Kristen Morale - Page 8

Kristen Morale

Kristen was born and raised in Brooklyn, and is a graduate of both Saint Francis College and Hunter College, with degrees in English and Musical Theatre. She enjoys going to any show, from community theater to Broadway productions, and especially loves musicals; "The Phantom of the Opera” and “Sweeney Todd" are among her favorites. By day, Kristen is a Sr. Recruiting Coordinator for a hospitality technology company, but continues to pursue her interest in theater by seeing great performances and writing a bit about them; she’s also been in a few shows within both NY and MA. She admires the theater community, and is happy to continue writing for BroadwayWorld. 

 




LEARN MORE ABOUT Kristen Morale

First Show:

Beauty and the Beast

Favorite Show:

Phantom of the Opera and Sweeney Todd



BWW Review: Join the Parade that is THE MUSIC MAN at Cape Playhouse
BWW Review: Join the Parade that is THE MUSIC MAN at Cape Playhouse
July 13, 2016

Meredith Willson's six-time, Tony Award-winning musical The Music Man has arrived at the Cape Playhouse, a wonderful professional theater one can visit to see Broadway-quality productions right in the heart of Dennis, and has invited each and every one of us to join this miraculous parade that is considered "America's favorite family musical."

BWW Review: GILBERT AND SULLIVAN IN CHATHAM Guarantees Evening of Fun
BWW Review: GILBERT AND SULLIVAN IN CHATHAM Guarantees Evening of Fun
July 6, 2016

The Chatham Drama Guild, Chatham's own community theater group which brings a variety of entertaining performances to its audiences each year, presents Gilbert and Sullivan in Chatham: a musical revue dedicated to bringing forth an appreciation (or perhaps an even greater one depending on how familiar you are with the pair's works) of Gilbert and Sullivan musicals well and lesser-known alike. Actors at the Guild, many of whose familiar faces appear once again this time around, have brought many such past revues to life, giving audiences the chance to enjoy a pleasant, entertaining night out while giving the chance to become privy to different music and composers that may have otherwise gone unacknowledged.

BWW Review: May the Best Man Win in COCK at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater
BWW Review: May the Best Man Win in COCK at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater
June 30, 2016

Written by British playwright Mike Bartlett and directed by Jeffry George, Cock comes to WHAT's stage and continues in the tradition of bringing very heartfelt, existentially direct productions to a Cape Cod audience. With such a blunt title as this play is given, the audience risks coming to an immediate conclusion as to what they are to expect in the coming hours; yet, WHAT's repertoire has thrown quite a few surprises everyone's way thus far by making the title's become primary themes of what is about to ensue - that which envelops the play/musical and its characters, whether or not it is tangibly on stage for the duration of the show. So saying, Cock is more about externalizing what is typically an internal battle: one with ourselves.

BWW Review: A Wondrous New World Washes Ashore in CCTC's THE LITTLE MERMAID
BWW Review: A Wondrous New World Washes Ashore in CCTC's THE LITTLE MERMAID
June 29, 2016

The Cape Cod Theatre Company (CCTC), home of the Harwich Junior Theatre, is now celebrating its 65th season with a beautiful rendition of Disney's The Little Mermaid. Based on Anderson's story and the original Disney film produced by Howard Ashman and John Musker, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, book by Doug Wright and hereby directed/choreographed by the incredibly gifted Ethan Paulini, CCTC's production of The Little Mermaid is really quite a wonderful collection of profound moments of storytelling.

BWW Review: Rocking Out to the Life of Johnny Cash with RING OF FIRE at CCTC
BWW Review: Rocking Out to the Life of Johnny Cash with RING OF FIRE at CCTC
May 25, 2016

The Cape Cod Theatre Company, home of the Harwich Junior Theatre, has decided to step away traditional staged storytelling and try something different with its newest "jukebox" production of Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash. Created by Richard Maltby, Jr and hereby directed and choreographed by Pamela C. Wills, with Nina K. Schuessler serving as Producing Artistic Director, Ring of Fire is a story within and through a performance, and this production has the unique ability to depict the lives of Johnny Cash and June Carter, complete with interchangeable characters and interspersed moments of chronological storytelling, in a way I could image they would have approved of themselves: simple, straightforward and even stark (how fitting that word is) in its presentation but so oddly appropriate for the unadorned but deeply affecting way Cash's music hits you. Those on stage are not "acting" to portray these music legends, but instead almost seem to hand themselves over to the audience's belief that this is not a presentation or something that is purely meant to entertain; they are there to tell a story, and with a wonderfully eclectic mix of songs played in the background, there is something so beautiful in the rawness of this entire production.

