Melissa Giordano - Page 14

Nunsense, by Dan Goggin, playing at the John W. Engeman Theatre of Northport, is certainly a treat. It was never on Broadway per se', but has lead a very successful almost three decade life off-Broadway and at local theatres. Running through September 8th at the stunning Long Island venue, this production is all about fun.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, the latest offering from the BroadHollow Theatre Company, proves a very relatable story. The Pulitzer Prize winning play, by Tennessee Williams, has several themes that the cast wonderfully carried out on the intimate stage of Studio theatre in Lindenhurst. Among said themes are social etiquette, greed, superficiality, mendacity, sexual desire, and death. I think it is safe to say that everyone who sees this show could empathize with at least one of the characters and/or story lines.

Singin' In The Rain, the Tony nominated musical based on the famous MGM film, is certainly a must see among theatre attendees. With a screenplay by Betty Comden & Adolph Green and music by Nacio Herb Brown & Arthur Reed, Gateway's fantastic incarnation runs through August 10th and will surely have you leaving the theatre with a smile.

Hair - The American Tribal Love Rock Musical became one of my favorite shows when I saw the Tony winning revival in 2009 and then again in 2010. With that, one may have an unconscious hesitation when a local production of your favorite show is being mounted. No one should have that attitude and let me tell you, the cast at Soluna Studio in Hauppauge surely did not disappoint.

In watching 42nd Street at Creative Ministries Performing Arts Center (CM PAC), I couldn't help noticing that it seems the utmost important piece of this show is for the cast, wherever it may be running, be beyond top notch. There is no room for a weak link or it could come off really badly. Indeed, the cast of this Patrick Grossman directed incarnation is fantastic and delivers an energetic show.

Monty Python's Spamalot, the latest offering from BroadHollow Theatre Company, is indeed well done. This Jason Allyn directed incarnation wonderfully does the Tony winning show justice and the hilariously talented cast left the audience in stitches, even making light of some mishaps that occurred throughout the two act musical.

It was certainly a wonderful time at Port Washington's Landmark On Main Street as Broadway vet and television star Megan Hilty took the stage. The hour long set consisted of songs from the Seattle native's career, some she just felt like singing, and, most importantly, from her wonderful album It Happens All The Time which is available now.

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony award winning musical Into The Woods has long been done since it premiered on Broadway in 1987. It certainly puts a lot of pressure on the cast to breathe new life into the theatre staple. Now playing at Creative Ministries Performing Arts Center (CM PAC), directed by Tim Pappalardo, the cast was up for the challenge and wonderfully delivered.

Northport's Engeman Theatre has something special on their hands with their latest production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein's Tony Award winning musical South Pacific. Running through July 14, I'm sure there will be limited availability and sold out shows throughout the run so get your tickets early.

The Gateway's wonderful production of Grease refreshed my fondness for the pop culture staple. Like most people, I was more familiar with the popular movie incarnation that was based on the staged show.

The Long Island theatre season is certainly shaping up well. The nightlife on long island is always hopping and the theatre scene is a huge part of that.

To attend the Broadway Concert Series at Northport's stunning John W. Engeman theatre is a special treat. During their dark weeks, Producer and Host Stephen DeAngelis rounds up Broadways best for an evening of songs and stories of their careers.

A few times a year, some of Broadway's best perform at Northport's John W. Engeman Theatre for their ongoing Concert Series. This past weekend, Tony winner Anthony Crivello was part of the cast and took some time to speak with me as rehearsals were getting underway.

Creative Ministries Performing Arts Center (CM PAC) continues their fantastic season with the Tony Award winning musical Anything Goes. Patrick Grossman wonderfully directs (and does the sets and choreographs) the Cole Porter classic running through May 19th at the Oakdale, Long Island venue.

The Diary Of Anne Frank is truly a remarkable play heart wrenchingly highlighting the atrocities too many people unnecessarily endured simply because of the religion they were brought up on. Theatre Three's incarnation of the Tony winning classic, written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, is wonderfully directed by Jeffrey Sanzel, who is also the Artistic Director of the Port Jefferson venue. Now running through May 4th, the cast is beyond talented as they tell this horrifying tale of a young girl unwillingly forced to grow up too fast.

Norm Foster's comedy, Sinners, is the latest offering from the Broadhollow Theatre Company. The story hilariously makes light of grossly mistaken identities, extra marital affairs, and life's general chaos. This Marian Waller directed incarnation runs through April 21st at Broadhollow's BayWay Theatre in East Islip and continues at their Elmont location beginning May 18th.

It is always intriguing to see what Greed does to people. It is even more intriguing when it is hilariously made fun of. Sly Fox, presented by the BroadHollow Theatre Company, will have you rolling in the isles as a con-man (and his assistant) convince the community that he is near death and turns their greed against them for his own gain, with some twists along the way.

The uproarious production of Marc Camoletti's Boeing-Boeing that landed at Northport's John W. Engeman Theatre is indeed a brilliant night of theatre. Directed by BT McNicholl, the show runs through May 5th at the Long Island venue and let me tell you that the talented cast will put even the biggest sour-puss in a good mood.

I had the pleasure of seeing Broadway vet Adam Pascal in concert at the Tilles Center on the Long Island University Post Campus. The cabaret style show was held in a separate, cute room to the side of the grand concert hall with a high stage and seating that reminded me of a mini half-stadium. He is currently touring in support of his latest album, Blinding Light, and is accompanied by the wonderfully talented Larry Edoff (they tour under the name Me and Larry).