Regional Roundup: Top 10 Stories This Week Around the Broadway World - 10/23; THE CRUCIBLE at Cleveland Play House, Goodspeed's IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE and More!

By: Oct. 23, 2015
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This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Connecticut, Cleveland, Atlanta and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include Goodspeed's IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, THE CRUCIBLE at Cleveland Play House, and Serenbe's THE SLEEPY HOLLOW EXPERIENCE, just to name a few.

East/Northeast

SALOME

1. Washington, DC: Editor Pamela Roberts reviews a "stunning and provacative" SALOME at Shakespeare Theatre Company. She says, "SALOMÉ is a visually stunning world premiere that brings us deeply complex characters struggling for command and dignity in one of history's most highly contested strips of land. Yaël Farber, the award-winning adaptor-director, returns to the Shakespeare Theatre Company after her great success MIES JULIE, which looked at Strindberg's work through the lens of post-apartheid South Africa. With SALOMÉ she has shaped a compelling work of power and contradiction." Read more here.

2. Connecticut: Editor Joseph Harrison reviews Goodspeed's IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. He says, "Duke Lafoon as the indefatigable George Bailey, conveys the good-natured, down on his luck man with strength, and makes some clear character choices which set him apart from the iconic Jimmy Stewart performance (though there were a couple moments that Stewart came through clearly.) He handles the range of emotion well and certainly endears the audience to his plight, and shares his ultimate revelation that regardless of what may face us, it is still "A Wonderful Life." Kirsten Scott as Mary had the standout performance for this reviewer. Her performance in "If I Had A Wish", in particular, was truly beautiful. She was poised and conveyed Mary's strength and support of George in a very believable way." Read more here.

Midwest

3. Cleveland, OH: Editor Roy Berko reviews a "memerizing" production of Arthur Miller's THE CRUCIBLE at Cleveland Play House. He says, "The CPH production, under the direction of Laura Kepley, is mesmerizing. Choosing to the do the play in the Outcalt Theatre, with its theatre-in-the-round stage, was a stroke of genius. Forcing the audience to be close to the action, with no place to psychologically hide, makes the uncomfortable actions of the court and the hysteria of the characters vivid. Here is yet another reason why abandoning the old building and its three proscenium stages was a wise decision by the Play House board." Read more here.

South

THE PRODUCERS

4. New Orleans: Editor Heidi Scheuermann reviews THE PRODUCERS at Rivertown. She says, "Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts is now in the midst of their very first season of all musicals, and they couldn't have opted for a better opening show than THE PRODUCERS, directed by Ricky Graham. They also couldn't have chosen a better pair than Sean Patterson and Gary Rucker to play leading men Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom." Read more here.

5. Tampa, FL: Editor Peter Nason reviews Jobsite Theater's SILENCE! THE MUSICAL at the Jaeb. He says, "This is obviously a "drop everything and don't miss it" show for those like me who have seen The Silence of the Lambs and can quote it at will ("It rubs the lotion on its skin"..."That was goooood"...."You use Evyan skin cream, and sometimes you wear L'Air du Temps, but not today"..."Love the suit!"...and of course the most famous quote of all: "A census taker once tried to test me; I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti..."). " Read more here.

6. Atlanta, GA: Editor Stevie King reviews THE SLEEPY HOLLOW EXPERIENCE at Serenbe Playhouse. He says, "THE SLEEPY HOLLOW EXPERIENCE, directed by Brian Clowdusand assistant directed by Ryan Oliveti, is an engrossing spectacle that puts you into the heart of an American legend. Thinking about the show, I can't help but imagine the Studio Tour at Universal Studios, where you can watch scenes from your favorite movies come to life and interact with set pieces. Like the Studio Tour, the cast and crew guide the audience through the woods of Serenbe, Georgia as they recreate the chilling tale of the Headless Horseman. From a nineteenth century classroom to the infamous bridge where the Headless Horseman lurks, audiences get a chance to explore Irving's gloomy tale of romance and suspense." Read more here.

West

7. Seattle, WA: Editor Jay Irwin reviews Cafe Nordo's SAUCED. He says, "It's a fairly simple story but told with such dedication to the Noir style that you can't help but enjoy. And director Paul Budraitis ensures that the story clips along only serving to accentuate the evening of song and delicious food and not get in its way. Speaking of the food, so often in dinner theater situations it's a fun show with a so so dinner. But Chef Erin Brindley along with cocktail designer Murray Stenson have created a sumptuously mind blowing meal that would be incredible even without the show. And then add into that the stunning musical menu of standards as well as some original pieces from music director Anastasia Workman and the evening becomes one of the liveliest and most fun times I've had all year." Read more here.

BIG FISH

8. Salt Lake City, UT: Editor Tyler Hinton calls Hale Centre Theatre's BIG FISH "a whopper of a show." He says, "The actor portraying Edward Bloom would make or break any production of this musical. Fortunately, Rhett Richins (double cast with Douglas Irey) is more than capable of carrying the show on his shoulders. His acting is meticulous but relaxed as he portrays the multiple ages and facets of the character with ease. He becomes the many versions of Edward Bloom before our eyes. And the singing! Richins' mellifluous voice unfolds effortlessly and impeccably regardless of the song style. His is certainly one of the best musical theatre performances in Utah this year." Read more here.

International

9. Toronto, Canada: Editor Meghan Pearson reviews FUNNY GIRL at Segal Centre. She says, "Epstein, in the lead role of Brice, belts the classic Styne songs with ease all the while maintaining her character accent, dancing, and keeping the audience laughing-not an easy feat to pull off. Her vocal chops are particularly standout in the songs "People" and, of course, "Don't Rain on my Parade"." Read more here.

National Tour Highlight:

10. Editor Jeffrey Ellis reviews the National Tour of CINDERELLA in Nashville, TN. He says, "Sumptuously designed, beautifully staged and wonderfully sung, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella isn't the same show you may recall from childhood hours spent in front of a television or from scores of regional theater productions since, but with a new and refreshingly timely book by Douglas Carter Beane, along with the interpolation of four "new" songs from the R+H canon, the elaborate new production that's fresh off its first-ever Broadway run seems the ideal interpretation for the 21st century." Read more here.

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