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Sean Fallon

To see more from Sean Fallon, please click on http://bit.ly/SeanFFallon and link to more theater reviews, movie reviews, television reviews, satirical spoof articles, mock interviews with real celebrities, and short films. 






Review: NEXT TO NORMAL at Ridgefield Theater Barn
Review: NEXT TO NORMAL at Ridgefield Theater Barn
June 3, 2023

On Friday, June 2, I had the pleasure of seeing NEXT TO NORMAL presented in the absolute most phenomenal way possible!  The Ridgefield Theater Barn in Ridgefield, CT, has maximized the potential of this emotionally deep and powerful musical!  Directors Matt Austin and Jessica Chesbro combine their strong directing talents with their brilliant set design skills to create an immersive experience that draws the entire audience into the show!  This stellar cast of six first-rate performers brings their characters to life!  The stage presence of all six cast members and dynamics between them all yield authenticity that makes the audience feel the characters’ emotions, in this intimate setting.   The audience was truly moved by this story with book and lyrics written by Brian Yorkey, coupled with the music written by Tom Kitt, as performed by this amazing cast and live band, in this perfectly arranged venue for this show!

Review: THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES DREAM ON at Castle Craig Players
Review: THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES DREAM ON at Castle Craig Players
May 14, 2023

On Saturday, May 13, 2023, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another first-rate installment of playwright Roger Bean’s Marvelous Wonderettes jukebox musical series, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES DREAM ON, as put on by the Castle Craig Players, at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse, in Meriden, CT. 

Review: GUYS & DOLLS at Fairfield Center Stage
Review: GUYS & DOLLS at Fairfield Center Stage
May 13, 2023

On Friday, May 12th, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another phenomenal production by Fairfield Center Stage, GUYS & DOLLS, which is one of the absolute best musicals ever written, with music by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, based on characters created by Damon Runyon.  As someone who has seen this show performed on Broadway, I am qualified to say decisively and without exaggeration that Fairfield Center Stage’s performance of GUYS & DOLLS far surpasses and outshines what I saw on Broadway!  Fairfield Center Stage has yet again chosen the perfect cast and perfect venue for their production!  The venue is Wakeman Hall, inside First Church Congregational of Fairfield.   Fairfield Center Stage maximizes the use of both the stage and the area in front of the stage throughout the show.  Director Brian Crook, Musical Director Frank Martignetti, and Choreographer Bonnie Gregson combine their talents to bring out the best in the first-rate ensemble cast who all look like they are having a wonderful time playing their respective roles, with excellent stage chemistry, radiating positive energy throughout the audience!   The stage presence and dynamics between the cast members are sensational.  The performances are so believable, all around, that it is easy to forget that this is a fictional story.

Review: WIZARD OF OZ at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
Review: WIZARD OF OZ at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
April 23, 2023

On Saturday, April 22, 2023, at 2:30, I had the pleasure of seeing what is arguably the absolute best younger audiences production I have ever seen at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, CT, WIZARD OF OZ!  Phill Hill has created a phenomenal masterpiece in his adaptation of the classic story by L. Frank Baum in a brilliant and entertaining manner, loaded with great music from the 1980s!

Review: CABARET at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
Review: CABARET at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
April 22, 2023

On Friday, April 21st, I had the pleasure of seeing CABARET at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, CT.  This highly thought provoking play has book by Joe Masteroff, and songs written by John Kander with lyrics by Frank Ebb.  Even though it was written in 1966, it addresses concepts that are relevant in the modern day, like how we may be unaware of the serious injustices going on across the world, until they directly impact us or someone we know. It also shows how people who believe that politics is irrelevant to their own personal lives do not become immune to the consequences of the wrong people rising to power.  Most importantly, it shows the lethal results of a society that rejects moral absolutes and lets the shifting sands of feelings and emotionally manipulative propaganda define its sense of reality, right, and wrong.  

Review: THE 1980S at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
Review: THE 1980S at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
March 12, 2023

On Sunday, March 12th, I had the pleasure of seeing yet another phenomenal installment of the Downtown Cabaret Theatre’s Decades in Music series, THE 1980S.  Of the three so far, this one has been my favorite!  THE 1980S is written by Phill Hill, directed and choreographed by Jennifer Kaye, and performed at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport CT.  THE 1980S represents a trip through song, dance, and video clips of the decade I entered as a pre-schooler and left as a high school freshman.  Consistently with the Decades in Music series, the usual stellar cast of Robert Peterpaul, Everton Ricketts, Mikayla Petrilla, and Saige Bryan provide first-rate performances that truly captivate the feel of the decade and radiate positive energy throughout the audience.  The performers have excellent stage chemistry with each other, harmonize well, and truly look like they are having a great time up on stage, and when breaking the fourth wall and interacting with the audience!

