Regional Roundup: Top 10 Stories This Week Around the Broadway World - 6/5; World Premiere in Long Island, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN in San Diego and More!

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Long Island, Kansas City, San Diego, and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include a World Premiere in Long Island, MOTHER FREAKING HOOD! in Kansas City, and SINGIN' IN THE RAIN at San Diego Musical Theatre, just to name a few.

East/Northeast

1. Boston, MA: Editor Karen Bovard reviews THE HOW AND WHY at Shakespeare & Company in the Berkshires. She says, "There's a lot here about women in academia, and in the work world generally, and how and whether the choices we have are different now than they were for women a generation back. Treem's got a gift for writing smart but speakable dialogue: Zelda calls herself a 'sexual Magellan,' describes love as 'the Stockholm Syndrome gussied up,' and when Rachel asks if life will always be this hard, replies 'It will either be hard or boring: you get to pick.'" Read the full review here.

2. Long Island, NY: Editor Melissa Giordano reviews the World Premiere of THE NEW SINCERITY at Bay Street. She says, "The story has something for everyone; it is political, it has an intriguing love triangle, it is smart, and it speaks to a new generation. You will notice that some of the inspiration comes from the Occupy Wall Street protests of 2011 and social media is mentioned throughout." Read more here.

Midwest

3. Cleveland, OH: Senior Editor Roy Berko reviews Pulitzer Prize winning THE YOUNG MAN FROM ATLANTA at Beck Center. He says, "Dudley Swetland rants well as Will. As the character becomes more fatigued and defeated, the actor nicely textures his pace and dynamism. His final speech, which is presented in a near whisper, is compelling.... Anne McEvoy gives a clear illusion of Lily Dale's lack of being in touch with reality. She is a traditional southern lady who lives in dreams and fantasy. She clearly develops an almost child-like Lily Dale, with no friends, who refuses to face the facts, obsesses about rumors, half-truths and religion." Read more here.

4. Kansas City, MO: Editor Steve Wilson calls MOTHER FREAKING HOOD! "Mother Freaking Funny" in his review. He goes on, "Mother Freaking Hood! is not a play anyone should see once, because that is not near enough times to catch all the humor that causes the audience to erupt with laughter throughout the two-act play. Mother Freaking Hood! opened on Saturday May 30 at the Goppert Theatre inside Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri to roars of laughter. The Moonshine Variety Company production is without a doubt the funniest musical comedy of the theater season in Kansas City." Read his full review here.

5. Omaha, NE: Editor Christine Swerczek reviews SPAMALOT at Omaha Community Playhouse. She says, "Melanie Walters as Lady of the Lake is delightfully over the top as the muse who delivers Excalibur and 'kings' Arthur. Her vocals are powerful and true, but she is also able to poke fun at divas and lounge singers with exaggerated performance and long drawn out notes. Melanie's rendition of "Whatever Happened to My Part" brought the loudest cheers of the night and showed Omaha that she is a still a star." Read more here.

South

6. West Virgina: Editor Johnna Leary interviews various cast and creative members of LEND ME A TENOR, which opens at the Washington County Playhouse this weekend. "The dialogue is very challenging, whether it's memorizing the rapid fire and random lines, or simply not breaking character and laughing out loud on stage" said Nate LaDow, who plays operatic superstar Tito Merelli. Read the full interview here.

7. Miami, FL: Editor Roger Martin reviews THE BOOK CLUB PLAY at Actors' Playhouse. He says, "There's an all star cast working at Actors' Playhouse right now. And they're stuck in a morass of cliches, weak jokes, and sitcom plotting. It's the 2015 summer season opener, THE BOOK CLUB PLAY." Read his outstanding review here.

West

8. Los Angeles, CA: Editor Aimee Curameng says ROMEO & JULIET: LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD "soars at Rockwell!." She goes on, "It's difficult for any production to take on Shakespeare, especially such a beloved classic as Romeo & Juliet, but "Love Is A Battlefield" is more than up to the challenge. Using the music of Pat Benatar, Tina Turner, and other powerhouse songs from the '80s, Romeo & Juliet manages to find an equal balance between Shakespearan text and contemporary songs. The two seemlessly blend into one another and while Shakespearan prose is spoken, it's hardly noticeable. The action, the configuration of songs lend themselves to creating a modern environment." Read her full review here.

9. San Diego, CA: Editor E.H. Reiter reviews SINGIN' IN THE RAIN at San Diego Musical Theatre. She says, "As Don, this show is all about Davidson and he is completely at ease in this era. His vocals, charm, and dancing are what you really came to this show for and he doesn't disappoint. Davidson is as comfortable in this tap happy role in the first act as he is in the ballet sequence in the second act. He is light hearted and lovely in the iconic title song and dance number, and isn't afraid to get wet as he dances through the (actual) rain coming down upon him. I hope for his sake the water is a least warm!" Read more here.

National Tour Highlight:

10. Michael L. Quintos reviews PETER AND THE STARCATCHER at South Coast Rep (playing through June 7). He says, "I can confidently speak for the audience when I say that, in this production, I felt much more welcomed in, as if this troupe of cheeky, playful actors are actually just my talented close friends that have decided to "spontaneously" gather together to tell me a fantastic story in a fantastic fashion---all with pure theatrical ingenuity.... And, let me tell you... in the hands of this stellar, harmonious ensemble, it truly is! Not once did I feel perplexed or exhaustively put-off, nor did I ever feel detached from the on-going action or the humorous hijinks that this merry band of expressive loons wanted to share with its rapt audience." Read more here.

Bonus! It's the moment we've all been waiting for.... TONY time! Don't forget to tune in to BroadwayWorld for Broadway's biggest night, the 69th Annual Tony Awards on CBS, hosted by Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming. The stars will align at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 7, 2015 and we'll be bringing you exclusive, live photos, videos and blogs of everything that's happening from the red carpet to the winners' room; the pre-show ceremony to the after parties. We'll be there for it all, and there's no better place for comprehensive coverage this Sunday than BroadwayWorld! Don't forget to tweet us pics of your Tony Awards party using #BWWTonys!

This week, we'd like to welcome Leanne Marsland as our newest contributing editor in Melbourne.

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!