Joseph Harrison - Page 13

One of the biggest thrills I get as a theatre reviewer is to experience a show that I love in a new light, and to discover things about it that I never noticed before, no matter how many times I may have seen it. This was my experience viewing the first production in Playhouse on Park's eighth season, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.

Musicals have an amazing way of transporting an audience to exciting, sometimes magical places. You might find yourself in the middle of a romantic kingdom, on the rooftops of turn-of-the-century London, or in the catacombs of a French opera house. But when the lights come up on the latest show at the Broad Brook Opera House, audiences find they have been transported to a place that is, well, a little less magical - the Armadillo Acres Trailer Park in Starke, Florida.

When David Greig and Gordon McIntyre's MIDSUMMER (A PLAY WITH SONGS) begins, and Helena (Rebecca Hart) and Bob (M. Scott McLean) enter the stage each with a guitar in their hands, the audience gets an immediate sense for what they are in for - a quirky, funny, frantic, beautiful, and somewhat unlikely love story told through scene and song.

"Oh, the Thinks you can Think, when you think about Seuss!" These are some of the first lyrics heard in the Warner Stage Company's current production of SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL. And boy, what thinks have been brought to life on the stage in this fresh, fun, and family friendly musical at the Warner Theatre in Torrington.

Do you ever wonder what your life would have been like if you had made different choices? Would you have a different job? A different love? Would your life have been better, or maybe worse? In the first show of Hartford's 2016-2017 Bushnell Broadway Series, IF/THEN, one woman finds herself at the intersection of choice and chance, and takes audiences on a journey guided by the whims of fate. Playing, Elizabeth, the woman whose life splits into parallel paths due to one fateful choice, is Jackie Burns, a Connecticut native who is returning to her home state to bring this contemporary musical to the Bushnell stage. I caught up with Jackie to talk about the show and hear how it feels to return home with IF/THEN.

When looking for memorable images from America in the late 50's/early 60's, you are bound to find some old standards. Mom in the kitchen baking, Dad returning home from a long day at the office, children playing with their Slinky/Mr. Potato Head while drinking Tang, or the iconic footage of man walking on the moon for the first time. These images immediately place you firmly in an era where tradition crashed headlong into a world of new sights and sounds. And it is these images that brilliantly set the stage (and the mood) during the overture for Goodspeed Musicals' new production of the classic Adams/Strouse/Stewart musical, BYE BYE BIRDIE; and they signal the nostalgic, yet amazingly fresh romp the audience will experience for the next two hours.

There's a reason A CHORUS LINE, the hit musical about seventeen dancers auditioning for a Broadway show played for 6,137 performances in its original run. Audiences simply connected with these people and their experiences - with the universal feeling of wanting something so bad you can taste it, and with the fascination of seeing the blood, sweat and tears that go into casting a production. This connection, this fascination and this joy is absolutely apparent on the Playhouse on Park stage in their season 7 closing production of A CHORUS LINE.

Some musicals make you think, some make you cry, while others just give you a permanent smile on your face for the duration of the show. The latter was the state of this reviewer as we set sail on the S.S. American for a rollicking "Bon Voyage" in Goodspeed Musicals' opening show of the 2016 season, ANYTHING GOES. This production is truly "De-Lovely" and lives up to the standard and quality that audiences are used to experiencing in the intimate, beautiful setting that is the Goodspeed Opera House.

If you ask the average theater-goer their opinion of Shakespeare, you are bound to get a variety of answers. Some will immediately begin gushing about which of the bard's plays they have seen, which they like the best, or which they don't care for. Others will pretend to be fans, but make excuses anytime they are invited to one of his plays. But some will just say outright, 'I hate Shakespeare', or in the case of Andrew Rally the television star who finds himself in the middle of a surreal, and altogether paranormal situation, 'I Hate Hamlet!' That, however, is soon to change.

When considering musical theatre, one often immediately thinks of the classics - those shows that tell an age old story with soaring and lyrical songs peppered with engaging dance numbers and beautiful costumes. Those plays certainly have their place in the world, but in the past decade or so, a new genre of musical has come into the mix - the jukebox musical, a genre that takes pre-existing music, usually from popular bands, and creates a theatrical plot around them. While some theater purists might look down on this style of show, all one has to do is look around the audience at the Warner Theatre in Torrington, CT to know that jukebox musicals are alive and well.

How does one find "the real"? That is the question that "Youth" the protagonist in PASSING STRANGE asks himself as he takes the audience along on his long journey of self-discovery. In this the second production of their seventh season, Playhouse on Park in West Hartford has taken a chance on a lesser known piece - one that, while it did receive critical acclaim in its original New York production, is not necessarily a household name, even among theater aficionados. But sometimes, a lack of previous knowledge or a following can be just the key to creating a new and fresh experience as an audience. And this reviewer certainly experienced something unique and brilliant, and dare I say "real" on the Playhouse stage.

It's always a thrill to make your first visit to see a new theatre company. A lack of context creates a blank slate with limitless possibilities. That was my experience when I attend my first production by the Opera House Players at the lovely Broad Brook Opera House in Broad Brook, CT. Situated a bit off the beaten path, it is not the type of place you would simply stumble upon, but upon arrival I could immediately tell this place was certainly something special to the community. This feeling was further validated by the faithful theater-goers in attendance on opening night of The Opera House Players' current production of MAN OF LA MANCHA. The first thing I noticed was the excitement in the air from the audience. The packed house (which, by the way, is always a good sign, especially on opening night) was abuzz in anticipation of the show. The theater itself is set on the top floor of the former Broad Brook Woolen Company building which was built in 1892. With a long history of being a gathering place for the town, the theater obviously holds a special place in people's hearts.

It's a tricky thing when a popular film is adapted for the musical stage. Sometimes it works and sometimes it simply falls flat. For A WONDERFUL LIFE, presented by Goodspeed Musicals, it falls somewhere in-between. To be fair, It's A Wonderful Life is not just a "popular film", it's practically an American institution, so the audience for A WONDERFUL LIFE, the musical adaptation by Sheldon Harnick (Book and Lyrics) and Joe Raposo (Music) most likely come to the show with a very clear expectation of what they will see. They expect encounters with George Bailey as he sacrifices his own dreams for those of his family and neighbors, the harrowing scene where, despondent, he decides to take his own life, Clarence the guardian angel, the truly detestable Mr. Potter, a lovely Mary, some fun "Hee Haw"s with Sam Wainwright, and let's not forget Zuzu's petals.

When NEWSIES takes the stage at the Bushnell on Tuesday, October 13, Hartford audiences will have the rare opportunity to be the first to see six new principals perform in this smash hit musical. This high energy, youthful show relies heavily on its dancing to tell the timeless story of the underdogs standing up for what they believe in. So, I thought it fitting that I was able to chat with Andrew Wilson, NEWSIES Dance Captain and to hear about life on the road, some touching stories of devoted 'Fansies' and how it feels 'Carrying the Banner' all over the country in this feel good, family friendly production.

At the beginning of the premiere production of Playhouse on Park's seventh season, TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, we learn that we are present for the last class taught by Morrie Schwartz, and that Mitch Albom, the author of the book on which the play is based, will be the sole student. But seated in the audience, I felt that wasn't exactly true. I too, was a student of Morrie's, learning along with Mitch, the life lessons that he conveyed in such a straightforward and loving way.

Spring has sprung and whether it means April showers or May flowers, one thing is certain - opportunities abound for some great theatre in Atlanta. In this, our first spring preview story we aim to highlight some of the most anticipated shows this season. From regional premiere musicals to emotional drama, there is certainly plenty to choose from for Atlanta theatre fans of all ages! Check out just a few of the great productions playing the Atlanta area this spring!

There are certain stories that when they are mentioned bring a sparkle to both the young and the young at heart. One of those, I believe, is the timeless P.L. Travers classic, Mary Poppins. Whether you are talking about the original book, the classic Disney movie or the new theatrical production, Mary Poppins has truly lived up to her reputation - "practically perfect in every way." Carrying the baton, or rather, the parrot-handled umbrella when the show returns to Atlanta is Maddy Trumble and I had the pleasure of chatting with her and learning about her experience with the show. Here's a hint, it can be summed up in one word - supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta will welcome the Tony Award Winning Broadway musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET as part of the 2012/2013 season, playing at the Fox Theatre from tonight, March 12-17, 2013.

Atlanta families will want to make a beeline for the upcoming production of The Adventures of Mighty Bug at Center for Puppetry Arts. From today, January 31 - March 17, the Center takes audiences on a trip to Bugville, a jumpin' little insect community that swings to the Bugville Boogie and the sweet sounds of WBUG Radio star Morpha Butterfly. Watching over the ants, fleas, crickets, water spiders, beetles and bees is the one and only Mighty Bug, a superhero with super strength, smelling, hearing and flying abilities. But the evil arachnid, Scorpiana, also has her eye on Bugville, and she has assembled a group to attack the crawling city. Filled with plenty of insect trivia and facts, this comic book style adventure story will give audiences the chance to be a fly on the wall as good battles evil and the future of Bugville hangs on the line.

THE PRODUCERS, the winningest musical in Broadway history, returns to Atlanta after an 8 year absence playing the Fox Theatre tonight, January 25 - 31.