BWW Review: The Hope in Love: Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater Presents GIRLFRIEND
BWW Review: The Hope in Love: Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater Presents GIRLFRIEND
May 18, 2016

With a book by Todd Almond, with music and lyrics by Matthew Sweet (from the latter's album of the same name plus songs derived from Altered Beats and 100% Fun) and originally produced by Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley, CA, Girlfriend is now directed by Christopher Ostrom as it comes to WHAT on the Julie Harris Stage. Girlfriend: A Rock Musical tells the story of two young men living in Nebraska, fresh out of high school and each with different plans as to what his future will look like after the summer ends. Michael is ready to move out of his tyrannical father's house but not so adamant about following in his footsteps and becoming a doctor; with a full ride to college, his life is not necessarily the fairy-tale a person could look at him and see unfolding. On the other hand, Will hasn't an idea in the world what to do with himself beyond his high school years. As summer vacation is about to begin, Michael asks Will if he'd like to hang out sometime and from that moment onward, the summer is spent trying to understand the feelings that were already blooming between them from the start; it just took two young men and the chance they gave themselves to see something that needed to be made clear for each of them.

BWW Review: Comedy Takes the Stand in Eventide's FORUM
BWW Review: Comedy Takes the Stand in Eventide's FORUM
May 12, 2016

Everyone is familiar with the works of Stephen Sondheim, quite the musical genius himself: his contributions to everything from 'West Side Story' to 'Sweeney Todd' have really set him apart from others in the musical theater realm; his style is so eclectic, his music so beautiful, that any show which bears his name is most likely going to be something great. Not necessarily a fan of comedy but having great admiration for and desire to see any type of musical I have the opportunity of seeing, Sondheim's 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' is a musical I have not had the pleasure of seeing before the Eventide Theatre Company showed me just how wonderful a show it truly it. The number of laughs and clever moments planned (and disasters diverted or avoided) are as plentiful as the amount of words in the title of this musical. The show is a farce, so anything and everything can happen, so long as one character's involvement in the continuous hoax is constantly given complete attention to and, ironically, prone to the greatest bout of almost far-fetched confusion that can be had. Yes, 'Forum' not only provides perpetual laughs had by both the sheer unknowingness of all the characters of what, exactly, is going on (not to mention each individual is quite the character on his/her own), but the music is wonderful and upbeat, the plot is lighthearted and there just really is not a reason to be mentioned why this musical is anything but pure, adulterated fun (which doesn't mean what you think!) Eventide should be extremely proud of this production now brought to their stage, and as this was my first time seeing it, I can now confidently share with others the enthusiasm felt that night as I watched magic unfold.

BWW Review: Swapping Hats and Inducing Hilarity with CDG's THE 39 STEPS
BWW Review: Swapping Hats and Inducing Hilarity with CDG's THE 39 STEPS
May 3, 2016

Loosely based on the 1915 novel written by John Buchan, later made into the 1935 movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock and gradually turned into a staged comical farce in 2005 by Patrick Barlow, The 39 Steps is something quite wonderful to see when brought about by a gifted director and a very talented cast of four that could bring about such a myriad of wacky characters. Director Scott Hamilton, as he states in his curtain speech, was certain that he wanted to lead this show towards its absolute comedic potential, and now writing in hindsight, it is clear that he manages to do just that give quite an optimistic start to what will be a rather epic new season at the Chatham Drama Guild. In relation to that and just to mention, the Guild has been offering wonderful performances since the time Hitchcock's movie was made, so this show is sure not to disappoint anybody who enjoys an innocent and rather traditional form of visual, laugh-loud-comedy.

BWW Review: Let the Youth Be Told in APA's New Hit SOCIAL SECURITY
BWW Review: Let the Youth Be Told in APA's New Hit SOCIAL SECURITY
April 11, 2016

There are quite a few advantages of getting old, despite what many people may believe: the well-worn worries of youth are whisked away in the leveled way more mature people live their lives, self-dictated rules and personal boundaries are set as people come into their own and emotions are at bay as people gradually accept and even embrace the monotone way in which their lives are lived. Youth can still be kept alive and may even be sought after, but that shouldn't be too strenuous a task, right? Ha, no. After seeing the workings of the Academy of Performing Art's newest production of Social Security, where insecurities run rampant, youth is a perpetual theme in hilarious unforeseen ways and basically nothing is secure, the irony of this show's title alone is bound to excite and surprise anyone one believes that youth cannot be rekindled in the old at heart.

