A Star Is Born at Arena Stage

“A star is born at Arena Stage.”, Channel 7′s Arch Campbell proclaimed as he announced that the winner of Arena Stage’s talent search to play the role of Yolanda is 21 year old Howard senior Zurin Villanueva.

Click here to read our exclusive coverage of the all-day Lincoln Theatre star search event and hear Ms. Villanueva’s audition song, along with those of the other future stars who tried out last Saturday.

Looking for Roberto Clemente

  • roberto.jpgLooking for Roberto Clemente
  • Book and Lyrics by Karen Zacarias . Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
  • Directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer
  • Choreographed by Krissie Marty
  • Produced by Imagination Stage
  • Reviewed by Ted Ying

Do You Remember Where You Were…?

When you heard about 9/11?  When space shuttle Columbia crashed?  When JFK was assassinated?  Most people remember where they were when pivotal events in history occurred.  And like any other Pittsburgher, I remember when I learned in 1972 of the passing of our local hero, Roberto Clemente.  [Read more...]

The Bremen Musicians . A Musical

  • brem-123.jpgThe Bremen Musicians
  • Adapted and Directed by Nicholas Allen
  • Music by John Milosich
  • Produced by Classika Theatre
  • Reviewed by Hunter Kieserman

I was very excited to see the world premiere of the musical The Bremen Musicians at Classika Theater. I was familiar with the popular folktal, the story of a Donkey whose only goal in life is to be a musician so he decides to travel to the city of Bremen to become a musician. On his way to Bremen, he encounters a worn out hunting dog, a scared cat, and a cocky rooster who join him on his journey to Bremen to become musicians as well. The production was fantastic. [Read more...]

The Story of the Lost Sock

  • c140413100723.jpgThe Story of the Lost Sock
    Original Story, Music and Lyrics by Petko Kolev
  • Play Written and Directed by Lilia Slavova
  • Puppets and Design by Julia Tasheva
  • Produced by Classika Theatre
  • Reviewed by Hunter Kieserman

On the heels of their successful production of  The Snow Child,  I was happy to return to Classika Theatre to review The Story of the Lost Sock. [Read more...]

Lost and Found

  • lostandfound.jpgLost & Foundling
  • By Eric R. Pfeffinger
  • Directed by Janet Stanford
  • Produced by Imagination Stage
  • Reviewed by Janice Cane

The dark woods are so overdone as a scary-story setting that the forest has lost its fright. And kids these days don’t really wander around in the forest. So why not set a fairy tale in a more familiar place-like, say, a buy-in-bulk mega-store? That’s where we meet the heroine of Lost & Foundling, Pryce. [Read more...]

High School Musical

hsm.jpgHigh 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!

[Read more...]

The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music

  • Music by Richard Rodgers. Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
  • Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Suggested by “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.”
  • Directed and Choreographed by Sam Huffer
  • Produced by Toby’s The Dinner Theatre of Columbia
  • Reviewed by Max Talisman
    • Jan 6 -How do you solve a problem like Maria? By having Jessica Ball play that role. Toby’s Dinner Theater has found the perfect Maria for their production of The Sound Of Music. Jessica Ball is so charismatic and so intriguing, that she has everybody in the audience smiling and tapping their feet along to the music. [Read more...]

    Treasure Island, Take 2

    • Treasure Island
    • By Ken Ludwig
    • Adapted from the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson
    • Directed by Blake Robison
    • Reviewed by Hunter Kieserman

    Ahoy Mateys!

    Since I was a baby I’ve always had an interest in pirates and treasure. My mother used to tell me stories of the notorious Captain Hook or of the fearsome Blackbeard. My favorite pirate was the villainous yet lovable, one-legged Long John Silver from Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island. [Read more...]

    Twice Upon a Time

    • Twice Upon A Time: Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax and
    • The Emperor’s New Clothes
    • By Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
    • Directed By Nick Olcott.
    • Produced by Imagination Stage.
    • Reviewed by Max Talisman.

    Imagination Stage’s Twice Upon a Time opens with a well staged musical number which tells the story of The Lorax. The Lorax is the story of Onceler (Bobby Smith) who begins cutting down all the trees in the land and The Lorax, who speaks for them, will not have it! [Read more...]

    The Phantom Tollbooth

    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.

    [Read more...]