Review: ONCE ON THIS ISLAND at Blackfriars TheatreMarch 27, 2023What did our critic think of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND at Blackfriars Theatre? While Rochester may still be immersed in the cold and blustery late-winter climate, one need only head to East Main Street for reprieve, as Blackfriars Theatre's 'Once on this Island' will transport you to the warm tropics of the Caribbean and tell the story of love, resilience, and the spirit of hope.
Review: HADESTOWN at Rochester Broadway Theatre LeagueMarch 16, 2023What did our critic think of HADESTOWN at Rochester Broadway Theatre League? This touring production of 'Hadestown' could not have been better cast, with each performer taking turns captivating the audience and delivering lush, emotional musical performances.
Review: BEETLEJUICE at Rochester Broadway Theatre LeagueFebruary 16, 2023What did our critic think of BEETLEJUICE at Rochester Broadway Theatre League? If you're a fan of late 80's pop culture, the occult, or musicals with a decidedly heavy metal Halloween-meets-'A Chorus Line' aesthetic, than the Rochester Broadway Theatre League has got the show for you. 'Beetlejuice', the musical based on Tim Burton's 1988 cult classic film, is currently playing at the Auditorium Theatre until February 19th.
Review: WOODY SEZ at Geva TheatreFebruary 9, 2023What did our critic think of WOODY SEZ at Geva Theatre? With rare exceptions, there probably aren't many theatregoers of my generation (Millennial) or younger who have a passing familiarity with the life and legacy of Woody Guthrie beyond 'This Land is Your Land.' I certainly didn't before heading to Geva Theatre to catch a performance of 'Woody Sez', the biographical story of Woody Guthrie written by David M. Lutken, Nick Corley, Darcie Deaville, Helen Jean Russell, and Andy Teirstein. But after leaving Geva that night, it was abundantly clear that this man's story is one everyone should know, because there likely never lived another American so of-the-people as Woody Guthrie.
Review: AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' at Geva TheatreJanuary 25, 2023What did our critic think of AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' at Geva Theatre? It's curious that 'Ain't Misbehavin'' feels like such a perfect show for a Rochester audience, given that Fats Waller has no apparent Rochester connection; he was born in New York City, died in Kansas City, and spent the bulk of his short life entertaining audiences across the U.S and abroad.
Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Geva TheatreDecember 7, 2022Christmas is a time of traditions. Be it caroling, making sugar cookies, decorating the tree, or hanging lights, folks love this time of year because of the traditions we create and revisit each December with our friends and loved ones. If you're like me, Geva Theatre's annual production of 'A Christmas Carol' is one of your favorite holiday traditions, and for good reason. It's a consistently top-quality production filled with joy and merriment, and featuring many cast members who have been returning to Geva for this special show for years.
Review: TOOTSIE at Rochester Broadway Theatre LeagueSeptember 23, 2022What did our critic think of TOOTSIE at Rochester Broadway Theatre League? The Rochester Broadway Theatre League begins its 2022-2023 M&T Bank Broadway season with something fun and splashy, a perfect date night musical based on one of the 1980s' most beloved pop culture gems. 'Tootsie', the Robert Horn and David Yazbek musical adaption of the 1982 Dustin Hoffman film of the same name, is a light and springy show about showbiz, which also attempts to grapple with the difficulties of being a woman in a man's world. Rochester is the first stop on Tootsie's national tour.
Review: SEUSSICAL: THE MUSICAL at Blackfriars TheatreJuly 26, 2022What did our critic think of SEUSSICAL: THE MUSICAL at Blackfriars Theatre? Blackfriars' production of 'Seussical' showcases the talents of numerous young performers, from Yates' kind and sensitive Horton to Jade Hill's soulful Sour Kangaroo to the sassy stylings of the Wikersham Brothers (Danny Dobbins, J. Jake Thomas, Avery White).
Review: MEAN GIRLS at Rochester Broadway Theatre LeagueJuly 6, 2022What did our critic think of MEAN GIRLS at Rochester Broadway Theatre League? If you're looking for an excuse to don your pink and revisit the jungle of high school cliques, politics, and popularity contests, the Rochester Broadway Theatre League has just the show for you. Playing now until July 10th is Mean Girls, Tina Fey's brilliant musical adaption of the 2004 movie starring Rachel McAdams and Lindsay Lohan.
Review: SISTER ACT at Geva TheatreJuly 6, 2022What did our critic think of SISTER ACT at Geva Theatre? To close its 2021-2022 season, Rochester's Geva Theatre is presenting the musical adaptation of one of the 90's' most treasured cinematic gems, infused with a bit more disco, shenanigans, and tweaked to fit the confines of a stage. 'Sister Act', the 2006 Alan Menken and Glenn Slater musical, is gracing the Wilson Stage now until July 24th.
BWW Review: THE BAND'S VISIT at Rochester Broadway Theatre LeagueJune 8, 2022What did our critic think of The Band's Visit in Rochester? The first words in 'The Band's Visit' are 'Once not long ago a group of musicians came to Israel from Egypt. You probably didn't hear about it. It wasn't very important.' These words don't exactly tee-up the audience for a musical full of sparkly costumes and dazzling kick lines, which is good because that's not at all what 'The Band's Visit' comes to deliver. What this show offers is much simpler and more fleeting. It's a story about love, music, and connection.