BWW Review: The Stories Sisters Shall Tell in CCTC's LITTLE WOMEN: THE BROADWAY MUSICAL
BWW Review: The Stories Sisters Shall Tell in CCTC's LITTLE WOMEN: THE BROADWAY MUSICAL
April 7, 2016

Cape Cod Theatre Company's production of Little Women: The Broadway Musical is really something special. As I couldn't give you a visceral explanation of what it made me feel, this is a story who's truest depth and exquisiteness - its true emotion - is to be found once the journey is complete, and even then does a new beginning have the means of springing forth. Both the story and the way it was performed on stage, with music to bring out what is nothing less than extraordinary about four average girls and what their lives amount to, has such a spark to it as only CCTC can make happen - not only with this but with every show the group chooses to do.

BWW Review: YOURS, ANNE: Eventide's Momentous Ode to a Fallen Hero
BWW Review: YOURS, ANNE: Eventide's Momentous Ode to a Fallen Hero
March 8, 2016

The Eventide Theatre Company has made a bold choice in sharing Frank's story with a Cape Cod audience through means of a score depicting her feelings while fearfully secluded in the "Secret Annex," with certain lyrics molded from actual quotes made by the young prisoner. It is safe to say that Eventide has done a spectacular job bringing both the joy and pain of Frank's life to living color for those who would not otherwise have understood the trials she and her family faced in such a gruesome time in history.

BWW Review: There's No Place like the Academy Playhouse for THE WIZARD OF OZ
BWW Review: There's No Place like the Academy Playhouse for THE WIZARD OF OZ
March 3, 2016

There is so much about the heartwarming nature complete with a simple lesson learned and the sheer magic involved in making that happen that have brought many to profess their love of The Wizard of Oz, which is, in essence, a wonderful story that tugs at the heartstrings ever so slightly. From an adult who grew up watching the well-known 1939 movie starring Judy Garland to a child who may have read L. Frank Baum's book about the strange adventures of one Dorothy Gale and her "little dog" Toto in their quest to find their way back to Kansas, the pure innocence of this tale creates a world that generations have found (and continue to find) fascinating.

BWW Review: Try Getting Over this Ogre of a Show at CCTC's SHREK
BWW Review: Try Getting Over this Ogre of a Show at CCTC's SHREK
February 23, 2016

The Cape Cod Theatre Company, home of the Harwich Junior Theatre, brings a stunning production of Shrek: The Musical to a Cape Cod stage and does an absolutely fine job of making sure audiences will see all the wonder to be found in this show. I am like a broken record when it comes to my praise of this group, but even at the risk of being redundant and sounding like a lovesick theater child will I once again say that CCTC has impressed me from the very beginning and continues to do so.

BWW Review: A Bit of Comedy and Conniving Seizes Audiences with DEATHTRAP at APA
BWW Review: A Bit of Comedy and Conniving Seizes Audiences with DEATHTRAP at APA
January 16, 2016

Directed by Rich McKey, who brings his creative vision of what kind of world Levin's five characters should inhabit as they simultaneously create and avoid their own demise, Deathtrap is a joyride into the minds of maniacal people who think that their plans and intentions will be brought about not only because of the sheer brilliance they believe themselves to have, but also because everyone else is not thinking along the same lines. From playwrights to psychics, to the innocent wife who sits on a couch and merely wants a part in the unfolding plot she knows nothing about, everyone in this show wants to be included in some way, shape or form; although this is human nature to some extent, what people will do to see their vision become a reality is nothing short of something out of a book…and that is exactly what makes this play so damn fascinating.

BWW Preview: Living Dangerously Brings Fame to Players in APA's DEATHTRAP
BWW Preview: Living Dangerously Brings Fame to Players in APA's DEATHTRAP
January 14, 2016

The Academy Playhouse, a theater that has brought Cape Cod audiences an eclectic mix of productions that are always of the upmost professional quality, is taking a slight tangent from its recently closed holiday presentation of Sounds of the Season and delving into a play of a more murderous nature, also chock full of just enough laughs to make audiences question whether or not they should, in fact, notice the play's comedic side in the circumstances presented. Written by Ira Levin, Deathtrap makes its way to the Academy stage and from the start captures audiences with the extreme witticism of its characters and the brooding sense of mystery and danger which the title of the play alone implies.

