Thousand Oaks Theater Reviews

BWW Review: THE LARAMIE PROJECT at Elite Theatre Company

by Cary Ginell — July 26, 2018

The 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming, is dissected in this riveting anatomy of a hate crime, and how it affected the residents of that small town.

BWW Review: OTHELLO at Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival

by Jeffrey Scott — July 21, 2018

BWW Feature: THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN at Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival

by Jeffrey Scott — July 10, 2018

The Kingsmen Shakespeare Company will kick off its 22nd year with its first staging of 'The Two Noble Kinsmen' under the direction of a newcomer to the festival who has nearly 40 years of experience.

BWW Review: Kingsmen's TWO NOBLE KINSMEN Proves Honor Has Value and Chivalry isn't Dead

by Ellen Dostal — July 6, 2018

It contains possibly the last words William Shakespeare ever wrote and chances are you've never seen a production of it.

BWW Review: SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR at Elite Theatre Company

by Cary Ginell — June 25, 2018

Real-life partners Jennifer Ridgway and Kevin Ellis play perpetual adulterers George and Doris in Bernard Slade's timeless comedy 'Same Time, Next Year' at Oxnard's Elite Theatre Company.

BWW Review: VIOLET at Actors Co-Op

by Cary Ginell — June 1, 2018

Claire Adams stars as a young North Carolina woman seeking a miracle - to heal her disfigured face caused by a farm accident from when she was young.

BWW Review: THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME Highlights The Message Of True Spirit & Inner Beauty Through Movement And Song at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

by Valerie-Jean Miller — April 28, 2018

Dance serves a major purpose in musical productions.

BWW Review: HANSEL AND GRETEL at California Lutheran University's Creative Arts Division

by Jeffrey Scott — April 21, 2018

'Hansel and Gretel' the opera is a playful romp through the forest.

BWW Review: LET IT BE at Fred Kavli Theatre

by Cary Ginell — April 1, 2018

The newly revamped national tour of 'Let It Be' includes a fantasy 'reunion' of the group on John Lennon's 40th birthday, October 9, 1980, two months before his murder.

BWW Review: A CHORUS LINE at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

by Cary Ginell — March 25, 2018

Theater League's national tour of 'A Chorus Line' features a stellar cast, fabulous singing and dancing, but above all, the rock solid directing by Baayork Lee, the original Connie, who has ensured that Michael Bennett's original conception from over 40 years ago remains the same as he intended, as

BWW Review: TRUE WEST at Elite Theatre Company

by Cary Ginell — March 5, 2018

Sam Shepard's 1983 black comedy 'True West' comes to life with Elite Theatre Company's searing portrayal of two brothers at war with one another.

BWW Review: KINKY BOOTS at Thousand Oaks Civic Art Plaza

by Cary Ginell — February 24, 2018

'Kinky Boots' overcomes a formulaic, predictable storyline with energetic performances and Cyndi Lauper's outstanding score.

Review: SISTER ACT Offers a Sparkling Tribute to the Universal Power of Friendship, Sisterhood and Music

by Shari Barrett — February 7, 2018

SISTER ACT is a feel-good musical comedy smash hit based on the 1992 film that has audiences ready to rejoice! Featuring original music by Tony® and 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Disney's Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Enchanted), dazzling dance routines and songs inspired by Motow

Review: Gilbert and Sullivan's PIRATES OF PENZANCE Reimagined as an Interactive Beach Party at the Pasadena Playhouse

by Shari Barrett — January 29, 2018

Back in the late 60s, groups of people would meet up at an agreed-upon place to attend a "happening," defined as a partly improvised or spontaneous piece of theatrical or other artistic performance, typically involving audience participation.

BWW Review: BUYER AND CELLAR at Rubicon Theatre Company

by Cary Ginell — January 28, 2018

Brian McDonald brilliantly plays multiple roles in the one-man comic fantasy 'Buyer and Cellar,' about serving as shopkeeper in Barbara Streisand's ornate underground personal shopping mall.

BWW Review: MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL at Fred Kavli Theatre

by Cary Ginell — January 26, 2018

'Motown: The Musical' is, plain and simply, Berry Gordy's revenge on 'Dreamgirls.

BWW Review: THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE at Agoura High School

by Jeffrey Scott — January 10, 2018

When one says 'student directed' it sends a chill up this reviewer's back, especially within the high school theater community.

BWW Review: ANIMAL CRACKERS at Ojai Art Center

by Cary Ginell — November 28, 2017

Ojai Art Center's production of 'Animal Crackers' features impeccable performances by Sean Mason (Groucho), Daniel Mitchell (Chico) and Anna Kotula (Harpo) as the Marx Brothers.

Review: ROTTERDAM: A Queer Love Story About All of Us, Highlighted by Brilliant Writing, Direction and Character Portrayals

by Shari Barrett — November 25, 2017

One of the most current topics in the media now concerns transgender people being able to live the life they envision for themselves without prejudice or scorn aimed at them.

BWW Review: WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN at Musical Theatre Guild

by Cary Ginell — November 16, 2017

Frantic, broad comedy and an attractive Spanish-flavored score highlight Musical Theatre Guild's recent staged reading of Jeffrey Lane's 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.

BWW Review: CYMBELINE at California Lutheran University Department Of Theatre And Dance

by Jeffrey Scott — November 11, 2017

CYMBELINE proves to be a technical and emotional success- Director Michael J.

BWW Review: TAKING SIDES at Rubicon Theatre Company

by Cary Ginell — November 3, 2017

The time: 1946.

BWW Review: JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT at 5-Star Theatricals

by Cary Ginell — October 23, 2017

5-Star Theatricals (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) unveils its first production, an ambitious reworking of 'Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Review: JOSEPH Proves to be Musical of Biblical Proportions Performed in Fabulous Broadway Style by 5-STAR THEATRICALS

by Shari Barrett — October 17, 2017

Thanks to the magnificent performance of handsome and muscular Adam Hollick, there is an overwhelming Spiritual Presence that shines within Joseph, a power that allows him to overcome every obstacle in his way.

BWW Review: INCOGNITO at Rubicon Theatre Company

by Cary Ginell — September 20, 2017

Nick Payne's acclaimed Off-Broadway smash 'Incognito' makes its West Coast debut with this thought-provoking production, staged at the Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura.