PURPLE VENUE, LOWNDES SHAKESPEARE CENTER

by Joseph Harrison - April 21, 2024

In times of turmoil, oppression, and uncertainty, how do people cope? How do they find joy, hope, and freedom when all seems hopeless? In the early 1930’s many of the citizens of Berlin found ways to escape the realities of life and the rise of the Nazi party by visiting one of the many cabarets in ...

by Joseph Harrison - April 14, 2024

It takes a large imagination to come up with new ideas for the stage, and when the show in question is based on the books of one of the most beloved children’s book authors of the last century – it better be filled to the brim with creativity. Luckily, Orlando’s Little Radical Theatrics has done jus...

by Joseph Harrison - April 07, 2024

If you are looking for a fun, energetic, and uplifting musical experience, look no further than The Winter Park Playhouse's current production of FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE. This musical revue, featuring the songs of Louis Jordan, the 'King of the Jukebox', is a celebration of life, love, and music, with a...

by Aaron Wallace - March 21, 2024

Jagged Little Pill is a show with too many characters, too many concerns, and too tidy a conclusion (complete with a sitcom-ish group laugh at the end). Its heart is in the right place and its message well received, but it relies on an extraordinary confluence of extreme circumstances....

by Joseph Harrison - March 18, 2024

There are some standard musical theatre moments that never fail to take my breath away. From the powerful 11th hour “I want” song to a perfectly in sync kick line, certain musical mainstays will simply never get old for me. And one of the best examples of musical nirvana, I believe, is a well-choreo...

by Joseph Harrison - March 09, 2024

If you are a fan of country music, you will not want to miss MAY WE ALL: A NEW COUNTRY MUSICAL at Titusville Playhouse now playing through April 7th. This show, written by Troy Britton Johnson, Todd Johnson, and Eric Pfeffinger features songs by some of the biggest names in the genre, such as Billy ...

by Joseph Harrison - March 09, 2024

There’s a particular thrill getting to be the first in an audience for a new theatrical work. You can almost feel the time, passion and love poured into a piece when it finally makes it to the stage. And even if there are elements that could use refining, trimming or updating, the energy is unlike a...

by Joseph Harrison - March 03, 2024

It is hard to tell when a piece of pop culture is going to have a cult following. Would Richard O’Brien have believed you back in 1973 when THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW premiered in London if you told him that his quirky, but outrageously fun, musical would still be creating midnight madness all around the...

by Aaron Wallace - February 21, 2024

I can’t recall seeing a single show on the national touring circuit with costumes, lighting, and scenic design as sumptuous as those in Moulin Rouge!. Yes, the show is scaled down from its eye-popping, Tony-winning 2019 Broadway production (still running in New York), but as touring productions go, ...

by Joseph Harrison - February 18, 2024

In the world of jukebox musicals, the best way to ensure something entertaining and enjoyable is to either use the music in an organic way, often telling the story of the artist themselves or to go the opposite route and create something over the top with a loose narrative, allowing the audience to ...