ronannarbor

Surprise! To fix “The Addams Family” musical get rid of Nathan Lane (review – tour – Wharton Center, East Lansing)

When I originally reviewed The Addams Family musical, I was among the minority that enjoyed it a lot. Now on tour it’s a much better show, and its not just because the script has been reworked. The tour, currently passing through East Lansing at the Wharton Center, is significantly different from the show seen in pre-BroadwayContinue reading “Surprise! To fix “The Addams Family” musical get rid of Nathan Lane (review – tour – Wharton Center, East Lansing)”

The view from Macworld iWorld 2012

It’s the ultimate Apple/Mac geek fest — the annual Macworld conference in San Francisco’s Moscone Center….this year re-named “Macworld iWorld” to emphasize the role that the internet now has. There was fear a few years back that Apple (who chose to stop attending the conference) would sound the death knell for Macworld — farContinue reading “The view from Macworld iWorld 2012”

Will America buy “Smash”? – NBC – Pilot episode (review)

Your going to love it or your going to hate it, but there isn’t anyone that will be able to say that SMASH isn’t slick, well-produced, and professional when it comes to musical numbers. It’s no GLEE (thankfully); but will America buy into a show about creating a Broadway show? In the pilot episode, (toContinue reading “Will America buy “Smash”? – NBC – Pilot episode (review)”

2011 Holiday Release Movies – Capsule Reviews

In lieu of full reviews for each of the following films as I have done in past holiday seasons, this year the movies are so well known and so thoroughly reviewed elsewhere that I will merely add capsule review summaries….From the sublime to the terrible: THE ARTIST, currently front runner for Best Picture, and deservedlyContinue reading “2011 Holiday Release Movies – Capsule Reviews”

Funniest TV Quotes 2011

It’s that time of year again! Granted I have not seen every single minute of every tv show this past year — but its been darn close…So here they are, this year’s Funniest TV quotes…. “I did not know you are not allowed to say “suck it” to security at the airport” – The MiddleContinue reading “Funniest TV Quotes 2011”

Broadway Reviews – Bonnie & Clyde; On a Clear Day; Follies; Anything Goes; Lysistrata Jones; War Horse

Nothing like some Broadway for the holidays!…from the ridiculous to the superb…. Lets go from the worst to the best from this holiday visit: On a Clear Day You can See Forever, the book-plagued but melody-lush Lerner and Lane musical, stars Harry Connick Jr so it is selling tickets well, despite dismal reviews after openingContinue reading “Broadway Reviews – Bonnie & Clyde; On a Clear Day; Follies; Anything Goes; Lysistrata Jones; War Horse”

Excellent “A Christmas Story, the musical” – tour (review)

Thoroughly surprising, superbly entertaining, and exquisitely designed, A Christmas Story, the musical makes a two week stop at the Fisher Theater in Detroit. And the show is awesome fun. Don’t hesitate and get tickets now before they are gobbled up over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend… Like the best adaptations, the musical doesn’t just mimic theContinue reading “Excellent “A Christmas Story, the musical” – tour (review)”

Ain’t no doubtin’ you’ll have a good time at Performance Network this holiday season – Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Review)

Performance Network has brought Ann Arbor an early Christmas present with their current production of Ain’t Misbehavin’, the Fats Waller musical show. Winner of the 1978 Tony Award for Best Musical, (it surprisingly beat out On the Twentieth Century, not surprisingly The Act, Dancin’ and Runaways), the show revived musical reviews, and while it hasContinue reading “Ain’t no doubtin’ you’ll have a good time at Performance Network this holiday season – Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Review)”

The Oddest Review I’ve ever written

OK, so — what do you do when a local theater sends you an email for the second year in a row stating that you CAN’T review their current production because of some type of royalty legalities….yet it hires professional actors and directors and advertises said production profusely…? First, this is a blog, I payContinue reading “The Oddest Review I’ve ever written”

Obsession at Croswell Opera House a fascinating musical premier (Review, kind of)

First, let me say right off the bat, it’s hard to review a workshop of a new show, even if it is fully staged. Because that is exactly what the production of OBSESSION, the musical (loosely based on Frankenstein) was this past weekend at the Croswell Opera House. Fully staged and realized, the production wasContinue reading “Obsession at Croswell Opera House a fascinating musical premier (Review, kind of)”