Orlando Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 9

BWW Review: Garden Theatre's THE BIRDS Isn't the Hitchcock You Came For...
by Aaron Wallace - October 25, 2018

At the outset, it must be said that the Garden Theatre did all it could... It's just that THE BIRDS is a bust, and no one - not even Hitchcock - could save it....

BWW Review: HAVANA MUSIC HALL at Actors' Playhouse
by Cristina Pla-Guzman - October 21, 2018

My grandparents story, one I have heard many times, is etched into my heart. As a third generation Cuban American living in Miami, Florida, as soon as we start to crawl, you are listening to Cuban music, eating your grandmother's potage (a stew of lentil beans and rice) and hearing about the good ol...

BWW Review: 'THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP–A Penny Dreadful' at Orlando Shakes
by McKenzie Lakey - October 19, 2018

Howls of laughter echoed down the halls of Orlando Shakes last weekend as the spooky satire, 'The Mystery of Irma Vep-A Penny Dreadful', opened just in time for the Halloween season. From the title alone, the expectations for a show filled to the brim with satire and comedy are fairly high. (If you'...

BWW Review: Winter Park Playhouse's I LOVE A PIANO Isn't Easy to Love (But Its Actors Are)
by Aaron Wallace - September 28, 2018

Sometimes the piano is front and center. Other times - often - it's forgotten altogether. The ole ivories are a mere MacGuffin, and not a particularly compelling one at that. The show isn't really here to tell us about a piano, or about the characters who buy and sell it......

BWW Review: THE COLOR PURPLE at Theater West End Makes Up for the National Tour Skipping Orlando
by Aaron Wallace - September 22, 2018

But then I heard a big voice belt, 'IT'S SUNDAY!' and snapped to attention like it was time to get up and get to church. It was. With that crack of thunder, three tell-it-like-it-is church ladies led their ensemble to the stage......

BWW Review: Rose Has One Hell of a Turn in GYPSY at Garden Theatre
by Aaron Wallace - September 17, 2018

But now I can add to that list Andrea Canny, the actress who originated Belle in Disney-MGM Studios' BEAUTY AND THE BEAST — LIVE ON STAGE some 27 years ago and who is currently making a holds-her-own-and-that's-saying-something turn as Mama Rose in Winter Garden every night through September 22....

BWW Review: IN THE HEIGHTS Brings the Heat for Orlando Shakes' Season Opener
by McKenzie Lakey - September 09, 2018

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BWW Review: Titusville Playhouse's NEWSIES Possesses Intoxicating Charm and Heart
by Matt Tamanini - August 31, 2018

This little musical that could is now playing at the Titusville Playhouse through Sept. 9, and though on a more modest scale, maintains the intoxicating charm and heart of the original. Directed by Steven J. Heron, the dramatically fictionalized story of the real-life 1899 Newsboys Strike carries an...

BWW Review: THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE at The Abbey is a R-I-O-T
by McKenzie Lakey - April 30, 2018

Set against the backdrop of The Abbey-the perfectly unorthodox lounge in downtown Orlando which doubles as an intimate theatre-the zany and immersive 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' was brought to life on stage through Encore! Cast Performing-Arts this past weekend....

BWW Review: Riverside's MAMMA MIA! is Absolutely Absurd, but Giddily Entertaining
by Matt Tamanini - April 21, 2018

I have a confession to make. Though I have seen hundreds of plays and musicals since MAMMA MIA! premiered on Broadway in 2000, until I saw Riverside Theatre's giddily silly, yet oddly emotional production-running now through April 29- I had never seen this polarizing jukebox musical; neither on stag...

BWW Review: WAITRESS Serves Up A Delightful Opening Night in Orlando
by McKenzie Lakey - March 21, 2018

The current touring production of 'Waitress' is a musical best served to a full house and welcoming audience prepared to ride one rollercoaster of a show-exactly as it was Tuesday night at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in downtown Orlando. The show itself dished out some serious laughs...

BWW Review: Riverside Theatre Reminds Why GYPSY is the Perfect Musical
by Matt Tamanini - March 19, 2018

Since its debut on Broadway in 1959, GYPSY has been hailed as one of the most perfect examples of the musical theatre artform. From the lush score of Jule Styne to the inventive lyrics of a young Stephen Sondheim to the funny- and ultimately heartbreaking- book by Arthur Laurents, it is hard to find...

