Central New York Theater Reviews Page 3

Review: THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY at Blackfriars Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - February 07, 2023

What did our critic think of THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY at Blackfriars Theatre?...

Review: MANDY PATINKIN: BEING ALIVE at Proctors Theatre
by Noah Casner - February 03, 2023

From the moment Mandy Patinkin stepped on stage, it was clear that this show was going to be something incredibly special. Met with thunderous entrance applause, Patinkin took a moment to absorb the audience response before promptly turning the applause around and clapping for us, the patrons who we...

Interview: Sam McLellan Of THE BOOK OF MORMON at Proctors Theater
by Iris Rogers - February 01, 2023

Prior to this week’s arrival of THE BOOK OF MORMON to Proctors, I spoke with Sam McLellan, who is currently playing the role of Elder Price on tour. His career includes some memorable moments, previously appearing as Dmitry in the national tour of ANASTASIA, and in the touring production of FIDDLER ...

Review: AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' at Geva Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - January 25, 2023

What did our critic think of AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' at Geva Theatre? It's curious that 'Ain't Misbehavin'' feels like such a perfect show for a Rochester audience, given that Fats Waller has no apparent Rochester connection; he was born in New York City, died in Kansas City, and spent the bulk of his sho...

Review: DANCING WITH THE STARS: LIVE! 2023 at Proctors Theatre
by Peyton VanDerheyden - January 17, 2023

A splendid evening, filled to the brim with glamour, laughs, and of course dancing!...

Review: MISS BENNETT: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY at Blackfriars Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - December 14, 2022

What did our critic think of MISS BENNETT: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY at Blackfriars Theatre?...

Review: COME FROM AWAY at Rochester Broadway Theatre League
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - December 07, 2022

What did our critic think of COME FROM AWAY at Rochester Broadway Theatre League?...

Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Geva Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - December 07, 2022

Christmas is a time of traditions. Be it caroling, making sugar cookies, decorating the tree, or hanging lights, folks love this time of year because of the traditions we create and revisit each December with our friends and loved ones. If you're like me, Geva Theatre's annual production of 'A Chris...

Review: SOMEWHERE at Geva Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - October 30, 2022

What did our critic think of SOMEWHERE at Geva Theatre?...

Review: JANE EYRE at Geva Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - September 24, 2022

What did our critic think of JANE EYRE at Geva Theatre?...

Review: TOOTSIE at Rochester Broadway Theatre League
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - September 23, 2022

What did our critic think of TOOTSIE at Rochester Broadway Theatre League? The Rochester Broadway Theatre League begins its 2022-2023 M&T Bank Broadway season with something fun and splashy, a perfect date night musical based on one of the 1980s' most beloved pop culture gems. 'Tootsie', the Robert ...

Review: MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT at Blackfriars Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - September 14, 2022

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Review: NEXT TO NORMAL at Mac-Haydn Theatre
by Marc Savitt - August 09, 2022

In their promotional materials for NEXT TO NORMAL, Mac-Haydn, advised it would be “unlike anything you have seen on our stage. Trust us when we tell you, this show is not to be missed.” I am very happy to say they were correct. This production is phenomenal....

Review: SEUSSICAL: THE MUSICAL at Blackfriars Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - July 26, 2022

What did our critic think of SEUSSICAL: THE MUSICAL at Blackfriars Theatre? Blackfriars' production of 'Seussical' showcases the talents of numerous young performers, from Yates' kind and sensitive Horton to Jade Hill's soulful Sour Kangaroo to the sassy stylings of the Wikersham Brothers (Danny Dob...

Review: JERSEY BOYS at Capital Repertory Theatre
by Jared West - July 20, 2022

Last night’s opening performance of JERSEY BOYS played to a packed house. Audience members sang along and danced in their seats, ultimately giving this cast a standing ovation. Not a bad way to wrap up the very first season for Capital Repertory Theatre (aka theREP) in their new home!...

Review: RISE at JCC Centerstage Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - July 12, 2022

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Review: MEAN GIRLS at Rochester Broadway Theatre League
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - July 06, 2022

What did our critic think of MEAN GIRLS at Rochester Broadway Theatre League? If you're looking for an excuse to don your pink and revisit the jungle of high school cliques, politics, and popularity contests, the Rochester Broadway Theatre League has just the show for you. Playing now until July 10t...

Review: SISTER ACT at Geva Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - July 06, 2022

What did our critic think of SISTER ACT at Geva Theatre? To close its 2021-2022 season, Rochester's Geva Theatre is presenting the musical adaptation of one of the 90's' most treasured cinematic gems, infused with a bit more disco, shenanigans, and tweaked to fit the confines of a stage. 'Sister Act...

BWW Review: THE BAND'S VISIT at Rochester Broadway Theatre League
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - June 08, 2022

What did our critic think of The Band's Visit in Rochester? The first words in 'The Band's Visit' are 'Once not long ago a group of musicians came to Israel from Egypt. You probably didn't hear about it. It wasn't very important.' These words don't exactly tee-up the audience for a musical full of s...

BWW Review: YOGA PLAY at Geva Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - May 25, 2022

Geva Theatre's second-to-last production of the 2021/2022 season is a techno futuristic-feeling comedy that takes the audience deep into the sunny California culture of fitness, yoga, spiritual gurus, and their intersection with today's social media-driven, brand-obsessed world. 'Yoga Play' traffics...

BWW Review: MY FAIR LADY The Licoln Center Theater Production at Proctors
by Marc Savitt - May 19, 2022

Directed by Bartlett Sher this production remains true to the original, but some updates have been made including some refreshing of the book and dialogue some of which shine a brighter light on the equality of the sexes despite social norms of the time.  Much of which was notably popular with the a...

BWW Review: PLACEBO at Out Of Pocket Productions
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - May 18, 2022

After a successful play reading in 2017 and a long hiatus due to COVID (for more of the backstory, see Jeff Siuda's director's note), Out of Pocket Productions is finally presenting 'Placebo', a quirky and thought-provoking play by Melissa James Gibson, at Rochester's MuCCC....

BWW Review: CALENDAR GIRLS at Blackfriars Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - May 10, 2022

If you're looking for a theatre experience rife with laughs, tears, cheekiness, dry British wit, and a not-insignificant amount of very-near nudity, I am here to tell you that Rochester's Blackfriars Theatre has got the show for you. 'Calendar Girls', a play adapted by Tim Firth and based on the 200...

BWW Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at JCC Centerstage Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - May 09, 2022

To end its 2021-2022 season, JCC's Centerstage Theatre is currently presenting 'Little Shop of Horrors', the 1982 doo-wop campy masterpiece from the twisted minds of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, and a stalwart favorite of the late 20th century musical theatre repertoire. Like most 'Little Shop' pr...

BWW Review: A 'Practical CATS' Performance at Proctors
by Kyle Christopher West - May 05, 2022

The ’80s delivered endless iconic pop culture trends like leg warmers, neon, Walkmans, Whitney, and Madonna. Broadway in the ’80s also saw a unique culture shift as British mega musicals like LES MISERABLES and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA began to take over the American stage. First on the scene, thoug...