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It's tough to decide what I like more, a great production or a great new theater. Thankfully, I got both during my recent trip to Texas State San Marcos Department of Theatre and Dance. Their current production of Anything Goes is stunning, as is the new Patti Strickel Harrison Theatre.

The young, relatively new, City Shakespeare Company is offering a 90-minute modern take on Shakespeare's THE MERCHANT OF VENICE now through April 12, but the well-intentioned effort produces mixed results.

Once more, with feeling! This year's SDO Valentine offering, Donizetti's 1832 comic masterpiece, 'Elixir of Love,' echoed last season's midwinter love fest, the composer's 'Daughter of the Regiment.'

With an Elvis impersonator, drag queens and an assortment of other lovable characters, this is one show with such a unique plot that you have to see it to believe it!

We speak with Broadway legend, Cleavant Derricks on his rich history in theatre; new, challenging role at the Denver Center; and love of sci-fi.

Samantha Bond (Passion Play, Amy's View, Downton Abbey, Outnumbered) plays Muriel Eubanks, a glamorous divorcee looking for love in Beaumont-sur-Mer on the French Riviera and John Marquez (Privates On Parade, The Taming of the Shrew, Doc Martin) plays Andre Thibault, Beaumont-sur-Mer's Chief of Police.

Les Miserables opened on October 9th in Toronto, kicking off the 50th Anniversary Season for Mirvish Productions and marking the long-awaited Canadian return of the mega musical. The new '25th Anniversary Production' has been receiving rave reviews, and is Broadway bound in March of 2014. BWW has been bringing readers coverage featuring many of the cast members as we discuss the importance of Les Miserables and of this new production to Canadians. Today we're talking with the deliciously dynamic duo who take on the despicable roles of The Thenardiers - Cliff Saunders and Lisa Horner. They bring a unique flavour to the roles, portraying the characters darker than I've ever seen them while still getting some of the biggest laughs of the show.

This December, Chicago's acclaimed Spectacle company Redmoon presents the 15th Annual Winter Pageant featuring collaborators The Happiness Club of Chicago, Kalapriya Dance, Indonesian Dance of Illinois, Pineapple Dance Studio, Mexican clown artist Fernando Cordova Hernandez, aerialist Helena Reynolds and surf-rock band The San Andreas Fault. The approximately 50-minute-long production is directed by John Musial and Will Bishop with Redmoon Producing Artistic Director Frank Maugeri and choreographed by Pranita Jain. Redmoon's Winter Pageant takes place at the company's Pilsen home at 2120 S. Jefferson Street, tonight, December 13-15 and 20-22 (Fridays at 7 pm, Saturdays at 4 pm & 7 pm, Sundays at 1:30 pm & 4 pm). Press night will be opening night, Friday, December 13.

I recently had the honor and privilege of taking my six-year-old niece to her first ballet. It was Ballet West's The Nutcracker, a perfect choice for any child excited about the holiday season, ballet, and performing. The story of The Nutcracker dates back to 1816 and was written by E.T.A. Hoffman. Tchaikovsky wrote the score and The Nutcracker first premiered on Sunday, December 18, 1892. Since then, it has grown wildly in popularity and is considered a holiday tradition for many people.

It's the age-old story: young D'Artagnan (Will Haden) arrives in Paris looking for adventure and to pursue his father's place as one of the king's special guard. He is befriended by The Three Musketeers, Athos (Thomas Brazzle), Porthos (Anthony J. Goes) and Aramis (James Jelkin) and soon finds himself in the middle of swashbuckling swordfights, treason and romance.

This December, Chicago's acclaimed Spectacle company Redmoon presents the 15th Annual Winter Pageant featuring collaborators The Happiness Club of Chicago, Kalapriya Dance, Indonesian Dance of Illinois, Pineapple Dance Studio, Mexican clown artist Fernando Cordova Hernandez, aerialist Helena Reynolds and surf-rock band The San Andreas Fault. The approximately 50-minute-long production is directed by John Musial and Will Bishop with Redmoon Producing Artistic Director Frank Maugeri and choreographed by Pranita Jain. Redmoon's Winter Pageant takes place at the company's Pilsen home at 2120 S. Jefferson Street, December 13-15 and 20-22 (Fridays at 7 pm, Saturdays at 4 pm & 7 pm, Sundays at 1:30 pm & 4 pm). Press night will be opening night, Friday, December 13.

