Christina Mancuso - Page 2

AIN'T TOO PROUD - The Life and Times of The Temptations, came rolling into the Ohio Theatre with explosive energy, incredible talent, phenomenal voices, dashing costumes, and Tony-Award winning choreography that had Columbus up on their feet. This sensational production, brilliantly directed by Des McAnuff and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo (the same dynamite duo who also brought you JERSEY BOYS), expertly tells the story of The Temptations through the eyes of its only remaining member, Otis Williams, from the early beginnings and struggles to the present day. Featuring a brilliant mix of their smashing Motown hits, each song is cleverly woven into the storyline to create smooth and flawless transitions throughout their extraordinary journey.

A seemingly crowd-pleasing, high-energy, sensory-overloaded BEETLEJUICE was resurrected at the Ohio Theatre on Tuesday night to a devoted cult fan following. While slapstick jokes, disturbing references, and visual diversions dominate much of the show, there are also moments of heart-warming tenderness, much thanks to the incredible performance of Isabella Esler who plays Lydia.

The audience was thrilled to welcome home Columbus’s own sextuple superstar, Andrew Levitt aka Nina West, who has successfully conquered the entertainment genres of TV, film, theatre, music, web series, and most recently as an author of children’s book, “The You Kind of Kind.”  His role as Edna Turnblad is just icing on the cake.

California Wine Country's award-winning Transcendence Theatre Company returned once again to the incomparable Jack London State Historic Park to celebrate its 11th season. And what better way to celebrate than through dance. Directed by acclaimed international director and choreographer Luis Salgado, 'Let's Dance' features a cast and creative team of international talent from all across the country and beyond, including Puerto Rico, Colombia and Spain. Salgado's vision was to 'bring the flavor of Latin culture to Broadway classics and present a show that is bold, high-energy, and embraced by all.' And that is exactly what he did.

Winning more than 100 international awards including three Tony Awards and a Grammy Award, WICKED has managed to cast its spell on more than 60 million people across the globe for nearly two decades, and is still going strong today. Read our critic's review.

An illustrious creative team is at the helm of PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL, with direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award®-winner Jerry Mitchell, music and lyrics by Grammy®-winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, and book by the movie's legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J. F. Lawton.  But is that enough to make this stage adaptation successful?  That depends.

Nominated for seven Tony awards in 2017 and winning Best Direction in a Musical under Christopher Ashley’s extraordinary direction, COME FROM AWAY landed in Columbus at the Ohio Theatre on Tuesday night to a welcoming and lively audience.  

It was nothing short of an honor to attend ‘Bonobos to Broadway,’ a special and rare event that was held in collaboration with Tony Award-Winning Broadway Musical COME FROM AWAY and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, in anticipation of the show’s Columbus debut on February 8-13, 2022.

There’s something truly extraordinary that happens when you step onto the grounds of Jack London State Historic Park.  It’s not just any park.  You are whisked away into a magical land of beauty, passion, exuberance -- and immersed in spellbinding talent that is known as the Transcendence Theatre family.  This year was special.  Celebrating over a decade of performances and surviving a global pandemic, Artistic Director Amy Miller affirms “impossibility turned into possibility” and joyously proclaims, “Cherish life and live it to the fullest!”

Love was in the air as Columbus was finally reunited for the first time with a live (albeit socially-distant-mask-wearing) symphony orchestra performance featuring an intimate Valentine's Day concert with celebrated vocalists Jessica Hendy and Scott Coulter, accompanist John Boswell, and conductor Stuart Chafetz.

With the recent pandemic sweeping our world, it was so refreshing to be whisked away by this glorious production of Lerner & Loew's MY FAIR LADY. Brilliantly directed by Bartlett Sher, this version embodies everything a musical should be -- lavish costumes, exquisite sets, superb acting, effortless dancing, and intoxicating voices anchored by a classic love story with a timely twist. It's no wonder that Lincoln Center's revival was nominated for 10 Tony awards and won the Drama Desk Award for outstanding musical revival.

Arguably the greatest musical of all time, Les Miserables strikes every possible chord with its powerful message of love, rebellion, sacrifice, redemption and inspiration. A brilliant musical masterpiece oozing with a lush, rich score, Les Miserables is a timeless testament to the ultimate survival of the human spirit.

After eight seasons of presenting phonenomal musical revues in its award-winning 'Broadway Under the Stars' performances, the Transcendence Theatre seamlessly transcends into its inaugural full Broadway production of the mega-hit musical, A CHORUS LINE. A

Betty Buckley is as refined as it gets, starring in the refreshingly classic production of HELLO, DOLLY! at the Ohio Theatre. From the moment she saunters onto the stage, there is no doubt that we are among a true legend. She is humble and charming as she effortlessly embraces this iconic role with pure genius.

Hop on over to the SWEET CARROT on Tuesday, November 13th when it launches its newest location on Sawmill Road in Dublin, Ohio. I had the fortunate opportunity to catch a sneak peek prior to its opening. Serving all natural, made-from-scratch comfort foods with an emphasis on dietary needs, this restaurant offers much more than just carrots and alfalfa sprouts.

'Every Moment Counts' as Director/Choreographer Tony Gonzalez reminds us to embrace the sights and sounds and soak up every second of life as we climb the 'Stairway to Paradise' -- the theme of this year's 'Broadway Under the Stars' by the incomparable Transcendence Theatre Company.

Hello, again.  Columbus was glutton for punishment when THE BOOK OF MORMON returned to the Ohio Theatre for another blasphemous yet gut-wrenchingly hilarious week of musical theatre genius.  This time, the audience was snickering and giggling while they shuffled in their seats before the show even began. They knew they were about to embark on a show that can say "F-You, God" and still have the Mormon church take out a full page ad in the Playbill.  This is the brilliance of South Park writers, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, along with AVENUE Q co-creator Robert Lopez, who can cleverly win over people of all faith by poking fun at the Mormons with crass language that borders sacrilege. Why? Because at its core is a heartfelt story of brotherhood and self-discovery with lovable young men finding their way in a world ruled by uniformity and restriction.

Festival Napa Valley announces the lineup for the 2018 summer season, featuring a host of world premieres, debuts and exclusive engagements set in iconic Napa Valley settings. The 2018 season, July 20-29, is dedicated to the first responders who saved lives, homes and properties in the recent Wine Country wildfires.

Jeff Ruby has planned fundraising dinners across 3 states to benefit the families of fallen Westerville, OH Police Officers Anthony Morelli and Eric Joering.

For its 60th annual production, Pleasure Guild of Nationwide Children's Hospital is pleased to present Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, February 23-25 at Columbus' historic Palace Theatre, located at 34 W. Broad St. This family-friendly, Broadway-quality production benefits the Hospice and Palliative Care Programs at Nationwide Children's Hospital, the only programs of its kind in central Ohio.