Christine Swerczek - Page 11

You may think you know Rudyard Kipling's THE JUNGLE BOOK, but you may not have seen it through the eyes of playwright Greg Banks who takes the well-known story written in 1894 and brings it into now. Is the story new? Not really. Are there any big surprises? Not so much. Then what makes it new? I believe that it's the refreshing simplicity.

Four killer voices are rocking the Omaha Community Playhouse. MURDER BALLAD, a new indie-rock sung-through musical by Julia Jordan and music by Juliana Nash, is an old story of a love triangle gone wrong.

Andrea Goss, who plays Sally Bowles, a young British singer at the Kit Kat Club in CABARET, spoke with me from her Denver appearance last week. Andrea has also appeared in RENT and ONCE. CABARET opens at Omaha's Orpheum on October 11 and runs through the 16th.

For anyone who has spent their "whole life wishing they weren't so freakin' strange," SHREK THE MUSICAL will raise a flag. For everyone else? They'll love it simply for its silly fun.

SISTER ACT is a simple story about nuns in wimples who are taught to let loose in song by a nightclub singer who is cloistered at the convent in hiding from the hoods. This story isn't just black and white. Well, maybe it is. But this foot stomping musical set in 1970's Philadelphia is fun, no matter what.

Let's say you are a six year old and you have trouble falling asleep. Let's say your imagination runs away with you. Let's say animals can talk, crawl out of paintings on the wall, and sing and dance. These are the components for The Rose Theater's current production, GOODNIGHT MOON, the tale of a young boy (actually, he may be a bunny) who goes on an hour-long romp through the world of make-believe.

The Candy Project's production of the Dennis T. Giacino DISENCHANTED! combines his clever lyrics and energetic musical score with their talented cast and crew to create a fun, satirical romp through the stories of Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and all their princess pals.

Directed by Matthew Gutshick, this cast of THE LITTLE MERMAID turns the old world ambience of the Rose Theater into a watery world of imagination.

This is something you're gonna wanna see! THE PRODUCERS, a Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan musical masterpiece of mayhem, has opened at the Omaha Community Playhouse. In typical Mel Brooks fashion, it sweeps you off into a tornadic whirlwind of slapstick, clever innuendos, and just plain foolishness. But even a piece as good as this would not be as funny as it's meant to be without the right cast and crew to pull it off. This bunch does.

Dixie Longate is coming back to Omaha. Get ready to cough your teeth into your hand and buy some plastic crap from this top-selling Tupperware dealer!

From the moment we enter the Howard Drew theatre at the Omaha Community Playhouse, we are drawn into the human drama unfolding before us.

What? Not like ELEPHANT & PIGGIE'S WE ARE IN A PLAY? "Unpossible!" This is the cute, cute, cutest production to come out of the Rose Theater in a long time. Everything about it is delightful!

I am personally excited to see the spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA coming to Omaha this week! Hailed by critics as "bigger and better than ever," Laurence Connor's re-imagination of the longest-running production on Broadway is drawing superlatives: "stunning!" "spectacular!" "brilliant!" "majestic!" and "beautiful!" Because of all the references to beauty, I called Jacquelynne Fontaine, who plays Carlotta, and happens to be a former beauty title holder.

There's something deliciously undercover at the Omaha Community Playhouse. CALENDAR GIRLS, directed by Susan Baer Collins, opens tonight for a four-week run. The strong ensemble cast reveals distinct, fully rounded personalities.  I had so much fun watching their characters unfold, particularly the six friends who belong to the British social club for women, the WI (Women's Institute).

Andy Huntington Jones, who plays Prince Topher in the national tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein's CINDERELLA leads a fairy tale life. Read on to find out how his love story echoes the magical story unfolding on stage.

Picture this: a quartet hanging around a lamppost in 1940's Hollywood dressed in warm yellow and red tones, singing in close harmony while shadowy gray figures dance in the background. A shot rings out and CITY OF ANGELS opens with a bang at the Omaha Community Playhouse.

I don't remember enjoying a show this much since PIPPIN came to Omaha! Disney's NEWSIES, the record-breaking smash musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and book by Harvey Fierstein opened last night at the Orpheum Theater. There was no doubt as to whether the audience enjoyed it. They erupted into cheers, whistles, and applause after, and sometimes in the middle of, each number.

CAROLINE, OR CHANGE is shaking up the Omaha Community Playhouse.  The closest to this musical that I've seen on stage is FUN HOME, winner of five 2015 Tony Awards, including best original score by Jeanine Tesori. 

NEWSIES! is leaping onto the stage at Omaha's Orpheum Theater. This high-energy musical based on historic events opens February 16 for a six day run. I spoke with Andrew Wilson, Dance Captain and Swing for NEWSIES, about his background and his experience working with the show. This is what he had to say

The house was estrogen-filled last night at the Omaha Community Playhouse. Packed with women and a handful of brave men, the audience responded with knowing bursts of laughter as they listened to five women on stage talk about marking memorable occasions...the good, the bad, and the ugly... with what they wore. LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE will resonate with all women.