Albuquerque Theater Reviews

Review: THE MELODRAMA at Santa Fe Playhouse
by Jackie Camborde - September 05, 2024

This year, which marks 100th burning of Zozobra, the Santa Fe Playhouse takes the melodrama and turns it upside down. There is still commentary on government officials, local attractions and events, but the playwrights are taking ownership of their words, in four short form pieces and several inters...

Review: SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at Santa Fe Playhouse
by Jackie Camborde - July 02, 2024

Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George opened at Santa Fe Playhouse on Saturday and all I can say is wow. The 1984 musical features music and lyrics by Sondheim and book by James Lapin.  Inspired by the French pointillist  painter Georges Seurat’s painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Isla...

Review: LEGALLY BLONDE at Tri-M Productions At Santa Fe High
by Jackie Camborde - June 20, 2024

Here we go – another summer of fun, frothy musicals all over northern New Mexico. This week alone you can choose from Kinky Boots, Head Over Heels or this one, Legally Blonde. Tri-M’s latest offering is playing now through June 23 at the Santa Fe High Theater. I know what you’re thinking – do we nee...

Review: HEAD OVER HEELS at Albuquerque Little Theatre
by Jackie Camborde - June 12, 2024

Head Over Heels is a jukebox musical with music and lyrics from the catalog of 1980s girl band The Go-Go’s. With a book by Jeff Whitty, adapted by James Magruder, the plot is derived from the 16th century play The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney. Head Over Heels opened on Broadwa...

Review: TWO ARTISTS IN PRISON at Teatro Paraguas Second Stage
by Jackie Camborde - May 29, 2024

“Most theater companies choose their plays. Grottesco’s reveal themselves.” Thus begins the director’s notes for Theater Grottesco’s Two Artists in Prison, now playing at Teatro Paraguas’ Second Stage space. The play, co-directed by Grottesco Founder John Flax and Apollo Garcia Orellana, takes plac...

Review: WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME at Santa Fe Playhouse
by Jackie Camborde - May 17, 2024

Santa Fe Playhouse in coming into its own as the theater company most likely to succeed in Santa Fe. The past two seasons have showcased new talent, new and provocative works and productions that have both wide appeal and thought-provoking messages. Their latest offering, What the Constitution Means...

Review: BORN WITH TEETH at Santa Fe Playhouse
by Jackie Camborde - March 28, 2024

Ever wonder what happened when two rivals, in this case, rising star of the theatrical world William Shakespeare and biggest playwright of the age thus far Christopher Marlowe, collaborated on the writing of Henry VI? Marlowe was officially credited as co-author of the three-play cycle in 2016. Born...

Review: A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC at Tri-M Productions At New Mexico Actors Lab
by Jackie Camborde - March 11, 2024

Sondheim is everywhere. Since the start of 2024, I have seen two on Broadway (Merrily We Roll Along; Sweeney Todd), one Off-Broadway (Here We Are, the play he was working on when he passed away in 2021) one just last week in Albuquerque (Into the Woods) and last night in Santa Fe, A Little Night Mus...

Review: OR, BY LIZ DUFFY ADAMS at Santa Fe Playhouse
by Jackie Camborde - March 11, 2024

It’s amazing that the current production of Or, a play directed by Zoe Burke at Santa Fe Playhouse, was a second choice to the playwright’s Born With Teeth, playing in repertory right now (review to follow in a few weeks). I have yet to see Born With Teeth, but was thrilled to see Or, this week....

Review: INTO THE WOODS at Musical Theatre Southwest
by Jackie Camborde - March 06, 2024

When I heard that MTS was doing Into the Woods, my first thought was “Wow – that’s ……ambitious.” Sondheim is always ambitious, but MTS was able to hit Sweeney Todd out of the park last year, so why did Into the Woods feel like such a giant leap forward for this creative and stalwart community theate...

Review: SOMETHING ROTTEN at Albuquerque Little Theatre
by Jackie Camborde - February 02, 2024

A great comedic romp awaits you at ALT this weekend and next - don't miss SOMETHING ROTTEN!...

Review: YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN at New Mexico Actors Lab
by Jackie Camborde - December 12, 2023

Need a break from the holiday crazies? Go see Family Theatre of Santa Fe's production of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown this weekend!...

Review: RENT at Musical Theatre Southwest
by Jackie Camborde - December 07, 2023

Just in time for the holidays, my favorite Christmas musical debuts in Albuquerque. Now, technically it’s not a “Christmas” show, but there’s enough references to holidays, family, cheer and community to make it a holiday show. Musical Theatre Southwest takes on the beloved and iconic show this mont...

Review: ON CLOVER ROAD at Santa Fe Playhouse
by Jackie Camborde - October 20, 2023

Grab your tickets now for a 90-minute nonstop thriller. How do you review a play like On Clover Road without giving the play away? That is the conundrum faced here. Playwright Steven Dietz, best known for his much-produced version of Dracula, has created a play that is gripping, spine-tingling,  sca...

Review: NEXT TO NORMAL at Musical Theatre Southwest
by Jackie Camborde - October 05, 2023

You have through October 21 to see NEXT TO NORMAL at Musical Theatre Southwest. Get your tickets now!...

Review: SEASCAPE at NM Actors Lab
by Jackie Camborde - September 11, 2023

, Albee’s plays seem to be perfectly normal, until they aren’t, and here’s the twist in Seascape. Nancy and Charlie are so wrapped up in their “you always…..you never” conversation that they don’t realize they are no longer alone on the beach. Without giving away too much of the plot, they are joine...

Review: A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER at Santa Fe Playhouse
by Jackie Camborde - July 28, 2023

GGNM is a great romp of a show and a perfect antidote to the summer heatwave. Come see this great show at Santa Fe Playhouse, now through August 12!...

Review: SWEENEY TODD at Musical Theatre Southwest
by Jackie Camborde - June 13, 2023

Musical Theatre Southwest delivers a knockout performance of SWEENEY TODD. Most of us are familiar with one version or another of Stephen Sondheim’s dark masterpiece, Sweeney Todd. Full disclosure: in my youth I used to watch the Angela Lansbury/George Hearn proshot on loop and I will go to just abo...

Review: SWEAT at Santa Fe Playhouse
by Jackie Camborde - May 16, 2023

Get your tickets NOW to Sweat at Santa Fe Playhouse - it's a powerful, gripping and fantastic night at the theater!...

Review: THE REZ SISTERS at the Vortex Theatre
by Zoe Burke - April 29, 2023

What did our critic think of THE REZ SISTERS at the Vortex Theatre?...

Review: THE BABY MONITOR at Santa Fe Playhouse
by Jackie Camborde - March 20, 2023

The Baby Monitor is powerful, raw and must-see. Get your tickets now....

Review: I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE at New Mexico Actors Lab
by Jackie Camborde - March 07, 2023

What did our critic think of I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE at New Mexico Actors Lab?...

Review: ROCK OF AGES at Devon Frieder Productions/Musical Theater Southwest
by Jackie Camborde - January 30, 2023

You have one more weekend to see Devon Frieder Productions ROCK OF AGES at Musical Theater Southwest - don't miss this super-fun night of musical theater and rock and roil!...

Review: THE DROWSY CHAPERONE at Adobe Theater
by Jackie Camborde - December 08, 2022

Excellent production with all the Broadway bells and whistles. Great singing, dancing and comedy!...

Review: THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE at Santa Fe Opera At Lensic Performing Arts Center
by Jackie Camborde - November 02, 2022

Excellent production shines a light on the fight for equal rights for Black citizens in 1960s United States. More productions like this are needed to educate and tell this story....