Regional Roundup: Top 10 Stories This Week Around the Broadway World - 6/26; HAIRSPRAY at The Muny, THE FLICK in Orlando and More!

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in St. Louis, Orlando, Sacramento, and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include HAIRSPRAY at The Muny, THE FLICK in Orlando, and Transcendence Theatre's 'Broadway Under the Stars', just to name a few.

East/Northeast

1. Boston, MA: Editor Alex Lonati reviews DYING CITY at Happy Medium Theatre. He says, "This really was a theatrical experience unlike any I've had prior. It felt less like a stereotypical show and more like venturing into someone's private space and thoughts, which worked very well within the structure of the piece. I almost felt like I was witnessing a conversation I shouldn't be privy to, but somehow couldn't look away." Read more here.

2. Central PA: Senior Editor Marakay Rogers reviews THE ODD COUPLE at Ephrata. She says, "It's a show that relies on perfect casting more than anything else. Bob Checcia's Oscar Madison is so perfectly Oscar, so charmingly realized in his I'll-just-walk-on-the-furniture carelessness, that you can't help but root for peanut shells on the carpet and ashes in the drinks." Read more here.

Midwest

3. St. Louis, MO: So much Muny! Editor Chris Gibson says "HAIRSPRAY is a blast at The Muny!" He goes on, "Ryann Redmond sparkles as Tracy, and her sweet vocals are an excellent fit for songs like the opening number, "Good Morning Baltimore." Redmond provides a spunky and engaging presence throughout. John Battagliese also does fine work as her love interest, Link Larkin, projecting the necessary charisma that the part demands. Bryan Battis an absolute riot as Edna, Tracy's mother, and though the late Divine's shoes are not an easy pair of pumps to step into, Batt acquits himself quite well." Read his full review here. We also have an exclusive interview with Bryan Batt here, full photo coverage here, and a first look at highlights here. Stay tuned for more exclusives, including bloggers, interviews and more!

South/Southeast

4. Louisville, KY: Editor Robert Sisk says that "COLLABORACT Is Louisville Milestone." In his preview piece, he says, "COLLABORACT! is a massive musical theatre concert taking place in The Bomhard Theater of The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. The event will be hosted by Tom Dunbar and feature performances from Acting Against Cancer, Theatre [502], StageOne Family Theatre, CenterStage and Pandora Productions. As it showcases some of Louisville's favorite theatre companies all on one stage, it will truly be a milestone for the arts community." Read more here.

5. Orlando, FL: Senior Editor Matt Tamanini says that "THE FLICK is an Envelope-Pushing Must-See for All Serious Orlando Theatre Fans." He goes on, "The three phenomenal actors bring an incredible amount of subtlty and truth to characters that could be boringly flat. They discuss issues large and small, from institutionalized racism to the ethics of littering in a movie theatre. However, in doing so, their conversations are not framed in the rapid-fire stage-speak that we are used to hearing; instead, the audience is given the opportunity to experience the characters thinking and reacting as people normally would while chatting at work; slowly, disjointedly, and authenticly." Check out his full review here.

West

6. Salt Lake City, UT: Editor Tyler Hinton calls THE ILLUSIONISTS at the Capitol Theatre "mesmerizing." He goes on, "Some of the greatest magicians in the world have assembled in Salt Lake City to share their mystifying stunts and tricks in a show that is eclectic and mesmerizing.THE ILLUSIONISTS toured the great cities of the world before a record-breaking run on Broadway and its current national tour. It will also return to Broadway this fall." Read more here.

7. Sacramento, CA: Regional Managing Editor, Christina Mancuso reviews Transcendence Theatre Company's 'Broadway Under the Stars' at Jack London Historic Park in Glen Ellen, CA, as part of a full travel piece, including wine tastings, a hotel reivew and more. She says, "As the sun began to set, the stage lit up with pure, raw talent. With top notch performers from around the country, it's nearly impossible to pick out any standouts. However, avid theater goers will appreciate Broadway classics such as "Summertime" from PORGY & BESS (sang beautifully by Leslie McDonel), Danny Calvert & Company's rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" from CAROUSEL, a medley of FOUR SEASONS by Danny Calvert, Eric Jackson, Nicolas Dromard and Stephan Stubbins, Maggie Cansler's "Gimme Gimme" (THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLE), and a simply gorgeous duet between Courtney Markowitz and Maggie Cansler - "Someone Like You" (JEKYLL & HYDE), just to name a few." Read her full review here.

International

8. Toronto, Canada: Editor Lauren Glenow reviews SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER at Stratford Festival's Avon Theatre. She says, "As Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle, Joseph Ziegler and Lucy Peacock are charming and funny. Mr. Ziegler excels at portraying Mr. Hardcastle's utter confusion and frustration at Young Charles Marlow (Brad Hodder) and his apparent lack of respect for the father of his intended. Ms. Peacock is hilarious as a woman determined to find a wife for her son and in doing so, to keep some precious jewels in the family. Sara Farb is also very funny as Constance Neville, and Karack Osborn is absolutely hysterical as Tony Lumpkin, the disappointment of a son to the Hardcastles." Read more here.

9. Germany: Editor Iris Moebius previews the Germany Premiere of ZORRO at the Open Air Festival Tecklenburg. Read all about it here.

National Tour Highlight:

10. The National Tour of THE BOOK OF MORMON is playing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC through August 16. DC Senior Editor Jennifer Perry says, "The national tour offers some stellar casting and every actor is up to the task of bringing the satirical story to life. David Larsen's Elder Price is initially smarmy and supremely self-confident enough that his crumbling under pressure is just that much more believable.... Cody Jamison Strand nails every ounce of Elder Cunningham's character and gets all of the laughs he should. What I liked most about his take on the role is that he makes it his own and resists any temptation to tread into 'campy and cartoonish' acting territory, which would probably be quite easy to do." Read her full review here.

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