CHICAGO (November 13, 2013) – This December, Chicago's acclaimed Spectacle company Redmoon presents the 15th Annual Winter Pageant featuring collaborators The Happiness Club of Chicago, Kalapriya Dance, Indonesian Dance of Illinois, Pineapple Dance Studio, Mexican clown artist Fernando Córdova Hernández, aerialist Helena Reynolds and surf-rock band The San Andreas Fault. The approximately 50-minute-long production is directed by John Musial and Will Bishop with Redmoon Producing Artistic Director Frank Maugeri and choreographed by Pranita Jain. Redmoon's Winter Pageant takes place at the company's Pilsen home at 2120 S. Jefferson Street, December 13-15 and 20-22 (Fridays at 7 pm, Saturdays at 4 pm & 7 pm, Sundays at 1:30 pm & 4 pm). Press night will be opening night, Friday, December 13.

If you're a fan of live theatre, love the spirit of Halloween and are intrigued at the thought of great pieces of literature brought to life, then Wicked Lit might be the bubbling cauldron for you! The horror story adaptation series takes place within the creepy and beautiful walls of the Mountain View Mausoleum in Altadena and even ventures into the stillness of the cemetery. Yup, you'll really be surrounded by actual dead people all night.

TREASURE ISLAND, by Ken Ludwig. Arena Stage's Director of Community Engagement, Anita Maynard-Losh makes her return to Perseverance Theatre with a swashbuckling adventure the whole family can enjoy. Treasure Island is showing on the Perseverance Theatre Mainstage Nov 8- Dec 8, 2013. Tickets are now available through Hearthside Books, the JACC, online at perseverancetheatre.org or by calling 907-463-TIXS (8497). There are two Pay-As-You-Can Previews on Sunday, Nov 3 and Wednesday, Nov 6 at 7:30p.m. and two Pay-As-You-Can Performances on Sunday, Nov 10 and Thursday, Nov 14 at 7:30p.m.

The Liar/adapted by David Ives from the comedy by Pierre Corneille/directed by Casey Stangl/The Antaeus Company/review of the Tangerine Cast*

The only actor in New York to be performing in two shows and two languages simultaneously, Avi Hoffman is currently appearing in the world premiere of Samuel Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot' in Yiddish, and his own critically acclaimed one-man musical tour de force 'Still Jewish After All These Years' in English!

Nearly everyone has a cold, hard agenda

At the end of the day, PETER PAN AND WENDY is a great family show with some solid acting and design work. It's another victory for Imagination Stage.

And you think you have in-law problems?

It is hard to connect the soft-spoken young actor with whom I am conversing to the soul-singing, hip-swinging rogue he is playing onstage at the Pickard Theatre. Indeed, the more we chat, the more Kelvin Roston, Jr., who plays James 'Thunder' Early in the Maine State Music Theatre hit production of Dreamgirls, seems to be full of surprises.

Virtuosic performances, perfectly orchestrated direction and exquisite period detail render the decadence and divinity beautifully in Peter Shaffer's Tony Award-winning 'Amadeus' at New Repertory Theatre in Watertown, Mass.

Never underestimate the power of music - or jealousy. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is the greatest musical genius the world has ever known - God's instrument on earth. To Antonio Salieri, he is also a vulgar buffoon, a rival and an enemy to be destroyed.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran, Executive Director) announced that it will debut CIRQUE AT THE PLAYHOUSE this summer featuring two-week programs for youth, teens and adults; and will conclude with an intensive session and showcase for professionals interested in pursuing a career in the circus arts. The summer program will launch on July 15, with a showcase and festival finale planned for August 17, 2013.

Somewhere between the traditional feminine archetypes of maiden, mother and crone, there lurk other types of women. In THE SPINSTER, Kyla Davis presents one of these othered figures, challenging the audience's generalised perceptions of old maids and loose women through the story of a person who has chosen to shun typical interpretations of womanhood in the way she lives her life.

The Neo-Futurists explore the world of 'fate' in Analog. The show opens tonight, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland.