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CLEVELAND THEATER REVIEWS

The latest reviews and critic recommendations from Cleveland
BWW Review: Compelling PIPELINE Wisely Brings Up More Questions Than It Answers

BWW Review: Compelling PIPELINE Wisely Brings Up More Questions Than It Answers

by Roy Berko — October 23, 2019
Multi-award-winning Dominique Morisseau is one of America's new and, in the view of many, the best of emerging playwrights....
BWW Review: THE PENELOPIAD Relates A Tale Of Mythology, With Contemporary Undertones,

BWW Review: THE PENELOPIAD Relates A Tale Of Mythology, With Contemporary Undertones, At Ensemble

by Roy Berko — October 22, 2019
Most Americans know Margaret Atwood as the author of 'The Handmaid's Tale,' the multi-award-winning television series....
BWW Review: "Wakey, Wakey" leaves audience emotionally drained at Dobama.

BWW Review: "Wakey, Wakey" leaves audience emotionally drained at Dobama.

by Roy Berko — October 20, 2019
'Wakey, Wakey' leaves audience emotionally drained at Dobama....
BWW Review: Women-Centric JULIUS CAESAR at GLT is Bloody-Good

BWW Review: Women-Centric JULIUS CAESAR at GLT is Bloody-Good

by Roy Berko — October 8, 2019
Sara Bruner has proven once again that she is the queen of Shakespeare staging. As she did last season with her 'The Taming of the Shrew,' her women-centric version of 'Julius Caesar,' which is now on stage at Great Lakes Theater, is creative, well-formulated and long on clear message development....
BWW Review: MEMBER OF THE WEDDING is Less Than it Should Be at Beck Center for the Ar

BWW Review: MEMBER OF THE WEDDING is Less Than it Should Be at Beck Center for the Arts

by Roy Berko — October 6, 2019
The play 'Member of the Wedding' is based on Carson McCullers 1946 novel of the same name. The author also penned the script for the 1950 Broadway stage production which starred Ethel Waters, Julie Harris and Brandon DeWilde....
BWW Review: THE MUSIC MAN Gets Fresh, Dynamic, Engaging Production at GLT

BWW Review: THE MUSIC MAN Gets Fresh, Dynamic, Engaging Production at GLT

by Roy Berko — September 29, 2019
We are in the midst of 'The Music Man' blizzard. In the last year, Porthouse Theatre and The Shaw Festival have done the show, and a Broadway production starring Hugh Jackman as Harold Hill, will begin performances on October 15, 2020. Two-time Tony Award-winning superstar, Sutton Foster, will co-st...
BWW Review: COPENHAGEN at Cesear's Forum

BWW Review: COPENHAGEN at Cesear's Forum

by Roy Berko — September 22, 2019
...
BWW Review: Finely Written, Creatively Directed, Well-Acted, Funny, INTO THE BREECHES

BWW Review: Finely Written, Creatively Directed, Well-Acted, Funny, INTO THE BREECHES! at CPH

by Roy Berko — September 22, 2019
As the lights come up on the Tony Winning Cleveland Play House's opening production of its 104thseason, it's 1942 and the Oberon Play House (a stand-in name for CPH), is about to open its season. There is a major problem, however. The plays scheduled are all Shakespeare, the company's males are all ...
BWW Review: STUPID FU***ING BIRD Takes Glorious Flight at Dobama

BWW Review: STUPID FU***ING BIRD Takes Glorious Flight at Dobama

by Roy Berko — September 9, 2019
The lights dim. Joseph Lyle Dunn, who we later learn is portraying Conrad, the play's protagonist, comes stage center and says, 'The play will begin when someone says: 'Start the fucking play.'' As if on cue, a member of the audience yells, 'Start the fucking play,' and it does!...
BWW Review: Hello! BOOK OF MORMON Delights Once Again in its Return to Connor Palace

