I only have time for a short review of A CHORUS LINE national tour 2018. Seen at yesterday’s matinee at the Fox Theatre, Detroit — the show is a faithful recreation of the staging and original choreography of the 1975 original Broadway production. It looks good. Sound was bad at the Fox. Dancing was terrificContinue reading “A Chorus Line National Tour 2018 (brief review, Fox Theatre Detroit)”
Category Archives: musical theater
Great Armstong, Johnson, and Kaminski in “Merrily We Roll Along” – Ringwald (review)
There’s a terrific cast romping its way across the (nearly bare) Ringwald stage in their current production of George Furth and Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along (based on the play by Kaufman and Hart). I write this review from the viewpoint of having previously directed a production of this musical myself. There’s notContinue reading “Great Armstong, Johnson, and Kaminski in “Merrily We Roll Along” – Ringwald (review)”
Great Balls of Fire! “Million Dollar Quartet” rocks the Encore (Review)
Million Dollar Quartet – Photo credit: Michele Anliker Based on an actual jam session at Sun Records in December of 1956 (the real recording is currently called The Complete Million Dollar Quartet, though it has had other names), this musical chronicles the impromptu session where Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Elvis PresleyContinue reading “Great Balls of Fire! “Million Dollar Quartet” rocks the Encore (Review)”
Smooth Sailing for the SS American — Anything Goes at Encore (Review)
(Photo courtesy Encore Musical Theatre Company, Michele Anliker photographer) The SS American has set sail at the Encore Musical Theatre Company and I predict nothing but smooth sailing ahead for this lovely production of Anything Goes. There isn’t a Christmas tree in sight, and it is still the brightest holiday musical in town this season.Continue reading “Smooth Sailing for the SS American — Anything Goes at Encore (Review)”
Once On This Island, Spongebob Squarepants, The Bands Visit (NYC – reviews)
This fall trip didn’t bring very many new musicals to sample — and the spring doesn’t look much better but the big blockbusters (Mean Girls, Frozen, and Harry Potter) arrive and I’ll be reviewing those at the end of March). For this trip there was the remarkable Once on this Island, the super-fun Spongebob, andContinue reading “Once On This Island, Spongebob Squarepants, The Bands Visit (NYC – reviews)”
Emotion-filled “Cabaret” at Ann Arbor Civic Theatre (review)
I’d normally start this review by telling you to go get tickets now for AACT’s “Cabaret” this weekend at the Arthur Miller Theatre, but since the run only has a handful of tickets left for Sunday afternoon, I’ll just start by saying that director Kat Walsh, choreographer Tyler Stickel, and Musical Director Jennifer Goltz haveContinue reading “Emotion-filled “Cabaret” at Ann Arbor Civic Theatre (review)”
“The Bodyguard, the Musical” is fun, entertaining, talent-filled (Review)
First, let me preface this by saying I’ve read many of the reviews for this musical. The original London and most international reviews have been terrific. The show, bypassing Broadway and doing a US tour, has not fared as well in the US reviews. Let me be a British reviewer. I loved this show whenContinue reading ““The Bodyguard, the Musical” is fun, entertaining, talent-filled (Review)”
“Love Never Dies” tour is glorious (Review)
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, is currently making its official US Tour debut in Detroit (it has already played upstate New York and Baltimore in previews, London, Australia, and other world cities) and it is a glorious affair, though your personal like will depend on your loveContinue reading ““Love Never Dies” tour is glorious (Review)”
Some great actors in tame “Rocky Horror” at Ringwald (Review)
The Rocky Horror Show arrived at the Ringwald Theatre in Ferndale last night, and there is some fun to be had, mostly by way of some terrific cast members. Suzan M Jacokes is a terrific Frank N Furter. In fact, you could say that this entire production belongs to her. Singing, dancing, acting, prancing, orContinue reading “Some great actors in tame “Rocky Horror” at Ringwald (Review)”
Fiendishly Marvelous “Sweeney Todd” at Encore Musical Theatre Company (Review)
Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” is back at the Encore Musical Theatre Company, and it has arrived with a vengeance. You better get your tickets right now before the word of mouth and rave reviews send sales soaring — as best they should for this superior production. Set in a 40’s London factory, Encore’s players “tell theContinue reading “Fiendishly Marvelous “Sweeney Todd” at Encore Musical Theatre Company (Review)”
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