F. Mitchell Dana

BWW Review: A CHRISTMAS STORY THE MUSICAL at Paper Mill is Holiday Magic for All
by Marina Kennedy - Dec 3, 2015

'A Christmas Story: The Musical' is not on stage at Paper Mill Playhouse through January 3rd. Directed by Brandon Ivie, this charming and exciting show will delight guests of all ages.

David Garrison, Betsy Morgan, John Treacy Egan, Ethan Haberfield and Tyler Moran to Star in Paper Mill Playhouse's OLIVER!
by BWW News Desk - Oct 25, 2013

Paper Mill Playhouse will continue its 75th Anniversary Season with the classic Charles Dickens musical Oliver!, with a holiday 'twist' for the entire family. With a book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, Oliver! will be directed by Paper Mill Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee with original choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Oliver! will feature David Garrison (Fagin), best known for his role as Steve Rhoades on the hit television series Married...with Children, Betsy Morgan (Nancy), John Treacy Egan (Mr. Bumble), Jose Llana (Bill Sikes), David Hess (Mr. Brownlow), Ethan Haberfield (Artful Dodger) and introducing Tyler Moran as Oliver. Oliver! will also feature 16 local boys from across the state of New Jersey who auditioned from a pool of over 200. Oliver! will play the Millburn, New Jersey theater from November 21 through December 29. The official press opening night is Sunday, December 1, 2013, at 7:00pm.

Arden Theatre Company's A RAISIN IN THE SUN Begins Today
by BWW News Desk - Mar 7, 2013

Arden Theatre Company, now celebrating its 25th Season of great stories by great storytellers, presents A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Directed by Walter Dallas, A Raisin in the Sun will run tonight, March 7-April 21 on the Arden's F. Otto Haas Stage.

Arden Theatre Company's A RAISIN IN THE SUN Begins 3/7
by Kelsey Denette - Feb 1, 2013

Arden Theatre Company, now celebrating its 25th Season of great stories by great storytellers, presents A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Directed by Walter Dallas, A Raisin in the Sun will run March 7-April 21 on the Arden's F. Otto Haas Stage.

Photo Coverage: Paper Mill Playhouse's BOEING-BOEING-Opening Night!
by Genevieve Rafter Keddy - Jan 23, 2012

With an intoxicating script by Marc Camoletti, Boeing-Boeing tells the tale of Bernard, an American playboy in swinging '60s Paris who juggles three flight-attendant fiancées-one American, one German, and one Italian. With the help of airline timetables and a phenomenally efficient housekeeper, he convinces each that she is his only love. But then a fast new Boeing jet puts the flight attendants on a collision course, hurtles Bernard's cunning deception towards disaster, and provides lift-off for laugh after laugh.

BWW Reviews: Muny Closes 2011 Season with Spirited Production of BYE BYE BIRDIE
by Harrison Kaplan - Aug 10, 2011

Audiences will probably be more familiar with the 1963 film version of BYE BYE BIRDIE from its innumerable screenings on television, with Dick Van Dyke, Ann Margaret, Janet Leigh, Maureen Stapleton and Paul Lynde all making vivid impressions under George Sidney's direction. But, seeing it live really is a special treat, especially on the expansive Muny stage. Opening night even provided the most gloriously mild weather one could have hoped for to enjoy this oft-played, but rarely perfected delight. Charles Strouse and Lee Adams wrote a number of memorable songs for this musical, and Michael Stewart's lightweight, but entertaining script which mixes romance and a satire on the cult of personality is a fairly sturdy framework to hang them upon. Happily, the production currently playing at the Muny is well worth your time and attention, and certainly beats seeing the film again for the umpteenth time.

BWW Reviews: Rambunctious Production's SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS - Entertaining and Engaging
by Harrison Kaplan - Aug 3, 2011

When the 1954 musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was initially adapted for the stage it didn't meet with much success on Broadway back in the early 1980's (film director Joshua Logan had actually optioned the story for a stage musical). Yes, it's yet another adaptation culled from the big screen, which has been par for the course at The Muny this season, although to be fair, most of them have fared quite well, and actually, with its old fashioned themes, original CinemaScope filming, and rustic backdrops, this one fits the huge Muny boards like a glove, allowing the natural beauty of the trees that grace the back area of the stage to fill in for the frontier setting as realized by Steve Gilliams' scenic design. It's also an energetic, dance driven show that's both entertaining and engaging.

BWW Reviews: The Muny's Delightful and Tuneful Production of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
by Harrison Kaplan - Jul 22, 2011

The movie version of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN is one of my all-time favorites. It has such an upbeat feel and infectious sense of humor that it's almost disappointing when you finish watching it, step outside, and it isn't raining. Happily, the stage version retains a great deal of the tone and vivacity that the movie contains, even though this kind of reverse-engineering usually winds up a mixed bag at best. But, The Muny's current production, even with the sweltering heat we're currently enduring, is worth braving the broiling for, with winning performances and a bevy of familiar hummable tunes that haven't lost a bit of their original charm.

BWW Reviews: The Muny's Lively Production of KISS ME KATE
by Harrison Kaplan - Jun 29, 2011

Following closely on the heels of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis' sparkling 1950's update of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, audiences at the Muny get the unique opportunity to compare and contrast the original with the musical remake as KISS ME KATE takes the stage in wondrous fashion. The chance to hear a swinging ensemble play Cole Porter's terrific score is reason enough to take in this production of Kiss Me Kate, but when you add in the eye-catching costumes, enthusiastic performances and lively dance numbers, you have the complete package.

Hewitt, Joplin, Holbrook et al. Lead KISS ME, KATE at Muny, 6/27 - 7/3
by Jessica Lewis - Jun 23, 2011

The 2011 Muny Season kicked off this week with the Muny premiere of LEGALLY BLONDE (June 20 - 26). Next, the Cole Porter favorite KISS ME, KATE (June 27 - July 3) will grace the stage. Following will be the Muny and St. Louis premiere of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID (July 6 - 14), opening Wednesday, and featuring 2 extra performances! Tapping its way across the Muny stage next will be SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (July 18 - 24). Complete casting for KISS ME, KATE has been announced!

BWW Reviews: SHOW BOAT at the Muny
by Chris Gibson - Aug 12, 2010

When I started writing this review I had Turner Classics on, and it just so happened they were playing SHOW BOAT. Funny how that works sometimes, when you've just seen a splendid live performance of a show the night before, and the next evening you stumble across Hollywood's take on the material. Seeing it live is always better, I think, and SHOW BOAT has a definite history with the Muny, a fact clearly reflected by the numerous stagings it's had since its initial appearance in 1930. But, that's to be expected, since this is the perfect venue for Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's memorable adaptation of Edna Ferber's sprawling novel. And as such, it provides us with a particularly grand finale for the Muny's 2010 season.