All posts by Gary McMillan:
Gary McMillan, MALS, MS, is an academic and research librarian specializing in psychiatry, psychology, sociology, anthropology and related fields. He's had a longstanding interest in American musical theatre and still hopes someone or some organization will revive "Show Music" magazine.
Next to Normal
July 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Out on a limb, up on a tightwire, off the high dive — Brian Yorkey (librettist and lyricist) and Tom Kitt (composer) took a bold challenge in constructing a musical around an otherwise typical suburban household rocked to its foundation by storms of mental illness. [Read more...]
A Broadway Christmas Carol
November 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is one of the old chestnuts of the holiday season without a doubt, as evidenced by the scads of adaptations whether radio play, film, movie musical or animated feature. MetroStage has opted to make merry with Kathy Feininger’s show tune-driven riff on the classic tale. [Read more...]
Glimpses of the Moon
September 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Pop, fizz, deliriously good. Mash up the sensibilities of Gatsby and Thoroughly Modern Millie; pour over jazz-kissed show tunes laced with interesting harmonies (John Mercurio); stir in a witty book and lyrics (Tajlei Levis) — especially dazzling when cross-talking lyrics float on the intricate score; and before you can say, “Gilded Age” or “Roaring Twenties,” you have Metro Stage’s ‘ champagne cocktail ‘ season opener, Glimpses of the Moon, a romantic musical comedy based on the Edith Wharton novel. [Read more...]
Chess
September 1, 2010 By 8 Comments
Chess is Cold War meets hot rock. It’s a tour de force of intelligence, emotional intensity and intrigue (political and personal), sporting a jaw-dropping score with music by ABBA’s Benny & Bjorn (Mama Mia!) and lyrics by Tim Rice (Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar among his impressive catalog of hits). [Read more...]
Super Claudio Bros., All New Video Game Musical
July 12, 2010 By 5 Comments
Bright as a pack of Skittles, loopy as a Looney Tunes cartoon, and jam-packed with sibling rivalry, metaphysical angst and a tragically misunderstood, fire-breathing, homicidal purple platypus. [Read more...]
Fool for a Client
July 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment
It’s a bit of a puzzle whether Mark Whitney is an idealist with the heart of a cynic or a cynic with the heart of an idealist. He uses both like a double-barreled shotgun aimed at the Patriot Act, mandatory sentencing guidelines and other fear-mongering policies that are eroding our constitutional rights. [Read more...]
The Color Purple
July 6, 2009 By 3 Comments
Heartwarming. Soul-nurturing. Epic in ambition and yet intensely personal. The Color Purple is a musical triumph on so many levels that it would be difficult to know where to begin were it not for Fantasia [Read more...]
A Chorus Line
March 18, 2009 By 3 Comments
National Theatre’s A Chorus Line sizzles and sparks with dance and song and touches the heart with stories of dancers’ lives. This production boasts an extraordinary cast and production values that shatter all expectations and satisfy as much as did the Broadway revival production on which it’s based. A Chorus Line set the standard for integration of book and music (the original Broadway production winning 9 Tony awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama) and this cast raises the barre for outstanding performance. [Read more...]
The Little Dog Laughed
January 25, 2009 By 4 Comments
The Little Dog LaughedBy Douglas Carter Beane
Directed by Michael Baron
Produced by Signature Theatre
Reviewed by Gary McMillan
Signature’s The Little Dog Laughed is a sparkling tonic for the winter blahs. Douglas Carter Beane is a sly little dog of a playwright who has tossed together several plot lines which should feel tired, but instead are refreshingly funny. This is largely due to the razor wit and “take no prisoners” determination of talent agent Diane (Holly Twyford), a character who does for agents [Read more...]
West Side Story
January 9, 2009 By 5 Comments
West Side StoryBook by Arthur Laurents
Music by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim|
Directed by Arthur Laurents
Reviewed by Gary McMillan
The National Theatre is home to a good-as-gold Golden Anniversary production of the Laurents-Bernstein-Sondheim-Robbins classic musical West Side Story. For those who missed the 1980s revival or were too young for the 1957 original, it’s hard to imagine a more visually stunning production. [Read more...]
