BWW Review: Got Kids? Get 'Em to ANASTASIA!March 7, 2019The musical ANASTASIA is the most saccharine, sweet, and kid-friendly musical I've seen to date. This all-ages production is particularly well suited for introducing younger audiences to the magic of musical theatre.
BWW Review: FIRST SUBURB at The Catastrophic Theatre is All That and a Bag of ChipsNovember 20, 2018The Catastrophic Theatre's production of FIRST SUBURB is utterly relatable and simply unshakable. From the open to the close, the show felt like a hug from an old friend. Set in the 90's, the show actively triggers your sense memory, and immerses audiences into the way-back-when. But like most memories of yore, things are seldom what they seem. FIRST SUBURB delivers an evening of levity and warmth. And on these cold winter nights, there is simply nothing better.
BWW Review: LES MISERABLES at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts is a Dream (I Dreamed)September 27, 2018No need to bury the lede: this production of LES MISERABLES is the most true-to-Broadway theatrical experience I have ever had outside of the Great White Way. Cameron Mackintosh's subtle updates breathe new life into the classic material, and deliver one of those rarified theatrical moments in which everything comes together as intended - the kind of show where you catch yourself holding your breath, lest you miss a moment.
BWW Review: No Love for Andrew Lloyd Webber's LOVE NEVER DIESJuly 19, 2018LOVE NEVER DIES is an unmitigated disaster of epic proportions. The show is a study of what happens when someone in power values consumerism over content. It is a production propelled by run-amuck theatrical vanity, seemingly produced with the single intention of filling seats, backed by a marquee name. LOVE NEVER DIES is nearly unwatchable, and absolutely unworthy of your time and money.
BWW Review: A Modern Twist on the Classic Tale - GUYS & DOLLS at Theatre Under the StarsJune 17, 2018Despite its flaws, it's hard not to enjoy GUYS & DOLLS. The music is infectious, and the characters are memorable. This production isn't perfect, nor is it a rendition of the old classic; some attendees are bound to be startled or surprised by the modern twists. But if you know what you're getting going in, this show is worthy of your time and the ticket price. For families of all ages who want to have fun without a ton of thought, go!
BWW Review: STRANGERER Things on Stage at The Catastrophic TheatreMay 30, 2018STRANGERER things take place at the 2004 presidential debate, when President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry decide to murder PBS newsman and debate moderator Jim Lehrer. Absurdist playwright Mickle Maher's funny and farcical reimagining of the debate is as ambitious conceptually as it is comedically.
BWW Review: HAMILTON Hits Houston and Blows Us All AwayApril 27, 2018HAMILTON is inarguably fantastic. It is extraordinary in its ability to cross every boundary and connect with audiences from every background. It is a masterpiece, a true work of art. It is visually stunning, musically astounding and, from top to bottom, the very definition of theatrical greatness.
BWW Review: BRIGHT STAR Burns Out Too SoonMarch 17, 2018BRIGHT STAR follows two pairs of star-crossed lovers, two decades apart, all against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. And now through March 25, the Tony Award-nominated musical makes its home at the Hobby Center.
BWW Review: RIVERDANCE Amazes at the Hobby CenterMarch 15, 2018I have never written 'tour de force' without a hint of irony. But that's simply the most accurate way to describe RIVERDANCE - THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY WORLD TOUR. The longest-running and most popular Irish-centric international dance act in history has been seen by over 25 million people over 20 years for one reason: it's really, really good.