Joseph Harrison

The feelings that one gets when sitting in the audience for a musical production can run the gamut from sadness and heartbreak to joy and excitement. But it is a rare experience when a production causes one to experience the full breadth of human emotion – becoming transfixed and transported to an elevated state of bliss. This is what I experienced last night at Central Florida Vocal Arts (CFVA) production of Adam Guettel’s THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA – an stunningly brilliant production featuring some of the most magnificent vocals I have heard from the stage in a very long time.

“The sun'll come out, tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there'll be sun…” If you are now belting out this tune in your living room, then you are not alone. The song, from the classic musical ANNIE, is one that has captured hearts ever since it was first heard when this uplifting show premiered at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT (shout out to my friends at the Goodspeed – my favorite theatre from my days in Connecticut). Today, almost 50 years later, this musical still has the power to thrill, to excite, and yes, even to heal. And on stage at Theatre South Playhouse in Dr. Phillips, ANNIE feels fresh, fun, and fantastic – and demonstrates why this timeless tale of one little girl’s power to change the world with a little thing called hope is more relevant, today, than ever.

History, romance and a captivating mystery told in a breathtakingly magical way – that’s the thrilling combination you get with ANASTASIA, the latest production from Titusville Playhouse. The beloved musical, inspired by the classic 1997 animated film, takes audiences on a “Journey to the Past” through early 20th-century Russia and Paris and does so with a stellar cast and a beautiful creative vision that shines on the Titusville stage with vibrant energy and heartfelt emotion. Whether you are a longtime fan of the musical or experiencing it for the first time, this rendition promises to enchant and inspire.

There’s a particular thrill experiencing the familiar in an unfamiliar way - seeing a favorite dramatic actor in a comedic role, eating a “deconstructed” dish with all the familiar ingredients of a favorite entrée but delivered in a very different way, or watching a new film that revisits a classic story. For fans of musical theatre, and in particular, the songbook of award-winning composer and lyricist, Stephen Schwartz, the musical SNAPSHOTS revisits the familiar (and rare) and weaves Schwartz’ classic melodies into a new tapestry – delivering a narrative that resonates on a deep and human level and explores themes of love, regret, and the passage of time. In the skilled hands of The Winter Park Playhouse, this personal and poignant piece captivates, entertains, and touches the heart in a way that will move you deeply and then have you rushing home to hold tightly to those you love.

“What do you do with a drunken sailor?” An age-old question sung by scalawags and ne’er do wells as they drank rum on the deck of a ship on its way to pillage and burn. Sound familiar? For any fan of pirate popular culture, this conjures a particular image. Maybe it’s of Captain Jack Sparrow stumbling around and getting into all kinds of misadventures or the local fan favorite ride at the Magic Kingdom. Maybe your reference is more of the classical nature, Blackbeard or Treasure Island. Whatever your pirate point of reference, it is likely you haven’t seen pirates like the ones inhabiting the latest offering from New Generation Theatrical (Sept 19-29 at the Abbey), GOTHIC SEAS: FATHOMS OF INTOXICATING FORTUNE – an original play that offers comedy, a touch of improv and of course, plenty of drinking to ensure audiences have a jolly good time. A Jolly Roger, that is.

Jukebox musicals are a polarizing topic in the world of musical theatre. For fans of an artist or group whose music is used as the score of a musical, these can often be favorites due to the familiarity and affinity one might have for the songbook. For musical purists, however, jukebox musicals often feel like one is being cheated out of a new, original score, not to mention the fact that many times these types of shows employ very thinly constructed books (e.g., ALL SHOOK UP) or stories that verge on the truly absurd (e.g., ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE). But there are a rare few of these productions that get the mix right – making them enjoyable for both sides of the theatrical aisle and can often be the recipe for a megahit. Such is the case with JERSEY BOYS, the 2005 Tony Award winning musical which tells the story of the formation, success, and breakup of the hit Rock and Roll group, The Four Seasons including lead singer, Frankie Valli. This high energy, audience favorite opens the 64th season for Osceola Arts in Kissimmee and is a highly entertaining and solid production – one that is sure to please fans of the show and newcomers alike.

