Regional Roundup: Top 10 Stories This Week Around the Broadway World - 4/17; UAB's AVENUE Q, UNCLE VANYA in DC, JOSEPH in New Orleans & More!

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Birmingham, Washington, DC., New Orleans, Germany and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include The University of Alabama's AVENUE Q, UNCLE VANYA in DC, and JOSEPH in New Orleans, just to name a few.

East Coast

1. Washington, DC: Editor Itai Yasur reviews UNCLE VANYA at the Round House Theatre (running through May 3). He says, "Vreeke's blocking is so deliberate that arguments play out like choreographed dances; the drama is spoken and the movements are subtle. Everything about this performance feels fresh, the very opposite of any notion of Chekov as depressing Russian melodrama." Read his full review here.

South

2. Birmingham, AL: Marietta Lunceford offers a stunning review of AVENUE Q at The University of Alabama at Birmingham theatre department. She says, "From the superb set designed by Cliff Simon and student constructed, to the amazing puppetry of the cast, everything I saw last night was as top notch as the only other production of AVENUE Q I have ever seen which was a touring Broadway cast. The students were talented and as far as I could tell never had a moment's hesitation of any kind. It was fast paced, musically perfect and while a little racy for a college production, the cast and crew never shied away from the difficult topics and sexual content." Read more here.

3. Minneapolis, MN: Editor Jill Schafer reviews two shows currently playing at Park Square Theatre - SHOOTING STAR and THE OTHER PLACE. On SHOOTING STAR, she says, "Shooting Star is one of those real and messy love stories, perfectly encapsulating an intense and intimate experience between two people that may or may not result in "happily ever after," but is meaningful and true nonetheless (see also Once). Steven Dietz's clever choice to give both characters multiple asides in which they speak directly to the audience in a conversational way gives us insights into their thoughts, making us feel like confidantes and drawing us right into the story." Want to find out what she thought of THE OTHER PLACE? Read more here.

Midwest

4. Chicago, IL: Editor Elee Schrock reviews Bailiwick's MURDER BALLAD (playing through May 9th). She says, "...Bailiwick's "Murder Ballad" is still certainly worth a viewing for the strength and ingenuity (and fun) of the piece itself, and to hear this great score sung by fantastic singers." Read her full review here.

5. Cleveland, OH: Senior Editor Roy Berko reviews THE TEMPEST at Great Lakes Theater, (playing through April 26th). He says, "The cast is excellent. D. A. Smith rants effectively as Prospero. Ryan David O'Byrne develops fully the role of Ariel.Dustin Tucker delights as Trinculo, a drunken cook. J. Todd Adams, looking much like Alan Cummings portraying the M.C. in the latest Broadway staging of CABARET, is eerily effective as the savage Caliban. Dougfred Miller (Alonso) and Jonathan Dyrud (Antonio), do justice to their character development. Patrick Riley is on target as the youthful Ferdinand." Read more here.

West Coast:

6. LA/Costa Mesa, CA: Editor Michael L. Quintos reviews Musical Theatre West's production of LES MISERABLES (playing through April 26th). He notes, "This highly-commendable local production is directed and choreographed by DJ Salisbury and features a superb-sounding 30-person cast, an impressive arsenal of lighting, set, and costume designs, and strikingly lush musical accompaniment from a 16-piece live orchestra conducted by musical director Andrew Bryan." Read his full review here.

7. Portland, OR: Editor Krista Garver reviews David Ives's THE SCHOOL FOR LIES at Theatre Vertigo (playing through May 9th). She says, "For a play like this to work, the ensemble must be extremely strong, and they are. Nathan Dunkin (who has appeared in all three Theatre Vertigo shows this season) plays Frank with enough bristles and charm that you understand why the men hate him and the women love him. Stephanie Cordell is fantastic as the witty and sharp-tongued Celimene, the main female character and object of Frank's affection." Read more here.

Europe

8. Germany: Senior Editor Iris Moebius showcases SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, which begins April 23rd. Read more details about this production here.

9. Spain: Editor Roberto Rodriquez reports on NINE at the Teatro Alfil. Read more about it here.

National Tour Highlight:

10. The National Tour of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT is playing in New Orleans. Editor Heidi Scheuermann interviews Bill Evans who is portraying Jacob/Potiphar. On the question of JOSEPH being categorized as a "Biblical" musical with JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and GODSPELL, he says, "... if any of them are similar at all it would be JOSEPH and SUPERSTAR simply because Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the music for both....SUPERSTAR is closer just because Andrew Lloyed Webber writes these beautiful pop scores and the stories are told completely through music. GODSPELL has a book [meaning there is a script and also music/lyrics]." Read the full interview here.

This week, we would like to welcome Yashar Yaslowitz as our newest classical music editor.

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!