BWW Review: We ALL Want Some More of OLIVER! at CCTC
BWW Review: We ALL Want Some More of OLIVER! at CCTC
January 7, 2016

Formerly the Harwich Junior Theater, CCTC may have changed its name but it has hardly lost its niche for bringing the Cape Cod community productions of the utmost quality, and its most recent production of Oliver! has done much more than provide a wonderfully entertaining time for children and adults alike: it has proven that the magnificence and professionalism with which CCTC instills its shows will remain an unchanged beauty in all the group's productions for years and years to come. If you were among the many fortunate enough to see Oliver! this past month, than you have witnessed only a smidgen of why CCTC is a wonderful place in which to behold what magic a memorable performance can bring.

BWW Preview: Sounds of the Season Sings of Holiday Spirit on Cape
BWW Preview: Sounds of the Season Sings of Holiday Spirit on Cape
November 27, 2015

If you happen to be one of the many for whom the holidays can't come soon enough, and for whom there are never enough carols to be sung and laughter to be had amongst loved ones, then fortunately, there is an upcoming show that will without doubt embody all that the spirit of the holiday season has to offer. The Academy of Performing Arts, located right in the heart of Orleans, presents Sounds of the Season, a musical revue featuring a fun and eclectic mix of songs both old and new that is bound to put anyone in the gift-buying, celebratory and lighthearted spirit that proves Christmas magic is indeed upon us. Bringing together many of the Academy's favorite performers that have been bringing quality performances to a Cape Cod audience for years, each takes part in a beautiful medley of solos, duets and group numbers that are upbeat, contemplative, jolly and overall provide a wonderful way to spend an evening amongst friends and family, in the presence of songs that perpetually remind us of what is to feel thankful and loved.

BWW Review: LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Dazzles at Cape Rep
BWW Review: LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Dazzles at Cape Rep
November 23, 2015

With a book by Harvey Fierstein, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and under the direction of Maura Hanlon (who must also be recognized and praised for her work on this summer's Failure: A Love Story), Cape Rep's of La Cage Aux Folles allows audiences the privilege of understanding why the original Broadway production of Fierstein's epic musical was the winner of six Tony's, and why this theater group's ambition to present fantastic pieces of theater and risk in undertaking such a challenging (and costly!) show has once again proven that the conclusion of its 30th Anniversary season is just as impressive and praise-worthy as its start. Not only do the costumes and choreography provide the glitz and gleam that essentially describes the very core of this show, but the actors themselves provide a tangible "spunk" to this production that demands itself to be released amongst sometimes unsuspecting audience members. Having been the first time I have seen this show myself and not knowing more than a simple synopsis of what was to come, I am elated that Cape Rep has shown me the beauty there is to be found in a musical that not only demands the acceptance of human individuality through an engaging and catchy score, but also proves that men can look and dance like a million bucks in a tight dress and pair of heels.

BWW Review: Quill Conquers with AN ILIAD at Buzzards Play Productions
BWW Review: Quill Conquers with AN ILIAD at Buzzards Play Productions
November 13, 2015

Whatever the past is, it is immortal to the person reliving it, and acknowledging the truth of this statement and thus questioning its relevance in the life of Homer's Poet is something the audience is faced with throughout An Iliad. In this beautiful one-man production, the sole man on stage offers his "immortality" to an audience of those who will listen through his tales of the Trojan War, not retelling epic battles and regurgitating facts that can be found in any history book, but conveying to his fellow listeners a story of his past. This past is one he has lived and continues to live through, boasting of and lamenting over brave men who were his friends, his enemies, his comrades in a war that he makes both he can make so simultaneously dreadful and beautiful. Not knowing for sure of his actual involvement in the events of the time, or for what reason he decides to recount and retell such events even though they cause him a considerable amount of anguish (very similar to Carraway in Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby), An Iliad is just that: an epic telling of a man's past that he, presumably, must tell again and again, making his words that much more poignant as he tells of a not so distinguishable time ago.

BWW Review: Freely Sounds the Mockingbird's Song in CCTC's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
BWW Review: Freely Sounds the Mockingbird's Song in CCTC's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
October 30, 2015

Now brought to the stage, thus making the message of a shared humanity that much more profound, the Cape Cod Theatre Company has given us a production that is worthy of more than just the audience's time and consideration: it is a lesson that must be carefully taught to each of us again and again, a confirmation that people have the right to be considered individuals beneath the watchful eye of unchanging men, and a song that should not cease because people are too blind to hear its call.



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