Regional Roundup: Top 10 Stories This Week Around the Broadway World - 3/18; 'Chilling' THE PILLOWMAN in Maine, LUNA GALE at CPH and More!

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature the top 10 stories in Norfolk, Cleveland, Austin and more. Check out featured list, which includes a "chilling" THE PILLOWMAN in Maine, LUNA GALE at Cleveland Play House, and TARZAN at Georgetown Palace Theater, just to name a few.

East/Northeast

1. Maine: Editor Carla Maria Verdino-Sullwold reviews City Theater's NEXT TO NORMAL. She says, "Rebecca Rinaldi captures all the mercurial mood swings of the tormented bi-polar housewife, Diana Goodman, and she sings the difficult music powerfully and expressively, her full-throated voice rich in color and textual nuance. Brian McAloon incarnates all the pent-up frustrations and repressed fears of her husband Dan with a moving kinetic energy; his consciously quiet, calm steadfast demeanor consistently betrayed by his inadvertently fluttering hands, and he, too, gives the music a strong vocal presence." Read more here.

2. Washington, DC: Editor Benjamin reviews a "chilling" THE PILLOWMAN at Forum Theatre. He says, "What keeps us intrigued are some solid performances led by Ebrahimzadeh, who anchors the production. He gives a wonderfully nuanced performance as Katurian, effortlessly channeling the character's various layers. There's the passionate storyteller, devoted brother and street-smart prisoner all of which we see in his relationships with each of the other characters." Read more here.

3. Norfolk, VA: New Editor Emel Ertugrul reviews GROUNDED at Virginia Stage Company. He says, "This is masterfully produced storytelling. This is not one person portraying a cavalcade of characters that seriously makes you long for other actors to appear. You don't need anyone else. She is beyond and will not leave you wanting. Her story unfolds with a wonderfully jarring soundscape provided by Daniel Perelstein that brings you deeper into her head space and psychological dilemma." Read more here.

Midwest

4. Cleveland, OH: Editor Roy Berko reviews LUNA GALE at Cleveland Play House. He says, "Rebecca Gilman has crafted a well-written play, made of real conversations, plausible conflicts, some emotional-inducing plot twists, and a "hopeful" ending that challenges credibility, a kind of feel good ending that is probably more to
let the audience go home happy than dealing with statistical realities." Read more here.

South/Southeast

5. Austin, TX: Editor Amy Bradley reviews TARZAN at Georgetown Palace Theater. She says, "Ruth exemplifies qualities of a seasoned acting professional, impressively handling the staging and technical aspects of the show with ease. Coordinating through complicated gags involving a giant spider web and swinging with Tarzan himself, her control and humor do well to steal the show." Read more here.

6. St. Petersburg, FL: Editor Peter Nason reviews Eight O'Clock Theatre's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. He says, "I have seen several productions of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, and there were so many creative gems, directorial twists and turns, in the EOT production at the Largo Cultural Center that I sat there in awe. It is a tour de force of imagination. Every aspect works together beautifully, and the cast, leads and chorus alike, rise to the occasion." Read more here.

West Coast

7. Phoenix, AZ: Editor Herbert Paine reviews Arizona Broadway Theatre's FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. He says, "Arizona Broadway Theatre has honored the legend by mounting an utterly captivating and inspired production, featuring Jason E. Simon's virtuoso turn and beautifully nuanced performance as Tevye. Simon's Tevye is an unvarnished Everyman, bewildered by one challenge after another to his (and God's) dictates and to tradition, yet overcome by reason and kindness to accommodate all but one of his daughters' appeals." Read more here.

8. Seattle, WA: Editor Jay Irwin reviews PARADE from Sound Theatre Company. He says, "Brian Lange turns in an awesome performance as the District Attorney doing the majority of the railroading. Justin Carrell makes his devout Tom Watson quite terrifying in his beliefs. Jordan Jackson and Ann Cornelius manage some wonderful scenes as the Governor and his wife and Cornelius pulls in some heartbreaking double duty as the victim's Mother especially with her stirring "My Child Will Forgive Me"." Read more here.

International

9. Montreal, Canada: Editor Noelle Hannibal previews Montreal-based storyteller and choreographer, Stéphanie Morin-Robert's one-woman show, BLINDSIDE at Montreal's Theatre Ste-Catherine. Morin-Robert's says, "I am very excited to bring Blindside back to Montreal," says Morin-Robert. "This city has such a vibrant artistic community whose support has been vital to development of this piece." Read more here.

National Tour Highlight:

10. Birmingham editor Marietta Lunceford reviews MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET at the BJCC Concert Hall. She says, "With outstanding musicians portraying the legendary quartet and a couple of extra characters to help tell the story, each member of this ensemble held their own. Jason Cohen as Jerry Lee Lewis kept the pace quick and made for the funnier moments in the show." Read more here.

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