Michael Raabe News

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld St. Petersburg Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 25th.

This beautifully surreal production of INTO THE WOODS is the finest production of a Sondheim musical I have had the pleasure of seeing on the stage.

freeFall Theatre's 2014/15 season, AN ESCAPE FROM REALITY, opens with Stephen Sondheim's classic musical take on what happens after happily ever after. INTO THE WOODS is one of freeFall's top-requested shows and is the second Sondheim musical produced at the theatre since the inaugural production of THE FROGS in 2010. Artistic Director Eric Davis has created a new and exciting staging that will delight and intrigue audiences of all ages with its imaginative storytelling.

freeFall Theatre's 2014/15 season, AN ESCAPE FROM REALITY, opens with Stephen Sondheim's classic musical take on what happens after happily ever after. INTO THE WOODS is one of freeFall's top-requested shows and is the second Sondheim musical produced at the theatre since the inaugural production of THE FROGS in 2010. Artistic Director Eric Davis has created a new and exciting staging that will delight and intrigue audiences of all ages with its imaginative storytelling.

Producers Don Frantz (Beauty and the Beast) and Jonathan Pollard (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) have announced that the new musical comedy DISENCHANTED! will make its New York premiere in a limited 9-week engagement at Theatre at St. Clement's (423 West 46th St. at 9th Avenue) beginning previews on Wednesday, November 26, 2014. Opening night is set for Thursday, December 4, 2014. With book, music and lyrics by Dennis T. Giacino, DISENCHANTED! is directed by Fiely A. Matias and features musical staging by Matt West (Lestat). Tickets are available exclusively to Audience Rewards (www.audiencerewards.com) members beginning Thursday, September 11, 2014 and will go on sale to the general public today, September 18, 2014.

Producers Don Frantz (Beauty and the Beast) and Jonathan Pollard (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) are thrilled to announce that the new musical comedy DISENCHANTED! will make its New York premiere in a limited 9-week engagement at Theatre at St. Clement's (423 West 46th St. at 9th Avenue) beginning previews on Wednesday, November 26, 2014. Opening night is set for Thursday, December 4, 2014. With book, music and lyrics by Dennis T. Giacino, DISENCHANTED! is directed by Fiely A. Matias and features musical staging by Matt West (Lestat). Tickets are available exclusively to Audience Rewards (www.audiencerewards.com) members beginning Thursday, September 11, 2014 and will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, September 18, 2014.

freeFall's Tandem Series returns with a series of concerts and shows each weekend in July! These shows are special events and will take place in freeFall's large auditorium. Admission is affordable and freeFall's bar will be open!!

freeFall Theatre's upcoming production of THE BURNT PART BOYS takes you out of St. Pete, Florida and deep into West Virginia's coal mines, following the very human experience of fourteen-year-old Pete, his brother Jake and their friends. As these daring young people journey into the coal mine known as "the burnt part", the same mine that took their fathers' lives, audiences are challenged to experience and perceive the streaks of light and the depths of the darkness that lie in each of us. By turns magical, inspiring, raucous, and playful it is a coming-of-age tale in the finest vein of the genre that people from all walks of life can relate to.

freeFall Theatre's upcoming production of THE BURNT PART BOYS takes you out of St. Pete, Florida and deep into West Virginia's coal mines, following the very human experience of fourteen-year-old Pete, his brother Jake and their friends. As these daring young people journey into the coal mine known as "the burnt part", the same mine that took their fathers' lives, audiences are challenged to experience and perceive the streaks of light and the depths of the darkness that lie in each of us.

freeFall Theatre's upcoming production of THE BURNT PART BOYS takes you out of St. Pete, Florida and deep into West Virginia's coal mines, following the very human experience of fourteen-year-old Pete, his brother Jake and their friends. As these daring young people journey into the coal mine known as "the burnt part", the same mine that took their fathers' lives, audiences are challenged to experience and perceive the streaks of light and the depths of the darkness that lie in each of us. By turns magical, inspiring, raucous, and playful it is a coming-of-age tale in the finest vein of the genre that people from all walks of life can relate to.

Before I go any further...THEY LOVED IT! They laughed out loud, whistled and cheered from the moment the show began. 'Bravo!', to the cast, musicians, creatives, and crew of 'DISENCHANTED'. I will see this one AGAIN and AGAIN! THIS IS A HIT!

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.

Cone Man Running Productions and Obsidian Art Space's popular 24 hour play festival, A SPONTANEOUS SMATTERING, was given a seasonal spin for last night's holiday edition. Drawing a crowd of theatre diehards, family, and friends, everyone in attendance was curious to see what these skilled and talented artists would create. Waiting for the show to begin, everyone was buzzing about the #smattering posts they had seen on Facebook, the writers' previous works, and their excitement about what they were about to witness. It doesn't hurt any that everyone was treated to a free shot as they picked up their tickets either.

I can only imagine that one would be hard pressed to find someone who is not familiar with William Shakespeare's HAMLET. It is often produced in theatres and taught in many classrooms; however, this familiarity with the show doesn't make it any easier to being to life on stage. It is an ambitious undertaking, and not one that most companies would schedule as their second production. Yet, Houston's up and coming Trebuchet Players gleefully took the challenge head on and created a satisfying and eclectic production that springs to life with their unique brand of theatre magic.

After the success of THE PRODUCERS, Mel Brooks gave YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN the Broadway treatment. The ribald musical comedy had it's pre-Broadway try out at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, Washington. It began previews on Broadway on October 11, 2007 and opened at the Foxwoods Theatre (then named the Hilton Theatre) on November 8. The show closed after 485 performances on January 4, 2009. The production launched two national tours, with the Second National Tour closing on May 31, 2012. Rights to the musical became available to regional theaters shortly thereafter, and many ballsy theatre companies are gladly taking on the ambitious project.

freeFall Theatre has announced an all-new cabaret as part of the immensely popular Tandem Series. Scott & Patti are back with a vengeance! Once again, Matthew McGee and Scott Daniel bring ghoulish glitz and glamour to St. Petersburg. This time, Florida's most outrageous mother & son double act are hosting a Halloween themed cabaret and costume contest.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, the Tony Award-winning musical that has captured the hearts of people all over the world with its universal story of life, love and tradition, kicks off freeFall Theatre Company's Season of Outcasts playing tonight, September 21 through November 3. Fans of last fall's smash hit, CABARET, will not want to miss this unexpected, daring and authentic staging of a Broadway classic.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, the Tony Award-winning musical that has captured the hearts of people all over the world with its universal story of life, love and tradition, kicks off freeFall Theatre Company's Season of Outcasts playing September 21 through November 3. Fans of last fall's smash hit, CABARET, will not want to miss this unexpected, daring and authentic staging of a Broadway classic.

On Saturday night, August 25, I had the pleasure of attending Cone Man Running Productions' annual twenty-four hour play festival, SPONTANEOUS SMATTERING. Although this was my first official Smattering, Saturday night was Cone Man Running Productions' third inception, and it was clear that they had gathered an avid fan base over the past two productions. A couple of laughs into the first short play, I could see why it has become such a popular event. This annual twenty-four hour play festival showcases the creative talent of local playwrights, directors, and actors and provides Houston audiences with a night of theatre that is anything but mainstream.

freeFall Theatre's production of the Tony-winning musical Spring Awakening is now playing through August 18. Check out the production photos below!