Christine Swerczek - Page 12

Let's say you are a six year old and you have trouble falling asleep. Let's say your imagination runs away with you. Let's say animals can talk, crawl out of paintings on the wall, and sing and dance. These are the components for The Rose Theater's current production, GOODNIGHT MOON, the tale of a young boy (actually, he may be a bunny) who goes on an hour-long romp through the world of make-believe.

The Candy Project's production of the Dennis T. Giacino DISENCHANTED! combines his clever lyrics and energetic musical score with their talented cast and crew to create a fun, satirical romp through the stories of Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and all their princess pals.

Directed by Matthew Gutshick, this cast of THE LITTLE MERMAID turns the old world ambience of the Rose Theater into a watery world of imagination.

This is something you're gonna wanna see! THE PRODUCERS, a Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan musical masterpiece of mayhem, has opened at the Omaha Community Playhouse. In typical Mel Brooks fashion, it sweeps you off into a tornadic whirlwind of slapstick, clever innuendos, and just plain foolishness. But even a piece as good as this would not be as funny as it's meant to be without the right cast and crew to pull it off. This bunch does.

Dixie Longate is coming back to Omaha. Get ready to cough your teeth into your hand and buy some plastic crap from this top-selling Tupperware dealer!

From the moment we enter the Howard Drew theatre at the Omaha Community Playhouse, we are drawn into the human drama unfolding before us.

What? Not like ELEPHANT & PIGGIE'S WE ARE IN A PLAY? "Unpossible!" This is the cute, cute, cutest production to come out of the Rose Theater in a long time. Everything about it is delightful!

I am personally excited to see the spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA coming to Omaha this week! Hailed by critics as "bigger and better than ever," Laurence Connor's re-imagination of the longest-running production on Broadway is drawing superlatives: "stunning!" "spectacular!" "brilliant!" "majestic!" and "beautiful!" Because of all the references to beauty, I called Jacquelynne Fontaine, who plays Carlotta, and happens to be a former beauty title holder.

There's something deliciously undercover at the Omaha Community Playhouse. CALENDAR GIRLS, directed by Susan Baer Collins, opens tonight for a four-week run. The strong ensemble cast reveals distinct, fully rounded personalities.  I had so much fun watching their characters unfold, particularly the six friends who belong to the British social club for women, the WI (Women's Institute).

Andy Huntington Jones, who plays Prince Topher in the national tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein's CINDERELLA leads a fairy tale life. Read on to find out how his love story echoes the magical story unfolding on stage.

Picture this: a quartet hanging around a lamppost in 1940's Hollywood dressed in warm yellow and red tones, singing in close harmony while shadowy gray figures dance in the background. A shot rings out and CITY OF ANGELS opens with a bang at the Omaha Community Playhouse.

I don't remember enjoying a show this much since PIPPIN came to Omaha! Disney's NEWSIES, the record-breaking smash musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and book by Harvey Fierstein opened last night at the Orpheum Theater. There was no doubt as to whether the audience enjoyed it. They erupted into cheers, whistles, and applause after, and sometimes in the middle of, each number.

CAROLINE, OR CHANGE is shaking up the Omaha Community Playhouse.  The closest to this musical that I've seen on stage is FUN HOME, winner of five 2015 Tony Awards, including best original score by Jeanine Tesori. 

NEWSIES! is leaping onto the stage at Omaha's Orpheum Theater. This high-energy musical based on historic events opens February 16 for a six day run. I spoke with Andrew Wilson, Dance Captain and Swing for NEWSIES, about his background and his experience working with the show. This is what he had to say

The house was estrogen-filled last night at the Omaha Community Playhouse. Packed with women and a handful of brave men, the audience responded with knowing bursts of laughter as they listened to five women on stage talk about marking memorable occasions...the good, the bad, and the ugly... with what they wore. LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE will resonate with all women.

Who has NOT grown up with Wizard of Oz? It was a very special annual event in my childhood home, and I am willing to bet most of you can say the same. I was excited to speak with Aaron Fried, who plays the Cowardly Lion in the national tour of WIZARD OF OZ, which opens at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha on Tuesday, December 8?.

Having never seen the five-time Tony Award winning PETER AND THE STARCATCHER prior to the preview at Omaha's Rose Theater last night, I did not know what to expect. I suppose I was thinking it would be similar to the classic Disney movie or the more recent Broadway hit FINDING NEVERLAND, but it was neither. And it was both.

I know everyone will expect this review to begin with, "I've Had the Time of My Life," but I will skip that well-known song that serves as the finale to DIRTY DANCING and go back to the opening number which defines it so well as "This Magic Moment."

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE exploded on stage on October 30th at Creighton University's Lied Center for the Performing Arts as a glorious celebration of light, color and sound.

Get ready to kick up your heels! Wildly popular KINKY BOOTS, winner of six 2013 Tony Awards, opens October 20th at Omaha's Orpheum Theater. To get a little insider insight, I spoke with Steven Booth who plays shoe factory owner Charlie Price: