Broadway Show Reviews & Critics' Ratings - Page 2

Captivating, heartwarming, colorful, imaginative and down-right magical, Nashville Children’s Theatre’s world premiere production – it’s 19th in the past few years since executive artistic director Ernie Nolan’s arrival – of the theatre for young audiences version of Disney-Pixar’s Finding Nemo is just the latest theatrical hit from the venerable Nashville institution.

When people think of works of art that have vastly outlived their creator, especially as it relates to literature, there is no bigger name than William Shakespeare. His mark on history has proven to have an impact that will live on in perpetuity.

So, did the Rep’s “Fat Ham” crush my soul? Absolutely not and I must entreat anyone reading this, DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW!!!

It’s the painting Girl with a Flute, long attributed to Vermeer, that adorns the program cover of the Washington Stage Guild’s world premiere production of “An Unbuilt Life.” 

The stage production of the beloved classic family musical, 'The Sound of Music,' based on the 1949 memoir of Maria von Trapp, premiered on Broadway in 1959 and went on to win five Tony Awards.

As any fan of this art form will tell you, the first rule of cabaret shows is: never sit in the front row. The second rule is: never tell cabaret virgins the first rule.

Joshie says respect your parents, follow your dreams, and take your kids to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Musical at First Stage. Directed by Julie Woods-Robinson with musical direction by Paula Tillen, this spunky show runs through May 5th in Milwaukee and is a great one for young kids.

BIG FISH is a Broadway Musical  adapted from Tim Burton’s 2003 film of the same title, and is the story of a man named Edward Bloom who aspired to do “great things” and be the hero of his own life story. He tries to relate that sense of adventure and aspiration in his son and all the people around him by telling tall tales.

A mixed bag of productions united by wonderful acting and committed writing

I am unsure if I know of any other music diva who needs three different actresses to play her, but Cher seems to have required that. We have not one, not two, but three Chers in this show. And do they trot on, do their part of life, and leave? Heck no! They all talk to each other, advise each other, and sing together all night long. It’s like the three musketCHERs or something!

THE ZIEGFELD GIRLS REVUE, on April 13th at the Green Room 42, puts a lot on view: Female pulchritude, nearly nude, with attitude.

C.S. Lewis said that friendship is, like philosophy and art, unnecessary. “It has no survival value”, yet, “it is one of those things which give value to survival.” Lady loves Gemma. They’ve been best friends forever, but haven’t seen each other in six months. On Gemma’s birthday, Lady shows up at the party. Nkenna Akunna takes us on a disastrous night out. It feels like the pair should dissect the demise of their friendship, but they never do.

May Contain Food May Contain You, devised and performed by Sonya Cullingford and Simon Palmer, is Protein’s “scaled-down rural touring version” of May Contain Food, which was originally devised and performed by Cullingford, Carl Harrison, Matthew Winston and Rachele Rapisardi.

“When are we old? How can experience and embodied knowledge be brought into creative play? And what is the role of dance in questioning the idealisation of youth in our culture?”

Aesthetically malnourished, London Tide lacks the lustrous life blood that so warmly floods through the veins of Dickens’s literary world.

Last seen in London nearly a decade ago, Ushers, the show putting the front of house staff upon the stage is back. A musical with its tongue set firmly in its cheek, this is a fun and frothy production with some very strong and vibrant performances.

America’s most endearing, optimistic orphan is back in Sacramento and she has a powerful posse of bunkmates backing her up. Almost fifty years after her debut, Annie is as relevant as ever and still stealing hearts with her smarts and sass. After taking home seven Tony Awards in 1977, the show went on to numerous adaptations, including the memorable 1982 film.

We are halfway through Portland’s 2024 Fertile Ground Festival of New Works, and every show I’ve seen so far has reminded me why this is my favorite 11 days of the year.

An exploration of what constitutes the writer’s role and ownership of material, issues of representation in the arts, racial politics and the messiness of friendship and caring are all threshed out in Inda Craig -Galván’s play A Jumping-Off Point. Now being presented at the Round House Theatre, this 90-minute play is provocative, topical, and moves briskly. The various issues it explores, however, cannot be fully explored too well in a play that tries to be too many things at once.

Fresh on the heels of Revolution Stage Company’s sold out and extended Avenue Q earlier this year, comes The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee, and it is just as much, if not even more, fun than Avenue Q, and that’s saying a lot.