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BWW Reviews: Despite Stellar Cast, Touring Production of MIRACLE ON 34th STREET Needs a Miracle
Greeting audiences with a familiar New York City backdrop painting framed in a gorgeous white paneling and seasonal decor, the touring production of "Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical" doesn't offer much beyond its original seasons' greetings. Despite a strong, talented cast, the musical only offe...
BWW Reviews: MEMPHIS Lives in Sacramento
The audience had no trouble taking the advice of Tony Award-winning musical "Memphis" in its final moments Tuesday night at the Sacramento Community Center. In a high-spirited finale, the cast sang, "Listen to the beat. Play it, obey it. Love it with your feet. Listen to your soul… let it make you...
BWW Reviews: DISNEY ON ICE Celebrates 100 Years
In one of the first numbers of Disney on Ice "100 Years of Magic," a host of genie duplicates from the classic film Aladdin cover the rink with their "magic," a small taste of the magic to come. The hour and a half celebration of Disney enchantment that follows retells shortened versions of several ...
BWW Reviews: Cirque's DRALION Works Best as Comedy with Acrobats Thrown In
If you're in the mood for one of the best clown acts in the United States, drive on over to Stockton Arena for Cirque du Soleil's "Dralion." Oh, there are plenty of awe-inducing moments of dangerous acrobatic acts and fantastic visuals, but unlike many of Cirque's other shows, "Dralion's" best foot ...
BWW Reviews: Audiences Happy Again Just Dancing and SINGING IN THE RAIN
Yes, yes, yes. It's a talkie. It's a musical talkie. And it has plenty of tap dancing cavaliers (well, in a figurative sense). OK, so it's not Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds; no one can beat the pair that made the classic film so memorable. But Good Company Players' lovely recreation for the Roger R...
BWW Reviews: I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE Makes For Perfect Date Night
It may describe the show's hilarious contents perfectly, but the title of Cosmopolitan Cabaret's current revue-style musical, "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," did not quite fit the sentiment of California Musical Theatre's audience opening night. Sure, the audience loved it. Yes, their gian...
BWW Reviews: Audiences Crazy for Music Circus' CRAZY FOR YOU
Climb the "stairway to paradise" at the Sacramento Music Circus production of "Crazy For You." Featuring the best of the Gershwin's classic songs, the California Musical Theatre production takes audiences to musical theatre paradise with perfectly staged comedy, all sorts of impressive dancing and a...
BWW Reviews: Music Circus Follows Tradition With New FIDDLER
Mozeltoff to Sacramento Music Circus on another strong production of a classic musical. Playing thorough August 19 at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, the current production of "Fiddler on the Roof" follows tradition while creating a laid back, down to earth staging. That staging sometimes takes away from ...
BWW Reviews: Ringling Circus Brings Back Magic of Dragons to Bay Area
Even with all the magic and all the fun, the thing I remember most from my childhood trips to the circus is my traditional circus cup filled with delicious flavored ice. So it's only natural that after a very long hiatus from Ringling Bros., I couldn't help but buy one of those overpriced, albeit cr...
BWW Reviews: Shirley Jones and Son Make Already Spectacular MUSIC MAN Beautiful
Mother-son pair Shirley Jones and Patrick Cassidy have more than star power. They embody love and sweetness every moment they stand on stage together. And the special "Till There Was You" duet they sing each night through August 5 at Music Circus - more than enough to leave a few damp eyes in the th...
BWW Reviews: New LITTLE MERMAID Still Entertains, but Fails to Fix Broadway Version
When you're dealing with a musical version of a classic like 'The Little Mermaid,' it becomes nearly impossible to botch a show enough to give viewers reason to hate it. You still have all the popular songs that everyone loves to sing along with (including one adorable little girl sitting in the bac...
BWW Reviews: Audiences Get a Kick Out of ANYTHING GOES
Apparently, anything goes at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto. Visit this stunning building this weekend and you'll find glimpses of "something shocking" as friendly ushers and ticketing staff welcome you, comfortable seats provide you with the perfect view and a standout orchestra begins pl...
BWW Reviews: Music Circus Opens With Charismatic GREASE
The ultimate musical on peer pressure, sex and parties, "Grease" always wins out as a good time, despite shallow characters that overshadow deeper truths. No one can deny the appeal of the 50s style rock n' roll music or the fun stereotypes of geeks, cheerleaders and "live life while you can" teena...
BWW Reviews: Fresno Comes Alive With THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Audience members laughed and smiled as if they had never before seen Rodgers and Hammerstein's "The Sound of Music" at Saturday night's Roger Rocka's Dinner Theater performance of the classic musical. Such fresh enjoyment testifies to the quality of a show so often done - one that seems to be poppin...
