I was at a Whitney Houston tribute concert last night and a play broke out. That’s the headline I wanted to use back in 2017 when I reviewed the touring production of The Bodyguard The Musical at Wharton Center, but honestly, I forgot, so I’m using it today. Opening last night at the Croswell OperaContinue reading “THE BODYGUARD THE MUSICAL brings the songs…and the talent at Croswell Opera House”
Author Archives: ronannarbor
Encore Musical Theatre Company’s OKLAHOMA! is the finest production of this musical I’ve ever seen
One of the things you don’t expect when going to the theater to see an 80-year old musical comedy is that production to feel as fresh and new as a bright golden haze on an Oklahoma meadow. Yet that is what you get in Encore Musical Theatre Company’s Oklahoma! — the 1943 Rodgers and HammersteinContinue reading “Encore Musical Theatre Company’s OKLAHOMA! is the finest production of this musical I’ve ever seen”
Alt Rock meets Wonderland
Alice by Heart, which opened at The Dio last night, is a rare sort of musical. An Alt-Rock take on Alice in Wonderland by the “Spring Awakening” crew of Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater (Jessie Nelson is also an additional writer). It has a lovely score of ballads and more upbeat rock numbers,Continue reading “Alt Rock meets Wonderland”
Paper vs iPad vs RM2 – or combination?
Time to update my “current tech” opinions/recommendations. For the record, day to day, I use exclusively Apple products with the exception of my Remarkable 2 (more on that later). I have an iPhone 15 Pro Max, an iPad Pro 2023, an Apple Watch (which I never use, I don’t see the point); Apple HomePods inContinue reading “Paper vs iPad vs RM2 – or combination?”
Stunning “Dreamgirls” in Winter Garden
Some of us will recall one of the biggest musical theater battles in Tony award history. It was 1982. Those of us who had seen both shows on Broadway sat glued to the tv to see whether Michael Bennett’s electrifying Dreamgirls, or Tommy Tune’s bare-budget Nine would be the big winner that night. Dreamgirls seemedContinue reading “Stunning “Dreamgirls” in Winter Garden”
42nd Street at Encore is Grand, Grand, Grand
Have you ever left the theater so in awe of what you just watched that you wish the box office was still open so that you can get tickets to return? That was my reaction as I left 42nd Street at Encore Musical Theatre Company. My second thought was, how did they fit that giantContinue reading “42nd Street at Encore is Grand, Grand, Grand”
Dreamy, stellar Once on This Island at Encore (Review)
Photo Credit: Michele Anliker There is a stellar production of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, the Ahrens and Flaherty musical, currently being presented by Encore Musical Theatre Company and I urge you to get tickets now for this limited run production, You won’t see a better production of it anywhere – in fact, it is BroadwayContinue reading “Dreamy, stellar Once on This Island at Encore (Review)”
The Violet Hour at The Dio – a night out with a high thinking factor. (Review)
One of the things that I like best about reviewing a show is when a theater takes a risk with the material. You might like it, you might hate it, you might not get it. But it is something new and it is something worthwhile. The Dio is currently producing such a play — TheContinue reading “The Violet Hour at The Dio – a night out with a high thinking factor. (Review)”
Charming “A Christmas Story the Musical” at Encore (Review)
The Encore Musical Theatre Company wishes you a Merry Christmas by way of their wonderful production of “A Christmas Story the musical”, based on the movie, with book by Joseph Robinette and Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Everything in this production just clicks and even brings a tear to your eyeContinue reading “Charming “A Christmas Story the Musical” at Encore (Review)”
Lovely Little Women, The Dio, Review
Back in 2005, Sutton Foster created a stirring Jo March in the short lived Broadway musical Little Women, written by Allan Knee, Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, and Music by Jason Howland. The audience was faced with a beautiful act curtain upon entering, with handwritten pages of Jo’s “Little Women” book, and I was entranced byContinue reading “Lovely Little Women, The Dio, Review”
Mostly Musical Theatre 