Harmony Wheeler - Page 18

Read BroadwayWorld's interview with Cindy Stuart, Choreographer of Disney On Ice presents 'Dare to Dream.' The show comes to Fresno (Jan 30 - Feb 4), Stockton (Feb 7-10), Sacramento (Feb 13-18), San Jose (Feb 20-24), and Oakland (Feb 27 - March 3). More information and tickets can be found at http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/.

Read BroadwayWorld's interview with Ben Agosto, Associate Choreographer of Disney On Ice presents 'Dare to Dream.' The show comes to Fresno (Jan 30 - Feb 4), Stockton (Feb 7-10), Sacramento (Feb 13-18), San Jose (Feb 20-24), and Oakland (Feb 27 - March 3). More information and tickets can be found at http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/.

True to form, "Rock of Ages" provides "nothing but a good time." Just the right combination of musical theatre storytelling and rock n' roll partying, "Rock of Ages" features a perfectly balanced sound system, just loud enough to blow your mind, but not loud enough to blow your eardrums. The innovative production includes awesome audience interaction, with shout outs to the local audience and fun recognition of traditional Broadway musical theatregoers.

If you haven't made your way down to Good Company Players' production of "Spamalot" yet, there's something you've forgotten, and that's to "laugh and smile and dance and sing." Based on every dry-humored person's favorite film, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," the riotous musical stays true to the movie's ridiculous antics while adding in some new elements that give the story an actual point and a feel-good takeaway.

The drama of mental disorder and family angst explodes on the San Jose Repertory Theatre stage this month as Broadway-caliber actors tackle a penetrating story told through a high energy, rock n' roll, pop opera musical.

Check right in to Stockton Civic Theatre. A friendly bellhop (David Nelson) will greet you, reminding you in his own special way to turn off your cell phone and remind you of other important details. Although those welcoming lines are added for the audience's benefit, playwright Ken Ludwig easily could have written them, they fit the show so well. And Nelson's antics, which continue to delight throughout "Lend Me A Tenor," set the scene perfectly for the farce to come. Audiences will find themselves very satisfied with their just over two-hour stay at an intimate and quaint theatre in the heart of Stockton.

Close to flawless in its incredible staging and fantastic casting, the 2013 touring production of soul musical "Dreamgirls" boasts a dream cast that has audiences applauding throughout as actors display every vocal talent on parade.

"Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan." She doesn't just play Peter Pan. She is Peter Pan. After so many years of bringing J.M. Barrie's classic character to life on stage, it becomes difficult to separate the two. Rigby, herself, couldn't stay away from the character for too long. Despite a 2004-2005 tour labeled as Rigby's farewell, she returned to the role for another national tour, which opened at Sacramento's Community Center Theatre Wednesday night.

As far as theatrical arena shows go, Dreamwork's "How To Train Your Dragon Live" makes the top of the list for those worth seeing, and arena shows are growing in number (case in point, the rather boring, but visually interesting, Batman Live arena tour).

A number of factors combine to make Center REPertory Theatre's adaptation of Charles Dicken's classic "A Christmas Carol" a one-of-a-kind experience. Special effects throughout the show add to the excitement and surprise of the play as a fantastic cast gives familiar characters unique personalities.

As bright and colorful as its title character's wardrobe, Hillbarn Theatre's production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Coat" is a "dazzling work of art." A talented and adorable children's chorus leads the show as an adult figure interrupts their mistreatment of one particular child to tell the Biblical story of Joseph and his dreams come true. The story comes to life when its characters suddenly greet the children and audience and begin what promises to be two hours of entertaining music and energetic dancing.

Greeting audiences with a familiar New York City backdrop painting framed in a gorgeous white paneling and seasonal decor, the touring production of "Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical" doesn't offer much beyond its original seasons' greetings. Despite a strong, talented cast, the musical only offers a hodge-podge of mostly unmemorable songs that try too hard to recreate composer Meredith Wilson's most famous scores.

As energized as its famous Strauss-penned waltzes and as bubbly as its beloved king champagne, Opera San Jose's production of Die Fledermaus entertains with its farcical story and melodramatic acting. Though the creative choice to alternate between English dialogue and German lyrics is at first off-putting, mistaken identities and hilarious turns of event soon take audiences away to the "fantasy" world of a classic operetta.

Northern California will get a double dose of the celebration this year, as the Gallo Center for the Arts hosts the touring production of a musical based on the classic film "Miracle on 34th Street," which follows a family as its cinical Christmas beliefs are challenged by the appearance of the real Santa Clause. BroadwayWorld sat down with the Broadway-style shows' Kris Kringle, Fred Mackaman, and the production's director, John Tsayfoyannis.

Diablo Ballet presents 'A Swingin' Holiday,' one part of a three-part program playing November 16 and 17 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. BroadwayWorld talked with choreographer Sean Kelly. .

With a surprisingly well-written book and a fun, familiar plot, 42nd Street Moon's production of the rare musical, "Carmelina," stands out against its more recent cousin, the Abba-inspired "Mamma Mia!" While it does not have the peppy energy and catchy music of "Mamma Mia!," "Carmelina" has unique stories and charming characters that make it just as enjoyable, especially when performed by a fabulous cast on the intimate Eureka Theatre stage.

The audience had no trouble taking the advice of Tony Award-winning musical "Memphis" in its final moments Tuesday night at the Sacramento Community Center. In a high-spirited finale, the cast sang, "Listen to the beat. Play it, obey it. Love it with your feet. Listen to your soul… let it make you whole." The lyrics embody three hours of soulful music, standout humor, and endearing characters that deliver a wonderful time for audiences. But the musical still fails to satisfy audiences looking to leave emotionally moved and intellectually challenged.

In one of the first numbers of Disney on Ice "100 Years of Magic," a host of genie duplicates from the classic film Aladdin cover the rink with their "magic," a small taste of the magic to come. The hour and a half celebration of Disney enchantment that follows retells shortened versions of several well-known Disney stories. Featured favorites include Finding Nemo, Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story, Pinocchio, Mulan, The Incredible and The Lion King, as well as shout outs to Disney parks with a wonderful first act finale tribute to It's A Small World and The Main Street Electrical Parade.

Storytelling at its best, San Francisco Opera's co-production of new opera "Moby Dick" overwhelms upon sight and hearing. The magnificent production has some of the most exquisite music ever written for the stage. Jack Heggie's grand cinematic score moves faultlessly from solemn, contemplative moments to lightning and thunder during a storm, making up for minor scenic limitations and becoming the narrator of the piece.

If you're in the mood for one of the best clown acts in the United States, drive on over to Stockton Arena for Cirque du Soleil's "Dralion." Oh, there are plenty of awe-inducing moments of dangerous acrobatic acts and fantastic visuals, but unlike many of Cirque's other shows, "Dralion's" best foot forward is a rather large one wearing an oversized shiny black shoe. Without giving too much away, the best way to describe our daring "trio" is to say the act involves a lot of "audience participation."