Regional Roundup: Top 10 Stories This Week Around the Broadway World - 10/2; DESTINY OF DESIRE in DC, SOUND OF MUSIC Tour in LA and More!

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Washington DC, Los Angeles, Spain and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include Arena Stage's DESTINY OF DESIRE, THE SOUND OF MUSIC National Tour in LA, and BLOOD BROTHERS in Chicago, just to name a few.

East/Northeast

1. Washington, DC: Editor Heather Nadolny reviews Arena Stage's DESTINY OF DESIRE. She says, "Playwright KAREN ZACARÍAS has written a ridiculously funny script, but more than that, she has written one that lets the actors truly play. Her characters are ever-changing, complex people, who may seem like they have one goal, but are all multi-faceted and just trying to figure out their individual fates. The script involves several instances where an actor will suddenly drop statistics or facts, all contributing to the overall message and history of the show's action. It also involves rewind sequences, just in case it wasn't nutty enough the first time through." Read more here.

2. Rockland/Westchester, NY: Editor Peter Danish reviews BOEING BOEING at Antrim Playhouse. He says, "BOEING BOEING has more belly laughs in its script than pretty much any other play of the last 25 years. The characters are delightfully one-dimensional and stereotyped, and that is key to the play's appeal. The three flight attendants are drawn from a sort of fantasy, Playboy Magazine expose on the Airline industry of the 1960s. The nationalistic clichés are almost shameless but undeniably hilarious - no spoilers here!" Read more here.

Midwest

3. Chicago, IL: Editor Misha Davenport reviews Theo Ubique's production of BLOOD BROTHERS. She says, "Anderson gives a stellar performance as Johnstone. Her Johnstone is a fiercly protective and yet vulnerable mother cub whose hopes and heartbreak are the core of the show. When she sings, every note is weighted with the emotion behind it. Anderson makes you completely understand the stakes and your heart breaks along side hers as her twin sons' fates playout before you." Read more here.

4. Minneapolis, MN: Editor Jill Schafer says "Theater Latte Da's gleefully maniacal SWEENEY TODD is not to be missed!" She goes on, "Friends, Theater Latte Da has done it again. They've created a music-theater production that is so stirring and chilling, it's nothing short of brilliant. After the delightfully innovative and stripped-down INTO THE WOODS this spring, they return to Sondheim with a similarly innovative and stripped-down SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET." Read more here.

South

5. Austin, TX: Editor Frank Benge reviews THE LITTLE MERMAID at Bass Concert Hall in the Texas Performing Arts Center. He says, "The cast is fine as well, particularly Alison Woods, who is charming as Ariel and the dashing Eric Kunze as Prince Eric. Ms. Woods has the famous, signature "Part of Your World" to sing, and she delivers it beautifully. Mr. Kunze possesses a golden voice that expresses deep emotion and his rendition of "Her Voice" was a highlight of the evening. Their performances are, as it should be, the ones you will walk away remembering." Read more here.

West

6. Costa Mesa, CA: Editor Michael L. Quintos reviews ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS at South Coast Rep. He says, "That is certainly in full, glorious display in ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS, Richard Bean's exceedingly hilarious comedy of errors, misdirections, and misunderstandings that's now receiving a superb West Coast premiere production at Orange County's Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory theater through October 11. An undeniably entertaining regional co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Northern California, the play---masterfully helmed by director David Ivers---is a wonderful kick-off to the Costa Mesa institution's 52nd season." Read more here.

7. Los Angeles, CA: Editor Shari Barrett reviews Linda Ronstadt who shares a conversation with Dan Guerrero at CSUN. She says, "As a young child, Linda developed her multi-range soprano voice while singing with her family in the adobe house built by her parents in Tucson. Her music career officially began when she was a "not very dedicated student" at the University of Arizona when she met guitarist Bob Kimmel. The duo soon moved to Los Angeles where they were joined by guitarist/songwriter Kenny Edwards. Calling themselves the Stone Poneys, the group became a leading attraction on California's folk circuit, starting at a small club in the South Bay before recording their self-titled first album The Stone Poneys in 1967. " Read more here.

8. Portland, OR: Editor Krista Garver reviews Shaking the Tree's "gorgeous" PASSION PLAY PART III. She says, "All of the actors are excellent -- Foss Curtis as Mary, Matthew Kerrigan as the actor who plays Jesus, Diane Kondratas Ronald Reagan (she's almost more Reagan than Reagan!) -- but I want to call out Garland Lyons in particular for his performance as a veteran who returns from the Vietnam War. Like so many soldiers, he comes back only to find that things that used to make sense no longer do, and he tries to make sense of his new reality by rewriting Pontius Pilate's role in Jesus's death. It is, of course, an exercise in futility, but Lyons plays the role with a terrifying intensity that will make you feel both sympathetic and incredibly uncomfortable." Read more here.

International

9. Spain: We have officially launched the Regional Awards in Spain! Vote now for your nominees to make sure your favorite performers, theatres and more get the recognition they deserve! Check out the article here.

National Tour Highlight:

10. Los Angeles Editor Don Grigware reviews the brand new National Tour of THE SOUND OF MUSIC which opened at the Ahmanson and continues through October 31. He says, "All I can say is that this new production is one of the finest I have seen in a long, long time. It soars with human touches and has a magnificent cast that win our hearts. Anderson fits the awkwardness and free spirit of Maria to a tee. She sings, moves and acts with a natural grace that is infectious. It is no wonder that the children and von Trapp adore her; so do we. Davis brings a human side to Georg that I have not seen since Plummer. Most portrayals of the captain are rigid and stodgy; not Davis' turn. He is totally likable. We can understand where he is coming from and how much he loves his country." Read his full review here.

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This week, we'd like to welcome Amelia Reynolds as our newest contributing editor in Seattle, Adam Benghiat who will be our guest blogger in France, and Rhea Nichols who will provide coverage in Norfolk/Richmond.

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