Rich Mehrenberg - Page 8

Fulton's Peter Pan brings some refreshing and welcomed updates to a joyous American classic. First and foremost, one of the most interesting and beneficial changes to this production is the casting of the title role. Peter has traditionally, and almost exclusively, been played by an actress. Mary Martin, Sandy Duncan and Cathy Rigby have all had their turn as the boy who won't grow up.

The Salem Witch Trials are one of the most tragically disrespected events in (pre-)American history. What began as a vicious assault on innocent life has transformed over the years to a Massachusetts tourist trap and a punchline on shows like 'Bewitched'. Gratefully, the Susquehanna Stage production of The Crucible restores the gravity and respect that the trials and their victims deserve.

Carrie Lyn Brandon is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, and began performing around there at an early age. She performed with the America Conservatory Theatre, sang the national anthem solo many times for the SF Giants and 49ers, was a featured soloist for the California Symphony and Reno Philharmonic, and more. After completing her training at Penn State, Carrie moved to New York and have since toured with Charlie Brown Christmas Live, been a lead soloist for Aida Cruise Lines, and performed at many regional theatres. Favorite regional roles include: Sophie in Mamma Mia (Sierra Rep, Mountain Play), Wendla in Spring Awakening (Pennsylvania Centre Stage), Mary Jane in Big River (Sharon Playhouse), and Shelley in Bat Boy (Oregon Cabaret Theatre).

Stop the presses! EPAC's production of Newsies is highly energetic and entertaining. Based on the 1992 Disney film of the same name, Newsies is a classic David and Goliath story about the real life 1899 NYC newsboy strike. Richard Thomas stars as Jack Kelly, a charismatic leader of the newsboys. Thomas has a fine voice and moves around the stage with grace and confidence. A quibble with the script is that I was not really sure how old his character was supposed to be. Some of Jack's dialogue and motives are more akin with that of a young adult, not someone who spends most of his day around ten year olds.

ONCE tells the enchanting tale of a Dublin street musician who's about to give up on his dream when an intriguing young woman takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs. As the chemistry between them grows, his music soars to powerful new heights... but their unlikely connection turns out to be deeper and more complex than your everyday romance

Wait Until Dark is a great October show full of thrills and chills. It is a lot of fun without being over the top

The Resident Theater Company's Cabaret is a well produced, powerful piece of theater. This is a show that will stay with you long after the final curtain

Will Rogers wore many hats. He was a radio personality, newspaper columnist, movie star, public speaker, and presidential candidate. All of these roles and more are brought to life in his bio-musical, The Will Rogers Follies playing now at Dutch Apple Dinner Theater.

Ramirez has an especially powerful belt, and conveys emotions of passion, anger, and frustration through song with great conviction (and volume).

The Man Who Came to Dinner is a fun and funny, old-fashioned romp. Led by Ed Fernandez, the seasoned cast of 20 present an energetic and dynamic night of theater. Fernandez stars as radio personality and houseguest from Hell, Sheridan Whiteside. Whiteside slips on the ice outside the Stanley residence and is forced to recuperate among the 'common folk'. Fernandez plays a great curmudgeon yet knows when to pull it in to make the character more well-rounded and less cartoonish.

This Andrew Lloyd Webber rock opera is a fine example of the type of full-scale show that this new area is designed to highlight. A cast of close to forty performers and a nine-piece orchestra fit comfortably within its generous proscenium

How appropriate that Ephrata Performing Arts Center selected Pippin as its summer musical. The heat on stage easily matches the muggy temperature of the July night outside

Annie is a great night of summer entertainment for the whole family. Don't wait until "Tomorrow" to go see it

Robbins's choreography was athletic and imaginative. His incorporation of unusual props like briefcases and swim flippers made the dance numbers highly memorable and very enjoyable.

The show's songs are electric and in your face; movement is sharp and aggressive. In a nutshell, Spring Awakening is the show that American Idiot aspires to be.

Tolpegin is magnificent in her portrayal. So often...an actor's depiction of mental illness is totally externalized...sobbing hysterical laughter, jerky body movements. Tolpegin doesn't rely on such tricks. We learn about her through her dialogue and song, but we are not always privy to her private internal struggles and suffering. This is the difference between a caricature and a character.

Susquehanna Stage is a theatrical gift embedded within the Mareitta Center for the Arts' pretty wrapping paper

Follow Geunevere's advice and seek out the show's "simple joys", and you won't be disappointed.