Jon Bee - Page 4

Art, as we know, is subjective. It can also be beautiful, controversial, awe-inspiring, or sometimes all of the above. But what happens when art comes between religion and family? In the current production at Cherry Creek Theatre, My Name is Asher Lev, a boy learns these struggles at an early age, but doesn't understand what they mean until it's too late.

Did you ever have an imaginary friend as a child? Perhaps something like a "heffalump" or even fairy godparents? Creative minds will take children far, but what about an adult man whose best friend is a six foot tall invisible rabbit? We might say he is in need of some psychological assistance. In the classic, Harvey, that's exactly the scenario we find at the home of Elwood P. Dowd, his sister, Veta Louise Simmons, and her daughter, Myrtle Mae.

It's no secret that entertainment culture has an obsession with sequels and beyond. Movie trilogies become sagas and soon enough Jude Law is playing young Albus Dumbledore. This desire to expand the story; to pick up where you left off is prevalent even on the stage, although perhaps not as regularly. In Andrew Llyod Webber's Love Never Dies, the story isn't over just yet for Christine Daae, The Phantom, and many other important players from it's predecessor, The Phantom of the Opera. 

Not all shows need to have exuberant sets, notable actors, or even a solidified plotlines to be impactful. As we move further and further into the age of 'contemporary musical theater,' more song cycles - shows composed primarily of music with no dialogue and presented themes instead of a plot - are making their way into the limelight. Musicals like Edges and Smokey Joe's Cafe are among those that have cemented their place in time, as is Songs for a New World, currently playing at the Aurora Fox Arts Center.

Teen angst is not something to ignore. Often times, it is the only semblance of emotion that youths exhibit in hopes of finding comfort from others and answers from themselves. Just as these emotions are real, so too is the music that exemplifies these feelings. The combination of these ideas leads us to such musical performances as Green Day's American Idiot at Town Hall Arts Center.

In today's musical theater songbook, you'd probably find a handful of tunes from bio-shows and juke box musicals. From Carole King to Elvis Presley, there plenty of stories to tell, even if they are not those of the music artists. In Arvada's latest production, Mamma Mia, music sensation ABBA is highlighted in all the right ways. 

Not every tale begins with 'once upon a time' just as they are not always a love story. Rather, a different kind of love - an equally important love - is presented. In Candlelight's Dinner Playhouse's latest production, Mary Poppins, the love between children and adults, whether it be between kids and their parents or a lovable, stern nanny, is the certain focal point.

In some ways, history is all we have in terms of building a brighter future. At times, we either forget that history, or we never learn about such events that would lead us to make more informed decisions. Remembering historical events clearly isn't the most sought after activity to spend your time. Thus enters the world of theater, where people come to delve into stories and as an added bonus walk out after the show a little more educated than they were walking in. Such was the case for myself in taking in DCPA's production of Vietgone.

Throughout history, performance artists have become staples in pop culture, many of which can rightfully claim "icon" status. However, aside from music performance, songwriting has long been an underrated quality in the music industry. Even if songwriters become notable performers, it is not always widely known that they have written, and continue to write, for other top artists. Such is the case of Carole King, as told by Beautiful, The Carole King Musical. 

Art, above all, is subjective. It can be anything and everything if artistic intent is the drive behind the creation. With that in mind, art can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and quality. Such was the case for the touring production of Waist Watchers, The Musical at Lakewood Cultural Center. 

Icon. A word of only four letters, and yet it holds so much weight for many people. It is not hard to think of musical icons: Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, even Britney Spears. Among the elite is also Gloria Estefan, whose own personal life is on full display in the latest show to come to DCPA, On Your Feet!

In the history of musical theater certain shows have had their place in time while others seem to transcend lifetimes. Parents bring their children to the same musical that their parents brought them to at their age and suddenly a new family tradition has started. The nice thing about traditions is that they grow and evolve, just like the latest show to come to DCPA: The new touring production of Les Miserables. 

Disney has a history of fantasy. Truly, this is the area in which they find their greatest achievements. Bringing such magic to the stage has long been in their wheelhouse. However, the land of imagination is not limited to fantasy. In Disney's Newsies, the only magic in the air is that which comes from theater, as the patrons of Candlelight Dinner Playhouse's latest production will tell you.

As a child of the 90s, the classic Disney movies have a special place in my heart. The company's track record of transforming these tales into full-length musical productions has always been met with anticipation of how the magic of the movies will blossom on stage. The Little Mermaid, the current production at BDT Stage, is no exception to the glitz.

Over time, we have come to a point where the musical theater genre is as identifiable as any other genre. In today's age, we have come full circle in that the line between musical theater and other genres is thinner than ever. Lin Manuel's Hamilton is a perfect example of the next generation of musical theater, as is DCPA's latest touring production, School of Rock

Theater is a business built on fantasy. We attend productions with suspended disbelief in an effort to step into a world different than our own, and yet, some of the most groundbreaking theatrical works are grounded in historical reference. Some of these shows are on my list of personal favorites, and some get added later, including BDT Stage's latest production, Always…Patsy Cline.

Throughout musical theatre history, there have been many shows that have set a new standard for the stage. Among them are those that become classics of the musical theatre repertoire, such as Fiddler on the Roof, Carousel, and Candlelight's latest production, Man of La Mancha.

In case you are unfamiliar, Ragtime tells the story of three distinct groups of people in the early 1900s: highbrow Caucasians, middle-class African-Americans and poverty-driven immigrants, each with a titular character to represent the trials and tribulations they must overcome or be succumbed. Although based in a different era, Ragtime continues to be the story of our time; the story that needs telling.

Originally a 1930s propaganda film, this parody musical follows the lives of Jimmy and Mary and their introduction to the devil's lettuce, leading them on a hysterical downward spiral filled with evil jazz music, sex and violence. Also a movie-musical, Reefer Madness is full of memorable songs and group numbers that will have any audience laughing.

In Sisters of Swing, produced by Town Hall Arts Center, the lives of LaVerne, Maxene and Patty, are put on display as they sing their way through the years. The show follows the sisters from their early days on the road and rise in fame to their dissembling over irreconcilable differences. With a score chalk-full of hit songs such as, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon," "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree," and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," some audiences members may get a sense of nostalgia that will leave them smiling.