Regional Roundup: Top 10 Stories This Week Around the Broadway World - 2/5; The Engeman's GOD OF CARNAGE, ASSASSINS in Pittsburgh and More!

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Long Island, Pittsburgh, South Bend, and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include GOD OF CARNAGE at The Engeman, ASSASSINS in Pittsburgh, and THE MUSIC MAN in South Bend, just to name a few.

East/Northeast

1. Long Island, NY: Editor Melissa Giordano reviews GOD OF CARNAGE at The Engeman. She says, "It seems the most important thing you must have is a very strong comedic cast to mount this show. The Engeman's fantastic company delivers superbly as expressed by the enthusiastic sold out audience. The chemistry is apparent and its relatability seems to be another reason why this is such a well-received piece. You regularly see parents wrongfully defend their "little angels" and the parents end up looking as bad as the children." Read more here.

2. Central PA: Editor Marakay Rogers reviews LEGALLY BLONDE at the Fulton Theatre. She says, "Degerstedt brings the energy for her to defeat self-centered boyfriend Warner (Cory Jeacoma) and to find both romance and her own legal brilliance with Emmett the legal teaching assistant (Ben Michael). Her relationship with Emmett is delightful - he helps her discover her legal acumen, while she helps him find his own self-esteem. Michael's Emmett blossoms on stage throughout their relationship as surely as Elle does." Read more here.

3. Pittsburgh, PA: Editor Greg Kerestan reviews ASSASSINS at Split Stage. He says, "The men of the cast bring strongly diverse portrayals (in terms of characterization, anyway- a throwaway point in the show mentions that assassins tend to be white men) to their historical figures and footnotes. As the ludicrously Tigger-like Charles Guiteau, Ben Wren turns in a gleefully one-note performance as a man for whom a prayer meeting, a murder and his own execution are equally pleasant. Adam Grossett's Giuseppe Zangara finds drama, even horror in the tragicomic figure of an Italian-American so troubled by gastric distress that he attempts to shoot FDR." Read more here.

Midwest

4. St. Louis, MO: Editor Chris Gibson reviews The New Jewish Theatre's UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL. He says, "Glynis Bell plays the librarian, and she is absolutely splendid in the role. The frustrations she feels in her job melt away as she goes on a journey to find the secret behind this overdue tome. Bell generates a palpable sense of excitement over each new piece of evidence, even if they're sometimes a bit too vague to absolutely pinpoint their source. She enthusiastically jots down dates and notes on a chalkboard to illustrate her astonishment, and accompanies her various travels with slide projections that provide valuable hints." Read more here.

5. South Bend, IN: Editor Katherine Waddell reviews THE MUSIC MAN at The South Bend Civic Theatre. She says, "What really makes the show is the astute casting: Sean Leyes, an SBCT regular, plays the notorious (but redeemable) Harold Hill, "The Music Man". Leyes does the character justice by bringing undeniably devious charm to Harold Hill, but also a genuine softness that can leave any audience member wondering if Hill really is a charlatan. Leyes spares no detail in bringing Hill to life, using his acting chops to personify a man who is not all that he appears to be. He is the true superstar of the show." Read more here.

6. Cincinnati, OH: Editor Kate Elliott reviews PRELUDE TO A KISS at Falcon Theatre. She says, "Matthew David Gellin delivered a dynamic performance as Peter. He transitioned seamlessly between dialogue and fourth-wall-breaking monologues, creating a crisp, clean, and refreshingly natural character. His journey from nervous suitor to confident romantic to desperate soul-searcher was clear and poignant." Read more here.

7. Minneapolis, MN: Editor Peggy Sue Dunigan reviews PERICLES at the Guthrie. She says, "Throughout Shakespeare's generational sea journey, Scenic Designer Jan Chambers created magnificent clouds hung from the theater ceiling surrounding the audience for a completely magical setting. The massive semicircular screen used for a backdrop doubles for the visuals of fire, water and a starlit sky, thanks to incredible lighting designed by Rui Rita. These theater techniques immediately engage the audience when flames also appear in a wrought iron pedestal urn placed center stage to open the production, and then reflect larger than life on the screen, courtesy of Francesca Talenti's video design." Read more here.

West Coast

8. Tucson, AZ: Editor Maria Rita Meli reviews FENCES at Arizona Theatre Company. She says, "FENCES is incredibly dense, incredibly daunting, and just incredibly powerful, all of which are encompassed in Anderson's magnificent performance as the character of Troy. He embodies this man's bitterness and anger with such ease and, at the drop of a hat, can project such love for his dear wife, Rose (Kim Staunton)." Read more here.

International

9. Sydney, Australia: Editor Brodie Paparella reviews the Aussie Premiere of THE WHALE at Old Fitz Theatre. He says, "The intimate space charmingly designed by Charlie Davis provides the audience genuine voyeuristic revulsion at the goodhearted but ultimately depraved existence of Charlie, played distinctively and with superb nuance by Keith Agius. Although the cliffhangers built into the production might create inertia for and stunt the emotional swelling that could really transport the audience further for some, there was no stopping this particular audience from falling completely in empathy with Charlie's final hours." Read more here.

National Tour Highlight:

10. Seattle Editor reviews BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, now playing at the Paramount through February 7th. He says, "But as I said it's this cast that makes it. All of them have killer pipes, of course. But there are some incredible standouts in the comedy department that make this an insanely good time. Williams has the comedy timing and physicality of 10 performers as he spit takes, pratfalls and double takes his way through the piece without ever taking it too far. Stratton has a beautiful build to her character from Diva to shameless manipulator that takes her character beyond just one-note. Zarr could not be funnier as he continues to seduce while still eating everything in sight. And Brooks makes for the perfect gangster but with a brain beneath all those bullets." Read more here.

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