Regional Roundup: Top 10 Stories This Week Around the Broadway World - 11/13; BUYER & CELLAR in Salt Lake City, Audra McDonald in Sydney and More!

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in New Jersey, Salt Lake City, Sydney, and more. Check out our top 10 spooky stories around our Broadway World below, which include the National Tour of BULLETS OVER BROADWAY in Nashville, BUYER & CELLAR in Salt Lake City, and Audra McDonald in Sydney, just to name a few.

East/Northeast

1. Rockland/Westchester: Editor Peter Danish reviews BILL W. AND DR. BOB at Shades Repertory Theater. He says, "Strong acting is hyper-critical to such a play to keep the characters from becoming uninteresting stereotypes. In this production the acting took things to the next level and even made them appealing... The highlight of the evening was Brian Maffitt's touchingly vulnerable performance as Dr. Bob. Mr. Maffitt broke hearts as Dr. Bob gives up every scrap of his pride and dignity, showing show just how frightened he really is. When he finally agrees to reveal his problem to the world - a problem he'd spent a lifetime hiding and which threatens to destroy his practice - he has the entire audience rooting for him." Read more here.

2. New Jersey: Editor Leigh Scheps interviews Laura Benanti at NJPAC. On posting about her miscarriage on social media, Benanti says, "I am a feminist with a capital 'F' and this is definitely a feminist issue. The reason I did that was because I feel like it's one of the last women's issues we don't talk about. I wanted other women to know there's no shame in talking about it. People don't say they're pregnant until the second trimester. I intellectually understand that you don't want the whole world to know your business, but at the same time what does that mean? You don't tell your employers you're pregnant, but then when you miscarry no one knows you miscarried. Miscarrying is a horrible painful event. That just felt like something that needed to be addressed. I am by no means prescribing how people grieve. I am just saying it's painful, it's not your fault and it's so common. Well if it's so common --let's talk about it and open a dialogue where people know what to say to you. Doing it for me felt like the only way it would really help women who've also suffered. The response has been beautiful and heartwarming and I've received beautiful messages from people that I will treasure forever." Read more here.

Midwest

3. Madison, WI: Editor Amanda Finn reviews IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE By the Fireside. She says, "David Sajewich, recently seen as Chad in Fireside's production of All Shook Up, is an endearing George Bailey. He connects genuinely with the cast members around him. His candor in the iconic role brings the classic character to life without attempting to mimic the original George - James Stewart. Sajewich sets the pace for the show with his short opening number "George's Prayer" which reveals George's vulnerability from the get go." Read more here.

4. Milwaukee, WI: Editor Peggy Sue Dunigan reviews HANDLE WITH CARE at the Boulevard Ensemble Theatre. She says, "Schwartz and Weindorf, who upholds the Jewish tradition of wearing a beard and not shaving, light a magical candle of chemistry of stage---especially in a tender scene where the wayward Jewish man Josh helps the fervent Ayelet perform the Shabbot, or Sabbath, on a Friday evening. Togehter they hover close to two candles burning while saying prayers over a cup of red wine. Afterward their Christmas Eve meeting, Terrence, who believes he is worthless and will be fired for losing Safta's body, eventually renews his fatith in his own destiny. Since a sneak preview was viewed before opening night, the play's run will develop even more emotional momentum over the next few weeks." Read more here.

South

5. Atlanta, GA: Editor Christie Fisher reviews LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at the Historic Holly Theatre. She says, "The highlights of this production are Nathan Gerrells's protrayal of klutz-turned-botanist Seymour Krelborn and Joel Altherr's demented dentist Orin Scrivello. It is clear both of these men have spent hours developing these characters as they display many different layers. Another standout performance is given by Austin Collins, whose wino character greets, or more heckles, patrons as they enter the theater. Both his wino character, as well as his protrayal of Patrick Martin, truly keep the audience entertained. Taylor Cassell has a lovely light voice as she brings Audrey to life with a mousy quality. Overall, the ensemble makes for a very enjoyable evening." Read more here.

West

6. Portland, OR: Editor Krista Garver reviews BROOMSTICK at Artists Rep. She says, "Clearly, if you are going to do a one-woman play about all witches ever, you need to bring in the big guns. And that's exactly what Artists Rep has done in casting the venerable Vana O'Brien in the role. O'Brien is a force to be reckoned with. She transforms - from misunderstood to frightening, from innocent to guilty, from someone you want to hug to someone you want to run away from, and back - so quickly that you never quite get the full measure of her. Kristeen Willis Crosser's gnarled set and the dim, shifting lighting both contribute to the feeling that the Witch is a woman you will never really know. Which is, I think, the whole point." Read more here.

7. Los Angeles, CA: New Editor Dale Reynolds reviews UNCLE VANYA (Mermaids Cast) at Antaeus. He says, "Director Robin Larsen has a firm grip on the pacing of the play, guiding her two casts into strong explorations of character, using mood and frustrations to great results. Pressman, Park, Tripp, McManus and Nordling all have their work on prominent display here, along with Byrd, Milgrim, and musicians Morlan Higgins as Telegin and Paul Bairdas Yefim. Antaeus seldom has laggard-actors onstage in anything, bless their hearts." Read more here.

8. Salt Lake City, UT: Editor Blair Howell reviews BUYER & CELLAR at PYGmalion Productions. He says, "Vividly playing More is the irresistible Aaron Swenson, brilliantly directed by Teresa Sanderson. The laugh-out-loud references to obscure and popular bits from Broadway and Hollywood are precisely re-enacted by the gleefully funny actor. Yet beyond the name-dropping, there's discussion of serious cultural inquiry: the cult of celebrity and the painful isolation that comes with excessive fame and fortune." Read more here.

International

9. Sydney, Australia: Editor Jade Kops reviews AUDRA McDONALD SINGS BROADWAY with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She says, "It is refreshing to see that McDonald knows she does not need to resort to dress changes or gimmicks to keep the audience engaged, remaining on stage for the duration of the two acts, either standing or seated at the microphone. The emotion, warmth and texture that is injected into every work means that, whilst dressed elegantly in black, McDonald could be wearing a hessian bag and have the audience eating out of her hand. Well known standards have been given new arrangements to change tempo and phrasing and McDonald's breath control, restraint and choice 'float' phrases that are normally 'belted' gives the works a new meaning and allows them to be truly hers. She captures the hope, joy, suspense, mystique, yearning, longing and passion of the diverse song selection with an honesty and truth without any need to overact." Read more here.

National Tour Highlight:

10. Nashville editor reviews the National Tour of BULLETS OVER BROADWAY. He says, "The luminous Emma Stratton, whose performance as Helen Sinclair delightfully pays tribute to the grand ladies of both the stage and screen, leads the cast with a spot-on portrayal that will lead you to various heights of theatrical escapism in the very best sense." Read more here.

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