Marie Bailey

'Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion', states southern sage and beauty shop owner Truvy Jones in STEEL MAGNOLIAS. No line of dialogue describes so well the audience's experience while viewing this hilarious and touching play. And in Osceola Arts’ latest production of the Robert Harling classic the laughs (and tears) are plenty – orchestrated by six talented actors embodying these old friends from Chinquapin Parish, Louisiana.

Osceola Arts is thrilled to bring Steel Magnolias back to the stage. Beginning Friday, April 21st and running through Sunday, May 7th, the Osceola Arts Main stage will host this classic play, written by Robert Harling.

Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) has announced the cast and creative team for Jacqueline Woodson’s Locomotion, adapted from Ms. Woodson’s own book. The production will be directed by Talvin Wilks. See photos from the production.

The holidays are all about tradition. Hanging a familiar ornament on the tree, baking a special dish that is only made during this time of year, watching a favorite holiday movie or TV special in order to get into a festive mood, or yes, even the annual office holiday party. But in the world of musical theatre, there aren’t a lot of productions that fit this category. But the Renaissance Theatre Company in Orlando has decided to fill this void by offering once again this year its hit immersive musical experience, THE OFFICE HOLIDAY PARTY MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA SHOW – something I certainly had on my Christmas list after experiencing it last year – and like its 2021 premiere, it offers an innovative, unique, grown up, interactive and hilarious evening that is sure to put a smile on your face and put you in a holiday mood.

The latest standings as of Monday, December 12th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Orlando Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

The latest standings as of Monday, December 5th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Orlando Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

There’s something special about being the first audiences to see a new musical. For a musical theatre nerd like me, it is a thrill that is practically unmatched. And since I don’t live in New York City or thereabouts anymore, it is not something that happens that often. Which is why I was excited to be sitting in the audience for the first performance of an original musical, GORGEOUS, at the Renaissance Theatre Company. As Donald Rupe, Artistic Director and Co-founder of the Renaissance Theatre Company and creator (Book/Music/Lyrics) of GORGEOUS, shared during his curtain speech, the Ren aims to produce new and original theatre in Central Florida and beyond. And I am confident to say, as evidenced by this hilarious, irreverent and entertaining production, that mission is being lived out well by this not-even-a-year-old company, with a level of talent and passion that could hold its own with some of the most established theatres in the country.

This is the last chance to vote for the 2021 BroadwayWorld Orlando Awards! The 2021 Regional Awards honor productions which had their first performance between October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.

Time is running out to vote for for the 2021 BroadwayWorld Orlando Awards! The 2021 Regional Awards honor productions which had their first performance between October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.

We have all been there. The work party that you feel compelled to attend, whether you want to or not, where some years it is just a bit of egg nog and polite conversation, and others it is a night to remember (or forget, depending on how much you have to drink). Regardless of which type of shindig your company puts on each year, the one being staged at Renaissance Theatre Company under the extensive title THE OFFICE HOLIDAY PARTY MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA SHOW probably has them all beat. This immersive musical experience, the second offering for the new theatre company which was founded earlier this year, is a whole lot of festive fun, and it successfully carves out a niche in the typical holiday theatrical offerings – a grown up, alcohol fueled, interactive and immersive escape into the festivities of that often maligned, but underappreciated event – the annual office Christmas party.  

“Everything has its season, everything has its time..” So goes one of the more recognizable songs, “Corner of the Sky” from Steven Schwartz’ musical, PIPPIN, which is currently playing through April 25th at Osceola Arts. This lyric illustrates well the solid, entertaining and quite unique production – one which serves, as the director, J. Marie Bailey notes in the program, as a “social mirror” to reflect back on the community.

Osceola Arts continues into the Spring with another musical making its first appearance at the theater. Beginning Friday, April 9th and running through Sunday, April 25th Pippin will be live on the Main Stage. This musical, with music and lyrics by Steven Schwartz and book by Roger O. Hirson, is the fictitious telling of the young son of medieval French ruler, Charlemagne, who is in search of the secret to a life of fulfillment. 

Poet Langston Hughes questions in 1951 through his poem "Harlem;" What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" The legendary poem inspired Lorraine Hansbury to write the award winning drama A Raisin in the Sun eight years later. In 1959, Hansberry became the first African American women to have her play produced at New York's Barrymore Broadway theater in an era when women in general, regardless of ethnicity, were published. Opening in '59 with a primarily African American cast, the play heralded a dramatic change for theater audience in years to come. At Anoka's Main Stage Theater, Lyric Arts presents an outstanding revised thirteenth anniversary production of the play directed by Austene Van, which features a stellar cast, two tiered set designed by Peter Lerohl and lighting designed by Matt McNabb.

The Growing Stage, The Children's Theatre of New Jersey, located in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong, New Jersey is proud to present the world premiere productions of JOHN HENRY by Elise Forier Edie from February 8th through 10th and A BETTER PLACE TO BE by Stephen L. Fredericks from February 15th through 17th. Both productions will have performances on Friday evenings at 7:30 PM and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 4:00 PM. Both productions are under the direction of Stephen L. Fredericks, TGS's Founder/Executive Director.

Potatoes and bluebells and watermelon, oh my! Just before Frank Theatre's production of Alice Birch's new play REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN, I posted on Instagram: 'I'm not sure what I'm in for but I'm pretty sure it's gonna to be awesome. And 70 minutes no intermission.' I was right on all counts. I'm still not entirely sure what happened, but it definitely was awesome, and short. Short, intense, and powerful. A six-person cast, a half dozen or so scenes, and a descent into organized chaos. All around the concept of feminism, and deconstructing our assumptions and language around it. Brave and outrageous and impactful and yeah, pretty awesome.

We're halfway through the 11-day, 15-venue, 167-show Minnesota Fringe Festival. I've seen 25 shows, with another 20-some on the schedule for the next five days. Here are a few of my favorites so far. I haven't seen everything on my must-see list yet, so be sure to check that out for more recommendations and tips for Fringe newbies. And you can read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here. There are five days left of Fringe - so get out there and see some shows! Full schedule, venue, and ticketing information can be found on the Fringe's handy dandy website.

Herman Melville's Moby Dick has been called the 'greatest American novel.' Its story illustrates how true greatness is achieved - through diversity, inclusion, and hard work. Theatre Coup d'Etat's adaptation re-imagines the classic tale by showing a world that is gender, culturally, and racially inclusive.

Winner of the 1953 Tony Award for Best Play, The Crucible tells the story of a community consumed by fear, hatred, and a lust for power. John Proctor, a well-respected farmer, ends an ill-fated affair with his servant, Abigail. Spurned by the rejection of her first love, Abigail rebels by meeting with other young women to dance and explore the occult in the woods. They are caught, and through their effort to avoid juvenile punishment, the young women are used as a pawns by the fear-mongering patriarchs of the village to steal property from other surrounding landowners like Proctor. Weaponizing biblical teachings, utilizing fear-based rhetoric, and abusing their own political power, the religious leaders drive the community into a panicked frenzy that ultimately condemns 19 innocent men and women to their death.

The Dr. Phillips Center Florida Hospital School of Arts & Wellness announces the 2014- 2015 recipients of their annual Applause Awards with 21 schools from six counties of Central Florida (Orange, Polk, Seminole, Brevard, Lake, and Osceola). 

THE MISANTHROPE, a classic play with a new and unique interpretation is playing the Bryant Lake Bowl now, and BWW Minneapolis got to know a little more about the director who brought it there.