Applause

Mr. Holland's Opus is a world premiere new musical currently running at the Ogunquit Playhouse based on the 1995 motion picture of the same title. It is a story set in San Francisco in 1969 about a successful musician and composer, Glenn Holland (Akron Watson) who switches careers to become a first-time music teacher at John F. Kennedy high school so that he can spend more time with his wife, Iris (Anastasia Barzee).

Dear Evan Hansen will pour your heart fit to overflow and then spend an hour eyedroppering it over the brim. The Tony-hoarding show has juggernaut bones and design. Despite less-than-lustrous vocal performance from greenhorn show star Anthony Norman, the touring cast does it earnest justice with stand-out acting from all cast members.

“Lola gains her strength from her resilience,” says Stephane Duret, who plays the drag queen star of MSMT’s KINKY BOOTS. “Sometimes she feels like an island, alone in this world she has created. But she survives. She’s got her Angels for support, her chosen family, and even when she gets a little slap in the face from Charlie, she comes back to their partnership. That’s her resilience.” “And Lola challenges others to be accepting and to change their perspective,” continues MSMT Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark. “I consider it important for MSMT to present something that can cause change in a community, and this show with Stephane’s and the entire cast’s unbelievable performances is doing just that!” His remarks draw applause from the capacity audience at MSMT’s final Peek Behind the Curtain panel discussion, moderated by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold, BWW’s Maine editor, on August 17 at Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick.

It’s been a long time coming; more than 25 months to be exact. That’s how long it has taken Mirvish Productions to confidently declare audiences have returned to live theatre in Toronto — and not just tentatively and in limited numbers, but boldly, loudly, gratefully, joyfully and in large numbers.

What did our critic think of THE NEW ROMANTICS at The Conrad 's Baker-Baum Concert Hall?

Henry Fielding's picaresque plot animated by witty lyrics from playwright Cary Gitter and ear-pleasing music by Max Silverman performed by a standout quintet of singing actors add up to a tour de force of a farce.

For her second collaboration on the ATMA Classique label, soprano Marie-Eve Munger releases Maestrino Mozart, an album devoted to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's rarely-heard arias composed between the ages of 10-16.

It’s been a long time coming; more than 25 months to be exact. That’s how long it has taken Mirvish Productions to confidently declare audiences have returned to live theatre in Toronto — and not just tentatively and in limited numbers, but boldly, loudly, gratefully, joyfully and in large numbers.

Continuing a massive year, history-making Brazilian global pop superstar Anitta serves up a sexy new single entitled “Lobby” with Missy Elliott. Anitta initially teased “Lobby” with a clip on TikTok, inciting widespread anticipation from fans worldwide. Watch the music video for the new collaboration now!

Hugh O'Connor is a most effective Dracula.

After thunderous applause and standing ovations in Europe, choreographer Christian Spuck's monumental production of Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece Messa da Requiem, featuring Ballett Zürich, will make its Australian debut in March with an exclusive season at the 2023 Adelaide Festival.

Brand new musical Anne of Green Gables is at the Goodspeed now through September 4, 2022. The classic story is brought to life in a heartfelt and clever folk-rock musical with beautifully developed and charming characters. he cast is absolute perfection and I would fight anyone who dares to change it. The writing and music is more than promising and I wish I could get my hands on this exact soundtrack. Anne of Green Gables is charming, well-written, and the performances are phenomenal. Don’t miss this bold and vibrant new musical.

Applause Books has announced the August 2022 release of Transforming Space Over Time a new book by Tony Award-winner Beowulf Boritt.

What a way to end the season- a toe-tapping, hilarious disco throwback.

ANNIE JR. at The Premiere Playhouse is a production in conjunction with The Penguin Project, an initiative that started in Peoria, Illinois as a way to empower children with special needs through theatre. The artists involved with Annie Jr. in Friday evening's production were partnered with a mentor performer and the results of their efforts were glorious.

The musical is all over the place, but key performances make this one show to go out of your way to see.

I had the honor of seeing the original Broadway cast of the Tony-winning musical Ragtime as my very first Broadway show. So, as you can guess, I am absolutely ecstatic to see that the Bay Street Theater added it to their fantastic mainstage season this year. This well done and heart rendering incarnation is excellently directed by Will Pomerantz - who also serves at Bay Street's Associate Artistic Director - and runs through August 28th at the gorgeous Sag Harbor venue.

Over its 70-year history, Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot' has been staged in many venues, but Colonial Theatre's current production offers a most congenial outdoor setting in Westerly's Wilcox Park. Combine that with stellar performances all around and deft, assured directorial choices, and you have a compelling evening worthy of the material.

Guitar virtuoso Julian Lage has shared “Tributary,” available now for streaming and download. An official live performance video featuring the formidable trio of Lage, bassist Jorge Roeder, and drummer Dave King premieres on YouTube. “Tributary” marks the latest single from Lage’s upcoming new album, View With A Room. Plus, check out tour dates!

Putting current events to the songs from musicals, this show is inspired.

The Music Man, a co-production with the Clay Center, will play at the Maier Performance Hall on October 28-30 and November 4-6, 2022.

It was all-hands on deck as the 54 Below team puts on a play.

One of Houston's newest theatre companies, The Garden Theatre, has announced its plans to bring a staged reading of While Childhood Slept by Sharon Sheppard and Jo Ellen Hubert to the MATCH and Holocaust Museum Houston. The original musical will run September 2-4, 2022 at Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston.

CABARET has an excellent cast, a talented band, and puts on a show that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. Leave your troubles and any acknowledgment of threatening reality at the door when you are invited to the Kit Kat Klub. Music, mischief, and mayhem lurk just inside, so come to the CABARET at Cygnet Theatre old chum, it's playing through September 18th.

Joe’s Pub has announced fall programming. This season presents incredible performances from Latine artists: Afro-Cuban jazz grooves from Dayramir González, an evening of Latin alternative music with Jessica Medina & Mai-Elka Prado, and more.

Photojournalist Thomas Salus returns to Broadway World Cabaret with a look at Scott Coulter's second year with GIVE MY REGARDS: A COMPETITION LIKE NO OTHER.

Multi-platinum and GRAMMY nominated recording artist Gavin DeGraw brings his “Face The River Tour” to Mayo Performing Arts Center on Friday, August 26 at 8 pm. Tickets are $109-$49.

What did our critic think of THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG at Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre? She couldn't stop laughing through the whole show.

There are just two weeks left to experience Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, in a new production by Ruth Stage at The Theater at St. Clements. Directed by Joe Rosario (Flowers for Algernon), this is the first production of the Tennessee Williams play that his estate has allowed to be produced Off-Broadway. This production will close August 14, as scheduled.

What did our critic think of LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL at Essential Health Plaza At The Lights?

Tony DeSare and three amazing fellow musicians have what it takes to make the people happy.

What did our critic think of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at FMCT?

She Kills Monsters also illuminates the ways in which our stories intersect with one another. Audiences can join in this humorous and dramatic story for four more performances at TAFE (Theatre Arts for Everyone) in York, PA. The cast and crew put together a production that is funny and heartwarming, evoking laughter and tears from the audience.

What did our critic think of STAGES “WAKES UP LITTLE SUSIE” IN SEASON OPENER, DREAM: THE MUSIC OF THE EVERLY BROTHERS at Stages?We all have that one or two friends who know everything about a niche topic. For example, I can tell you the entire timeline of the Harry Potter books, films, and spin offs. Much to the chagrin of my friends and family whenever we discuss them I am usually the one that corrects incorrect facts and states the phrase “Um, Actually!” to their annoyance. However, unlike me, Eric Anthony and Ben Hope have created a night of musical theater that transcends and uplifts their expansive knowledge on the rock n roll duo, the Everly Brothers into an amazing night of musical theater.

Psych-rock band Hooveriii (pronounced 'Hoover Three') released their new album A Round of Applause via The Reverberation Appreciation Society.  LISTEN/BUY HERE.

