Since Dear Evan Hansen launched its tour in Denver, my Facebook feed has been filled with friends obsessing over its emotional magnitude, and rightfully so. The Tony-winner for Best Musical is a powerful piece. It tackles the kinds of subjects you don't often see in musical theatre.... (more...)
Not all shows need to have exuberant sets, notable actors, or even a solidified plotlines to be impactful. As we move further and further into the age of 'contemporary musical theater,' more song cycles - shows composed primarily of music with no dialogue and presented themes instead of a plot - are... (more...)
I'm probably not the only person catching their first professional production of Oklahoma! with the Denver Center Theatre Company. While the first Rodgers and Hammerstein collaboration has been performed plenty since its Broadway premiere in 1943, the DCPA's production is unique-nearly the entire ca... (more...)
Teen angst is not something to ignore. Often times, it is the only semblance of emotion that youths exhibit in hopes of finding comfort from others and answers from themselves. Just as these emotions are real, so too is the music that exemplifies these feelings. The combination of these ideas leads ... (more...)
In today's musical theater songbook, you'd probably find a handful of tunes from bio-shows and juke box musicals. From Carole King to Elvis Presley, there plenty of stories to tell, even if they are not those of the music artists. In Arvada's latest production, Mamma Mia, music sensation ABBA is hig... (more...)
Not every tale begins with 'once upon a time' just as they are not always a love story. Rather, a different kind of love - an equally important love - is presented. In Candlelight's Dinner Playhouse's latest production, Mary Poppins, the love between children and adults, whether it be between kids a... (more...)
In some ways, history is all we have in terms of building a brighter future. At times, we either forget that history, or we never learn about such events that would lead us to make more informed decisions. Remembering historical events clearly isn't the most sought after activity to spend your time.... (more...)
Throughout history, performance artists have become staples in pop culture, many of which can rightfully claim "icon" status. However, aside from music performance, songwriting has long been an underrated quality in the music industry. Even if songwriters become notable performers, it is not always ... (more...)
Art, above all, is subjective. It can be anything and everything if artistic intent is the drive behind the creation. With that in mind, art can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and quality. Such was the case for the touring production of Waist Watchers, The Musical at Lakewood Cultural Center. ... (more...)
Icon. A word of only four letters, and yet it holds so much weight for many people. It is not hard to think of musical icons: Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, even Britney Spears. Among the elite is also Gloria Estefan, whose own personal life is on full display in the latest show to come to DCPA, ... (more...)
In the history of musical theater certain shows have had their place in time while others seem to transcend lifetimes. Parents bring their children to the same musical that their parents brought them to at their age and suddenly a new family tradition has started. The nice thing about traditions is ... (more...)
You won't hear me complain about a musical with male strippers, but I got a lot more than I bargained for with The Full Monty, now playing at Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre.... (more...)
Let's be honest - you probably know exactly how you feel about Annie before you take your seat. You're either set to swoon over the spunky little orphan or groan after she reprises 'Tomorrow' a third time.... (more...)
Disney has a history of fantasy. Truly, this is the area in which they find their greatest achievements. Bringing such magic to the stage has long been in their wheelhouse. However, the land of imagination is not limited to fantasy. In Disney's Newsies, the only magic in the air is that which comes ... (more...)
As a child of the 90s, the classic Disney movies have a special place in my heart. The company's track record of transforming these tales into full-length musical productions has always been met with anticipation of how the magic of the movies will blossom on stage. The Little Mermaid, the current p... (more...)
Over time, we have come to a point where the musical theater genre is as identifiable as any other genre. In today's age, we have come full circle in that the line between musical theater and other genres is thinner than ever. Lin Manuel's Hamilton is a perfect example of the next generation of musi... (more...)
Theater is a business built on fantasy. We attend productions with suspended disbelief in an effort to step into a world different than our own, and yet, some of the most groundbreaking theatrical works are grounded in historical reference. Some of these shows are on my list of personal favorites, a... (more...)
Throughout musical theatre history, there have been many shows that have set a new standard for the stage. Among them are those that become classics of the musical theatre repertoire, such as Fiddler on the Roof, Carousel, and Candlelight's latest production, Man of La Mancha.... (more...)
Musicals generally give me all kinds of feels, but Passing Strange hit me deep. Give me an existential journey and I'm totally on board, but present it the way this musical does, and it could change the way you look at your own life.... (more...)
In case you are unfamiliar, Ragtime tells the story of three distinct groups of people in the early 1900s: highbrow Caucasians, middle-class African-Americans and poverty-driven immigrants, each with a titular character to represent the trials and tribulations they must overcome or be succumbed. Alt... (more...)
Originally a 1930s propaganda film, this parody musical follows the lives of Jimmy and Mary and their introduction to the devil's lettuce, leading them on a hysterical downward spiral filled with evil jazz music, sex and violence. Also a movie-musical, Reefer Madness is full of memorable songs and g... (more...)
BWW Review: DEAR EVAN HANSEN at the Denver Center
BWW Review: SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD at Aurora Fox Arts Center
BWW Review: DCPA's OKLAHOMA! is Somethin' Special
BWW Review: GREEN DAY'S AMERICAN IDIOT at Town Hall Arts Center
BWW Review: MAMMA MIA at Arvada Arts Center
BWW Review: MARY POPPINS at Candlelight Dinner Playhouse
BWW Review: VIETGONE Gives New Light to the War at DCPA
BWW Review: BEAUTIFUL, THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at DCPA
BWW Review: WAISTWATCHERS, THE MUSICAL at Lakewood Cultural Center
BWW Review: ON YOUR FEET at DCPA
BWW Review: Touring Production Gives New Life to LES MISERABLES at DCPA
BWW Review: THE FULL MONTY at Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
BWW Review: ANNIE at Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
BWW Review: DISNEY'S NEWSIES Sing All About It at Candlelight Dinner Playhouse
BWW Review: THE SECRET GARDEN at Performance Now
BWW Review: THE LITTLE MERMAID at BDT Stage
BWW Review: Students Steal the Show in School of Rock At DCPA
BWW Review: ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE Shines at BDT Stage
MAN OF LA MANCHA at Candlelight Dinner Playhouse is Sure to Leave You Smiling
BWW Review: Denver Center's Tommy is an Amazing Journey
BWW Review: Aurora Fox's PASSING STRANGE is Exceptional
BWW Review: RAGTIME at Midtown Arts Center is Captivating
BWW Review: REEFER MADNESS at Equinox Will Drive You Crazy
BWW Review: Arvada's SUNDAY IN THE PARK Connects All The Dots
BWW Review: Disney's ALADDIN Will Have You Wishing to See It Again