Review: AN EVENING OF ONE ACTS 2023 at Ridgefield Theater Barn
Review: AN EVENING OF ONE ACTS 2023 at Ridgefield Theater Barn
March 12, 2023

On Saturday, March 11, 2023, I had the pleasure of experiencing one of my favorite annual theater traditions in seeing AN EVENING OF ONE ACTS 2023 at the Ridgefield Theater Barn in Ridgefield, CT.  This annual event is a new series each year of original one act plays, mostly in the comedy genre, and always done extremely well by a very talented cast.  Seven total one acts were performed this year, with no intermission.  The prop and scene changes, during the blackouts, between each one act were smooth and efficient.  This was a packed house in an intimate setting.  The cast enters and exits through the center aisle of the audience.  The walls of stage left and stage right are visible to the audience.  Every audience member seemed to be highly entertained.

Review: DOUBT at Castle Craig Players
Review: DOUBT at Castle Craig Players
March 5, 2023

On Saturday, March 4, 2023, I had the pleasure of seeing DOUBT, yet another first-rate performance by the Castle Craig Players at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse in Meriden, CT.  I had previously seen the movie in 2009, but I must say that this play, which originally pre-dates the movie, is far better, especially with this cast!  The play is written by John Patrick Shanley and brilliantly directed by Oliver Kochol who brings out the best in this stellar cast whose stage chemistry with each other is so strong that every interaction feels real!

Review: THE UGLY DUCKLING at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
Review: THE UGLY DUCKLING at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
January 8, 2023

This comedic musical stage adaptation of a classic children’s story has been brilliantly written and directed by Andrea Pane, who also performs in it, showing that in addition to his already well established versatile first-rate acting, he is also phenomenally gifted as a playwright and as a director.

Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL EXPERIENCE at Fairfield Center Stage
Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL EXPERIENCE at Fairfield Center Stage
December 11, 2022

On Saturday, December 10, at 8:00 PM, I had the pleasure of seeing one of my absolute favorite annual shows, A CHRISTMAS CAROL EXPERIENCE, as put on by Fairfield Center Stage. This annual production is easily the show that I talk up the most frequently during the year, every year. I am also excited that it has returned to the Burr Mansion, where it originally was performed, and where I feel it fits the best! Fairfield Center Stage has successfully repeated the groundbreaking excellence that I experienced for the first time back on December 22 of 2018.  This is a show I have subsequently enjoyed every year since then!

Review: EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD at Castle Craig Players
Review: EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD at Castle Craig Players
December 4, 2022

On Saturday, December 3, 2022, I had the pleasure of seeing EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD, which is easily the funniest stage comedy I have seen in the last three years!  It is yet another first-rate Christmas comedy production performed by the Castle Craig Players at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse in Meriden, CT.  EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD is a hilarious satirical farce written by Michael Carleton, James Fitzgerald, and John K. Alvarez.  It is brilliantly directed by Bobby and Carleigh Schultz.  It stars the highly talented trio of Chris Brooks, Rick Bennett, and Bobby Schultz. 

Review: CALIFORNIA SUITE at Castle Craig Players
Review: CALIFORNIA SUITE at Castle Craig Players
October 16, 2022

On Saturday, October 15, 2022, I had the pleasure of seeing Neil Simon’s CALIFORNIA SUITE as performed by the Castle Craig Players at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse in Meriden, CT. CALIFORNIA SUITE is different from a typical Neil Simon play in that rather than being one continuous story, it is four separate playlets that have three things in common: location, location, and location. Some audience members may be familiar with this concept in that it was used in A.R. Gurney’s The Dining Room. In CALIFORNIA SUITE, the location is not a dining room, but in Suite 203 & 204 in the Beverly Hills Hotel, a hotel that incidentally has lousy room service, but an entertaining cleaning staff.

Review: THE EXONERATED at Ridgefield Theater Barn
Review: THE EXONERATED at Ridgefield Theater Barn
September 8, 2022

On Thursday, September 8th, I had the pleasure of seeing THE EXONERATED at The Ridgefield Theater Barn, in Ridgefield, CT.  This show is amazing, based on true stories, and sends some deeply impacting messages that touch the emotions to the core, in a good way. It opens awareness in the minds of the audience, about things not always being as they seem, and people not always being who they may appear to be.

Review: CLUE at Castle Craig Players
Review: CLUE at Castle Craig Players
July 31, 2022

The Castle Craig Players have done it, with a first-rate cast, in Meriden, CT! On Saturday, July 30th, I had the pleasure of seeing a show that I had been looking forward to ever since it was first announced. As someone who has been a fan of the board game Clue since 1985, Clue the movie since 1986, and even Clue the VCR game, several years later, I was very excited to see CLUE, the play, as performed by the Castle Craig Players at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse in Meriden, CT. The play is by Sandy Rustin, Hunter Foster, and Eric Price, based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn. Under the wonderful direction of Ian Galligan, the Castle Craig Players have successfully put on yet another phenomenal production that combines comedy with murder mystery!

