BWW Reviews: Theater Latte Da's Production of Sondheim's INTO THE WOODS is Sparse, Inventive, and Gorgeous
by Jill Schafer
- Mar 11, 2015
I first saw the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical fairy tale mash up INTO THE WOODS four years ago, and have seen it several times since then, including the recent star-studded movie. Every time I see it I like it more. I think Sondheim is like Shakespeare in that it has a very specific rhythm and cadence to it that takes a minute to get used to, but the more time you spend with it, the richer and deeper it becomes. Such has been my experience with INTO THE WOODS, so I was primed to love my favorite theater company Theater Latte Da's production of it. But it has exceeded my expectations, and even Sondheim newbies will be enthralled by this brilliant staging of a brilliantly written musical. Latte Da has pared down this big Broadway musical to something that feels intimate and innovative, using a small cast and orchestra, and inventive and thoughtful choices in every detail of the production. This, my friends, is Broadway re-imagined, or at least how I would like to see Broadway re-imagined. Simply put, it's sublime.
BWW Reviews: Children's Theatre Company's HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS is a Silly, Sweet, and Heart-warming Tale of Redemption and Love
by Jill Schafer
- Dec 1, 2014
'Tis the season for stories of sad, lonely, grumpy people who experience a change of heart and learn to love their fellow citizens, whether of London or Whoville. After a double bill of CHRISTMAS CAROLs last week, I saw a similar story this week in Dr. Seuss' classic fable HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS. Like Scrooge, the Grinch hates Christmas, people, and dogs. Also like Scrooge, the Grinch learns how wrong he was, not from ghosts but from one sweet open-hearted little girl. Where A CHRISTMAS CAROL is the perfect image of a Victorian Christmas, THE GRINCH takes place in the fantastical rhyming world familiar to anyone who's read Dr. Seuss, or had it read to them, as the case may be with much of Children's Theatre Company's audience. It's a bright and colorful, silly and funny, sweet and heart-warming tale of redemption and love.
Photo Flash: CTC's HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS Begins Tonight
by BWW News Desk
- Nov 11, 2014
Children's Theatre Company (CTC) remounts the holiday classic Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, on stage tonight, November 11, 2014 to January 4, 2015 on the UnitedHealth Group Stage. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in action!
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