Costa Mesa Theater Reviews Page 2

Review: Thunderous LES MISERABLES Tour Storms Back into Segerstrom Center
by Michael Quintos - September 22, 2023

Don't let the show's overall over-the-top theatrics dissuade you from experiencing this visually-stunning, showstopper-filled production which continues at Segerstrom Center through October 1. A boisterous, grandiose spectacle of overtly expressed emotions and overtly belted show tunes, LES MISÉRABL...

Review: Remarkable New Production of RENT Takes Up Residence at Anaheim's Chance Theater
by Michael Quintos - August 02, 2023

Featuring distinctively intuitive direction from Matthew McCray, and an amazing, youthful ensemble cast that are consistently giving it their all, this latest OC iteration of Jonathan Larson's Tony-winning 1996 rock opera is much more impactful than even past stagings that have toured---and is one o...

Review: South Coast Repertory Brings LA HAVANA MADRID to Mission San Juan Capistrano
by Michael Quintos - July 28, 2023

While the play-with-music has its fair share of interesting and even poignant moments, SCR's overall production feels surprisingly low-stakes, and only really becomes much more lively when it reaches its celebratory music-filled finalé. With its stories delivered via monologues, it becomes difficult...

Review: TINA - THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL Pulsates at Segerstrom Center
by Michael Quintos - July 19, 2023

Now at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through July 23, 2023, the musical is mostly engaging and passionately performed. But a chaotic, sped-through first act only provides brief vignettes of a challenging life. The better second act focuses on Ms. Turner's comeback, concluding with a m...

Review: THE WIZARD OF OZ Drops Into Musical Theatre West in Long Beach
by Michael Quintos - July 14, 2023

Delightfully charming but also now slightly dated, MTW's expectedly family-friendly, colorfully saturated production is indeed a lovely, mostly entertaining stage recreation of the movie classic. But curiously, at times, the show feels subdued and tamed-down, and in dire need of an extra jolt of ene...

Review: Powerhouse Vocals Energize SIX - THE MUSICAL at Segerstrom Center
by Michael Quintos - June 21, 2023

A musical theater show disguised as a kick-ass pop-rock concert with some powerful vocals delivering catchy songs, SIX - THE MUSICAL is a surprisingly absorbing, historical musical comedy that manages to convey several fully-formed character-driven narratives that have depth, gravitas, and spunk. Ea...

Review: JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Wows at La Mirada Theatre
by Michael Quintos - June 09, 2023

Joyful, dazzling, and an all-around delight, this fresh, smile-inducing new production---now on stage through June 25,2023---is a wonderful, pleasant surprise to say the least… and has easily become, hands down, this reviewer's absolute favorite iteration of this musical theatre staple ever....

Review: Emotionally Impactful World Premiere Play COLEMAN '72 Debuts at South Coast Repertory
by Michael Quintos - May 10, 2023

In between wiping tears from my eyes, what I witnessed was, by far, one of the most emotionally-impactful dramas I have seen this year, filled with heart-wrenching scenes, nuanced acting choices, and plenty of funny, incredibly relatable moments that pierced through the tension. A unique yet familia...

Review: Jason Robert Brown Shares His Gifts at OC's Segerstrom Center
by Michael Quintos - May 03, 2023

It's a rare treat when an actual living legend of musical theatre like Jason Robert Brown comes to our neck of the woods to talk about his work, let alone perform some of these works live in an intimate cabaret setting. But thanks to Segerstrom Center of the Arts, the composer gave us a spectacular ...

Review: New Production of THE KING AND I is Simply Glorious at the La Mirada Theatre
by Michael Quintos - April 28, 2023

Presented by McCoy Rigby Entertainment, this beautiful, mesmerizing, Broadway-caliber production of THE KING AND I has all the ingredients of a great revival done right, from its dazzling visual and technical components to the vibrant musical magic created by both its rousing orchestra and the talen...

Review: Drag Race Star Nina West Leads Hilarious New HAIRSPRAY Tour at Segerstrom Center
by Michael Quintos - April 25, 2023

As if the universe knew that our increasingly divisive country is in desperate need to revisit this hit 2002 Tony Award-winning musical again, HAIRSPRAY has now embarked on a brand new non-equity national tour starring RuPaul's Drag Race fan favorite Nina West. The show, now at Segerstrom Center for...

Review: Musical Theatre West's AN AMERICAN IN PARIS Dances Into Long Beach
by Michael Quintos - April 21, 2023

Though this song-and-dance spectacular first emerged as a lush, hypnotic stage adaptation of a classic movie musical that combined sophisticated ballet with exuberant show tunes, MTW's new 2023 regional production, now performing through April 30, 2023 somehow feels less mesmerizing---particularly d...

Review: DID YOU SEE WHAT WALTER PAISLEY DID TODAY? Scares Up Tons of Laughs in La Mirada
by Michael Quintos - March 25, 2023

An admirable, absurdly funny first full production of a brand new musical, WALTER PAISLEY, is perhaps one of the most enjoyable work-in-progress shows this reviewer has seen in a long time. This delightful world premiere production---filled with madcap antics and a humorously pulpy plot---continues ...

