LONG ISLAND THEATER REVIEWS

If you're looking to enjoy some holiday cheer in the comfort of a toasty theater look no further than the Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center's production of the family favorite 'Annie.' Lavish sets by the masterful Patrick Grossman, a spacious house with a majority of plush red seats ...

Mental illness continues to have a stigma in this country and I applaud the Cultural Arts Playhouse for taking on a musical with such difficult and timely subject material. The passion this cast has for their production is evident through their dedication to diving head first into the emotional narr...

The show is wonderful to begin with; there is no doubt about that. Theatre Three's 35th annual production of the iconic Charles Dickens tale A Christmas Carol has certainly become a beautiful tradition on Long Island. Even with slight changes throughout the years, this ageless production is as spect...

You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, we're telling you why, Buddy the Elf is coming to town! In fact, he just opened an effervescent production of 'Elf The Musical' at the John Engeman Theater in Northport....

Ring them bells! Director Evan Pappas' lavish production of 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame' is the newest spectacle at The Argyle Theatre at Babylon Village and crowds are flocking to the timeless tale based on the Victor Hugo novel. A youthful troop of multitalented professionals tell the familiar st...

This year the Sag Harbor venue has mounted a superb showing of the classic jazz era play The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald adapted for the stage by Simon Levy....

Kicking off their incredible 34th season, The Hampton Theatre Company (HTC) offers Ken Ludwig's hysterical play A Comedy Of Tenors. This comedy farce is actually a sequel to Mr. Ludwig's Tony nominated play Lend Me A Tenor and the wonderful cast at HTC certainly delivers. And we indeed need some lau...

As all Long Islanders know, Billy Joel IS the King of Long Island. Occupying the throne as Queen is Pat Benatar. Sorry Mariah, but as it was experienced on October 12, 2018 at the Tilles Center, Benatar hit the stage with her best shot, fired away and knocked all competition for the title. I don't u...

In a superb offering, Oakdale's CM Performing Arts Center (CMPAC) presents Phantom at the Noel S. Ruiz Theatre. Not to be mistaken for the famous Andrew Lloyd Weber musical Phantom Of The Opera, this is a different take - though based on the same novel - that gives us more insight into who the Phant...

The latest offering from Long Island's BroadHollow Theatre Company is a delightful production of the worldwide blockbuster hit Mamma Mia! kicking off a sure to be dazling Fall/Winter season. Running through October 21st at East Islip's BayWay , this incarnation is excellently directed by Jason P. Al...

Dating three stewardesses at the same time seemed like a good idea yet in the Merrick Theatre's crowd pleasing production of 'Boeing Boeing,' all hell breaks loose when flights get cancelled and plane schedules change! (We're sure you can relate!)...

Leave it to Theatre Three in Port Jefferson to turn a snoozer on Broadway into a hit musical comedy on Long Island. Their latest production is 'The Addams Family' and it is funny, fabulous and pure nostalgia! Gomez, Morticia, and all of your favorite creepy crawlies are scaring up Port Jeff and gett...

Fly to the Argyle Theatre as fast as you can! Their latest production of 'Peter and the Starcatcher' is the best show on Long Island these days. With a clever book by Rick Elice, expert direction by Amanda Connors, and a troop of the hardest working actors on a local stage, the Argyle's first play w...

Northport's gorgeous John W. Engeman Theatre does it again with a stellar showing of theatre staple Man Of La Mancha, the second show of their dazzling 12th Season. This incarnation of the Tony winner, running through October 28th, is excellently directed by Peter Flynn and boasts an extraordinary c...

Admittedly, when Long Island's Noel S. Ruiz Theatre announced they were going to have a run of the musical The Rat Pack Lounge, I was a little bewildered. The show hasn't been on Broadway, this is the first time it is being done in New York, and, honestly, there wasn't much overall information about...

Some shows move you. Some shows run a chill up your spine. Some shows leave makeup and tears streaming down your face. This was my experience sitting in the intimate Circle in the Square Theatre, where 'Fun Home' premiered on Broadway in 2015 after an Off-Broadway run in 2013. More than three years ...

The Gateway theatre company's thrilling production of Flashdance, The Musical, is truly an electric way to end their busy Summer season. The sensational regional premiere, running through September 15th at the Patchogue Theatre, is excellently directed by Keith Andrews and boasts an absolutely super...

Long Island's BroadHollow Theatre Company continues a terrific Summer season with a superb production of the musical Little Shop Of Horrors. This incarnation runs at East Islip's BayWay Theatre through August 26 continuing at their Elmont location beginning September 1st. Directed by Jason Allyn and...

'Cabaret,' the 1966 Broadway hit that made Joel Grey a star, is alive and well at The Gateway Playhouse in Bellport. With a shocking book by Joe Masteroff and a tuneful score by 'Chicago's' John Kander and the late Fred Ebb, 'Cabaret' was alarming when it first premiered and gained momentum in recen...

The Bay Street Theater of Sag Harbor closes out their dazzling 27th Mainstage Season with a thrilling production of the Tony winning musical Evita under the clever direction of Will Pomerantz who also serves as Bay Street's Associate Artistic Director. Now running through September 2nd, this product...

...

While watching and enjoying 'We Will Rock You,' the latest hit musical at the Smithtown Center For The Performing Arts, you tend to wonder why the show's stars who belt out Queen's greatest hits aren't on Broadway. Gifted performers Andrew Murano and Danielle Nigro delight audiences as they breeze t...

The second act of Disney's 'Newsies' opens with a show-stopping number titled 'King of New York,' in which the Newsies celebrate their newfound celebrity in the press. The cast and production team of the John W. Engeman Theater's stunning production have equal reason to celebrate. Bringing to life a...

The incarnation of Bullets Over Broadway, The Musical at Oakdale's Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center (CMPAC), is certainly an enjoyable one. Strongly directed by CMPAC Artistic Director Patrick Grossman, the Long Island premiere, running through August 11th, spectacularly closes out ...

It's Memphis, Tennessee and disc jockey Huey Calhoun is showcasing a bright new singer and musical style on his radio show. The hip new sound of Felicia Farrell becomes a hit over the airwaves and the amateur is ultimately headed for stardom. Huey and Felicia's relationship goes from professional to...