BWW Reviews: Broadway Sacramento Goes WICKED
Seven is the perfect number. Thursday night marked my seventh time seeing the hit musical "Wicked." Here's the countdown: Twice in San Francisco in high school, once in New York as a high school graduation present, three times in Chicago to see a family friend in the cast, and, now, once in Sacramen...
BWW Reviews: Runaway's KISS ME KATE is Simply 'Wunderbar'
"Another op'nin, another show. Four weeks, you rehearse and rehearse. Three weeks, and it couldn't be worse. One week, will it ever be right? Then out of the hat it's that big first night." Those opening lyrics to Cole Porter's classic musical had double meaning at Friday night's opening performance...
BWW Reviews: Broadway Sacramento Brings in a MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
On December 4, 1956, four legendary musicians ended up at the same recording studio in what turned into the dream jam session. In 2010, the historic day made history once again with its own Broadway show. And on Tuesday evening, the touring production of Million Dollar Quartet brought all the energy...
BWW Reviews: Broadway by the Bay's HAIRSPRAY Offers Strong Cast and Uplifting Message
Refreshingly different from its film counterpart, the original Hairspray musical offers all the highs of the movie set to the thrill of live performance. The changes from stage to screen can both enhance and take away from the charm of a musical. In the case of Broadway by the Bay's production of Ha...
BWW Reviews: Marin Theatre Leaves Strong Impression with Fierce Performances in OTHELLO
A slim moon and dark scenery set the mood for Marin Theatre Company's production of Othello. The foreboding atmosphere reminds audiences that, even during the happier moments of Shakespeare's classic tragedy, they are in for an intense, soul-stirring two and a half hours. ...
BWW REVIEWS: Superb Cast and Sets Make CCMT's SUNSET BOULEVARD Broadway Quality
Andrew Lloyd Webber's indisputable claim to fame, "The Phantom of the Opera," has made the composer a favorite of Broadway, West End and the masses. But while "Phantom" has its highly notable songs and romantic, breathtaking story, Webber's "Sunset Boulevard" surpasses it on so many levels. With mu...
BWW Reviews: BLAST Blasts Audiences Away, Comes to Modesto, SoCal
From start to finish, "blast" consists of creative, high energy routines that make every number equally mind-blowing. After an amazing opening act that boasts impressive choreography, the multi-tasking continues. I've always wondered how actors manage to burst into song after a long dance number, an...
BWW Reviews: Ballet Preljocaj Presents Stunning BLANCHE NEIGE in U.S. Tour
From the moment Blanche Neige begins - a pregnant, dying queen dragging herself across the floor and giving life to another in her own final moments - you know what lies ahead will challenge your preconceptions about the way Snow White's tale should be told. Yet as Angelin Preljocaj's ballet advance...
BWW Reviews: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN Brings Audiences to Life with Laughter
The humor of Mel Brook's "Young Frankenstein: The Musical" follows that of the original 1974 film, but adds just enough new punch lines to make the show fresh for the younger generations unfamiliar with the movie. The comedy of show even sometimes exceeds that of the film, which follows the grandson...
BWW Reviews: California Musical Theater Turns Favorite Musicals Into FORBIDDEN BROADWAY
A small piece of the national tour of "West Side Story" remains in Sacramento these next two months, but it's not what you might think. And while many anticipate the arrival of the hit musical "Wicked," they can get their Wicked kicks at California Musical Theater's Cosmopolitan Cabaret, but with mo...
BWW Reviews: Grittier WEST SIDE STORY Tour Delivers with Amazing Vocals and Choreography
The national tour of "West Side Story," which visits Broadway Sacramento at the Community Center now through January 29, updates a classic, not with modern reinventions and sets, but with a somewhat darker take on the musical's Romeo and Juliet story, as well as with new Spanish dialogue added for a...
Videos
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2026 Night Nation Run - Sacramento, CA CAL EXPO (10/24-10/24) |
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PRIMARY TRUST By Eboni Booth B Street Theatre (10/07-11/01) |
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Jonathan Van Ness: Hot & Healed Comedy Tour 2026 (18+) Channel 24 (10/08-10/08) |
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Peter Pan Goes Wrong The Fallon House Theatre in Columbia State Historic Park (8/21-9/20) |
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Three Days Grace, I Prevail & The Funeral Portrait at Golden 1 Center Golden 1 Center (11/17-11/17) |
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La Cage Aux Folles (The Bird Cage) The Nevada Theatre (5/29-6/20) |
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MrBallen: Lights out Live SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center (6/25-6/25) |
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WHEN MARTHA MET KRIS: THE SANTA CLAUS LOVE STORY B Street Theatre (12/02-12/27) |
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Back to the 80's: A Tribute Concert The East Sonora Theatre (5/15-5/31) |
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WORKING FOR CRUMBS By Kate Danley B Street Theatre (6/17-7/12) |
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