Kristen Morale - Page 7

Jon Bon Jovi has been making the world that much more special with his music for more than thirty years, and the listening party on October 20th to promote his newest album proved that he isn't quite finished rocking it yet. As an introduction to the band's fourteenth album entitled This House is Not For Sale (to be released on November 4th), Bon Jovi chose the historic Barrymore Theater on West 47th Street in Midtown to play his album in its entirety to an intimate yet practically sold out house of fans both old and new. And as he said during the concert, to those who were either there for the entire journey or those who just joined the party, he gladly performs for all those who are willing to listen to what he has to say.

Did you ever wonder what would happen if the traditional Dracula story was made into something so perfectly absurd that it actually turns itself funny? If what is meant to be a frightening tale of the undead becomes a wacky, Barbie doll- infested, cross-dressing adventure that brings the quest to defeat the rather attractive Count Dracula to an entirely new level? Whereas the typically eerie feel of the Dracula tale will cause quite a few goose-bumps, Dracula for Dummys at the Provincetown Theater will bring on a major tingle of excitement because of how freakin' fun it is to be a part of this unique experience.

Vampires have become such an essential part of American culture, even if they are only fictional beings; from one of the first allusion to them in Polidori's The Vampyre to more modern takes on this age-old creature, it is amazing how vampires have become the talk of the town - the town being in movies, the written word and now, in this premiere on Cape Cod. DiVincenzo understands their importance, making reference to the Lugosi's famous film legacy. 'I feel like it's a timeless story. Dracula is an icon. I think it's an indelible mark that 1931 film made in our culture. What we're giving [audiences] now is a much younger approach to the Dracula story.'

Many of you may be familiar with The Woman in Black due to it being the second longest running play in London's West End (twenty-nine years strong), or perhaps you were pretty spooked by the 2012 film starring Daniel Radcliffe. However you were lured to see this production, Susan Hill's and Stephen Mallatratt's simple masterpiece of a true English horror story, one without gore or unnecessary violence, really makes for quite an intriguing production. Directed by Damian Baldet, who appeared in last season's Outside Mullingar, Cape Rep's The Woman in Black tests our mental reflexes as the battle between belief and disbelief ensues - as the senses are both heightened and chilled by the story surrounding this mysterious woman who haunts and kills, and who is scaring more than just the superstitious townspeople.

The Cape Cod Theatre Company, home of the Harwich Junior Theatre, is pleased to bring Ernest Thompson's beloved 1979 play On Golden Pond to its stage as the first show of its anticipated fall season. Thompson's play, which was made into the well-known 1981 movie starring Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn, will run as a CCTC main-stage production from September 16th thru October 9th, under the direction of Susan Kosoff.

Alabama Story, which recently opened at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, begins and ends with the simple, child-like need for the characters to both tell and beckon the audience to prepare for a story: a story that tells of the South but deals with much that is not southern in nature, a story that was not meant to turn into anything other than something with a happy ending. Alabama Story tells a story of people who have stories, make up stories, and never saw the proper end to their stories: all taking place in the turbulent years leading up to the 1960's.

When a play like Buyer and Cellar is written, a show about aspiring actor Alex Moore who finds himself employed by Barbra Streisand to work in her basement mall, you actually become grateful that someone not only thought of such an amusing idea, but also managed to almost effortlessly turn it into some sort of ingenious production. When you see a single actor take the audience so willingly through the ins and outs of the most interesting job anyone will ever have, you have a feeling the show will be great. You have this sort of "how come I didn't think of that" moment, followed by moments of wondering how such an idea can possibly make its way to the stage. Give up thinking about it because you're not going to actually see the brilliance of Buyer and Cellar until you see it brought to life by the Peregrine Theatre Ensemble.

With a small yet stellar cast directed by Pamela Hunt and finishing the Playhouse's 90th season as its final full length production of the summer, there is so much to love about this production of Christie's classic The Mousetrap. Honestly, if you don't enjoy it, you really aren't following the story close enough. From enigmatic characters, all whom are just about self-incriminatingly suspicious from the very start, to a plot that you will try your utmost to decipher while the facts are laid out bare before you, Hunt and her cast have truthfully really created quite the masterpiece with this production

Have you ever been high on what life is and all it throws at you - to become charged by the excitement and wonder of it all, followed by the mayhem, the confusion and the constant need to keep up with the bundles of mess that almost seem too perfectly destined to fall right in your lap? Have you ever dealt with the absurdly funny truth of a unrestrained drunkard of a Senate-hopeful gone missing on the day he is meant to win over the votes of all who believe he is the perfect man for the job? Probably not, which makes it all the funnier to watch how such a wacky plot, saturated with a conservatively (hah) witty sense of humor circling around an almost irresolvable bunch of problems, has now come to the Monomoy Theatre in the form of Johnny on a Spot.

