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High School Musical
Book by David Simpatico
Based on the Disney Channel original movie written by Peter Barsocchini
Directed by Jeff Calhoun
Produced by Disney at National Theatre
Reviewed by Jonny Perl

Personally, I am not a fan of the entire “High School Musical” phenomenon. The 2006 Disney Channel original movie featured a completely forgettable score, terrible acting, and mediocre cinematography. Despite all this, it turned out to be a huge success!

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Music and Lyrics by Arnold Black and Sheldon Harnick
Based on the book by Norton Juster
Directed by Timothy A. McDonald
Produced by The Kennedy Center
Reviewed by Jonny Perl

Imagine a show that teaches kids academic subjects such as words and numbers, as well as explores subjects like the power of thinking, overcoming fear, and heroism. Next, imagine this show in a magical, fantasy sort of setting. Finally, add many great songs, smart dances, and genius special effects and you’ll get The Phantom Tollbooth.

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• The Secret Garden
• Based upon the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett
• Directed by Michael J. Bobbit
• Produced by Adventure Theatre
• Reviewed by Jonny Perl

Like a ballet that tells a story, The Secret Garden opens with a series of magnificent tale-telling dances. A snake in India is cleverly charmed. Mary’s parents suffer a horrid death from cholera and Mary is shipped off on a long journey to the estate of her guardian, Uncle Craven across the ocean. This is just one of the many poetic dances choreographed by the talented Dana Tai Soon Burgess in The Secret Garden. (more…)

THE JUNGLE BOOK

The Jungle Book is about a young “man-cub,” named Mowgli, who is raised by wolves in the jungles of India. Mowgli goes to school and learns the rules of the jungle from Baloo, the bear, and Bagheera, the Jaguar. Mowgli and his animal friends work together to defeat the evil tiger, Shere Khan and the comical “Bander Log”(which are the Hindi words for “The Monkey People”). In the end Mowgli is reunited with his human mother or “mataji” in a heartwarming scene in which Mowgli recognizes the physical similarities between himself and Messua, his mother. (more…)