On Tuesday evening, December 4, 1956, in Memphis, Tennessee, while a winter chill bit into passersby at the corner of Union Avenue and Marshall Avenue something big was heating up the studio of Sun Records on that very same corner. Sun Records founder and producer, Sam Phillips had brought together a group of young musicians who were just starting out on their long and storied careers, for that one night only, to jam together. At the time, that gathering may have been unremarkable, but looking back years later, Mr. Phillips called the group the “Million Dollar Quartet” – since it was made up of what would become some of the biggest names in Rock and Roll – Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley. And while the recordings of that night took many years to be released, audiences have the chance to witness the gathering for themselves on stage in MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET – the latest musical offering at the Titusville Playhouse. And believe me - this gathering is electric, exciting and thrilling to witness.

“Everything has it’s season, everything has it’s time..” So goes the lyrics of “Corner of the Sky”, one of the most well-known songs from Stephen Schwartz’ and Roger O. Hirson’s Tony award winning musical, PIPPIN. And it seems, that for the Garden Theatre’s latest production of this classic, now is the season and the time for a production of PIPPIN that not only brings this story to life for a new generation but does so in a new and inclusive way - incorporating deaf actors and American Sign Language (ASL) at the very heart of the show. I am pleased to say that this new approach works marvelously well – elevating the performance by adding elements that give new meaning to the story unfolding on stage and creating an evening of theatre that is magical, memorable, and unlike anything you are likely to have seen before.

What happens when you take a classic film, update it for a modern audience and then turn it into a Broadway musical? This seems to be a question producers and creatives have been asking themselves more and more over the last few years. With musicals like BACK TO THE FUTURE and THE OUTSIDERS currently playing the Great White Way, it seems like musical adaptations of hit films are here to stay. One of the recent examples of a beloved classic being mounted as a musical is TOOTSIE, based on the classic 1982 film starring Dustin Hoffman. Some might think of this 40+ year old film as an odd choice for adaptation – especially with the world’s perspective on gender and identity being much more evolved in today’s world – but the musical, TOOTSIE, on stage now as the opening show of Titusville Playhouse’s 60th season, shows the tale can be modern, fresh, relevant, entertaining and downright hilarious.

There’s something about a musical that never gets old, regardless of how many different productions one might see. It’s hard to pinpoint what the core reason for that may be – a catchy score? A tight book? A unique concept? A clarity of purpose? Whatever it may be, the fan favorite LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is one of those shows for me. I can always get a thrill in a production of this classic musical. And that was certainly the case with Garden Theatre’s latest production of this classic which kicks off its 2024 – 2025 season and delivers thrills, chills, laughs and a rollicking good time.

It is rare to sit down in a theatre to see a play and literally laugh non-stop from before the curtain all the way to the final bows. Sure, there are hilarious comedies out there that garner many laughs in an evening but to create a raucous reaction from an audience with little time to take a breath until the next unbelievably funny moment – for almost every moment of the play - that is rare. So, when I tell you this is exactly the experience you are likely to have sitting in the audience at Osceola Arts’ stellar production of THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG, trust me, you should run, not walk, to get your tickets to what is likely to be the funniest and most entertaining Central Florida productions of the year. Fair warning – you should be prepared for your face and your sides to hurt by the end of the evening – and not just metaphorically – it is truly that fun.

​​​​​​​Was it Mr. Green in the Library with the Revolver? Miss Scarlet with the Candlestick in the Dining Room? Professor Plum with the Wrench in the Kitchen? These suggestions should sound familiar to any fan of the classic Hasbro board game, Clue, or of the 1985 cult classic comedy film of the same name. But June 4th – 9th in Orlando you might just be accusing Mrs. White of slaying the audience with hilarious comedy in the Walt Disney Theatre (at the Dr. Phillips Center) as CLUE, a new production based on the classic board game and film, takes the stage. Embodying the mysterious (and hilarious) perpetual widow, Mrs. White, will be Tari Kelly who sat down with me to share about her theatrical origins, her experience bringing this classic role to life (and adding her own interpretation to it), and what audiences can expect when they come to see CLUE in Orlando.

There is musical theatre magic happening on stage now through May 19th at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, Florida via ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE, a fan favorite musical tribute to one of the most iconic voices in country music. This latest production is a heartwarming, and toe-tapping look at the life and career of Patsy Cline through the eyes of one of her biggest fans – and takes the audience on an exciting trip back in time filled with beloved songs and a fascinating and highly entertaining story.

