Photo Coverage: Inside Short North Stage's FOLLIES TO FANTASTICKS: CELEBRATING 5 FABULOUS YEARS OF THEATER
by Jerri Shafer - Oct 9, 2016
Short North Stage's annual gala celebrated on October 7th, 2016 by starting with a cocktail hour where guests enjoyed a musical journey through the last five years of fabulous theatre with some of the favorite performers. Then the celebration continued on the main stage where they enjoyed an elegant three-course meal, catered by Carfagna's Kitchen, a Columbus favorite for the past 75 years. As an added pleasure, many of the performers joined each table on stage in costume and in character during the dinner. Throughout the evening they could bid on silent auction items with all kinds of great items to bid on including signed posters, a weekend getaway, and a couple of walk-on performances for shows in their upcoming season.
BWW Review: Columbus Children's Theatre Breathes a Fresh New Life Into CATS
by Christina Mancuso - May 15, 2016
When a small Ohio theatre company continues to produce stars such as Josh Radnor, Steven Boyer, AJ Shively, Jessica Grove and more, it's no coincidence that they are something truly special. Not surprisingly, then, Columbus Children's Theatre has once again raised the bar in their spring musical, CATS, with their innovative vision and talent, which is second to none.
Photo Coverage: Inside Imagine Productions' OVER THE TOP V: Imagine Goes To Hollywood
by Jerri Shafer - Nov 23, 2015
Imagine Productions' annual fundraiser has become one of the biggest and most fun events of each year. This year Imagine's favorites took on Hollywood, from the movie musical, to the beloved soundtrack song, to the guilty pleasures of animated movies. Performances were on Saturday October 21 & 22. Direct from Hollywood Imagine's own Tim Valentine flew in to Host the extravaganza with performances by Eryn Emery Hollobaugh, John Wade, Jessica Parker, Jacob Mangia, Corrine Buuck, Mikey Sowers, Brandon Boring, Greg Zunkiewicz, Esther Stinson, Tony Ingham, Paige Meade, George Bailey, Jordan Shear, Ed Eblin, Jackie Farbeann, Corey Notman, Michael Quinichett, Brian Horne, Ryan Stem, Alexa Rybinski, and Tim Valentine.
BWW Review: A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC Goes a Long Way
by Paul Batterson - Oct 17, 2015
One of the dangers of hearing a great Broadway melody by itself is it loses its context. Such is the case with SEND IN THE CLOWNS. Everyone has covered the song from Stephen Sondheim's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, from Judy Collins to Frank Sinatra to Krusty the Clown with the later one being my personal favorite.
Photo Coverage: Inside Imagine Production's LET'S DUET AGAIN!
by Jerri Shafer - Aug 11, 2015
On Sunday August 9th, Imagine Productions presented a cabaret called Let's Duet Again! Featuring a night of pop duets and musical theatre. Directed by Ryan Stem and co-hosted by Doug Joseph and Nick Hardin. With performances featuring Alex Almeida, Caleb Baker, Corinne Buuk, Ed Eblin, Cassie Gress, Nick Hardin, Chris Johnson, Doug Joseph, Sharon Kibe, Jesika Lehner, Tahrea Maynard-Johnson, Chase McCants, Michael Quinichett, Elena Reinert, Keith Robinson, Ryan Stem, Steve Stumphauzer, Rachel Verdi, and Abby Zeszotek.
BWW Reviews: Short North Stage's SONGS OF THE SEASON Pays Homage to Columbus' Christmas Traditions
by Amanda Etchison - Dec 12, 2014
From its founding in 1851 to its closing in 2005, Columbus' Lazarus Department Store brought the spirit of the holidays to Ohio's capital city with a multitude of festive traditions-from animated window displays to shimmering strings of lights and talking evergreen trees.
Now, almost a decade since the store closed its doors for the last time, the magic of Christmas at Lazarus comes alive once more in Short North Stage's second annual holiday production, "Songs of the Season."
BWW Reviews: SUNSET BOULEVARD Casts a Beautiful Shadow Over Short North Stage's Season Opener
by Paul Batterson - Oct 6, 2014
If 'Every Movie's a Circus,' as a song midway through the first act proclaims, the Short North Stage's season opening production of SUNSET BOULEVARD must be a very grand carnival. The theater group pulls out all the stops as far as color schemes and movie clips go but it is rock solid performances of stars Gina Handy and Chris Shea that brings the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical to life.
BWW Reviews: The Short North Stage Brings Pinball Wizard, TOMMY, to Local Stage
by Lisa Norris - Apr 11, 2014
I love the Short North Stage for several reasons. First, they have boldly devoted themselves to resuscitating the nearly flatlined Short North theater scene, saving an iconic historic theater in the process. Second, more often than not, they embrace the eccentric, edgy flavor that makes the Short North remarkable, rather than conforming to traditional theater fare. That's where "The Who's Tommy" gets it right- it is edgy, fierce, and at times, electric. The rock opera, which premiered in 1983 with lyrics and music by The Who's Pete Townshend is a virtually dialogue free story of a 4 year old boy who becomes essentially catatonic after witnessing his presumed dead father kill his mother's lover upon returning unexpectedly from WWII. Young Tommy (played by an adorably wide-eyed, but obviously inexperienced Christian Giannone) becomes an accidental sensation once he discovers his talent for pinball.
BWW Reviews: LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Anything But a Drag
by Paul Batterson - Feb 20, 2014
Having future in-laws meet can often be a pretty awkward experience, especially when the two sets of parents reside on opposite sides of the political fence. Few meetings could be more awkward than the ones in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, a two-act musical being presented by Imagine Productions at Wall Street Nightclub in downtown Columbus.
