Rich Mehrenberg - Page 7

Get out the Aqua-Net and leg warmers, Hershey Area Playhouse is taking you back to the 80's with their return to live theater, Rock of Ages. The show is both fun and funny. It doesn't take itself so seriously, in fact, at one point it makes a self-referential comment that the show is nothing but 'poop jokes and Whitesnake'.

Roald Dahl's children's classic, Matilda makes its way to the EPAC stage. The show is full of humor, energy, and a tribute to the underdogs of the world. Carly Geiter plays the eponymous character with spunk and joy. I was very impressed with how many songs and scenes she had to carry on her own. Each one reflected a great deal of confidence and stage presence.

The Devil Pours It Steady is the latest offering by local playwright, Tyler Rossi. The show is available for streaming now through July 23rd and is produced by the Orpheus Theater. Rossi's resume includes many compelling dramatic pieces including Verboten and End of the Line. The current work falls a little short.

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change is great summer fun at the Gretna Theatre. A modest four-person, four instrument, one set show is jam-packed with relatable jokes and tunes about all stages of romance-the good, the bad, and the ugly!

The Fulton Theatre dips their toe back into the water of live theater with their current production, Together, We Celebrate. The musical concert serves as an appetizer for what is sure to come in the months ahead. We look forward to a time when audiences feel more comfortable attending and theaters regain the resources for producing pre-pandemic caliber shows.

While it might not yet be quite Broadway-ready, Dutch Apple’s production is still a good time.

Overall, The Boys In The Band is a very solid piece.  It will make you laugh.  It will make you think.  It is a great contribution to Pride Month and an excellent return to glory for the EPAC company.

My recommendation is to 'get on your feet' and run to the Dutch Apple Box Office before this show sells out!

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill is a high quality show with superb production values. It will especially appeal to jazz fans and those intrigued by flawed but gifted celebrities.

Overall, Happy Days-The Musical is a good time for those old and young. Kudos as usual, to Dutch Apple for providing enjoyable entertainment and tasty food in a safe environment.

Dutch Apple Dinner Theater’s production of “Elf” is a sweet, peppermint candy cane of a show. 

Performing arts are starting to make a comeback in Central Pennsylvania! Million Dollar Quartet opened at Dutch Apple Dinner Theater on September 17, and it serves as a solid choice to reacquaint local audiences with the unique magic of live theater. I was tempted to joke that it was the best show that I saw in the last six months, with the follow up punch line that it was the only show that I saw in the last six months. However, Million Dollar Quartet doesn't deserve my sarcasm. It's a good show. The production would be equally entertaining and fun before, during, or after the pandemic.

(Jerry Lee Lewis's) lifestyle and crazy antics onstage and off are what drove his success and fame and I think it is that element, rather than just his music, that has had the greatest impact on the future generations of rock and roll.

The vision of the show is extremely cohesive.  I have seen this show on Broadway.  Theater Harrisburg's version is different, but not inferior. The magic of theater is when different a?oecooksa?? can use the same basic ingredients and come up with two very different, but equally tasty a?oedishesa??.

Based on the 2005 film by the same name, the musical 'Kinky Boots' tells the story of an unlikely partnership between a failing shoe manufacturer (Charlie) and a fabulous cabaret entertainer (Lola). Although they come from very different worlds, the two realize that they are not so different after all. Playing the challenging role of Lola is New Hampshire native Darius Harper. Working both nationally and internationally, Harper brings years of experience and talent to the Fulton stage.

One of the Act 1 numbers in Grumpy Old Men the Musical is titled, 'I Like The Way Things Are'. The lyrics deal with a dislike for change and a strong appreciation for 'the good old days'. This message could also extend to the musical itself. The show is based on the very funny and very popular 1993 movie of the same name starring Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, and Ann-Margret. It begs the question, why mess with success?

Surprise! Surprise! Any production based on the life of Martin Luther King is bound to be deep, thought provoking, and moving. The Mountaintop by Katori Hall was no exception. Adding to the drama and emotion, however, was the unexpected humor in Hall's dialogue. This production had the audience bursting with laughter and tears.

OMG! IMO Legally Blonde the Musical at Belmont Theatre is high energy, positively pink, and totally LOL. With their stage production ability rivaling any professional theatre, the Belmont in York has put together another high-quality event.