When the opening chords of a familiar Beatles tune drifts out of the doors of the Walt Disney Theater on May 5th, guests might just think they stepped back in time 50+ years to the iconic eras of Sgt. Pepper, Magical Mystery Tour and all your favorite hits. And if they come see RAIN - A Tribute to the Beatles presented by the Dr. Phillips Center, they might just succeed in that time travel. RAIN - A Tribute to the Beatles, a show that has been called 'the next best thing to seeing The Beatles,' boasts a repertoire of nearly 200 Beatles favorites, ranging from such beloved songs as 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' and 'Hey Jude' to classic hits including 'Revolution' and 'Come Together.'  Leading many of those familiar songs, in the iconic shoes of John Lennon is Steve Landes, and actor/singer/musician that has been performing Beatles-songs for most of his adult life and will be a part of the show when it arrives in Orlando. I had the privilege of speaking with Steve a number of years ago to learn a little more about his journey and our conversation still resonates today. Below is a re-sharing of our interview from 2009  (one of my first as a writer for BroadwayWorld!)

In times of turmoil, oppression, and uncertainty, how do people cope? How do they find joy, hope, and freedom when all seems hopeless? In the early 1930’s many of the citizens of Berlin found ways to escape the realities of life and the rise of the Nazi party by visiting one of the many cabarets in the city where they could leave their troubles at the door and partake in the debauchery of the latest avant garde entertainment. Today, however, in 2024, a visit to the Kit Kat Klub of CABARET, the latest offering from Titusville Playhouse, provides such an escape but with an important cautionary tale about the dangers of extremism and the real consequences of not taking them seriously. 

It takes a large imagination to come up with new ideas for the stage, and when the show in question is based on the books of one of the most beloved children’s book authors of the last century – it better be filled to the brim with creativity. Luckily, Orlando’s Little Radical Theatrics has done just that by offering a fresh and stylized production of SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL, on stage now through April 21st at the Fringe ArtSpace in Orlando. Based on the books of Dr. Seuss, this musical weaves together some of Dr. Seuss’ most iconic characters and themes into a colorful and charming adventure that will appeal to audiences of all ages.

If you are looking for a fun, energetic, and uplifting musical experience, look no further than The Winter Park Playhouse's current production of FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE. This musical revue, featuring the songs of Louis Jordan, the 'King of the Jukebox', is a celebration of life, love, and music, with a dash of humor and a lot of soul. Directed and choreographed by Joshian Morales, FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE is a show that will have you tapping your feet, clapping your hands, and singing along to some of the most catchy and memorable tunes of the 1940s and 50s.

There are some standard musical theatre moments that never fail to take my breath away. From the powerful 11th hour “I want” song to a perfectly in sync kick line, certain musical mainstays will simply never get old for me. And one of the best examples of musical nirvana, I believe, is a well-choreographed and expertly executed tap number. Nothing thrills like seeing a group of performers executing the complex and rhythmically entrancing dances that are extremely difficult to master but seem effortless due to the skill and talent of those on stage. So, I was thrilled to have the chance to take in Osceola Arts’ latest production of the classic musical 42ND STREET and I am here to tell you, it did not disappoint. This fantastic production includes some of the finest choreography (and dancing) I have seen on stage here in Central Florida in my four years here and is a fabulous foray into a bygone era of classic movie musicals that provides non-stop entertainment and musical theatre magic in every moment.

Michael Knight is no stranger to the Orlando entertainment scene. Since moving here, the multi-talented artist has worked as a performer, writer, director and producer for various theme parks, theatres and festivals. He is also the co-founder and creative director of New Generation Theatrical, a local, Orlando theatre company that was founded in 2019 and has produced a variety of shows, ranging from well-known musicals like NEXT TO NORMAL and SWEENEY TODD, to original comedies like THE F. MARRYKILL AFFAIR and The Gothic Series. The company aims to provide accessible, immersive and original theatrical experiences to a diverse audience.

If you are a fan of country music, you will not want to miss MAY WE ALL: A NEW COUNTRY MUSICAL at Titusville Playhouse now playing through April 7th. This show, written by Troy Britton Johnson, Todd Johnson, and Eric Pfeffinger features songs by some of the biggest names in the genre, such as Billy Ray Cyrus, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Florida Georgia Line, and more. And in its regional premiere at Titusville Playhouse, this down home, feel good musical shines with powerful vocals, a stellar cast, high energy production numbers and a heartwarming story that illustrates the power of community.