Review: THE SOUND OF MUSIC at Musicals At Richter
Review: THE SOUND OF MUSIC at Musicals At Richter
July 24, 2022

On Saturday, July 23rd, I had the pleasure of seeing a truly first-rate production, a phenomenal performance of one of the greatest musicals ever written!  Musicals at Richter, in Danbury, continues with their legacy of providing audiences what we yearn for in live theater, the right shows with the right cast.  Rodgers and Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC was the perfect show to see outdoors on this lovely July night. Under the excellent direction of Jessica Smith, musical direction of Adam Snyder, and choreography of Lindsay Miller, this stellar cast truly made the hills come alive, on this new stage featuring a stunning set designed by John McMahon, complete with moveable pieces. The cast members radiate positive energy from the stage, truly entertaining the audience, and having fun playing their roles!

Review: THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at Fairfield Center Stage
Review: THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at Fairfield Center Stage
June 18, 2022

I was fascinated from the moment I first heard that Fairfield Center Stage was going to perform a musical called THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL, as I did not previously know that such a musical existed.  What I knew, however, is that if it is being put on by Fairfield Center Stage, it is going to be a phenomenal production!   On Friday, June 17th, I had the pleasure of experiencing Fairfield Center Stage’s continued commitment to providing excellent theater that goes that extra mile, when I saw THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL on opening night, at Fairfield Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT.   Director Joel Fenster, musical director Benjamin Doyle, choreographer Lindsay Johnson, artistic director Christy McIntosh-Newsom, and Executive Producer Eli Newsom all combine their talents with the rest of the crew and this stellar cast to give the audience yet another first-rate performance!

BWW Review: PETER AND THE STAR CATCHER at Ridgefield Theater Barn
BWW Review: PETER AND THE STAR CATCHER at Ridgefield Theater Barn
June 4, 2022

On Friday, June 3, I had the pleasure of seeing PETER AND THE STAR CATCHER at the Ridgefield Theater Barn in Ridgefield, CT.  This play with music was written by Rick Elise.  This stellar cast’s talents come alive under the first-rate team of director Katherine Ray, assistant director Rae Janeil Sutherland and choreographer Sharon Houk.   It is not a musical in the traditional sense, but the use of song is incorporated throughout, resembling a musical in certain parts.  It is obvious that these cast members are having a wonderful time up on stage, bringing positive energy that radiates throughout the audience, with excellent stage chemistry between the cast. 

BWW Review: VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE at Castle Craig Players
BWW Review: VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE at Castle Craig Players
May 14, 2022

On Friday, May 13th, I saw a play I was previously not familiar with.  VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE was performed by the Castle Craig Players at the Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse in Meriden, CT.  This is a modern (about ten years ago) play written by controversial playwright Christopher Durang.  The genres encompassed include dark drama, dark comedy, and even a political rant.  The audience reactions throughout the show suggest that they truly enjoyed the show.  While the show certainly has comedic elements, I feel that this show can be best appreciated if audience members come to the show expecting to see what is more of a very dark and twisted drama than a comedy, as I feel that drama is the more dominant genre in this show. 

BWW Review: SPIRIT OF THE SIXTIES at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
BWW Review: SPIRIT OF THE SIXTIES at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
April 23, 2022

On Friday, April 22, 2022, I had the pleasure of seeing another phenomenal production at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, CT.   I have been looking forward to SPIRIT OF THE SIXTIES since I first heard of it, and even more when I found out that it has the same stellar cast as their previous Decades in Concert production, The Sounds of the Seventies.  Robert Peterpaul, Mikayla Petrilla, Everton Ricketts, and Saige Bryan yet again showcase their collective first-rate talents as individuals and as a cohesive group, singing and dancing under the excellent direction and choreography of Jennifer Kaye, and accompanied by pre-recorded instrumentation.   Phill Hill’s clever writing shines through on this amazing selection of about fifty songs from a decade that many would regard as the greatest decade of music in music history!   It is clear that the cast is having as wonderful a time performing on stage as the audience is watching them perform!

BWW Review: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
BWW Review: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at Downtown Cabaret Theatre
April 3, 2022

On Saturday, April 2, at 2:30 PM, I had the pleasure of seeing BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, CT. Directed by Andrea Pane, this tale as old as 1740 is reinterpreted by Phill Hill for a modern, young audience and features music primarily from the 1990s.



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