Paul Batterson

Columbus-based playwright Francesca DiFrancesco latest work, THE CALL, was sparked during a visit to Disney World’s “Country Bear Jamboree.”

As he enters his sixth season with the Abbey Theater of Dublin, director Joe Bishara is overseeing a lineup of shows that brings elementary school students, high school and college-aged performers, and senior citizens to the stage.

Comedian John Mulaney has famously raised a few uncomfortable questions about BACK TO THE FUTURE — why a teenager is best friends with a decades-older nuclear scientist, why no one uses a time machine for anything meaningful, and why the story hinges on Marty nearly romancing his own mother.

As he gears up for the Stage Right Theatrics Short Play Festival, director Robert Cooperman doesn’t have to look far to see how far the 10th annual event has come.

The challenges couldn’t be more different for actor Mike Bindeman. The actor went from playing laidback guitarist Gregg Allman during THE CHER SHOW to playing super geek George McFly in BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL.

Read out interview with Reese Cameron of SIX THE MUSICAL at the Palace Theatre

What did our critic think of AJR ACOUSTIC SET at Newport Music Hall?

Straight No Chaser has been a holiday tradition with many repeat attenders because their show doesn’t easily fit into a preset gift box. They are either a comedy group that harmonizes extremely well or an a cappella group that thrives because it doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you take away either skill, SNC would ferment quicker than eight day old eggnog.

What did our critic think of THE WIZ at Short North Stage?

At first glance, SOME LIKE IT HOT might seem to fall into the “If it’s not broken, don’t try to fix it” category of entertainment. The traveling musical production runs Nov. 18-23 at the Ohio Theatre (39 E. State Street in downtown Columbus).

In a kinder, gentler world, Ben Folds’ name would be mentioned in the same breath as piano greats Billy Joel and Elton John. Like the other two, Folds is a brilliant lyricist, a fantastic pianist, and an amazing storyteller.

Steve Morgan combined his head for mathematics and his heart for performing, majoring in both mathematics and music at Indiana University.

Playwright Jen Silverman’s script, expertly crafted by Jeanine Thompson and Michelle Schroeder-Lowrey, takes a pedestrian premise to places no one expected it to go.

From his perch on the stage, McCartney had a lot to take in from the sold-out audience. You might expect the crowd would come from the same template of older fans trying to surf on a wave of 1960s nostalgia. And there were some of those. However, there were also teens, college students, and members of Generation X, Y, and Z soaking in the show.

While it is a visual stroke of genius, THE WITCH OF NOVEMBER would have been lost at sea without standout performances of the six person cast.

Hackett didn’t fall below any standards; he set new ones. He delighted the crowd with electrifying solos and spread the spotlight around equally to the rest of the band.

What did our critic think of COLIN HAY'S MAN @ WORK VOLUME 2' INTERNATIONAL SOLO TOUR at Southern Theatre?

In the end, the choir’s music prevailed over any language barrier. The cavalcade of different voices kept the mostly full theatre dancing, raising their arms in agreement, and being moved by the power of things they couldn’t understand.