Review: Tension and Tuberculosis Highlight Glorious ‘La Traviata’
You can never say that Opera Theatre of St. Louis is short on ambition. As the company launches it 43rd season it once again brings its proclivity of showcasing both emerging artists and major stars for a dazzling season highlighted by their 27th world premiere and presenting a vibrant reboot of Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata, […]
Theatre Review: ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ Plays Tennessee Williams Festival Through May 19
Widely considered to be the author’s best work, “A Streetcar Named Desire” kicked off the 3rd Annual Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis at The Grandel Theater last Thursday night. The dynamic, age-appropriate cast brings director Tim Ocel’s faithful production of Streetcar to life with intensity and passion. Exploring the human condition at its finest, the […]
Theatre Review: ‘Hamilton’ at the Fabulous Fox in St. Louis (April 3 – 22)
My first exposure to Hamilton – or at least what would eventually become the phenomenon – was in 2009, when Lin-Manuel Miranda performed at the White House Poetry Jam. At the time, Miranda was working on a hip-hop concept album called The Hamilton Mixtape, inspired by the biography Ron Chernow wrote in 2004. I was completely blown away […]
Theatre Review: ‘The Color Purple’ Puts Focus On Performances at Fox (3/20-4/1)
The Color Purple is a story which has touched countless readers, filmgoers, and theatre patrons since since 1983. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, the show won the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival in 2016. Audiences have the chance to see this new production during the national tour, making The Fabulous Fox […]
Theatre Review: ‘Born Yesterday’ Ends Rep’s 51st Season With Smarts & Laughs
It’s amazing how a work of art can seem just as relevant today as it did when it was created decades ago. Although it can seem a bit unsettling when it has to do with our country, and our lives, it is impressive how such a smart piece of work can stand the test of […]
Theatre Review: ‘A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder’ Closes Broadway Series at Peabody Opera House
Based on the 1907 novel, “Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal” (which was also the basis for the highly regarded Alex Guinness film, Kind Hearts and Coronets, from 1949), A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder is one of the most entertaining shows to hit Broadway in the past decade. The story of – […]
Theatre Review: “Anything Goes” at New Line Theatre (March 1-24)
Anything Goes is a musical packed full of terrific songs and memorable moments. The music and lyrics are by Cole Porter, while Howard Linday and Russel Crouse (The Sound of Music) are responsible for re-writing the book by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse. There are four versions written for the stage: 1934, 1962, 1987, and […]
Theatre Review: CHICAGO “Razzle-Dazzles” The Fabulous Fox (March 2-4)
Chicago premiered on Broadway in 1975, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb – the duo behind Cabaret. The musical is an adaptation of a 1926 play of the same name, based on actual events surrounding two women accused of murder. The alleged femme fatales would become the basis for Roxy Hart and Velma […]
Review: ‘School of Rock’ Musical Lives Up To Its Name at Fabulous Fox
It has been several years since I’ve seen the 2003 comedy School of Rock, directed by Richard Linklater and starring Jack Black. But I do remember the film being quite funny, and how entertaining it was seeing Black’s character teaching a bunch of private school kids how to rock. So I expected a fun show […]
Theatre Review: THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES at The Rep (Through Jan. 28)
Written and created by Roger Bean Directed and choreographed by Melissa Rain Anderson If I could travel back in time for music, the ’50s and ’60s would be high on my list of destinations. Experiencing artists like The McGuire Sisters (“Sugartime,” “Sincerely,” “Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight”), The Chordettes (“Lollipop,” “Mr. Sandman”), and Connie Francis (“Stupid Cupid” & “Lipstick on […]