Veronica Bruscini - Page 3

Glittering, fairy-like snowflakes. Dancing sugar plums. Toy soldiers capering around the tree. Each of these fanciful childhood images comes to life with a special touch of Christmas magic in Festival Ballet Providence's superior production of THE NUTCRACKER. FBP once again delivers an enchanting NUTCRACKER guaranteed to capture the imagination of audiences of all ages.

The stage production of WHITE CHRISTMAS now playing the Providence Performing Arts Center is adapted from the beloved film. While this musical has much to recommend it - familiar songs with excellent orchestrations, fine-quality costumes and sets, snappy choreography, and a top-notch cast full of talented performers - this staging favors spectacle over substance, and for that, much of the heart of WHITE CHRISTMAS' story falls flat.

Contemporary a cappella could ask for no finer ambassador than STRAIGHT NO CHASER. The group's impeccable harmonizing and vocal percussion are so sharp and so rich, it sounds as though instrumentalists are backing several songs.

The 2015 CHRISTMAS CAROL, directed by Curt Columbus, is a solid production and quite enjoyable, though small elements keep it from being a fully immersive theatrical experience. While well done overall, the emotional punch of past Trinity CAROLS is lacking in this year's staging.

Festival Ballet Providence once again opens the doors to its studio and rehearsal halls for the company's celebrated UP CLOSE ON HOPE series. The "up close" forum has become a staple of FBP's season and one much anticipated by Rhode Island audiences.

With remarkable performances on stage and a top-notch artistic team behind the scenes, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS is a standout production for Ocean State Theatre. The story's edge-of-your-seat race against the clock set against punchy, fast-paced humor makes for a truly entertaining and thoroughly absorbing theatrical experience.

The stage production of NEWSIES, now playing a limited run at the Providence Performing Arts Center, features the same stirring and beloved songs that captured the hearts of moviegoers, as well as newly choreographed, high-octane dance numbers that dazzle with gravity-defying leaps and spins.

Josh Groban's THE STAGES TOUR played to a standing-room-only house at the Providence Performing Arts Center, and this brilliant concert was one of the most impressive and enjoyable to grace the PPAC stage in recent memory.

BEAUTIFUL'S national tour kicks off in Providence, and even in the first days of performance, the cast proves the depth of its talent and ability.

Trinity Repertory Company kicks off its season in style with a smart, gripping production of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.

Theatre by the Sea continues its 2015 season with a colorful and thoroughly enjoyable production of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID. With ocean breezes only steps from the theater doors, Matunuck's stage is the perfect host for this tale of undersea kingdoms, fairy-tale adventures, and the power of true love.

Theatre by the Sea's MY FAIR LADY is a must-see production. Not only is it a jewel of the summer season, it is easily one of the best pieces of theater in Rhode Island so far this year.

Warm, dazzling sunshine and refreshing sea breezes signal the start of the summer arts season in Rhode Island. Once again, Ocean State performers have a busy season planned, as venues from Downcity to South County prepare to welcome stories and songs to their stages.

Counter-Productions Theatre Company's excellent staging of William Shakespeare's RICHARD III is a performance not to be missed. CPTC's RICHARD comes to life in AS220's Black Box theater, a cozy, intimate space utilized brilliantly by the company.

Ocean State Theatre Company closes out its third full season in Warwick with Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved fable INTO THE WOODS.

For the sheer quality of performance, the depth of the talent on stage, and the continuing impact of the man and his music, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons are not to be missed.

Festival Ballet Providence closes its 2014-15 season with a showcase almost entirely composed of contemporary dances. All but two of the nine pieces included on the spring Up Close program are company- or world-premiere performances, demonstrating FBP's commitment to fostering new works while encouraging dancers and choreographers to explore and challenge boundaries.

Lend Me a Tenor, now on stage at Ocean State Theatre, is a lighthearted and breathlessly zany production full of door-slamming physical comedy and hilariously improbable escapades.

Trinity Rep's unique take on Williams' beloved GLASS MENAGERIE relies heavily on unconventional presentation while engaging all the senses, providing ample opportunity for post-show reflection and personal interpretation.

I LOVE LUCY: LIVE ON STAGE is a solid, engaging concept, and though there are some missteps along the way, for the most part, the production succeeds.