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“Nevermore” at Encore (Review)

Simply put, Encore Musical Theatre Company’s “Nevermore” is the best production they have presented. Period. Dan Cooney is exceptional in a role he originally created for the Signature Theater in Arlington, and here both stars and directs. And he is surrounded by a terrific supporting cast of five women. Weaving lyrics adopted from theContinue reading ““Nevermore” at Encore (Review)”

iPad 2 vs iPad 1 – To Pad or Not To Pad, That is the Question

Ron’s expert advise on the iPad 2 vs iPad 1 dilemma…. Apple this week announced that, beginning March 11, their newest version of the iPad, named iPad 2 will be available at the same prices as the current iPads, in the same memory and wi-fi/3G configurations. What’s new? A faster processor; front and back facingContinue reading “iPad 2 vs iPad 1 – To Pad or Not To Pad, That is the Question”

Professional Musical Theater – Detroit Regional Update (2011-2012)

2011 Musical Theater Seasons (local professional and tour-B contracts) Updated 2/22/11 Broadway in Detroit – Fisher Theater Burn the Floor – February 22 to March 6 Les Miserables – March 22 – April 3 Mamma Mia! – April 13 – 17 Chicago – May 17 – 22 Come Fly Away – Sept 13 – 25Continue reading “Professional Musical Theater – Detroit Regional Update (2011-2012)”

Christopher Columbus! Dexter’s Encore presents lovely “Little Women” (Review)

Watching lead actress Katie Hardy’s transformation from teenage Jo Marsh to the observant adult writer that looks back at it all is one of the joys in this intimate staging of the recent Broadway musical LITTLE WOMEN. In a production that is generally well-cast, she stands out in the role originally created by Sutton FosterContinue reading “Christopher Columbus! Dexter’s Encore presents lovely “Little Women” (Review)”

“Corktown” (review) – Purple Rose, Chelsea MI

Your enjoyment of “Corktown” at Purple Rose Theater will be directly related to your enjoyment of a) sharp, thoughtful dialogue, b) gangster stories with lots of blood, and c) suspension of belief in the “reality” of this storyline. Michael Brian Ogden has written dialogue that snaps, crackles, pops, and sometimes just lets things sit stillContinue reading ““Corktown” (review) – Purple Rose, Chelsea MI”

Kyle Bornheimer — Someone please get this guy a good script!

The latest in a rash of really really really bad scripts has at least landed Kyle Bornheimer back on tv…even if Perfect Couples is probably the worst NBC sitcom ever, and I do mean ever… But at least he’s working. I don’t know if Kyle’s agent is just really bad, or if there is someContinue reading “Kyle Bornheimer — Someone please get this guy a good script!”

Country Strong (review) proves Hedlund a rising star

Nobody is going to be nominating COUNTRY STRONG for any awards anytime soon (with the possible exception of Score); but this critically lambasted movie is nowhere near as bad as you might think from the mainstream reviews. Garrett Hedlund in Country Strong The critics are going to go to town on this movie…but I reallyContinue reading “Country Strong (review) proves Hedlund a rising star”

Primeval returns! Season 4 episode 4.1 – 4.3 (Updated)

BBC America last night aired the return of “Primeval” for Season 4 — and based on this episode, it’s a far better show than Season 3, which saw Connor and Abbie stranded in the Cretaceous Period, and many of the main characters dead. Remaining are Ben Miller, Ben Mansfield, Andrew Lee Potts, and Hannah Spearritt.Continue reading “Primeval returns! Season 4 episode 4.1 – 4.3 (Updated)”

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, musical, Broadway – review

When in the course of human events (like attending musicals), one sits in the theater waiting for the music to begin, then one begins to wonder how this skit-comedy with emo-rock snippets of song came to be labeled a “musical”…at any rate, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, despite generally rave reviews, has posted its closing noticeContinue reading “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, musical, Broadway – review”

“Women on the verge of a Nervous Breakdown”, Broadway musical, review

Wildly mixed reviews have done -in Women on the verge of a Nervous Breakdown, the musical, which closes on Broadway January 2nd. Boy, am I glad I had the chance to see it before it’s gone. Starring a virtual who’s who of Broadway veterans (Patti Lupone, Laura Benanti, Sherie Rene Scott, Danny Burnstein, Brian StokesContinue reading ““Women on the verge of a Nervous Breakdown”, Broadway musical, review”