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• Mamma Mia!
• Music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and some songs with Stig Anderson
• Book by Catherine Johnson
• Directed by Phyllida Lloyd
• Produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar, Universal at the National Theatre
• Reviewed by Gary McMillan

If we could harvest the energy on stage at the National Theatre, the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels would be a thing of the past. (more…)

• Disney High School Musical on Tour!
• Book by David Simpatico (based on the Disney Channel movie by Peter Barsocchini)
• Directed by Jeff Calhoun
• Choreographed by Lisa Stevens
• Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions at the National Theatre
• Reviewed by Gary McMillan

Ah, high school … illicit drug use … teenage pregnancy … functional illiteracy, and a culture of brutish violence running the gamut from bullying to mass murder.

Not on your life! at East High in Disney’s High School Musical, (more…)

• Monty Python’s Spamalot
• Book and lyrics by Eric Idle; Music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle
• Adapted from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin
• Directed by Mike Nichols
• Co-Produced by Ostar Enterprises and Bob Boyett, at the National Theatre
• Reviewed by Tim Treanor

All hail Monty Python’s Spamalot, a production with tongue so firmly in cheek that you can see it wiggle out of Monty Python’s ear. (more…)

• Avenue Q
• Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx
• Book by Jeff Whitty
• Directed By Jason Moore
• Produced By Robyn Goodman, Jeffrey Seller, Vineyard Theatre and The New Group at the National Theatre
• Reviewed by Ronnie Ruff

Imagine a show that takes the concept of the wildly popular children’s show Sesame Street, and get its puppets to talk to you about how much it sucked to be fresh out of college and on your own - without a date, much less. This is what Avenue Q brings to the National Theatre for its short run (ends Dec 9^th) before heading to Charm City.

(more…)

• The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
• by Rachel Sheinkin . Composer/Lyricist William Finn .
• Conceived by Rebecca Feldman
• Directed by James Lapine . Musical Direction by Jodie Moore
• Produced by David Stone and James L Nederlander
• Reviewed by Ronnie Ruff

If you have ever gone through puberty (and this means you) The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will hit home with an extremely funny punch. (more…)