Charlotte Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations

Review: THE SUNSET LIMITED at The Arts Factory
by Perry Tannenbaum - September 18, 2025

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

Review: AUSTEN'S PRIDE at Blumenthal Performing Arts
by Perry Tannenbaum - September 09, 2025

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...

Review: THREE BONE THEATRE PRESENTS 'ELECTRICIDAD' at Arts Factory
by Vickie Evans - August 18, 2025

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

Review: IMMEDIATE FAMILY DEBUTS IN CHARLOTTE, NC at Booth Playhouse
by Vickie Evans - August 11, 2025

'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....

Review: JUSTICE ON TRIAL at United Faith Christian Academy
by Vickie Evans - August 06, 2025

'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...

Review: LIFE OF PI at Belk Theater
by Perry Tannenbaum - August 18, 2025

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 m...

Review: THE TURN OF THE SCREW AT SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA at Dock Street Theatre
by Perry Tannenbaum - June 04, 2025

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...

Review: 'WHAT THE END WILL BE', Presented By Three Bone Theatre
by Vickie Evans - May 19, 2025

'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....

Review: PARADE at Belk Theater
by Perry Tannenbaum - April 02, 2025

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....

Review: MARY JANE at Three Bone Theatre
by Perry Tannenbaum - February 14, 2025

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

Review: A MUSICAL OFFERING at St. Mark's Lutheran
by Perry Tannenbaum - January 29, 2025

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...

Review: HAMILTON at Belk Theater
by Vickie Evans - January 16, 2025

'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....

Review: SOME LIKE IT HOT at Belk Theater
by Perry Tannenbaum - November 29, 2024

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 Casey N...

Review: JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING at The Arts Factory
by Vickie Evans - November 12, 2024

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....

Review: & JULIET at Belk Theater
by Perry Tannenbaum - October 25, 2024

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

Review: GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY at Blumenthal Performing Arts
by Perry Tannenbaum - October 05, 2024

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...

Review: BNS Productions Presents CLYDE'S
by Vickie Evans - September 17, 2024

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....

Review: THE INTERNATIONAL BLACK THEATRE FESTIVAL'S STAR-STUDDED GALA
by Vickie Evans - August 12, 2024

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....

Review: International Black Theatre Festival Noon-Day Press Conference
by Vickie Evans - August 06, 2024

The IBTF's Noon-Day Press Conference is one of my favorite events because it presents a snapshot of the planned activities for the week with a star-studded roster of theatre professionals....

Review: GRAMMY AND NAACP Award-Winning Saxophonist, Najee, at Knight Theater
by Vickie Evans - July 22, 2024

I was ecstatic to see the Grammy and NAACP award-winning jazz saxophonist legend, Najee, at the Knight Theater, in Charlotte, North Carolina....

Review: SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA CHAMBER MUSIC at Dock Street Theatre
by Perry Tannenbaum - June 09, 2024

Wiancko is more about theming each of the 11 concerts in the chamber series, more about the Zen of each program. Nuttall was laid-back and West Coast in his attitude: If you want to applaud between movements, go right ahead. A couple of times, Wiancko took what seemed like a Far Eastern approach, re...

Review: THE JAZZ STYLIST OF THE 'INCOMPARABLE SAMARA JOY' at Belk Theater
by Vickie Evans - June 06, 2024

There are no adjectives that can effectively describe the level of greatness in which Samara Joy delivers the sounds of Jazz. She is phenomenal and an 'old soul' in a beautiful contemporary body. She is on the frontline of bringing jazz to a new generation of followers....

Review: HOW TO BE AN ETHICAL SLUT at Comedy Arts Theater Of Charlotte
by Vickie Evans - May 31, 2024

What did our critic think of HOW TO BE AN ETHICAL SLUT at Comedy Arts Theater Of Charlotte?...

Review: HADESTOWN at Belk Theater
by Perry Tannenbaum - May 10, 2024

What did our critic think of HADESTOWN at Belk Theater?...

Review: MRS. DOUBTFIRE at Blumenthal Performing Arts
by Perry Tannenbaum - May 03, 2024

Pardon me a second, but I seem to be noticing stretch marks on my suspension of disbelief. Three nights before the curtain rose on the touring version of MRS. DOUBTFIRE that rolled into Belk Theater, I saw a rather fine production of Twelfth Night across town at Central Piedmont College. Since both ...