David Edward Perry - Page 4

'Songs for a New World' at Birmingham Festival Theatre is a very intimate performance with powerful vocals and surprises. The take away is to embrace the power of unity, hope and resilience. We all have struggles that seem to be too much to bear. This wonderful show shares the truth that you are not alone, and you are stronger than you think.

'Songs for a New World' is not a typical (Beginning -middle and end) linear musical. It is a collection of powerful songs that examines life, love and the choices that we make.I was able to speak with some the cast to get their creative insight into giving life to this popular musical.

Theatre Tuscaloosa's production of 'Grease' is definitely automatic, systematic and hydromatic. Watching talented young actors breathe life into this classic musical is well worth the trip. 'Grease' is definitely still the word.

This is a production with much attention to detail and talent. 'Matilda' is delightfully joyful, and unpleasant at the same time. The sweet with the sour is a delicate combination to make in any dish or story. Red Mountain Theatre Company delivers this delightfully structured tale about a brilliant five-year-old girl gifted with a little extra than the ordinary.

Professor Henry Higgins (Kyle Holman) rises to the challenge to turn lowly Eliza Doolittle (Kristen Sharp) into a proper English lady. Red Mountain Theatre Company is offering an exciting and colorful production of the classic 'My Fair Lady' that truly makes you want to dance all night.

Reaching for the American dream while adjusting to living under prejudice is exposed by Alfred Uhry's 'The Last Night of Ballyhoo' at South City Theatre. This Tony award winning play is a touching, relatable, and revealing look at the cost of acceptance. The story peels back the layers to expose the complicated dynamics of a Jewish American family living in Atlanta in the 1930's.

With Pride Week approaching, Birmingham Festival Theatre is on time with offering an emotional and striking production of Robert Anderson's 1953 drama 'Tea and Sympathy.' Set at an all boys' school in the early 1950's, the show tackles the fear, insecurity and the eventual anger that people under persecution face. The teenage boys attending the school are written with an amped jocular rambunctiousness. The carnal behavior lurking behind the boy's clean crisp khaki's and sweater vests is a starter kit for toxic masculinity.

Jeff Goldblum and The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra delivered fresh arrangements of jazz standards and some cool improvisational jams. Goldblum effortlessly flowed with gleeful engagement with the hyped Birmingham audience. He gave personal stories, entertaining vamping, trivia games, answering questions from the audience, and a wonderful run of Alabama themed questions on everything from BBQ, college football and half moon cookies.

Alice (Emma Brooke Levering) is a young girl who after spying a curious white rabbit in a vest and coat run into hole. Follows it down and is whisked into a seemingly never-ending adventure. The all female cast provides a wonderful "Girl Power" dynamic in the show by the Birmingham Children's Theatre.

Jeff Goldblum is behind the piano at the helm of the jazz ensemble, The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. Providing smooth charm with playful vamp. The 'hep-cat' works the crowd with Q and A, playing trivia, and laying down classic jazz standards and improv. Sunday June 2nd, Goldblum's The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra will be performing an intimate and energetic jazz performance at the 2019 Viva Health Starlight Gala for the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center.

'Little Shop of Horrors' is a wonderful musical amalgam of sci-fi, horror, and doo-wop. It is a stylized musical that takes you on a tale of love between a guy and a girl, and the maniacal plant standing in their way.

'The Drowsy Chaperone' by Brick by Brick Arts successfully captures the joyful feeling of escape and mixes with a fun, mad-cap story, rich with 1920's tropes and characters. The plot of 'The Drowsy Chaperone' is not the highlight of the musical, and that's the point. It's how the story is told that delivers memorable comedy and musical theater gold.

Poet Jahman Ariel Hill and one of the directors Christian Hatcher provide much insight into their upcoming Southeast premiere performance of 'Black Enough' at Theatre Downtown. Hill hopes people leave the performance moved. 'The message of the show is simple: Black people, you are enough. You Flourish. You can be anything and everything no matter what anyone tells you. You are enough and you always have been enough'

'Savage' is a powerful new musical conceived and developed by UAB Professor of Theatre Karla Koskinen. The touching story is based on the tragically true story of the life of Ota Benga played by the dynamic Royzell D. Walker. This young man from the Congo was paraded as an exotic attraction. This sheer cruelty and inhumane mindset is almost unimaginable. But then again American history has a predictably formulaic way glossing over racial autocracies. This wonderful musical boldly asks 'What makes a man a civilized man?'

Finding Neverland is an imaginative look at the creative inspirations writer James Barrie molded into the magical world of Peter' Pans adventures. The play is full of heart and childlike wonder. It's not a children's show but it is one that children and adults will definitely enjoy.

'The Mountaintop' breaks that tired old piggy bank of the homogenized perception of Martin Luther King, Jr. Katori Hall's wonderful writing reveals the extent of how complex and troubled he was; enlightening the audience to want to know more. The incredible performances by Robert Burgins, Jr. and Kenya Stewart are woven with intense emotion and commitment.

David W. Chapman's original story takes creative liberties and dives into the last days of noted 18th-century English social reformer and humanitarian John Howard. The characters, storytelling elements, and framework carry similar notes found in classic Frank Capra films.

What if you could be swinging along side with Spider-Man as he fights the Green Goblin? What if you wanted to see Black Panther run down the Rino. How about being ringside as Black Widow and Neblua go one on one? Fear not true believers. Marvel Universe Live! Age of Heroes delivers this at the BJCC this weekend for a limited run.

'Fun Home.' Based on the 2006 graphic novel / memoir by Allison Bechdel. The story draws you in as if you are turning the pages of the comic book of Alison life. 'Fun Home' is the first Broadway musical with a lesbian as the lead of the story. Her journey though life is told through a sequence of non-linear vignettes. Revealing memories of her uniquely dysfunctional family that connect with her in surprising new ways.

This energized concert shook the pillars of Olympus with a powerhouse performance of two very popular and dynamic pieces of music.The concert hall was filled to the rafters with the voices of a massive choir. The power behind such a collection of voices and music was breathtaking.