BWW Review: Hello! BOOK OF MORMON Delights Once Again in its Return to Connor Palace

by Roy Berko — September 9, 2019
How many times can you see 'Book of Mormon' and continue to be delighted? I'm at #8 and counting! Yes, the Huntington Bank Series touring production of the irreverent look at religion, racism, Mormon up-tight piety and all things ridiculous, is back again, and, if you can believe it, better than eve...
BWW Review: BWU's Musical Theatre Program And The Cleveland Orchestra Create An Encha

BWW Review: BWU's Musical Theatre Program And The Cleveland Orchestra Create An Enchanted Evening

by Roy Berko — August 27, 2019
What happens when you meld together performers from the 'top destination for any student who wants to study musical theatre,' one of the leading orchestras in the world, and a recognized classic of the American theater lexicon? You get a production starring past and present Baldwin Wallace Universit...
BWW Review: LOBBY HERO at Blank Canvas Asks, 'What is the Moral Thing to Do?”

BWW Review: LOBBY HERO at Blank Canvas Asks, 'What is the Moral Thing to Do?”

by Roy Berko — August 24, 2019
Kenneth Lonergan is noted for writing about decent people who are unexpectedly challenged by issues of ethics. In his 'Lobby Hero,' now on stage at Blank Canvas, the 2016 Oscar winner for 'Manchester by the Sea' specifically asks, 'What happens when emotions come in conflict with principles.'...
BWW Review: THE LION KING at State Theatre, Cleveland

BWW Review: THE LION KING at State Theatre, Cleveland

by Roy Berko — August 12, 2019
There is an old adage in the theater that an audience should not leave a musical theater production whistling sets and costumes. In other words, it should be the music and story-line that are most important....
BWW Review:  Clevelanders Invade Shaw Festival--2019

BWW Review: Clevelanders Invade Shaw Festival--2019

by Roy Berko — August 4, 2019
...
BWW Review: THE MUSIC MAN at Porthouse (Kent State University)

BWW Review: THE MUSIC MAN at Porthouse (Kent State University)

by Roy Berko — July 28, 2019
Meredith Wilson's 'The Music Man' is one of American musical theatre's most produced shows. Professional, community and educational theatres stage the show on a regular basis. The songfest, which is as American as apple pie and a Fourth of July fireworks display, is now on stage at Porthouse Theatre...
BWW Review: Nicely Conceived CHESS Production Enhances A Weak Script at Near West The

BWW Review: Nicely Conceived CHESS Production Enhances A Weak Script at Near West Theatre

by Roy Berko — July 22, 2019
Most musicals follow the tried and true pattern of being written in a format that it is expected to be examined and redone through a series of readings, rewrites, staged readings, rewrites, previews, more rewrites, and, if lucky, a full-staged production. As the process continues the script and scor...
BWW Review: Kids And Choreography Enhance MATILDA At The Beck Center

BWW Review: Kids And Choreography Enhance MATILDA At The Beck Center

by Roy Berko — July 15, 2019
What do 'James and the Giant Peach,' 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and 'George's Marvelous Medicine' all have in common? They were all written by Roald Dahl....
BWW Review: THE TOXIC AVENGER is a Slapstick, Double Entendre Farcical Delight at Bla

BWW Review: THE TOXIC AVENGER is a Slapstick, Double Entendre Farcical Delight at Blank Canvas

by Roy Berko — July 14, 2019
Blank Canvas has a niche audience. They love slasher, off-the-wall, ridiculous plotted plays, especially musicals....
BWW Review: Emotional, Humorous, Heroic COME FROM AWAY At Connor Palace/Playhouse Squ

BWW Review: Emotional, Humorous, Heroic COME FROM AWAY At Connor Palace/Playhouse Square

by Roy Berko — July 11, 2019
'Come From Away' is a special musical that creatively tells a heart-wrenching story of compassion, caring and a display of the best of humanity with humor and pathos. It makes for one of those special moments in the theater. The touring production is beyond excellent and is an absolutely must see!!...
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