Review: Music Carries the Day in The Umbrella Stage Company's HAIRSPRAY
by R. Scott Reedy - May 6, 2026
In most, if not all, other mountings of “Hairspray: The Broadway Musical,” Tracy Turnblad is tucked under her bedcovers when audiences first see the young heroine, ready to show off her high-teased bouffant and let loose with the first notes of the rousing opener, “Good Morning, Baltimore.”
Interview: Peter Tate and Guy Masterson of PICASSO: LE MONSTRE SACRÉ
by Shari Barrett - May 5, 2026
Pablo Picasso’s obsession with his work often destroyed those he professed to love. Brilliantly incarnated by Tate in a challenging, powerfully intelligent study, Picasso passionately defends his reputation in an explosive, often disturbing voyage of self-revelation.
A History of Musicals About Friendship
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - May 10, 2026
Friendship is nearly always a side element in musicals. From the comic sidekick of the leading character to the backup pals who provide background vocals, friends are part of the fabric of many shows—but rarely are they the main event.
SPRING AWAKENING Original Broadway Cast: Where Are They Now?
by Sidney Paterra - Apr 11, 2026
Two decades after Spring Awakening first premiered on Broadway, BroadwayWorld is taking a look back at what the cast of this era-defining musical, including Lea Michele, Jonathan Groff, and more has been up to.
Party of One: Broadway’s Solo Show Takeover
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Apr 12, 2026
Broadway has a long history of one-person shows, including many that have been added to the canon in this century. Seeing one actor powerfully create a whole world on stage can be an exceptional experience. Of course, one handers are hardly one-person projects; while there may only be one actor on stage, they are collaborating with an entire team of creatives, designers, and behind-the-scenes personnel to bring a show to life.
Interview: Julie Reiber & Bryce Ryness of North Carolina Symphony's HOLLYWOOD HITS
by Jeffrey Kare - Mar 6, 2026
On March 13th & 14th, the North Carolina Symphony will be presenting HOLLYWOOD HITS. Two guest vocalists are coming down to the Triangle area to perform iconic songs from memorable movies and binge-worthy TV such as A STAR IS BORN, TOMMY, ROCKETMAN, BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, ROCK OF AGES, LOVE ACTUALLY, TOP GUN, ELVIS, and more.
Review: DISPERSION OF LIGHT at Desert Ensemble Theatre
by Audrey Liebross - Jan 28, 2026
Desert Ensemble Theatre’s (DET’s) world premiere production of DISPERSION OF LIGHT, a historical drama by Richard Rubin, is, as usual, brilliantly directed and acted and technically superb. Mr. Rubin has written a dark psychological study that requires a great deal of thought on the audience’s part. The production is a must-see.
The History of Musicals Starting Off-OFF-Broadway
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Jan 25, 2026
The history of shows that have transferred from off-Broadway to Broadway is well documented. Hundreds of Broadway plays and musicals started out off-Broadway before making the leap to a Broadway house. But much more rare is the circumstance of a show starting out off-off-Broadway (that’s right, two ‘off’s!) and traveling all the way to the main stem. One of these shows is playing right now, and is a major theatre success story with off-off-Broadway roots!
Review: The Huntington's FUN HOME Is That and More
by R. Scott Reedy - Nov 26, 2025
What did our critic think of FUN HOME at The Huntington? A funeral home may seem an unlikely setting for a Broadway musical, but it turns out to be an ideal backdrop for the deeply moving “Fun Home.”
A Complete Guide to the Plays of Samuel D. Hunter
by Sidney Paterra - Nov 2, 2025
Samuel D. Hunter’s plays have quietly shaped contemporary American drama. Known for their compassionate look at working-class lives in his native Idaho, Hunter’s works explore faith, loneliness, community, and redemption with remarkable empathy. Hunter (finally) just made his Broadway debut in 2025 with Little Bear Ridge Road, now running at the Booth Theatre.