Zac Thriffiley - Page 3

Through a combination of brilliantly creative stagecraft and psychologically complex characterizations, the current touring production of the ONCE ON THIS ISLAND revival immerses audiences in an experience unlike any other, one in which the power of a story creates a new world from every possible human emotion right before our eyes.

Emilio Rodríguez's recent play SWIMMING WHILE DROWNING, currently receiving its Dallas premiere with Cara Mía Theatre, manages to share the trials and tribulations of two queer homeless youths in a manner inventive, tender, and authentic.

While the current production of A CHORUS LINE at MainStage Irving-Las Colinas works hard to present a cohesive and coherent vision of what the show can be, the musical frequently feels more like an open cattle call than an exhibition of extraordinary talent.

BroadwayWorld DFW's Zac Thriffiley talks with Mariah Lots about the challenges and joys of playing one of the most complex roles in contemporary musical theatre.

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra's CHICAGO IN CONCERT is a thrilling reimagination of a familiar favorite, one that excites with its inventiveness while remaining faithful to the story and sounds audiences have come to hold near and dear to their hearts.

FIRST DATE, the romantic comedy musical closing out Stage West Theatre's 40th season, is sweet, charming, tender, uproariously funny, and a celebration of all the worthwhile risks we take in the search for love.

While Wonka's chocolates and candies can still be found in stores across the globe, the latest iteration of his now-classic story of succession tastes stale and a?' at times a?' lacks any taste at all.

Matt Lyle's A 3D ADVENTURE more than lives up to its title, providing audiences with a madcap rush of scenes filled with action and laughter. But much like a hastily edited fight sequence, the story often feels clunky and uneven, privileging easy gimmicks over dramatic development.

With a plot seemingly ripped from the headlines, Uptown Players' production of THE CAKE tells a delightful, surprisingly nuanced story of the ever-present conflict between idealism and reality, rock-steady faith and troubling doubt.

This current production makes a compelling argument for the freshness and timelessness of FIDDLER and its message. The performers fill every scene and musical number with a renewed sense of urgency, determined to show that the forces that worked upon Tevye's family and his tight-knit community are still very hard at work all these decades later.

LES MISERABLES is here once more for Dallas-Fort Worth in a triumphant new touring production that is every bit as breathtakingly excitingly and heartbreakingly relevant as when the show first premiered over thirty years ago.

Under the thoughtful direction of Cheryl Denson, the cast and creative team of THE VIEW UPSTAIRS approaches the story of the Upstairs Lounge Fire with an incredible amount of compassion and authenticity that comes to audiences at a critical moment.

As BEAUTIFUL returns to Dallas, it is immediately clear that the musical has lost none of its freshness, remaining just as much of a rousing hit as it was when it first toured in the area several years ago.

Thankfully, the voices of female Muslims have gained prominence over the years, especially in the fields of art and theatre. Several of those voices have come to Dallas in the form of Rohina Malik's one-woman play, UNVEILED.

An ideal mixture of terrifying risk and breathtaking entertainment finds its exhilarating apotheosis in Circle Theatre's production of SWEENEY TODD, running now through July 13.

Under the keen direction of Emily Scott Banks, this newest offering from TCTP endows the play with an air of intimacy that is both thrilling and heartbreaking.

With its electrifying mix of sexual intrigue, tongue-in-cheek humor, and a song list better than that of any senior prom's, CRUEL INTENTIONS gleefully throws audiences back into the chaos of high school while reminding them just how far we've come from the age of Nokia cellphones and AOL.

A delight in watching celebrities behave badly drives most of the audience's interest in the new musical REMEMBER RUDY, directed by Carla Parker and running at the Ochre House Theater through May 11.

Cheryl Allison's powerful documentary, SHATTER THE SILENCE, will make its world premiere Sunday, April 28, at the USA Film Festival at the Angelika Film Center. I sat down with Allison to discuss what this process has been like for her, why she made the film the way she did, and what she hopes the film accomplishes in Dallas and across the country more broadly.

Dallas Theater Center's take on the Bard's beloved comedy pulls audiences into a raucous party that is every bit as moving as it is uproariously funny.