Dick Baker News

What did our critic think of ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE at Derby Dinner Playhouse?

Way back in those days of yesteryear, the early 1990's, Jeffrey Katzenberg was celebrating his success. He had almost single-handedly guided the Walt Disney animation studio back to glory after decades of reduced returns, and he had the bright idea to try to do the same to the live-action movie musical.

Derby Dinner Playhouse will present the comedy, LOVE, SEX & THE I.R.S., January 9 through February 17, 2019.

As a kid, I remember watching White Christmas (1954) every year with my family. When I got a little older I came across Holiday Inn, the 1941 precursor that also starred Bing Crosby, but paired with Fred Astaire, and introducing the song 'White Christmas'. There was a widely held opinion among some of my friends that it was the superior movie, an attitude that remained as long as we were only watching the edited version on commercial television. Because you see, they always cut the Blackface number. Once you see it, all innocence about this movie is lost. It forever tarnishes a film that contains two of Fred Astaire's most innovative numbers: the firecracker dance, and the drunken New Year's Eve tango that is a masterpiece of comic movement. Even for the time this number, egregiously inserted for the Lincoln's Birthday sequence (yes, it was once a holiday), seems shocking and offensive.

I'll be honest. I was not a huge fan of the musical Oklahoma! In my opinion, it's one of those creaky old chestnuts that gets done to death by every theater company at some point or another, right up there with other overdone 'classics' like The Music Man, My Fair Lady, or Oliver! I appreciate the historic value of these oldies, but I feel like newer and lesser-known fare gets shoved aside.

A delightful musical revue set in the era of barbershop quartets, FOREVER PLAID is what happens when the cute nerdy boys from the AV club form a band.

FOREVER PLAID BRINGS NOSTALGIA TO Straz Center For The Performing Arts' Jaeb Theatre

Show Palace Entertainment presents FOREVER PLAID, running tonight, July 19 - August 24, 2014. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Show Palace Entertainment presents FOREVER PLAID, running July 19 - August 24, 2014. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

freeFall's newest production opening tonight, April 26 and closing May 18 promises to be a real drag! Artistic Director Eric Davis directs this exciting new staging of a Gilbert and Sullivan classic. THE MIKADO stars Patrick Ryan Sullivan (Broadway's FORTY-SECOND STREET and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST) as The Mikado of Japan, Larry Alexander (Broadway's LES MISERABLES and CHESS) as Pooh-Bah and Tampa Bay's favorite actor/drag performer Matthew McGee as Katisha, the elderly lady. Scroll down for a first look at the cast!

freeFall's newest production opening on April 26 and closing May 18 promises to be a real drag! Artistic Director Eric Davis directs this exciting new staging of a Gilbert and Sullivan classic. THE MIKADO stars Patrick Ryan Sullivan (Broadway's FORTY-SECOND STREET and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST) as The Mikado of Japan, Larry Alexander (Broadway's LES MISERABLES and CHESS) as Pooh-Bah and Tampa Bay's favorite actor/drag performer Matthew McGee as Katisha, the elderly lady. Scroll down for a first look at the cast!

Casting has been announced for freeFall's upcoming production of THE MIKADO. freeFall Artistic Director Eric Davis directs this exciting new staging of a Gilbert and Sullivan classic. THE MIKADO stars Patrick Ryan Sullivan (Broadway's FORTY-SECOND STREET and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST), Larry Alexander (Broadway's LES MISERABLES and CHESS) and Tampa Bay actor/drag performer Matthew McGee.

Larry Kramer's unabashed indictment of the politics surrounding the early days of the AIDS epidemic debuted in 1985 and is no less surprising or powerful almost 30 years later. Set in New York City, The Normal Heart unfolds like a real-life political thriller as Ned Weeks and a close-knit group of friends shout into the darkness about what they see happening to their friends and community. This deeply moving play is part of freeFall's SEASON OF OUTCASTS, and plays through tomorrow, February 16. Scroll down to see Part 3 of The Making of freeFall's The Normal Heart!

Larry Kramer's unabashed indictment of the politics surrounding the early days of the AIDS epidemic debuted in 1985 and is no less surprising or powerful almost 30 years later. Set in New York City, The Normal Heart unfolds like a real-life political thriller as Ned Weeks and a close-knit group of friends shout into the darkness about what they see happening to their friends and community. This deeply moving play is part of freeFall's SEASON OF OUTCASTS, and plays through February 16.

Stephen Sondheim is arguably our greatest living theatre composer. Please join cast members of THE NORMAL HEART, along with a few special guests, on Monday, February 10th at 7:30pm as we celebrate the humor, the pathos, and the artistry of this theatre master.

This deeply moving play is part of freeFall's SEASON OF OUTCASTS, and plays through February 16. Click below to watch the first of three behind-the-scenes videos with the cast and creative team!

Larry Kramer's unabashed indictment of the politics surrounding the early days of the AIDS epidemic debuted in 1985 and is no less surprising or powerful almost 30 years later. Set in New York City, The Normal Heart unfolds like a real-life political thriller as Ned Weeks and a close-knit group of friends shout into the darkness about what they see happening to their friends and community. Their warnings erupt into all-out fury as everyone from government leaders, healthcare providers and the mainstream media ignore the mounting crisis. The Normal Heart was revived on Broadway in 2011 for a limited, sold-out run. It won three Tony Awards and has been made into an HBO motion picture starring Julia Roberts and Mark Ruffalo. This deeply moving play is part of freeFall's SEASON OF OUTCASTS, and plays through February 16.

Larry Kramer's unabashed indictment of the politics surrounding the early days of the AIDS epidemic debuted in 1985 and is no less surprising or powerful almost 30 years later. Set in New York City, The Normal Heart unfolds like a real-life political thriller as Ned Weeks and a close-knit group of friends shout into the darkness about what they see happening to their friends and community. Their warnings erupt into all-out fury as everyone from government leaders, healthcare providers and the mainstream media ignore the mounting crisis. The Normal Heart was revived on Broadway in 2011 for a limited, sold-out run. It won three Tony Awards and has been made into an HBO motion picture starring Julia Roberts and Mark Ruffalo. This deeply moving play is part of freeFall's SEASON OF OUTCASTS, and plays through February 16.

Larry Kramer's unabashed indictment of the politics surrounding the early days of the AIDS epidemic debuted in 1985 and is no less surprising or powerful almost 30 years later. Set in New York City, The Normal Heart unfolds like a real-life political thriller as Ned Weeks and a close-knit group of friends shout into the darkness about what they see happening to their friends and community. Their warnings erupt into all-out fury as everyone from government leaders, healthcare providers and the mainstream media ignore the mounting crisis. The Normal Heart was revived on Broadway in 2011 for a limited, sold-out run. It won three Tony Awards and has been made into an HBO motion picture starring Julia Roberts and Mark Ruffalo. This deeply moving play is part of freeFall's SEASON OF OUTCASTS, and plays through February 16.

Larry Kramer's unabashed indictment of the politics surrounding the early days of the AIDS epidemic debuted in 1985 and is no less surprising or powerful almost 30 years later. Set in New York City, The Normal Heart unfolds like a real-life political thriller as Ned Weeks and a close-knit group of friends shout into the darkness about what they see happening to their friends and community. Their warnings erupt into all-out fury as everyone from government leaders, healthcare providers and the mainstream media ignore the mounting crisis. The Normal Heart was revived on Broadway in 2011 for a limited, sold-out run. It won three Tony Awards and has been made into an HBO motion picture starring Julia Roberts and Mark Ruffalo. This deeply moving play is part of freeFall's SEASON OF OUTCASTS, and plays through February 16.