Regional Roundup: Top 10 Stories This Week Around the Broadway World - 3/20; New Jersey, St. Louis, LA, Sydney & More!

By: Mar. 20, 2015
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BroadwayWorld.com, the largest theatre site on the net, now reaches over five million monthly viewers, covering theatre and beyond in over 100 U.S. cities and 30 international regions.

Below, we've highlighted our top 10 stories from this week around our Broadway World. Check out the roundup below!

East Coast

THE COLORED MUSEUM

1. Boston: Editor Jan Nargi reviews THE COLORED MUSEUM, now playing at the Huntington Theatre Company through April 5. She calls it "... a daringly smart comedy that feels both timeless and contemporary. Wolfe and Porter call it a celebration and an exorcism. I call it potent and delightful." Read her full review here.

2. New Jersey: Senior Editor, Marina Kennedy, reviews THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, playing at the Paper Mill Playhouse. She says, "Bravo to Director, Scott Schwartz for his exquisite artful touches that make the show a true extravaganza. Chase Brock's lively choreographies are an ideal complement to the production. And with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Peter Parnell, the Millburn production is inimitable. See it soon, and see it again. It's that fantastic." Read the full review here. What did other critics think of it? Read our full and updated Review Roundup here.

Midwest

3. Columbus, OH: Photographer, Jerri Shafer, captured the hottest local theatre event of the year with her stunning photography. Hosted by Jeb Bigelow, the 2015 JEBBYS recognized and celebrated some of Columbus's most talented actors and creatives. Check out her photo coverage of the event here.

AFFLICTED

4. St. Louis, MO: Editor Chris Gibson called Metro Theater Company's AFFLICTED: DAUGHTERS OF SALEM "outstanding." In his review, he says, "Julia Flood directs this piece with an intensity that really enhances its power and significance. David Blake's set design is very evocatively conceived, with gnarled, twisted limbs surrounding the clearing where the girls meet." Read more here.

South Atlantic

5. South Carolina: New editor, Haydn Haring reviewed BLOOD AND GIFTS at Woolfe Street Playhouse. She says, "A violently charged drama, the story takes place during the conflict over Afghanistan in the 1980's, involving the US, Great Britain, Soviet Russia, Pakistan and Iran. Seeing a story of such political relevance acted out live, offered a truly chilling experience, like seeing events on the news happening in real time." Read more here.

6. Orlando, FL: Editor Kimberly Moy delves into Shakespeare by interviewing John P. Keller as HENRY V at Orlando Shakes. On preparing for HENRY V, Keller says, "Honestly one of the most fun things to compare this play to is Game of Thrones. While this play is about actual historical events much of that history is not exactly playable as an actor. However watching really great fantasy and medieval adventure epics was a fun way to get into the action of the play." Read the full interview here.

West Coast:

7. Thousand Oaks, CA: New editor, Cary Ginell reports on JACK LEMMON RETURNS, playing at the Rubicon Theatre Company through March 29. He says, "Expanding upon material found in his 2008 biography, A Twist of Lemmon: A Tribute to My Father, Chris Lemmon has created a revealing, funny, and poignant stage play in which he doesn't just portray his famous acting father, who died in 2001 at the age of 76, he "becomes" him." Read more here.

CARRIE THE MUSICAL

8. Los Angeles, CA: Senior Editor, Don Grigware reviews newly imagined CARRIE THE MUSICAL at La Mirada, playing through April 5. He calls it "impressive" and goes on, "Even though this experience is hightened by the set and staging, let's not forget the actors who are nothing short of amazing. Lopez makes a wonderfully smart Carrie, never overplaying, but coming to terms with herself and others in a completely natural manner. Cotton offers a truly remarkable portrait of Margaret who really loves her daughter but clings to the bible to dictate her every move." Read more here. Want to see more of this amazing production? Check out our photo coverage here.

Australia

8. Sydney: Senior Editor, Jade Kops reviews WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING at New Theatre, Newtown NSW. She says, "This is a complex story that is presented in a manner that keeps the audience thinking as the connections start forming and the impact the past can have on the future becomes evident. There are moments of joy and humor and also sadness and shock that helps draw the viewer in to want to understand and empathize with the characters." Read her full review here.

Canada

9. Toronto: New Editor, Jason Carlos, reviews BULL at the Coal Mine Theatre. He says, "This refreshing, ambitious and unique experience at the Coal Mine is the true beauty of independent theatre. The audience is able to feel connected and involved throughout the play through its intimate setting and staging." Read more here.

National Tour Highlight:

10. KINKY BOOTS stomped through Charlotte at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, March 17-22. Charlotte editor, Vickie Evans gives it a sensational review, calling it "Sparkling! Spectacular! Superb! Sensational! Glitzy! Awesome! Thought-Provoking! Entertaining! I would run out of positive adjectives to describe the best musical I've seen in a long time, Kinky Boots." Read her full review here.

This week, we would like to welcome Jason Carlos as a new editor in Toronto, Lindsey Grutchfield in Vermont, Nicole Kirk who will be reporting on student, dance and opera productions in Boston, Cary Ginell in Thousand Oaks, Khrystian Cunningham as a guest blogger in Houston, and Erickson De La Cruz in the Philippines.

Want to join our growing team? We have positions available in several regions worldwide! Contact christina@broadwayworld.com for more information!



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