Sam Desmond

The story follows the grandson of Victor Frankenstein, Frederick, as a trip to Transylvania becomes less about sorting his dead grandfather’s estate and more about taking up the family business of accidental monster making. To help him in his quest, Frederick has a team of quirky personalities who round out the non sequiturs so ubiquitous in a Mel Brooks piece.

Playing on the main stage at Cultural Arts Playhouse in Syosset this spring is the operatic, rock ‘n rock “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

A sprawling, epic--literally biblical--story focusing on the deep-seeded bond of two brothers through the societal pressures both have to lead against each other, “The Prince of Egypt” at the Argyle Theatre in Babylon, is the musical for those who want to travel to another world but still feel the connection to human truths that span millennia.

Reverie Theatre Group presents ‘Edges,’ a funny, thoughtful, highly entertaining four-person song cycle, with no spoken dialogue or discernible plot, that explores the challenges of young adults, including family dynamics, career opportunities, and most significantly, the trials and tribulations of finding that special someone.

With a central character seemingly a charming, albeit selfish, peccadillo who goes on redemption journey to connect his passion with his dreams, “School of Rock,” brings humor, honor, and hype to the standing up for yourself no matter how “acceptable” the responsible path is presented.

The sweeping music and frenetic choreography of a musical and the arrow-piercing drama of a straight play are rarely found together in the same production, but “Jagged Little Pill: the Musical” currently playing at the Smithtown Performing Arts Center through April 19, is a rare melding of those two, and even rare amongst unicorns of theater that can run the gamut of human emotion.

What did our critic think of THE BODYGUARD at John W. Engeman Theater?

A bucolic tale of a small community—almost like the town square that Belle from Beauty and the Beast goes through—that makes a sharp turn into human rights violations, “Fiddler on the Roof” asks quite a bit from its actors to go from whimsical country life to a terrified ousted community deemed undesirable by their own government.

Feisty felines compete for centerstage through dance and song, with nary a meow as this show features no human characters. Currently playing at the CM Performing Arts Center in Oakdale is a mammoth of the musical theater repertory, “CATS.”

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Agatha Christie’s death, theaters across Long Island have been producing great works of the beloved mystery author true to the heritage of Christie and the spirit of her creativity.

The opening night production of “Annie” on Friday, March 6 at the Merrick Theatre & Center for the Arts marked the fourth viewing of the scrappy, upstart orphan I’ve seen this winter alone (there was actually a fifth I could’ve reviewed if BroadwayWorld hired me two weeks earlier).

A devastatingly timely production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” by Cultural Arts Playhouse in Syosset brings us to the small, earnest existence of Anatevka, a Jewish town in the Russian empire during the tumultuous turn of the century.

With theatre that touches upon the religious, it can be tricky to strike a balance between artistry and accuracy that carries the audience’s imagination instead of accidentally shunning creativity.

With exuberant dramatic tension and ballroom fluidity in blocking, the South Shore Theatre Experience’s production of “And Then There Were None” was filled with tension, retribution, and an impressive number of blood packets.

A musical forged in ambition of set, stage, and stamina, director Tommy Ranieri’s vision of a world only beginning to stand up for their rights was sprawling and spectacular. Unlike other versions of “Newsies,” Rainieri’s production had a maturity that touched the cast’s characters to truly feel they deserved better than the circumstances they were backed into.

Teenaged theater kids of my generation (elder millennial) loved “Rent.” It was youth-culture, it was edgy, and introduced to many of us suburban kids the magic of New York City where gay men, lesbian women, drag queens, and matinee-idol heteros could all be friends and love each other as family.

The John E. Engeman Theater found not only one, but five such super-talented individuals for their retrospective and introspective production of “Ring of Fire,” a musical based on the life of Johnny Cash.

The world of late 1930s Brooklyn is brought to life and elucidated in Theatre Three’s triumphant run of the Neil Simon classic,”Brighton Beach Memoirs.”

The ether of war-torn Britain is all-encompassing in “Alice By Heart,” but director Tony Frangipane’s vision overcomes the Nazi raids to create a personal hell of its own that the young characters escape through a British mainstay—literature.

CAP Syosset had their opening night for this winter’s production of “Annie” on Saturday, January 3 and it was a standout version of the classic rags-to-riches musical with a strong, bonded cast.