to say you won’t like the show. In fact, I loved it. Rocky (a beefed-up excellent Andy Karl) and Adrian (superb Margo Seibert) play out their South Philadelphia love story withContinue reading “Rocky on Broadway is a technical knockout (review)”

Score soars in “The Bridges of Madison County” musical (review)

By the time Jason Robert Brown’s score roars into its master-song, “One Second and a Million Miles” you have well become aware that you have been listening to the best musical theater score in years in “The Bridges of Madison County” at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in New York. Kelli O’Hara is a superior FrancescaContinue reading “Score soars in “The Bridges of Madison County” musical (review)”

“Aladdin” brings Disney magic back to Broadway (review)

I have previously reviewed Aladdin when seen in its pre-Broadway tryout in Toronto. I now follow with an updated review of the Broadway production as seen today in NYC (the official opening night is tomorrow night). And what has occurred between the show’s pre-Broadway tryouts and now is magic in itself. I liked the showContinue reading ““Aladdin” brings Disney magic back to Broadway (review)”

Fantastic “The Lion in Winter” – Williamston Theatre (Review)

It’s Christmas Eve at the Chateau de Chinon in 1183 (its pictured above as it looks today) — 6 years before Henry II’s death and his son Richard’s ascent to the throne ( ten years later, followed by youngest son John).  Henry’s estranged wife Eleanor of Aquitaine has been freed from prison in London toContinue reading “Fantastic “The Lion in Winter” – Williamston Theatre (Review)”