CHARLOTTE THEATER REVIEWS

Kyle J. Britt's high-concept presentation of Annie Baker's Pulitzer Prize-winning play was hit-and-miss at the old Queens Road barn, crash-burning frequently on audibility and unfortunate sightlines. Prospects are better for fuller enjoyment at The Independent Picture House, where the run resumes th...

Musically and dramatically, THE OUTSIDERS plays like a top-notch chamber version of WEST SIDE STORY: less-heated animosities between the gangs, no symphonic aspirations to the music, and no hormones - none of these Greaser dudes has a girl! But when the music, the jagged choreography, and the specia...

Yes, Davidson Community Players’ executive director Steve Kaliski certainly had a point this past weekend when he declared, “My kingdom for The Autumn’s Tale!” DCP had invited Shepherd Shakespeare Company, which normally performs outdoors at The Barn on Monroe Road, to perform THE WINTER’S...

The event was a strong representation of the transformative power of the arts and the importance of creating platforms for Black playwrights and performers....

What a remarkable and entertaining night of theatre. 'Be A Lion' was absolutely sensational. Based on a spinoff of The Wizard of Oz/The Wiz, 'Be A Lion' answers the proposed question, 'What happened to the Emerald City after 'The Wizard' left? What an incredible journey with sensational songs and gl...

Tonight, I traveled back to my childhood as 'The Sound Of Music' stopped over at The Belk Theatre, in Charlotte, NC as it performs on stages throughout the U.S. on a national tour My seat mates and I sung every song to include: 'My Favorite Things', 'Do-Re-Mi', and 'Sixteen Going On Seventeen'. All ...

BESSIE COLEMAN, FEARLESS AND FREE was educational, inspiring, and uplifting. The storyline was impeccable, the cast was superb, and the use of technology enhanced the overall production. A great production for all ages....

What did our critic think of THE SUNSET LIMITED at The Arts Factory?...

What better way to celebrate Jane Austen's 250th anniversary than to introduce an admirable musical adaptation of her most beloved book, Pride and Prejudice? Thanks to Lindsay Warren Baker & Amanda Jacobs' AUSTEN PRIDE, we have a near-perfect celebration, beautifully balancing P&P's exquisite comedy...

Electricidad reminded me of West Side Story in concept with the Latin traditions, gang affiliations, and family expectations. Both, had tragic endings as well....

'Immediate Family' is a feel-good, fun-filled, “coming-to- age” drama with lots of twists and turns. It has several diverse storylines within a storyline. I loved the pace and the diversity of characters....

'Justice On Trial', written by Chad Cooper presented a compelling argument utilizing theatre of what a trial seeking reparations for African Americans for the evil deeds of slavery who possibly look like if civil rights attorneys sued the Department of Justice...

Lolita Chakrabarti, in her stage adaptation of LIFE OF PI seems to wish for a more delicate balance between the veracity of Pi’s two different tales of his harrowing sea adventure. Yet all the Award-winning artifices of puppetry, lighting, and projection that accompany his more fantastical version...

Spoleto Festival USA's bipolar weekend of WHITE BOX and POLAR BEAR & PENGUIN was an admirable pairing for young and old -but not as grippingly theatrical as the world premiere staging of Benjamin Britten's opera, THE TURN OF THE SCREW, retelling the ghostly Henry James novella under the direction of...

'WHAT THE END WILL BE' has a lot to unpack because it deals with three generations of men and the demons they constantly fight interfaced with the real-life societal issues they are currently dealing with....

As a Yeshiva boy with Ashkenazi DNA, my reaction to PARADE may have been more visceral than that of people who dislike OUR TOWN staging, see no reason for Leo Frank's lynching to become a big musical, or simply don't have Jewish skin and blood in the game....

What did our critic think of MARY JANE at Three Bone Theatre?...

Bach Akademie Charlotte brought a wondrous quintet to St. Mark's Lutheran for a rare live performance of A MUSICAL OFFERING - plus three other gems from three other composers in the court of Frederick the Great...

'Hamilton' is in the top three of my all-time favorite musicals. This cast left an indelible impression on me with their precise articulation and energetic dance moves. This is my third time seeing this remarkable production, I am ecstatic....

While Marc Shaiman's score often sounds effortful in striving to make SOME LIKE IT HOT what it was in the first place—a musical with cherry-picked hits for Marilyn Monroe to sing—the book by Matthew Lopez and Amber Ruffin helps the story and its main characters diversify and evolve. Director Cas...

JaJa's African Hair Braiding is a humorous depiction of West African immigrants. Even though it was funny, it also packed a powerful message of the challenge of deportation immigrants face....

What did our critic think of & JULIET at Belk Theater?...

At Belk Theater, with a house twice as large as the venues where GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY played London and Broadway, the touring musical seems more like a distant mirage than a precious rolling stone by a dream team.The Belk's wretched sound further hamstrings Conor McPherson's book and Bob Dyla...

This was my first time seeing any work by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, Lynn Nottage. I was delighted at the storyline of 'Clyde's' and the wonderful direction and casting crafted by BNS Productions....

THE INTERNATIONAL BLACK THEATRE FESTIVAL'S STAR-STUDDED GALA is one of my favorite events because it showcases the best of the best in theatre excellence. This event is equivalent to our Oscars....