Regional Roundup: Top 10 Stories This Week Around the Broadway World - 5/1; Media Theatre's HELLO DOLLY!, Cleveland Play House Wins a Tony & More!

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Philadelphia, Birmingham, Cleveland, Ireland and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include Media Theatre's HELLO DOLLY!, Pittsburgh Public's OTHELLO, and the exciting news about the Cleveland Play House winning a Tony Award, just to name a few.

East Coast

1. Rhode Island: Editor Larry O'Brien reviews 2nd Story Theater's MISS REARDON. He says, "It would all be very grim if it were not so funny; it would all be very funny if it were not so grim. Each of the sisters has their moments, but in the characters' lives and in this production, Catherine is the hub, and Hakeem is equal to the task. Her Catherine is funny and tough, wise cracking and self-medicating her way through some very difficult situations with no clear solutions." Read more here.

2. Connecticut: Editor Melinda Zupaniotis reviews LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Music Theatre Of Connecticut (playing through May 3rd). She says, "Elissa DeMaria and Anthony DiCostanzo as Audrey and Seymour, respectively, were magnificent revelations. Ms. DeMaria, sometimes reminding me of Brittany Murphy, was 100% engaged in her character, making her both lovable and tragic. Her performance of "Somewhere That's Green" actually left me misty-eyed." Read her full review here.

3. Philadelphia, PA: Editor Pati Buehler reports on Media Theater's HELLO DOLLY! She says, "Hello Andrea! It's nice to have you back where you belong! Broadway veteran and Philly favorite Andrea McArdle stars as the sassy, brassy, Dolly Levi meddling and matchmaking her way through Yonkers and New York City via the Media Theater's lavish, entertaining production." Read more here, and check out our full review roundup here.

Northeast

4. Pittsburgh, PA: Editor Greg Kerestan spotlights Shakespeare in his review of Pittsburgh Public's OTHELLO. He says, "Teagle F. Bougere, last seen as the time-traveling Poet in An Iliad, stands out from the crowd with his portrayal of Othello. Though he uses no accent, and his diction and mannerisms are distinctly twenty-first century upper-class black American, his Othello still feels foreign from the rest of Venice, as well the character should. Perhaps it's his large, grandiose physicality, as he gestures broadly, leaps, shouts and waves his arms, either with joy or with rage." Red his full review here.

Midwest

5. Cleveland, OH: Huge congrats to the Cleveland Play House who just won a Regional Theatre Tony Award! They said, "When you think about all of the creativity and hard work that goes into creating a show, and then you multiply that by the number of shows in a season, and then again by 100 seasons, and you think about all of that hard work...this award is a HUGE recognition for all of the tens of thousands of actors, directors, designers and technicians, staff, and donors who have contributed to our past and our ongoing success." Read more of their reaction here.

Southeast

6. Nashville, TN: Editors Jeffrey Ellis and Cara Richardson report on all the exciting happenings coming up next week in the Nashville theatre scene, including the Cumberland County Playhouse, Nashville Repertory Theatre, Zanie's Comedy Club and more. Check out their full roundup here.

South

7. Birmingham, AL: Editor Marietta Lunceford reviews ROBIN HOOD, playing at Birmingham Children's Theatre. She says, "Birmingham Children's Theatre has a knack for taking a classic story and giving it a new twist. ROBIN HOOD certainly holds true to that.. Written by Sina Skates, this rendition of ROBIN HOOD definitely has that twist." Find out more here.

West Coast

8. Seattle, WA: Editor Jay Irwin reviews OUTSIDE MULLINGAR at Seattle Rep. He says, "Shanley always manages to create such rich and vibrant characters and infuse them with engaging dialog that is so honest and simple that you get tons of exposition and story advancement without even knowing it happened. It's just so effortless yet moving." Read more here.

Australia

9. Ireland: New editor Chris McCormack reviews Stapleton's play CHAROLAIS. He says, "Digging up the dark pastures of rural Ireland, Stapleton conveys the fears of isolation and repressed emotion that sometimes makes romance difficult. She also captures the vibrancy of the turf shed, the playfulness of the hay bales where Siobhán and Jimmy go for a tumble, until interrupted by the curious Charolais munching on straw." Read more here.

National Tour Highlight:

10. Editor Jamie McGonnigal interviews MEMPHIS Star Zuri Washington on Race, Inequality and Broadway. On the issue of racial equality, she says, " there's the complicated issue of gender and race and how the world at large sees those two identities interconnected. The largest issue that the show tackles at the forefront of the storytelling is racial inequality. I think the show handles it with the fun of Hairspray with head-bopping tunes and moments of comedy and the seriousness of Dreamgirls. The subject matter is nothing to treat lightly, but even so, there are certain ways material must be handled in order to keep the rapt attention of a possibly divided audience whether that be by age, race, gender, etc." Read the full interview here.

This week, we would like to welcome Kimberly Ortiz as our newest editor in New Jersey/Philadelphia, Christopher McCormack in Ireland, and Roger Catlin in Washington, DC.

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!