BIRMINGHAM THEATER REVIEWS

This is a production with much attention to detail and talent. 'Matilda' is delightfully joyful, and unpleasant at the same time. The sweet with the sour is a delicate combination to make in any dish or story. Red Mountain Theatre Company delivers this delightfully structured tale about a brilliant ...

Professor Henry Higgins (Kyle Holman) rises to the challenge to turn lowly Eliza Doolittle (Kristen Sharp) into a proper English lady. Red Mountain Theatre Company is offering an exciting and colorful production of the classic 'My Fair Lady' that truly makes you want to dance all night....

Reaching for the American dream while adjusting to living under prejudice is exposed by Alfred Uhry's 'The Last Night of Ballyhoo' at South City Theatre. This Tony award winning play is a touching, relatable, and revealing look at the cost of acceptance. The story peels back the layers to expose the...

With Pride Week approaching, Birmingham Festival Theatre is on time with offering an emotional and striking production of Robert Anderson's 1953 drama 'Tea and Sympathy.' Set at an all boys' school in the early 1950's, the show tackles the fear, insecurity and the eventual anger that people under pe...

Jeff Goldblum and The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra delivered fresh arrangements of jazz standards and some cool improvisational jams. Goldblum effortlessly flowed with gleeful engagement with the hyped Birmingham audience. He gave personal stories, entertaining vamping, trivia games, answering question...

Alice (Emma Brooke Levering) is a young girl who after spying a curious white rabbit in a vest and coat run into hole. Follows it down and is whisked into a seemingly never-ending adventure. The all female cast provides a wonderful "Girl Power" dynamic in the show by the Birmingham Children's Theatr...

'Little Shop of Horrors' is a wonderful musical amalgam of sci-fi, horror, and doo-wop. It is a stylized musical that takes you on a tale of love between a guy and a girl, and the maniacal plant standing in their way....

'The Drowsy Chaperone' by Brick by Brick Arts successfully captures the joyful feeling of escape and mixes with a fun, mad-cap story, rich with 1920's tropes and characters. The plot of 'The Drowsy Chaperone' is not the highlight of the musical, and that's the point. It's how the story is told that ...

'Savage' is a powerful new musical conceived and developed by UAB Professor of Theatre Karla Koskinen. The touching story is based on the tragically true story of the life of Ota Benga played by the dynamic Royzell D. Walker. This young man from the Congo was paraded as an exotic attraction. This sh...

Finding Neverland is an imaginative look at the creative inspirations writer James Barrie molded into the magical world of Peter' Pans adventures. The play is full of heart and childlike wonder. It's not a children's show but it is one that children and adults will definitely enjoy....

'The Mountaintop' breaks that tired old piggy bank of the homogenized perception of Martin Luther King, Jr. Katori Hall's wonderful writing reveals the extent of how complex and troubled he was; enlightening the audience to want to know more. The incredible performances by Robert Burgins, Jr. and K...

David W. Chapman's original story takes creative liberties and dives into the last days of noted 18th-century English social reformer and humanitarian John Howard. The characters, storytelling elements, and framework carry similar notes found in classic Frank Capra films....

'Fun Home.' Based on the 2006 graphic novel / memoir by Allison Bechdel. The story draws you in as if you are turning the pages of the comic book of Alison life. 'Fun Home' is the first Broadway musical with a lesbian as the lead of the story. Her journey though life is told through a sequence of n...

This energized concert shook the pillars of Olympus with a powerhouse performance of two very popular and dynamic pieces of music.The concert hall was filled to the rafters with the voices of a massive choir. The power behind such a collection of voices and music was breathtaking....

'Evita' is a hybrid rock & opera musical interpretation of the life journey of actress turned 'spiritual leader of Argentina' Eva Peron (Yael Reich). Her saturation of power, extraordinary wealth, and status grows heavier. Bringing with it heartache and self-discovery....

'A Red Plaid Shirt' is fun comedy with many surprises woven into the play.The chemistry of the cast is a highlight. The polished comedy timing of each of the actors gives cadence to shows like 'The Honeymooners.' The heart of these characters make this look at retirement enjoyable for all ages....

This lively production of 'Savannah Sipping Society' showed it's never too late to make old friends or to try something new....

Walt Disney would turn over in his grave if he saw 'Wonderland Wives' at Theatre Downtown. That's the point. It is supposed to break apart the crystal slipper. This is a in your face comedy poking fun at the idea of perfect princesses in the family friendly genre. This is a fairy tale full of raunch...

'Guys and Dolls' is based off of a string of short stories by writer Damon Runyon. His forte was tales of the seedy underbelly of the New York City crime scene of the 20's and 30's. The cast has a list of colorful characters that chew up scenes. Director Victoria Boyce brings to life the stylized an...

'The Three Musketeers' is high adventure for all ages . Director Brandon Bruce delivers great theater combined with a high-energy stunt show. You are treated to dazzling sword fights, combat acrobatics, and a dramatic plot with interesting characters performed by amazing actors. This classic story i...

'Once Upon a Mattress' is a comical retelling of the 1835 fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson, 'The Princess and the Pea.' This fun song and dance show is reminiscent to the films like 'The Court Jester' starring Danny Kaye. Overall the production is a fun comedy representation of the real story b...

'Godspell' is a rock and roll expression of the story of Jesus's adult years without thumping a Bible over your head. If religion is Kryptonite to you, don't worry. This is rocking musical theater not a Pentecostal sermon. The touching music of the show highlights love, obtaining inner peace, embrac...

'Mamma Mia' brings touching ballads, tight harmonies and rocking dance numbers. The entire cast is beaming with much joy and pride in what they are doing up on stage. It's impressive production with vibrant energy. Audience erupts into cheers and applause during each of the chart topping hits by AB...

'Well' is set up as a one-woman show that just happens to have a cast of other people. Lisa (Holly Croney Dikeman) is filled with questions and observations around her sickly mother Ann (Carole Armistead). Lisa enters into her own internal production to find the answer to why some people get sick an...

'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead' brings laughs along with some deep reflections into the pool of probability. The play takes off like a rocket with consistent fast paced, pithy dialogue. This production is a cerebral buddy comedy/tragedy with a delightfully theatrical flair....