The latest reviews and critic recommendations from Charlotte.
Cirque du Soleil has been on a bumpy road in recent years with such dubious spectacles as Delirium and Paramour, but they've regained their zany, surreal, and mesmerizing swagger - and how! - with CORTEO, a smashing epic triumph.
Some of the jests of THE BOOK OF MORMON are starting to show some wear, but the buffoonery, vulgarity, and bold tastelessness still satisfy, and the dance ensemble on this third Charlotte go-round - along with Casey Nicholaw's choreography seem more brilliant than ever.
Choreography isn't as eye-popping in CPCC Summer Theatre's NEWSIES as the Broadway version was, but the hero's role and all the colorful elders are performed on the same lofty level as the impressive set design.
Who is or isn't prejudiced or racist is part of the cargo in Branden Jacob-Jenkins' APPROPRIATE, but the playwright also dissects what makes families tick and malfunction.
It takes decades for tragic losses and separations to turn around to bliss in Steve Martin's BRIGHT STAR, but there's plenty of sparkling bluegrass music along that rocky mountain road.
Trotting out its third different opening scene, GREASE still doesn't have its artistic act together, but it still delivers mindless, guilty, and politically incorrect pleasures in abundance - with double scoops of sock hop nostalgia.
Hamstrung by a libretto that sidesteps Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' and 'Mountaintop' speeches, Douglas Tappin's I DREAM sustains audience enthusiasm with a powerhouse Opera Carolina cast.
Charlotte's Off-Broadway takes a homespun approach to Matt Lyle's BARBECUE APOCALYPSE that makes it seem more real than it did in 2015.
Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, the more you know about Shakespeare and Broadway musicals, the more SOMETHING ROTTEN will have you laughing out loud.
While the crises of THE MERMAID HOUR seem more overblown than they did two years ago at Actor's Theatre, director Laley Lippard and her design team have brought fresh beauty and transcendence to the non-binary protagonist's aspirations.
Pennsylvania rubes visiting the Big Apple supply old-timey laughs to THE HUMANS, but the Twin Towers and Hurricane Sandy also lurk in Stephen Karam's drama.
Charlotte Symphony continues to shine in modern repertoire, but RITE OF SPRING: REINVNENTED was extra special as Charlotte Ballet also put its best foot forward.
Only slightly rushed, Katori Hall's THE MOUNTAINTOP arrives in style at its divine and visionary destinations in Actor's Theatre of Charlotte's production, directed by April Jones.
With her country-rich voice, Desi Oakley keeps the Southern heart of WAITRESS beating despite the silly lagniappe of the script and the tour's overmiked production.
CPCC Theatre's EVITA sports spectacular sets and costumes along with a regal, enigmatic leading lady who can belt, but they need to fix the audio for the leading men.
Chameleonic sports agent Liz Rico has the game to land top NBA prospect Freddie Luna straight out of high school, but KING LIZ will need fresh moves keep her phenom from self-destructing
A father and son have plenty to sort out in the wake of Mom's death in Meridith Friedman's THE LUCKIEST PEOPLE, while the son's gay lover wonders which of the two is behaving more childishly.
Sasha Janes strays too far from his comfort zone in his new piece, but CharBallet's INNOVATIVE WORKS features stunners by Robyn Mineko Williams and Myles Thatcher
Somewhat muted and diluted at cavernous Ovens Auditorium, the touring company of SCHOOL OF ROCK is as talented and high-energy as their Broadway counterparts - reminding us that Andrew Lloyd Webber can truly rock.
Reaching full bacchante mode, punk redhead violinist Aisslinn Nosky torched the Red Priest.
Meticulously directed by Paige Johnston Thomas, the Charlotte's Off-Broadway restores THREE DAYS OF RAIN to its original bearings, leaving us unexpectedly with a touch of bittersweet romantic comedy.
An autumn of BEETHOVEN presented by Christopher Warren-Green and the Charlotte Symphony ends triumphantly with his great VIOLIN CONCERTO, played with sensitivity and virtuosity by Benjamin Beilman.
In many ways, the deglamorized Actor's Theatre production of HAND TO GOD works better than the Broadway version.
Forget about Charlottesville and think about Charlotte when you go to see Three Bone Theatre's high-combustion revival of Ray Bradbury's FAHRENHEIT 451.
Arthur Miller still has a message for post-2016 America in THE CRUCIBLE, and CPCC tre iTheatre s serving it up hot.
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Here There Are Blueberries Three Bone Theatre (1/28-1/31) |
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Foothills Pops: Holiday Spectacular J.E. Broyhill Civic Center (12/04-12/04) |
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Masterworks: Romantic Masters P.E. Monroe Auditorium (5/22-5/22) |
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Rumpelstiltskin Flat Rock Playhouse (11/12-11/15) |
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The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales Creative Greensboro (10/22-10/25) |
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Six Degrees of Separation Theatre Charlotte (4/09-4/18) |
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The Rocky Horror Picture Show Spooktacular Tour with Barry Bostwick Carolina Theatre (10/17-10/17) |
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Masterworks: Splendid Tchaikovsky P.E. Monroe Auditorium (3/13-3/13) |
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Sister Act Flat Rock Playhouse (10/02-10/25) |
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Maytag Virgin by Audrey Cefaly Carolina Actors Studio Theatre (10/16-10/31) |
