Previews: HAIRSPRAY at The PlayhouseNovember 21, 2022When it opened on Broadway in 2002, HAIRSPRAY won an extraordinary eight Tony awards. Its popularity has never waned and the tour will visit The Playhouse on December 1-4.
Review: MEMPHIS at Candlelight Music TheatreOctober 9, 2022What did our critic think oHockadoo! MEMPHIS, The Musical, running at Candlelight through October 30, is a compelling show in many respects. Memphis is the story of Huey Calhoun (loosely based on real-life 1950s disc jockey Dewey Phillips) and his mission to bring blues and soul music to a white southern audience in a VERY segregated Memphis. Huey optimistically believes that music can transcend race, and with him on his journey is aspiring singer Felicia Farrell. The two fall in love, but must contend with social barriers, a prejudiced mother, and an overprotective brother. f MEMPHIS at Candlelight Music Theatre?
Interview: Payton Reilly from TOOTSIE at The PlayhouseOctober 2, 2022It was with some trepidation that I began my interview with Payton Reilly, star of TOOTSIE, the musical set to begin a 3 day run at The Playhouse on October 6. One of Payton’s acting credits was an off Broadway production of WILD WOMEN OF PLANET WONGO. How does one prepare for this? Is there a language of wongoise?
Feature: DE ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION at The Baby GrandSeptember 12, 2022Back in 2016, it only took a Facebook page to show that everyone wanted to 'keep the faith with the music, the faces and the memories'. The quote is from Paula Wolkind, Executive Director of Delaware Rock and Roll Society Hall of Fame. Her husband, George serves as President. The 501©3 non-profit is gearing up for an induction ceremony on Sunday October 9 at the baby grand @ 2pm.
Review: SWEET CHARITY at Candlelight Music TheatreJuly 24, 2022What did our critic think As a 5 decade long advocate for Candlelight Dinner Theatre, first as actor and then as reviewer, it is immensely gratifying to witness that not only have they survived but prospered over these years. They pay their actors and creative crew only a stipend. To a man/woman, “they do it for love”. Having been in tens of theatres over the years, no company exhibits the consistent joy and passion as do those that grace Candlelight’s stage. The packed house on opening night of SWEET CHARITY felt that vibe.of SWEET CHARITY at Candlelight Music Theatre?
BWW Previews: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at The PlayhouseJune 6, 2022Aisle Say has seen probably 600 shows in 65 years. Some I have been in, some I produced and directed. The vast majority are those he’s reviewed over 35+ years. However, next week at The Playhouse with a 4-day run of FIDDLER beginning June 9, Aisle Say announces a first! Never before has he heard a Samoan tenor.
BWW Review: BIG FISH at Candlelight Music TheatreApril 4, 2022Aisle Say’s most recent review was at DE Theatre Co’s OTHER WORLD, the largest and most technically challenging production in their 45-year history. The budgets of that show versus the cost of Candlelight’s BIG FISH are as dissimilar as Mt. Kilimanjaro to Brandywine Park’s Monkey Hill.
BWW Review: OTHER WORLD at Delaware Theatre CompanyMarch 10, 2022In it’s 45+ years existence, Delaware Theatre Company has never mounted a production of this magnitude. Originally scheduled to open 2 years ago at Bucks County Playhouse, the world went topsy turvy.
BWW Review: MAMMA MIA at Candlelight Music TheatreFebruary 1, 2022Mamma Mia must be one of the greatest juke box musicals of all time. When the film came out, a colleague mentioned that Pierce Brosnan had an atrocious voice, so I passed. He had star power. That is how two of the most horrendous miscastings of movie musicals were cast; Marlon Brando in Guys and Dolls and even worse, Russell Crowe in Les Mis.
BWW Review: LE CAVALIER RESTAURANT at Hotel DuPontNovember 30, 2021I have been blessed with being involved in theatre for 64 years and have critiqued the arts for 35 years. Those of a certain age will remember News Journal theatre critics Phil Crossland and Otto Dekom of the 60’s through 90’s. Phil loved every show he ever saw and every actor on stage. We all wanted to be reviewed by him. On the other hand, the antagonistic Otto terrorized community theatre performers, often delivering cruel, personal attacks.
BWW Previews: MILLON DOLLAR QUARTET at Delaware Theatre CompanyNovember 30, 2021To boldly go where no 4 men ever went before:
On December 4, 1956, a twist of extraterrestrial fate brought together Johnny Cash, 24, Jerry Lee Lewis, 21, Carl Perkins, 24 and Elvis Presley, 21, at the storefront studio of Sun Records in Memphis for one of the greatest jam sessions in Rock n Roll history.
These 4 were not space pioneers, but they soon established new frontiers in the world of music.
BWW Previews: WAITRESS at The PlayhouseNovember 22, 2021Waitress entered the American zeitgeist as a somber, dark movie at Sundance years ago. The present producers of the musical had the vision to purchase the rights. They also had connections with celebrated Broadway director and Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (HAIR, PIPPIN) and Grammy Award winner – and feminist hero - Sara Bareillus who transformed it into a hilarious and beloved hit musical.
BWW Review: BEST OF CANDLELIGHT at Candlelight Music TheatreSeptember 28, 2021Candlelight Theatre opens their third show of the season with an economical inhouse production of BEST OF CANDLELIGHT, a prudent decision with live theatre the world over attempting to gain financial stasis. This show has no ‘book’, saving licensing money. The show takes us down Broadway; a smorgasbord of solos, duets and production numbers. As previously reported, Candlelight is to be commended for being the first entertainment venue in the state to welcome back grateful guests.
BWW Review: AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' THE FATS WALLER MUSICAL SHOW at Candlelight Music TheatreAugust 9, 2021Ain’t Misbehavin’: The Fats Waller Musical Show, is a different juke box show from Candlelight’s previous production of BEEHIVE. From the rock n’ roll of 60’s we time travel back 30- years to the American jazz pianist Waller. His innovations in the Harlem stride style laid the groundwork for modern jazz piano. In 1922, at the tender age of 18, he produced his first piano roll, “Got To Cool My Doggies Now.” (I had to mention that only because the title cracked me up).
BWW Review: BEEHIVE at Candlelight Music TheatreJune 18, 2021A juke box collection of hits from the 60’s where pleasant memories were evocative from that less provocative era. The production was curated such that only ‘girl groups’ or female solo artists were featured. An ensemble of singers and dancers carefully cast by Director/Choreographer Jody Anderson.
BWW Feature: LIVE THEATER MATTERS in DelawareJune 4, 2020103,000 deathsa??and counting, and still we want live theatre to return. More than 40 million Americans filed for first time unemployment benefits, and still we want live theatre to return. Consumer spending ground to a halt in the past 2 months, and that's a massive problem for the spending-addicted US economy; 14% down in April, equivalent to $1.9 trillion lost. And yet, we still want live theatre to return.
BWW Interview: AD Bob Kelly of Candlelight TheatreMay 13, 2020There is no one in the tri-state region with more live theater experience than Bob Kelly, Artistic Director at Candlelight Dinner Theatre. Founded in 1969 by John and Lena O'Toole and Julian and Annabelle Borris, it quickly became a nexus for hundreds of aspiring actors, where all were inspired to self-invent and where ambition was oxygen.