Kiss of the Spider Woman Music by John Kander . Lyrics by Fred Ebb Book by Terrence McNally based on the novel by Manuel Puig Directed by Eric Schaeffer Produced by Signature Theatre Reviewed by Gary McMillan Seductive. Intense. Breathtaking. Kiss of the Spider Woman, Signature’s opening salvo in its Kander and Ebb Celebration, is […]
High School Musical, Take 2
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 […]
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet By William Shakespeare . Adapted by Nathan Weinberger and Paata Tsikurishvili Directed by Paata Tsikurishvili . Choreographed by Irina Tsikurishvili Produced by Synetic Theater Reviewed by Gary McMillan Paata and Irina Tsikurishvili once again render Shakespeare speechless, this time in a mesmerizing retelling of Romeo and Juliet, the archetypal tale of star-crossed lovers.
Glory Days
Glory Days, the latest gemstone on Signature’s string of world premiere musicals, is a diamond in the rough. It is 85 high-energy minutes of song with some of the smartest dialog and lyrics you’re likely to hear in any musical, let alone a pop-rock musical.
Shlemiel the First
Shlemiel the First Based on the story by Isaac Bashevis Singer Conceived & adapted by Robert Brustein Music by Hankus Netsky & Zalman Mlotek Lyrics by Arnold Weinstein Directed by Nick Olcott & Michael Russotto Produced by Theater J Reviewed by Gary McMillan Shlemiel the First is a triple threat: a “ho hum” score, a […]
Fiddler on the Roof
Book by Joseph Stein Music by Jerry Bock, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick Directed by John Vreeke Produced by Olney Theatre Center Reviewed by Gary McMillan For those who have not seen a stage or the screen production of Fiddler or read the writings of Sholem Aleichem (which served as source material), Fiddler on the Roof […]
A Christmas Carol, Take 2
A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens, adapted by Nathan Weinberger Directed by Paata Tsikurishvili and Dan Istrate Choreographed by Irina Tsikurishvili Produced by Synetic Theater Reviewed by Gary McMillan Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh with the hounds of hell nipping at your heels. Synetic Theater has taken on the Dicken’s […]
Bat Boy the Musical review
Bat Boy: The Musical Story and book by Keythe Farley and Brian Fleming Music and Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe Directed by Melissa Baughman Produced by Landless Theatre Company Reviewed by Gary McMillan Bat Boy is ripped from the pages of Weekly World News. Landless whips it up with a frothy, fun-filled production which milks every […]
Titanic
Titanic: The Musical Story & Book by Peter Stone Music & Lyrics by Maury Yeston Produced by Toby’s: The Dinner Theatre of Columbia Reviewed by Gary McMillan Occasionally, the American Theatre Wing has awarded a Tony “for adding luster to the Broadway season” (for example, Liza Minnelli in 1974). Occasionally, in a season of lackluster […]
Merrily We Roll Along
Merrily We Roll Along Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book by Peter George Furth Directed by Eric Schaeffer Produced by Signature Theatre Reviewed by Gary McMillan There are some shows that audiences love to hate. Merrily would seem to be the Sondheim show people hate to love.
Souvenir
Studio Theatre’s local premiere of Souvenir is a thorough delight, a finely crafted play that is perfectly showcased and wonderfully performed. Studio has brought local theatre-goers a two-character, master-class gem. Lovable raconteur Cosme McMoon (J. Fred Shiffman) spins an affectionately humorous and warm-hearted reminiscence of his dozen years in the orbit of his late patron, […]
Saving Aimee
Book and Lyrics by Kathie Lee Gifford Music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman Directed by Eric Schaeffer Reviewed by Gary McMillan In pre-TV America, Aimee Elizabeth Kennedy Semple McPherson Hutton was one of the most renowned (and “notorious”) women of the first half of the 20th Century. She was a world-famous evangelist, a trail-blazing […]