Review: Funny (and 'Fetch') MEAN GIRLS The Musical Arrives at OC's Segerstrom Center
by Michael Quintos - March 13, 2023

Featuring dynamic choreography from director Casey Nicholaw and new songs from Fey's hubby Jeff Richmond and lyricist Nell Benjamin, this stage adaptation of the cult hit movie (that will also soon be re-adapted into a movie musical) admirably recreates its quote-heavy 'fetch'-ness and anthropologic...

Review: The Funny Ladies Rule in Musical Theatre West's 9 TO 5 - THE MUSICAL
by Michael Quintos - February 15, 2023

Endearing and earnest, MTW’s new production of 9 TO 5 - THE MUSICAL---which continues performances at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach through February 26---is a pleasing musical comedy (adapted from the hit film) filled with hilarious dialogue, outrageous silliness, and, of course...

Review: Funny and Surprisingly Thoughtful RIDE THE CYCLONE Thrills at OC's Chance Theater
by Michael Quintos - February 10, 2023

Now having its California premiere at OC's Chance Theater in Anaheim through February 26, RIDE THE CYCLONE is a must-see, wonderfully odd, yet endearingly touching musical comedy that feels like a thoughtfully bonkers hybrid of The Breakfast Club and It's A Wonderful Life, with room for a dollop of ...

Review: Disney's FROZEN THE MUSICAL Finally Thaws at OC's Segerstrom Center
by Michael Quintos - February 05, 2023

After its pandemic-delayed pause, the first national tour of FROZEN THE MUSICAL has finally arrived at OC's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa playing thru February 19, 2023. A not-perfect but still enjoyable adaptation, the show, for the most part, is a creative and entertaining triumph o...

Review: Gleeful GREASE Revs Up Nostalgia in La Mirada
by Michael Quintos - January 27, 2023

Despite outdated, cringe-inducing tropes, McCoy Rigby Entertainment's new production of this ubiquitous rock-and-roll stage musical---now on stage at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through February 12---manages to still entertain thanks mostly to the superb musical numbers energetical...

Review: Musical Theatre West Charms with Lovely New Production of CINDERELLA Musical
by Michael Quintos - December 14, 2022

While many of the well-meaning narrative tweaks and modernized additions do seem slightly forced and somewhat at odds with the story's original innocence, for the most part, this revised CINDERELLA is a genuinely entertaining, effectively escapist musical filled with joy and magic. MTW's production ...

Review: Jessica Vosk is Beguiling in Solo Cabaret Debut at OC's Segerstrom Center
by Michael Quintos - November 21, 2022

Broadway fan favorite Jessica Vosk's solo cabaret debut at Segerstrom Center for the Arts---which opened Thursday, November 17, 2022 and continues for two additional shows through Saturday, November 19---is, quite possibly, the most enjoyable cabaret concert this reviewer has experienced at the Cent...

Review: Overwhelming Splendor Arrives with MOULIN ROUGE! at OC's Segerstrom Center
by Michael Quintos - November 17, 2022

Loosely adapted from Baz Luhrmann's 1999 hit movie, the campy, sensory overload that is the Tony Award-winning stage adaptation of MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL---now playing at OC's Segerstrom Center for the Arts through November 27, 2022---is an entertaining pop-music-tinged feast for the senses....

Review: Excellent Performances Empower A FEW GOOD MEN at La Mirada
by Michael Quintos - November 04, 2022

Undeniably compelling but also, at times, comfortably predictable, Aaron Sorkin's A FEW GOOD MEN is, for all intents and purposes, really a showcase for enthralling live acting performances. The McCoy Rigby Entertainment production continues at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through N...

Review: Musical Theatre West Hits Another Grand Slam with Fun-Filled DAMN YANKEES
by Michael Quintos - October 21, 2022

A truly fun-filled, ecstatically-performed iteration of this classic musical, MTW's Broadway-caliber production (now on stage at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center through October 30) is a definite must-see. The production's trio of terrific leads---Lesli Margherita, Jeff Skowron, and James Olivas...

Review: Powerful Play NINA SIMONE: FOUR WOMEN Stirs at South Coast Repertory
by Michael Quintos - October 18, 2022

Beautifully acted (and sung) by an exquisite ensemble of gifted actors, South Coast Repertory's production of NINA SIMONE: FOUR WOMEN is a thoughtful, gut-wrenching play---punctuated with spectacular musical performances---that dives deep into the soul-baring creative process of an artist hoping to ...

Review: OC's Segerstrom Center Welcomes Back HAMILTON Musical to Costa Mesa
by Michael Quintos - October 04, 2022

Now that the initial FOMO-induced, must-see hype of its early years has quieted down, is revisiting HAMILTON again in the room where it happens still live up to the hype in 2022? The answer, at least for myself, while witnessing the recent Opening Night performance in Costa Mesa is a very resounding...