Ben Heustess

BWW Review: Desert Rose's SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES is an Emotionally Wrenching Experience, but a Must-See Production.

Prolific screenwriter and playwright Del Shores is perhaps best known for his series of plays about growing up gay in the South. In the semi-autobiographical SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES, now playing at the Desert Rose Playhouse in an excellent production, he describes the clash between his identities as a devout Baptist and a gay child.

A CHORUS LINE Extends through August 7th at Chance Theater

Anaheim's official resident theater company, Chance Theater is pleased to the addition of five additional performances of … A Chorus Line. Book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, directed by Chance's Artistic Director Oanh Nguyen, choreographed by Hazel Clarke, with music direction by Ryan O'Connell.  A Chorus Line opened last Saturday and will continue through August 7th on the Cripe Stage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center. 

BWW Review: Chance Theater High-Kicks Intimate Production of A CHORUS LINE

If there was ever one musical that, on the surface, can translate well as an intimately-staged production in a black box theater space, then A CHORUS LINE---the classic 1975 Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning backstage musical---should certainly qualify as a strong contender. This still dazzling, groundbreaking show has been revived at Anaheim's Chance Theater, the lauded small regional theater company in Orange County, CA that has definitively, in the very recent past, shown a knack for taking large musicals and making them smaller, very special ones. For the most part, the same can certainly be said about their newest small-scaled local revival, which continues its extended run through August 7, 2016. Exceedingly admirable despite being a bit rough around the edges, Chance Theater's peppy production reminds audiences old and new why the world of musical theater continues to lure certain dreamy, insanely talented people to this sometimes frustrating, often euphoric, and always competitive profession time and time again.

Photo Flash: First Look at A CHORUS LINE at Chance Theater

This winner of nine Tony Awards, five Drama Desk Awards and the Pulitzer Prize starts previews July 1 on the Cripe Stage at Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, at the Bette Aitken theater arts Center. Previews will run July 1st-July 8th with regular performances will begin July 9 and continue through July 31.