Plenty News

Kids in the Rotunda, Madison's favorite, family-friendly, FREE Saturday arts performance series, kicks off its 2023/24 season on Overture Center's Rotunda stage, starting with a returning favorite, David Landau, on Saturday, Oct. 7. This year's series includes 30 fun-filled Saturdays along with two special holiday events: Ken Lonnquist on Wednesday, Oct. 25 and Cash Box Kings on Friday, Nov. 24.

Luna Stage in West Orange, NJ is the site of the recording of the comedy special Affirmative Reaction. The audience will see the world through the eyes of eight irreverent Black women who are unapologetic about who they are.

The kind of movie that theatre kids (and theatre adults) everywhere will resonate with.

If you’re a Buffy fan, go and see this show – and you likely won’t need the rest of this review to convince you. Just go.

This perennial favourite seasons one of the bard’s most audience-pleasing works with irreverence, humour – and pastries!

PCS Theater has announced its production of the beloved musical Fiddler on the Roof, running from September 8th to 30th on the Players Club of Swarthmore  Main Stage. This timeless classic, with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and a book by Joseph Stein, continues to captivate audiences with its poignant story of tradition, love, and resilience.

This production of KINKY BOOTS by is a show with a lot of heart and a few too many technical glitches, especially related to the mics and sound design. Director Taylor Gruenloh, his cast, and crew get a lot right with this production. Good performances, fun choreography, and some inventive staging made this production of KINKY BOOTS entertaining, especially for those who love this show. Gruenloh didn’t take the easy route, keeping many of the fun elements from the original Broadway Production, and adapting them to a much smaller performance space. The upbeat Act One closer, ‘Everybody say Yeah,’ and early second act doozy ‘In this Corner’ were staged with all the intricacies and blocking of the original production. The presentation and choreography of these big numbers illustrate that with directorial vision a streamlined version of a big musical does not have to sacrifice memorable elements. But what was sacrificed was the energy and strong performances from the ensemble and featured players. Their mics were either left too low or not turned on, perhaps to avoid feedback or other issues. As a result, the dialogue, solos, and background vocals from the ensemble were often lost, significantly reducing the overall energy from the ensemble, not allowing this good production to achieve greatness.

Museum Late: Fringe Friday is a great concept and it is great to see snippets of different Fringe shows while exploring the Museum of Scotland at night, but it is a bit disappointing in its lack of organisation and small range of activities.

The Leeds Tealights prove themselves as a talented group of writers and performers, offering a funny hour of comedy.

The power and majesty of the orchestra was at the heart of this Prom, with a well put-together programme that included the European première of a BBC co-commission and two early twentieth century compositions from two of Russia’s most famous musical sons. It also felt quite story-driven across the board, though significantly so in the headline piece.

In the middle of the hustle and bustle, you’ll find PHD Terrace sitting high atop Dream Midtown. It’s a tourist destination for sure, due to its prime location and overlooking Times Square, but one a local can also get behind. 

Haverhill Arts Centre today announces the star cast for its in-house production of Dick Whittington, playing from 15 – 24 December. Haverhill's first homegrown pantomime for many years, Dick Whittington is written and directed by Dan Schumann, Haverhill Arts Centre's Creative Director, with set design by Trio Entertainment.

It’s showtime for the ghost with the most at Broadway San Diego as BEETLEJUICE has descended upon the San Diego Civic Theatre through August 20th. This musical, inspired by the hit movie, brings familiar characters and new adventures from this world and the Netherworld, with ghosts, demons, and even a sandworm or two. 

The brilliant Dead Ducks disappoint in their latest show but between the cracks are some good performers and ideas.

Here You Come Again: How Dolly Saved My Life in Twelve Easy Songs is a charming ode to Dolly Parton, playing through August 27th at Goodspeed Musicals’ Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, CT. Directed and choreographed by Gabriel Barre, the production is more than a jukebox piece, as it has a nicely delineated arc, though there is little suspense as to how the plot will turn out.

Nite Swim, Lily & Madeleine's forthcoming fifth studio album is an expansive journey introducing the listener to various vignettes of the duo's lives over the past five years. Its central thesis explores vulnerability, acceptance, embracing shame and acknowledging one's feelings rather than running from them.

Street Theatre Company’s residency at The Barbershop Theatre continues in its expected fine form as the groundbreaking company heads into the 2023-24 season with a gloriously sung production of 35MM – A Musical Exhibition, a song cycle from one of musical theater’s contemporary power couples: composer/lyricist Ryan Scott Oliver (who’s been tapped for stardom by critics, grantors, showtune lovers and theater-goers alike) and his photographer husband Matthew Murphy (whose pictures provide the inspiration for this particular endeavor and who has become one of the most regularly sought-after production photographers in the business).

Falling into the depths of obsession and addiction, Holly Sewell’s play Dazzling is a personal, perceptive one-woman-show from a talented team. Laying in her messy bedroom, we meet Alix (Charlie Scott-Haynes) as she complains about her boring summer school office job. Her story really starts when she goes on a night out with best friend Jan and meets Fiona. The pair begin a whirlwind romance, but as Alix falls deeper and deeper the relationship takes over her life a little too much. 

The Axelrod Performing Arts Center is pleased to present a one-night-only concert featuring ZTony Award-winner Lillias White, the powerhouse vocalist who is currently starring as Hermes in Broadway's Hadestown, at 6 p.m. Sunday, August 20.

Audiences can expect remarkable contemporary dance, powerful theatre, delicious cuisine, engaging conversations and brilliant musicians when OzAsia Festival, Australia’s leading contemporary arts festival engaging with Asia, returns to Adelaide Festival Centre from October 19 to November 5.