Rich Mehrenberg - Page 5

Broadway World is proud to present the following interview with two leads from EPAC's current school ​​​​​​​production of Les Miserables. Brett Devlin plays reformed criminal Jean Valjean and Ben Galosi plays his single-minded adversary, Javert.

The Fulton Theater's mainstage production of Cinderella has much to compare and contrast with their current fourth floor production of Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol. Whereas, Cinderella has a cast of dozens, JMCC is a one man show.

The Fulton's Christmas production of Cinderella is a real-life fairy tale. With lavish costumes, intricate sets, and a large, talented cast, this is a show designed for 'happily ever afters'. Although this show isn't specifically Christmas-themed, it is obvious that the Fulton pulled out all the stops, both creative and financial to bring their traditionally elaborate December production to the stage.

Dutch Apple Dinner Theater kicked off the holiday season with their current production of Miracle on 34th Street. I had assumed that this was a new musical based on the classic film, but after doing a little digging, it turns out it was written in 1963 by Meredith Wilson, creator of The Music Man. The show seems fresh with a few exceptions.

The Belmont Theatre's annual October offering is Blithe Spirit, a classic comedy about marriage and the ghosts of the past.

Don't let the name fool ya. EPAC's production of Something Rotten is totally fresh. In fact, it is their best show post-pandemic, by far. (Any show that rhymes 'penis' and 'genius' in it's first ten minutes is gonna crack you up!)

The course of true love never did run smooth, but a good Shakespeare play often does. That is my take away from a recently viewing of Gamut Theatre's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. This show is fresh, fun, and funny. The remarkable 24 character show was performed by 14 actors, which calls for a lot of double and even triple billing.

John Bishop's play The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 premiered at the Circle Repertory Company in New York in 1987 before opening on Broadway later that year. This ensemble play is the perfect lead-in to the Halloween season, featuring mistaken identities, secret passageways, murder, and lots of laughs. You can catch The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 at Gettysburg Community Theatre in person October 8-17 and virtually on demand October 22-24. Andrea Stephenson, who plays the character of Bernice, took a few moments to share her experience with the show:

Mamma Mia is the ABBA-infused jukebox musical about bride to be, Sophie (Jennie Nasser) and her quest to find out which of three men (Brent Schraff, Andrew Scoggin, & Justin Miller) is her biological father. It's a goofy premise, but most audience members are there to sing along to 'Dancing Queen', and not to put the plot under a microscope.

The Fulton Theater returns to the mainstage with Fun Home, its first production in over 18 months. While many other local theaters remained dormant during the last year and a half, the Fulton went through a well-deserved metamorphosis.

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BroadwayWorld is pleased to interview Rob Summers, who is slated to return to Dutch Apple Dinner Theater in Grumpy Old Men opening August 5.

Get out the Aqua-Net and leg warmers, Hershey Area Playhouse is taking you back to the 80's with their return to live theater, Rock of Ages. The show is both fun and funny. It doesn't take itself so seriously, in fact, at one point it makes a self-referential comment that the show is nothing but 'poop jokes and Whitesnake'.

Roald Dahl's children's classic, Matilda makes its way to the EPAC stage. The show is full of humor, energy, and a tribute to the underdogs of the world. Carly Geiter plays the eponymous character with spunk and joy. I was very impressed with how many songs and scenes she had to carry on her own. Each one reflected a great deal of confidence and stage presence.

The Devil Pours It Steady is the latest offering by local playwright, Tyler Rossi. The show is available for streaming now through July 23rd and is produced by the Orpheus Theater. Rossi's resume includes many compelling dramatic pieces including Verboten and End of the Line. The current work falls a little short.

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change is great summer fun at the Gretna Theatre. A modest four-person, four instrument, one set show is jam-packed with relatable jokes and tunes about all stages of romance-the good, the bad, and the ugly!

The Fulton Theatre dips their toe back into the water of live theater with their current production, Together, We Celebrate. The musical concert serves as an appetizer for what is sure to come in the months ahead. We look forward to a time when audiences feel more comfortable attending and theaters regain the resources for producing pre-pandemic caliber shows.

While it might not yet be quite Broadway-ready, Dutch Apple’s production is still a good time.

Overall, The Boys In The Band is a very solid piece.  It will make you laugh.  It will make you think.  It is a great contribution to Pride Month and an excellent return to glory for the EPAC company.

My recommendation is to 'get on your feet' and run to the Dutch Apple Box Office before this show sells out!