The 76th Festival d'Avignon officially concluded last night with Kae Tempest's The Line is a Curve at the Cour d'Honneur. This is the fifth album by Tempest. Previous works include Brand New Ancients, which I had the benefit of seeing some years back at New York's St. Ann's Warehouse. Their work in that instance was a transporting piece of storytelling. It was a very sober affair. The Line is a Curve started that way, but quickly became the cathartic rock concert to end the annual Festival.

It's mostly a beauty of a production with some beastly issues that get in the way. I have seen dozens of productions of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST over the years, but rarely if ever have I seen Belle connect with the title Beast. Usually the two come across as distant cousins at best, not a romantic pairing for the ages. Sometimes the rose has more personality than this duo. But finally--FINALLY!--we have a Belle and Beast who connect with the Tarpon Arts' latest production of this classic musical (music by Alan Menken; lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice; and a book by Linda Woolverton, although her name was misspelled on the front cover of the program).

Rock & Roll Reignited, one of Florida Studio Theatre’s current summer cabaret offerings, has been touring the country since 2016, breathing new life to some of the greatest hits of the ’50’s and ’60’s.

An intimate and sensitive performance.

​​​​​​​She's Not There is about Rob and Anna. When Rob meets Anna, he thinks she is the one. When Anna meets Rob, she thinks she can finally be happy. But there is a third party in the relationship that may destroy their union. Every night a shadowy monster called The Form seeps from the walls of Anna's apartment and tries to kill her. This play anthropomorphizes depression and explores how mental illness can devastate a person and the lives of those around them.

John Heffernan and Katherine Parkinson lead a superb cast in a brilliant realisation of director, Simon Goodwin's, conceptualisation of Shakespeare's comedy.

Voting is now open to pick the finalists for the contest to appear on the MacGyver musical original cast recording! MacGyver is not only a classic TV show, it's now a musical! After a very successful run of 'MacGyver The Musical' earlier this year, we're recording an album of the songs from the show.

In a small New York City jury room, on 'the hottest day of the year,' twelve men debate the fate of a young defendant charged with murdering his father. In form, TWELVE ANGRY MEN: A NEW MUSICAL is a courtroom drama; in purpose, it's a crash course in those passages of the U.S. Constitution that promise defendants a fair trial and the presumption of innocence.

In his debut show at 54 Below, actor Russell Harvard combines American Sign Language, musical storytelling, and a variety of musical genres to tell his own personal tale.

What did our critic think of SHREK THE MUSICAL at Artistry Theatre And Visual Arts?

What did our critic think of SOMETHING ROTTEN at Bayway Arts Center? With all the heaviness in the world nowadays, one thing to remember is that's it's OK to shut off the brain for an evening to indulge in true laugh-out-loud entertainment. Indeed, Studio Theatre's showing of Something Rotten, a Long Island premier, will help you do that in these crazy times. Running through July 24th at Studio's adorable East Islip venue, the Bayway Arts Center, this offering boasts an absolutely stellar cast.

Cyn returns with a new track, “House With A View,” an effervescent slice of pop and a perfect welcome back for the critically acclaimed artist.The new track arrives paired with a tongue-in-cheek music video, which was shot on location in Los Angeles’ Bel-Air neighborhood, directed by filmmaker Kyle Newman and featuring a cameo from Katy Perry.

Bublé originally cut this performance of the Olivia Rodrigo smash at BBC Radio 2’s biggest celebration of live music in a decade at London’s BBC Maida Vale Studios. Energized by accompaniment from the BBC Concert Orchestra, he adds another dimension to the Gen Z pop staple. Watch the new performance now! Plus, check out upcoming tour dates!

What did our critic think of HAMILTON at Ottawa's National Arts Centre?

Bucks County Playhouse is presenting an all-new production of Kinky Boots, running through July 30. BroadwayWorld spoke with Richard E. Waits and Jimmy Brewer about the magic of Kinky Boots, their favorite parts about Lola and Charlie, performing at the historic Bucks County Playhouse, and more! Read the interview here!