Happy Halloween! This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories on ghosts, goblins, illusionists and all things Halloween in Washington, DC, Milwaukee, Spain, and more. Check out our top 10 spooky stories around our Broadway World below, which include Signature's HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR, DRACULA in Milwaukee, and the 40th Anniversary of ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW in Spain, just to name a few.
East/Northeast
1. Washington, DC: Editor Benjamin Tomchik reviews Tracy Lynn Olivera's HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR at Signature Theatre. He says, "Olivera perfectly sets HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR's tone by opening with "Spooky" by the Classic IV. The groovy feeling of the 1968 hit establishes that this cabaret won't be celebrating the scarier side of Halloween, but rather the elements which make it so much fun.... Proving that point were Olivera's next two selections a soulful "I Put a Spell on You," the Jay Hawkins classic best known from Hocus Pocus and "The Headless Horseman." Both songs allowed Olivera to channel her playful side. That included mimicking Bing Crosby and the children's cartoon The Headless Horseman." Read more here.
Midwest
2. Milwaukee, WI: Editor Peggy Sue Dunigan reviews Milwaukee Ballet's DRACULA at Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. She says, "When Dracula finally seduces Mina for his "partner," he celebrates with a host of ghosts called from their graves, an incredible number for the ballet corps and Grill's lighting, an ending upholiding how the entire evening has unfolded, a truly haunting experience. However, Harker and his friend's finally ntervene on Mina's behalf, and the entire performance both chills and thrills the audience. With Sill driecting Fenney's evocative and lush score combined with elegant costumes and elaborate sets transported from the Colorado Ballet, Pink's DRACULA tantalizes and unnerves the audience." Read more here.
South
3. Louisville, KY: Editor Keith Waits reviews THE ADDAMS FAMILY at Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. He says, "Sisk has also drawn striking work from his design team, with simple, monolithic set pieces that are economical but nicely atmospheric, and Carol Dine's costumes are rich evocations of Charles Addam's style. Some of her best work can be found among the "dead people", who are dressed from various periods and identities: Flight Attendant, Cowgirl, Pirate, Nurse, Roman. The members of the family are required to look a certain way, and that look is also well executed, but Dine's creativity is expressed more forcefully in the chorus." Read more here.
4. Nashville, TN: Editor Jeffrey Ellis spotlights Nashville Rep's staged reading of Eppler's GOOD MONSTERS. He says, "Described as a "stunning psychological drama" that explores how human beings maneuver through earth-shattering tragedy, with intense focus on the human side of a situation gone horribly wrong. While challenging you to question your own preconceptions of good and bad, whatever they may be, this stirring and emotional play transcends predictable notions on both sides of the political divide, drawing humanity to the forefront." Read more here.
5. Austin, TX: Editor Frank Benge reviews YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN at Georgetown Palace Theater. He says, "I have to hand it to the cast now onstage at the Palace, which is working very hard to sell this slight material. The laughs, when they arrive, are mostly thanks to some truly funny comic performances. Justin LaVergne turns in a stellar performance in the role of Igor. LaVergne has excellent comic timing, with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, and is hilarious. He clearly walks away with a huge portion of the show.... Also turning in a great comic performance is Katya Welch, playing Inga, the standard-issue Mel Brooks sexpot. Faux-naive roles are tough to play, and Welch nails Inga, from her earnest and guileless nature to her pursuit of pleasure. " Read more here.
West
6. Los Angeles, CA: Editor Shari Barrett reviews WICKED LIT at Mountain View Mausoleum and Cemetery. She says, "It would not be the Halloween Season in L.A. without WICKED LIT, presented by Unbound Productions Executive Director Jonathan Josephson, Artistic Director Paul Millet, and Producing Artistic Director Jeff G. Rack. The company's 7th annual immersive theatre event takes place inside and on the grounds at Mountain View Mausoleum and Cemetery in Altadena, California, running from October 2-November 14, 2015. The mission of Unbound Production is to re-imagine timeless stories for new audiences by creating immersive, theatrical adaptations of literature. And, I think, to put the fright back into Halloween!" Read more here.
7. Seattle, WA: Editor Jay Irwin reviews LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at SecondStory Repertory. He says, "The ensemble is superb. Walker, with his super rich and clear voice manages a nerdy-ness to Seymour but doesn't take him into the role of caricature. Similarly Hardie keeps Audrey grounded and based in reality rather than attempting to mimic the iconic Ellen Greene. Now I know it's not fair to attempt to compare Hardie after just seeing Greene perform the role. It's like God coming down and creating a tree in front of you and then asking you to go watch someone else do it. But Hardie manages the role gorgeously and the key duet between she and Walker was spot on fabulous." Read more here.
8. Denver, CO: Editor Christi Esterle reviews Theatreworks' new adaptation of GHOSTS. She says, "Andrews is likewise elegant and captivating as Mrs. Alving, particularly in her subtle, deep-rooted agony as she recalls the shame of her husband's behavior. Most of the impact of the production comes from her scenes with her longtime friend Pastor Manders (Dan Mason) and her son Oswald (Christian O'Shaughnessy). Manders is the voice of social authority in the play, the advocate for "keeping up appearances" and doing what is deemed right and acceptable, and Mason gives him a well-meaning bluster as he holds determinedly to his ideals as they are increasingly challenged by Helen's revelations. O'Shaughnessy is magnificent as the "prodigal son" returned home, his easy Bohemian attitude giving way to increasing despair and physical breakdown as he suffers from the one thing he received from his father: syphilis." Read more here.
International
9. Spain: Editor Felipe Velasco shares a tribute to the 40th Anniversary of ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW in Madrid. Read all about it here.
National Tour Highlight:
10. Raleigh Editor Jeffrey Kare interviews Jeff Hobson of THE ILLUSIONISTS National Tour, which comes to the Durham Performing Arts Center from November 10th-15th. "After a three-year hiatus that took Hobson to Reno to produce and star in the critically-acclaimed magic production show called, Carnival of Wonders, he came back home to become the "Host of Las Vegas". Since then, he has starred in his own, one-man show, Money and Madness and been the Master of Ceremonies for countless special events and production shows including the World's Greatest Magic Show and V-The Ultimate Variety Show." Read more here.
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