BWW Review: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN: THE MUSICAL at Walnut Street TheatreSeptember 13, 2019The Walnut Street Theatre opens its 211th season (no typo) with an uproarious YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. This venerable theatre has seen the likes of all the Barrymores, Katherine Hepburn and Edwin Booth, to name a few. (Although his brother's legacy probably tanked his career).
BWW Previews: THE PLAYHOUSE SEASON at The Playhouse On Rodney Sq.August 7, 2019The Playhouse on Rodney Square announces its 2019-2020 season: BEAUTIFUL a?' The Carole King Musical, THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG, THE COLOR PURPLE, and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. In addition, the schedule includes three limited, return engagements of RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER a?' THE MUSICAL, THE ILLUSIONISTS: MAGIC OF THE HOLIDAYS, and JERSEY BOYS.
BWW Review: SOUTH PACIFIC at Candlelight TheatreJuly 19, 2019Such a serendipitous time to stage SOUTH PACIFIC at Candlelight; 1949 legendary musical theatre consciously plotted to speak to racial animosity; brown skins vs white skins. And now, 78 years later, we reside in a country riven by a racist president.
BWW Previews: GRAND OPERA SEASON at Grand Opera HouseJune 10, 2019The Grand Management went in a divergent (albeit more creative and all encompassing path) to preview their entire 2019-2020 season. Last Wednesday they invited the public to Copeland Hall to present tapas-style tidbits of The Grand, The Playhouse, First State Ballet, DE Symphony, Opera Delaware, The Rock Orchestra and City-Theatre; all resident performers at our esteemed Performing Arts Center of Delaware at 818 Market St. and elsewhere.
BWW Review: LEND ME A TENOR at Candlelight TheatreMay 16, 2019I understand why actors have a passive-aggressive relationship with critics. Over 30+ years of reviewing regional theatre, some don't make eye contact with me when they feel I have slighted or criticized them unfairly in a previous review…or worse yet…never mentioned them!
BWW Review: FENCES at UD Rep EnsembleMay 6, 2019Bono, friend to Troy the protagonist in UD Rep Ensemble's FENCES, comments 'Some people build fences to keep people out, some people build fences to keep people in'.
BWW Review: MAURITIUS at UD Rep EnsembleApril 29, 2019While UD Rep Ensemble's general modus operandi is classic plays from the likes of Moliere, Shakespeare and Thornton Wilder, their mission statement includes production of contemporary classics as well. Artistic Director Sandy Robbins is smitten by Theresa Rebeck, a prolific and award-winning American playwright, novelist and television writer.
BWW Review: HONK! at Delaware Theatre CompanyApril 22, 2019HONK! Is a musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Anderson story of "The Ugly Duckling". It embodies a message of tolerance and bullying…and as Director Bud Martin suggests in his program notes…'the discourse in our country today is full of bullying, name-calling, racism and anti-immigration". (Provoked by our Narcissist in Chief. My words, not Martin's).
BWW Previews: SOMETHING ROTTEN at The PlayhouseFebruary 25, 2019SOMETHING ROTTEN, a musical that national reviewers have exuberantly called 'the funniest show on Broadway", brings its national tour to The Playhouse March 7-10. If your stomach hurt over the antics in THE PRODUCERS, BOOK OF MORMON or SPAMALOT and the much-missed FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, well, gird your loins! This show is for you.
BWW Review: GUYS AND DOLLS at Candlelight TheatreFebruary 5, 2019GUYS AND DOLLS, at Candlelight through February 24, opened on Broadway in 1950 and is front and center in the pantheon of American musical theatre. I had forgotten how much I treasure this show.
BWW Previews: FINDING NEVERLAND at The PlayhouseFebruary 1, 2019The timing could not be more perfect to see a production that inspires the soul and uplifts the heart. FINDING NEVERLAND comes to The Playhouse February 7-10. As a country we are numbed by all the divisiveness and rancor. This magical creation will salve the vitriol and hate, if only for a few hours.
BWW Previews: JUDY GARLAND 'WORLD'S GREATEST ENTERTAINER' at The Baby GrandJanuary 14, 2019The NEW book musical, JUDY GARLAND 'World's Greatest Entertainer' opens at the baby grand in Wilmington on March 22 - March 30 for 6 performances.
Written by Delaware native Playwright Greer Firestone, the show takes place in 1961, 2 weeks after Judy's legendary concert at Carnegie Hall which critics termed 'the greatest night in show business history'. This ORIGINAL musical has aspirations past the baby grand. National producers will be invited.