Sarasota Theater Reviews Page 3

BWW Review: THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG at Florida Studio Theatre is Comedic Perfection
by Jacob Ruscoe - March 06, 2022

By nature, musicals are vastly more popular than plays. They have a natural ability to engage an audience and if there are any lulls in the action, you have a high-flying musical number to bring the show back to life. A play has no safety nets. The actors must be dynamic and make genuine connections...

BWW Review: OUR TOWN at Asolo Rep is Simplistic and Powerful
by Jacob Ruscoe - February 09, 2022

The Asolo continues its season with the timeless play, Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” directed by Desdemona Chiang. Any time I see this classic piece on stage I am drawn to its simplicity. The show is typically done without a set or props and relies completely on the characters themselves to tell the...

BWW Review: CINDERELLA at Rise Above Performing Arts Showcases Talent and Imagination
by Nora Long - January 31, 2022

Rise Above Performing Arts brought a little magic to Sarasota this January with the Broadway adaptation of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. This crowd-pleasing rendition featured Rise Above’s large cast of talented young performers, and provided an opportunity for audiences of all ages to experie...

BWW Review: CINDERELLA at Manatee Performing Arts Center
by Jacob Ruscoe - December 07, 2021

It is time for a little bit of magic as Manatee Performing Arts Center produces their next mainstage production of “Cinderella.” The theatre touts Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella as the new Broadway adaptation of the classic musical....

BWW Review: COME FROM AWAY at Van Wezel all that you can want and so much more
by Jacob Ruscoe - November 24, 2021

It is such an exciting time with Broadway reopened. I spent a day recently in New York City and the hustle and bustle of the theatre district reminded me of why I love the city and Broadway in particular. I have seen a measly 73 shows on Broadway or ones that are part of a Broadway tour and I have r...

BWW Review: BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY at Florida Studio Theatre Brings Smiles Start to Finish
by Jacob Ruscoe - November 20, 2021

There are shows that make you laugh and others that make you cry. We go to the theatre and are swept away by all kinds of emotions. Some shows make us angry and others inspire hope. Then there are the shows that just make us happy. Above all else, “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” at Florida Studio The...

BWW Review: AT THE WAKE OF A DEAD DRAG QUEEN at Urbanite Theatre is a dose of love and reality
by Jacob Ruscoe - November 05, 2021

Sometimes theatre is different. Sometimes it is unique and thought-provoking with enough emotion to pull your heart strings and punch you in the gut all at the same time. There are times where a play is not conventional; yet allows its audiences to experiences an array of feelings that make us glad ...

BWW Review: SHADES OF BUBLE at Florida Studio Theatre
by Carolan Trbovich - August 15, 2021

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BWW Review: SHREK THE MUSICAL at Dingbat Theatre Project is Pure Entertainment
by Jacob Ruscoe - May 11, 2021

In a time where many theatres have struggled to survive, there is a new face in our community that is reimagining theatre during these unusual times. Dingbat Theatre Project is currently in production of “Shrek the Musical,” held at the outdoor theatre at The Bazaar on Apricot. The company has taken...

BWW Review: DISNEY'S DESCENDANTS at Ovation
by Jacob Ruscoe - May 05, 2021

Ovation Theatre took to the stage, or in this case the field to produce an energizing production of Disney’s Descendants. While the school’s spring musical production is typically held indoors, due to the pandemic the show was performed outside in Lakewood Ranch. The change of venue did not stop thi...