Regional Roundup: Top 10 Stories This Week Around the Broadway World - 2/26; The Ordway's A CHORUS LINE, Immersive ROMEO + JULIET in Seattle and More!

"Brilliant", "riveting" and "astonishing" are only a few words our contributing writers have used to describe the local theatre scene. This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature the top 10 stories in Central PA, Minneapolis, Seattle, and more. Check out our featured list, which includes a "brilliant" OTHER DESERT CITIES in Central PA, The Ordway's A CHORUS LINE, and a "riveting" immersive ROMEO + JULIET in Seattle, just to name a few.

East/Northeast

1. Boston, MA: Editor Justin J. Sacramone reviews Touch Performance Art's SEARCHING FOR SIGNAL. He says, "SEARCHING FOR SIGNAL addresses the overbearing expectations placed on young adults by society. The seemingly harmless question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" launches us, at any early age, into a never-ending quest to define "what" we are. As we grow older and are introduced to new technology, we become overwhelmed at the many ways to answer that question. The expectations in choosing a university, major, and significant other are suddenly not enough." Read more here.

2. Central PA: Editor Marakay Rogers reviews a "brilliant" OTHER DESERT CITIES at The Fulton. She says, "Astonishingly for a show that's this filled with angst and anger, OTHER DESERT CITIES is also remarkably funny. One-liners fall everywhere, from the light-hearted to the ghoulish, and there are moments that the dysfunction achieves major comic heights - which is harder to achieve than dramatic ones. From the moment that Polly Wyeth, Brooke's mother, decides that "this water needs vodka for flavor," the lines start coming; her best may be "You're never going to meet someone if you keep dressing like a librarian from Kabul." Read more here.

Midwest

3. Minneapolis, MN: Editor Jill Shafer reviews The Ordway's A CHORUS LINE. She says, "As Zach the director, Tom Berklund (who appeared in the 2006 revival of A CHORUS LINE) is not only a great dancer, but he's also great as the voice of God the director coming from the back of the theater (I kept wanting to turn around and see where he was).... My favorite Chanhassen (et al) dancer Tony Vierling not only plays the dance captain Larry, teaching "the kids" the steps, but he also is the dance captain for this show. "Keep your eyes on Larry," directs Zach. I always do!" Read more here.

4. Chicago, IL: Editor Misha Davenport launches a new series called "10 On Tuesdays." This week, he features Travis Turner who is currently starring in THE FLICK at Steppenwolf. On his dream role production, Turner says, "Emmie Thibodeaux in Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori's CAROLINE, OR CHANGE. It's a perfect little stirring chamber musical filled with stunning music, and Emmie gets some breathtaking solos. The arc of the character is just so beautiful and rich. I saw Anika Noni Rose in the original Broadway production, and my friend Melanie Brezill in Court's 2008 production. Beasts. Both of them. (That's a compliment.) I also wouldn't mind taking a stab at the Washing Machine, the Radio, or Caroline." Read more here.

West Coast

5. Los Angeles, CA: Editor Michael L. Quintos reviews Musical Theatre West's revival of WEST SIDE STORY. He says, "Right off the bat---in what would end up being a smart albeit safe move---MTW chose to present a rather nostalgic iteration that closely harkens back to the mood and feel of the original 1957 stage production (plus hints of its Academy Award-winning 1961 film adaptation), rather than offer its local regional audience a production that mimics the grittier 2009 bilingual Broadway reboot (whose national tour extension visited Southern California around five years ago to much-deserved fanfare)." Read more here.

6. Seattle, WA: Editor Jay Irwin reviews Seattle Immersive's "riveting" ROMEO + JULIET. He says, "Reminiscent of the hit "Sleep No More" in New York, audience members adorn masks making them otherworldly presences around the town. Occasionally interacted with but largely ignored we are granted a fly on the wall viewpoint of this tragic tale. But the progressive nature of the show as well follow the action from one locale to another lends itself perfectly to raising the stakes of all that's going on. Especially during the big battle as cast members kept us onlookers at a safe distance which only amped up the danger of the situation. And truly one of the best fight sequences I've seen in some time." Read more here.

7. Salt Lake City, UT: Editor Tyler Hinton reviews an "astonishing" Pioneer Theatre Company's AN INSPECTOR CALLS. He says, "The Birling clan is led by Broadway actors Joseph Dellger as patriarch Arthur Birling and Mia Dillon as matriarch Sybil Birling--both deliciously sanctimonious.... Christopher Kelly has just the right amount of restraint as the unrelenting Inspector Goole.... Katie Wieland commands the stage as Sheila Birling, who is really the heart of the group of characters, and John Skelley keeps right up with her as her fiancé Gerald Croft.... The cast has no weak link, with John Evans Reese equally impressive as Eric Birling." Read more here.

8. Arizona: Editor Herbert Paine reviews a "gripping" REPARATION at the 22nd Annual Sedona International Film Festival. He says, "REPARATION seethes with suspense. It's an intensely gripping redemption tale. And it compellingly reminds us all that nothing ever is as it seems, and that judgments about the intentions and motivations of others are incomplete until you can understand them in their entirety." Read more here.

International

9. Sydney, Australia: Editor Jade Kops reviews LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Hayes Theatre, Potts Point. She says, "Presented by the same team behind the award winning SWEET CHARITY, this crisp, energetic reimagining of the comedy horror cult classic is another standout production and this year, the rest of the country will not miss out as LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is set to tour nationally." Read more here.

National Tour Highlight:

10. Regional Managing Editor, Christina Mancuso reviews MOTOWN THE MUSICAL at the Ohio Theatre (playing thru February 28th). She says, "Allison Semmes was engaging and captivating as Diana Ross, who had relatable appeal and superb vocal talent. We watched as she evolved from the young, naive, aspiring teen to an extraordinary vocal diva. Her "Reach Out and Touch" was a true audience pleaser in which she invited volunteers to join her in singing, and connected to them with genuine charm." Read more here.

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We have several new writers joining us this week! We'd like to welcome Jeff Tingley in Dallas, Gianluca Russo in Central NY, Vanessa Michaud in Washington, DC, Rosanne DellAversano in Delaware, Lisa Barnes in Hawaii, Marcelo Martin as a photographer in Brazil, and several guest bloggers including Jeff Church in Rhode Island, Thomas Murphy in Houston, Rebecca Donaldson in South Carolina, Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, and the cast of THE TWINS MACABRE in the UK/West End.

Want to join our growing team? We have positions available in several U.S. regions and International countries! Contact christina@broadwayworld.com for more information!