Kimberly Moy - Page 6

Orlando's Fringe Festival is right around the corner! Fringe is one of the most anticipated events for Orlando theater lovers. This is the 23rd Fringe and promises not to disappoint. With more than 75 shows to see, planning is key.

That's a wrap for this year's knock-out Garden Theatre season and it finishes with possibly the best musical theater production seen this year. The toe tapping Broadway/Movie Musical HAIRSPRAY is easy to love and cross-generational.

One tragedy that is synonymous with Shakespeare is JULIUS CAESAR. It is one of the classics that, at some point, is forced upon by high school English teachers. The challenge with producing a famously known Shakespeare piece is keeping it fresh and relevant to today's audience.

A variation in music occurs when a theme is repeated in different ways, but has changes in rhythm, melody, orchestration, etc. The play parallels classical composer Beethoven's later life with Dr. Katherine Brandt. This is definitely not a show to see if you want a fuzzy upbeat good performance, but there's something to be said about the beauty of story and quality of actors. In short, 33 VARIATIONS is depressing, but beautifully done.

Very rarely does a play leave you visibly shaking. Orlando Shakes' Harriett's New Play Series piece PLUTO explores the taboo subject of a mass shooting perpetrator's psyche and difficulty of accepting change. The material is heavy, but incredibly thought provoking and profoundly moving.

THE MUSIC MAN is one of those classic shows where you either have seen it and love it, or haven't seen it but know all the music. There's only one way to do a show that centers around a city's marching band right - and that's with live music. This production represents a collaboration between the UCF Theatre and Music departments.

It's not until you enter the Margeson Theater and begin to mingle with other theatergoers and a few of the actors that you realize how much actually happens in Part I of THE LIFE & ADVENTURES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY. With at least six open plot lines, it's about time to wrap things up, but it would not be a Charles Dickens story without being an emotional roller coaster.

Orlando Shakspeare's 25th Anniversary promised to be its biggest season yet. It's finally time to see what all the buzz is about. Totaling 6.5 hours, the hyped mega-spectacle THE LIFE & ADVENTURES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY lives up to its name. Make no mistake, it's a big production, but with the talented cast it does not feel like you're watching a lifetime.

A welcome break from all the holiday shows and holiday parties is THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. It is a simple love story of guy meets girl, except she's American and they're all in Italy. Add some amazing vocalists to sing the luscious score of Adam Guettel and Mad Cow's THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA is everything this piece should be.

The classic 1946 holiday movie, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE comes to life on stage, but with an Orlando Shakes twist. Brilliantly staged as a live radio play, the audience gets to see and hear IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE as if it were being performed in as an old time radio show - cleverly branded WOST. This unique interpretation makes for a fun and thoroughly entertaining for young and old.

It's the classic Dickens tale that has a long history at Theatre Downtown. Theatre Downtown's A CHRISTMAS CAROL is a chilling, yet entertaining piece that stays true to the original story. It transforms a theater in Orlando to a cold winter in 1840s London. No matter what the temperature outside, the holiday spirit warms the heart in this telling tale.

It's got rhythm; It's got music; Who could ask for anything more? This production is complete with toe-tapping dance routines and memorable hit songs. Gershwin fans rejoice as the Winter Park Playhouse pays tribute to all the great songs written by George and Ira Gershwin in CRAZY FOR GERSHWIN.

It may not be snowing in Florida, but the holiday season has arrived. With the theme parks already decorated and holiday shopping in full swing, it is important to take a moment to enjoy the good times. Orlando Rep is the first of many local theaters beginning their holiday programs debuting RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER this past weekend.

VENUS IN FUR is a story within a play written by David Ives. Performed in Mad Cow's intimate black box theatre, the tension and sexiness is palatable at such close range. Tim Williams and Piper Rae Patterson are a smoldering pair as both teeter between innocence and raw unleashed desires.

Based off the popular Magic Tree House book series by Mary Pope Osborne, A NIGHT IN NEW ORLEANS makes its rolling world premiere at Orlando Shakespeare. Not only does this production introduce young audiences to musical theater, it also provided Orlando public school students with an opportunity to receive a generous book donations from amazing corporate partners. Kids of all ages will enjoy reading the stories and then seeing it come to life on stage.

The biggest show of Orlando's Broadway Across America season, THE BOOK OF MORMON is finally here and playing at Bob Carr. It is destiny that a show that cites Orlando as the greatest place ever, brings the audience to its feet. Even people who do not like musicals are lining up and getting excited to see this masterpiece.

Much darker than anything you would expect from a play based off a classic children's tale, ALICE LOST IN WONDERLAND is a psychological thriller written to bring the audience to the edge of sanity. It is haunting, curious, and in a strange way moving. ALICE LOST IN WONDERLAND makes its World Premiere right here in Florida.

Theatre UCF's fall musical, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is a show within a show that delights musical theater fans by spoofing everything that defines our obsession. It is definitely recommended for anyone who has listened to a show's cast album over and over again. While some jokes may fly over the heads of non-thespian loving civilians, there are still many great laugh out loud moments enjoyed by all.

ALICE LOST IN WONDERLAND is the newest Beth Marshall Presents, which will make it world premiere on October 18th, right here in Winter Garden, Florida. This is not your typical Alice in Wonderland story. Billed as a whimsical psychological thriller, this production promises to be a version of Alice that has never been seen before.

This is the quintessential October production and its star John P. Keller the perfect storyteller. Original to Orlando, DRACULA: THE JOURNAL OF JONATHAN HARKER was written by Orlando Shakes Artistic Director, Jim Helsinger and is possibly the most creative retelling of the classic tale.