The truth be told, I have neither read nor seen performed Shakespeare's King Lear, and was therefore as unfamiliar with the plot and its characters as basically anyone can possibly be; I suppose it wasn't mandatory reading when I went to school, for what reason I cannot possibly imagine. Although, I have always loved a good play or musical with traces of a tragic story at its core - a plot that is both trying on the actors and audience and therefore simply beautiful in how you are compelled to react to something with so much depth and significance. Having just seen King Lear at the Elements Theatre Company, not only was I introduced to a new theater in addition to a play I always wished to learn more about, but in such a way that created both a wonderful first impression of and precedent for this - nay, any - future Shakespearean production I plan to see. Even though this show is one of the more tragic ones you are ever bound to see, it really is a true king of a performance to behold.

The Last Five Years, starring Kevin Quill as Jamie (who also directs) and Broadway's Sarah Killough as Cathy, opened this past weekend at the Cape Cod Theatre Company (home of the Harwich Junior Theatre). With book, music and lyrics all written by Brown (The Bridges of Madison County, Parade), The Last Five Years was the winner of the 2002 Drama Desk Award and was also recently made into the film starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan. The musical chronicles the five-year relationship between Cathy, an aspiring actress and Jamie, a promising author, from meeting to breakup and from breakup to meeting in New York City.

This is the wonder of Kander and Ebb's masterpiece that is Cabaret, now brought to the Cape Playhouse in what can only be described, in the words of Fraulein Bowles, as 'perfectly marvelous,' although even that would be an understatement for such a show as this beautiful theater in the heart of Dennis Village now presents to a Cape Cod audience.

Only one dorm at the University of Hartford has a piano in basement. As freshmen at the Hartt School of Drama, Sarah Killough and Kevin Quill would cross paths to play it; fast-forward 10 years and they are sharing the same piano once again in a brand-new version of the hit musical The Last Five Years at Cape Cod Theatre Company.

With a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman and now directed by Scott Ripley, Cape Rep's production of Hairspray: The Broadway Musical has already imaginably caused quite the stir since its opening on Wednesday. This musical has a little bit of everything that creates a whole lot of joy that will have audiences dancing on their feet even after the show has ended. From the diverse styles (and sheer amount) of dance to an eclectic bunch of characters and costumes that would make any other production of this musical turn green with envy, to the unbelievable talent of the cast and crew and the show's happy ending such a controversial topic as race segregation can bring forth, others aside from myself will assuredly be find themselves wearing a constant smile on their faces throughout.

Arriving on the Monomoy stage under the direction of Alan Rust, The Fantasticks is the first production of this show I have seen, and I believe it to be the most utterly captivating production that has been on this theater's - rather any I have seen this summer - stage in quite some time. This is not only because of the rather basic but wonderful plot of a boy falling in love with a girl, being torn apart by no obstacles but themselves and then brought back together through what seems like an almost realized fate. It is not just because of the beautiful music provided by a very talented pianist and harpist - music which accompanies this story that teeters between our reality and fiction.

Premiering at the Cape Playhouse, The May Queen, written by Molly Smith Metzler and now directed by Amanda Charlton, comes to the stage and brings with it the sort of office lethargy that almost comes too close to the real thing. If you've ever worked in an office setting before, the moment David walks tiredly into the room you are already nodding your head in acknowledgement of the silent aggravation and gradual hopelessness the situation brings forth.

This, in addition to the almost absurd talent of the cast and crew that is Unexpected Joy, is why you should all take a visit to WHAT as soon as you possibly can to witness the world premiere of this beautiful show. In association with Jim Kierstead, with a book and lyrics by Bill Russell, music by Janet Hood and now under the direction of Lynne Taylor-Corbett, this one is truly a winner.

Right on the heels of A Chorus Line's final performance last weekend, Grease continues a wonderful summer season at the Playhouse by bringing youthful energy and pizazz to a show that is on almost everyone's list of favorite musicals. This production brings together a rather large cast whose energy and eagerness to present what they have all been working so hard on is evident in the characters they play in the midst of all the hullaballoo and teenage angst that Grease already is.

With a book by Terrence McNally, music and lyrics by David Yazbek and now under the direction of (and also featuring choreography by) Terry Norgeot, The Full Monty has arrived at the Provincetown Theatre, in association with Peregrine Theatre Ensemble. Based on the cult-hit film of the same name, this ten-time Tony-Award nominee is one of the most unconventionally 'real' musicals you are ever bound to say; it is a surprisingly dramatic story trapped in the body of a semi-comedic musical, and the songs are an added bonus in bringing both its characters and the audience away from real-life issues by the comedic way in which they are dealt with.

Never having seen this on stage but having read the novella some time ago, at the time acknowledging it as one of the most memorable stories I have ever read, seeing Steinbeck's words and emotions transposed on stage by the Monomoy Theatre, bringing to the life this simultaneously sad and touchingly hopeful plot by such talented individuals, really made the impact of Of Mice and Men that much stronger. In my opinion, it enhances this plot to the extent of it being particularly memorable for some time to come for all who are fortunate enough to see this production.