BWW Review: RIVERDANCE at Orlando's Dr. Phillips Center is a Celebration of All Things Irish
by Matt Tamanini - January 28, 2018

For 20 years the Irish step dancing troupe of RIVERDANCE has been bringing their 'modern' version of the art form to audiences around the world, including to Orlando's Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts through Sunday. The tour setting up shop in Central Florida is billed as 'RIVERDANCE- Th...

BWW Review: Shaking That Post-Holiday Slump with SCHOOL OF ROCK
by Kimberly Moy - December 27, 2017

Still shaking off the holidays? Well look no further than to rock into the new year with SCHOOL OF ROCK at the Dr. Phillips Center. Based off the 2003 movie starring Jack Black, this musical features new music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It plays like a rock concert that is fun for both families and adu...

BWW Review: THE BOOK OF MORMON Brings Something Incredible to Orlando
by McKenzie Lakey - December 15, 2017

Elder Price of 'The Book of Mormon' made it very clear that he loves Orlando during the musical's stop at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts this past Wednesday night-and Orlando made it known that it loved him right back....

BWW Review: LOVE NEVER DIES, Except When it Does
by Kimberly Moy - November 23, 2017

Broadway's longest running musical, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has a sequel and this week it is in Orlando. With music written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, one would hope that the mysteries from the original finally resolve themselves. With every fiber of my being, I wanted to like this show; however, this...

BWW Review: Central Florida Debut of DADDY LONG LEGS at Winter Park Playhouse
by Kimberly Moy - November 19, 2017

DADDY LONG LEGS makes its Central Florida debut at Winter Park Playhouse. This charming newish musical is based on a novel by Jean Webster with music and lyrics by Paul Gordon. I found the music absolutely stunning. The two-person cast executed the piece beautifully in such a moving way; however, I ...

BWW Review: Satan Never Seemed Funnier at Generation Production's HAND TO GOD
by Kimberly Moy - October 13, 2017

Then there is HAND TO GOD, a play that hit Broadway in 2015 and notably starred Bob Saget for a bit. It's raunchy, it's laugh out loud funny, and it's got a great cast, which makes for a crazy night out....

BWW Review: Throwing Back to LIFE COULD BE A DREAM at Winter Park Playhouse
by Kimberly Moy - September 24, 2017

LIFE COULD BE A DREAM and is a dream at Winter Park Playhouse's latest revue. The music from this era is iconic, upbeat, and harkens back to a simpler time when dreams were made over the radio. The musical numbers are all instantly recognizable and make for a toe tapping enjoyable performance....

BWW Review: Seizing the Day with DISNEY'S NEWSIES THE MUSICAL at Orlando Repertory Theatre
by Kirsty Johnson - September 20, 2017

Ain't it a fine life?! sing the rag-tag group of boys of all ages, outfitted in worn boots, overalls, and dirty faces the instantly lovable gang of Newsies captures the hearts of audiences from the first time they run onstage....

BWW Review: Reconciling Politics and Religion in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at Garden Theater
by Kimberly Moy - September 12, 2017

The Garden Theatre kicks off it's 10th season with JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. This production features a number of actors who are debuting at the Garden for the first time and a number of returning faces who are all ready to rock. With a familiar story, a famous score, and great live musicians this pro...

BWW Review: JOYCE JACKSON'S GUIDE TO DATING is Frothy Mix of Missed Opportunities
by Matt Tamanini - August 20, 2017

Make no mistake about it, there is a funny, intelligent, socially-conscious, slightly sardonic show inside of the new musical JOYCE JACKSON'S GUIDE TO DATING. Unfortunately, the show's writers, Scott Logsdon (book and lyrics) and Steve Marzullo (music) weren't able to find it in time for the world ...

BWW Review: FENCES at Mad Cow Theatre
by Clarissa Moon - August 14, 2017

FENCES at Mad Cow gives the audience a snapshot of the life of Troy Maxson, a garbage worker struggling to support his family. The show explores themes such as family, discrimination, death and loyalty....

BWW Review: A Truly ENCHANTED EVENING at Winter Park Playhouse
by Kimberly Moy - July 30, 2017

If you took almost all your favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein songs and put them together into one two hour playlist you'd have SOME ENCHANTED EVENING at Winter Park Playhouse. This combination of hit songs performed by some of Orlando's best voices make for a thoroughly enjoyable night. It's like a ...

BWW Review: SAINT JOAN Charges in at Fred Stone Theatre
by Kirsty Johnson - July 30, 2017

In the center of an entirely black room is a woman in white, kneeling in prayer, her head encircled with long blonde tendrils. As the audience loads in to this space, Theresa Hanson (Joan) continues to pray until 8:00, when the rest of the cast enters the space and the show begins....