Joan Marcus

Review: Tony-Winning Musical KIMBERLY AKIMBO Amuses at OC’s Segerstrom Center

Winner of 5 Tony Awards including Best Musical, this quirky musical comedy with an intentionally-diffused serious undertone continues performances at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through February 2, 2025. A generally entertaining show with lots of laughs in spite of its title character’s fatal ailment, KIMBERL AKIMBO is a thematically zig-zagging new musical that is at once intentionally endearing but also surprisingly (and amusingly) chaotic. The show is ultimately winning thanks mostly to the wonderful performances of its two leads, three-time Tony Award nominee Carolee Carmello and her adorable co-star Miguel Gil.

Photos: In Rehearsals for Public Theater and Ma-Yi Theater Company's SUMO

The Public Theater and Ma-Yi Theater Company will soon present the New York premiere of SUMO, a thrilling new play written by Lisa Sanaye Dring and directed by Obie Award winner Ralph B. Peña. Check out photos from rehearsals here!

Photos: First Look at ENGLISH on Broadway

English has arrived on Broadway. The Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Sanaz Toossi and directed by Knud Adams, is officially open at the Todd Haimes Theatre. Check out photos of the cast in action here.

Review: PARADE at Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis

The National Tour of Parade, currently gracing the stage of the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, is a poignant and breathtakingly raw production that resonates deeply with audiences. Directed with precision by Michael Arden, this revival of the Tony Award-winning musical by Alfred Uhry and Jason Robert Brown is both timely and timeless, delivering an emotionally charged portrayal of love, justice, and societal prejudice.

Interview: Sarah Lynn Marion of KIMBERLY AKIMBO at Segerstrom Center For The Arts

Orange County native Sarah Lynn Marion talks with BroadwayWorld about her Broadway debut—and what it’s like to be an understudy for two roles in the show. 

Review: MAMMA MIA! Wins Me Over at Last �" Dr. Phillips Center

Silly stories like this work better on stage, where the particulars of the real world aren’t around to underscore implausibility. It’s quite a setup: 20-year-old bride-to-be Sophie has never known a father, but by the time the prologue is over, she has already swiped her mom’s diary, identified three old flames as the could-be dad, invited each of them to a remote Greek island for her upcoming wedding, and concocted an elaborate rouse to keep all of this from her betrothed, her mother, the men, and her mom’s two best friends. The objective: lay eyes on each potential pop for a “vibes check” in hopes of finally IDing her dad.

Review: HAMILTON at Belk Theater

'Hamilton' is in the top three of my all-time favorite musicals. This cast left an indelible impression on me with their precise articulation and energetic dance moves. This is my third time seeing this remarkable production, I am ecstatic.

Review: KIMBERLY AKIMBO at Keller Auditorium

This quirky gem of a musical, which won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, is the kind of show that makes you laugh, cry, and fundamentally reassess your perspective on life.

Interview: Chris Shyer of PARADE at Proctors

Here at Proctors in Schenectady, the Broadway tour of the acclaimed revival of Jason Robert Brown’s PARADE is kicking off its run after teching on-site. For those unfamiliar, PARADE tells the true story of Leo Frank, a Jewish man living in Georgia in the early 1900s who was accused of murder. I had the privilege of speaking with Chris Shyer, who portrays Governor John (Jack) Slaton in this production.

Review: KIMBERLY AKIMBO at The Paramount Theatre

Dear Readers, first off let me wish you a Happy New Year and here’s hoping we’re in for some outstanding theater in 2025. But for now let’s set the not so way back machine to 2021 where I managed to see a new musical in previews Off-Broadway, “Kimberly Akimbo”. And let me say, Readers, it didn’t blow me away. It was cute with some fun songs but didn’t thrill me. Then it went to Broadway, and everyone lost their minds over it, and it won the Tony. Now, here we are in 2025, and that same show is at the Paramount, and while I found it a tighter show and certainly adorable and charming, I still have issue with the lack of memorable songs and, honestly, its Tony win especially when stacked up against some other shows that season.

Review: KIMBERLY AKIMBO Kicks Off the New Year at Broadway Sacramento

Broadway Sacramento is kicking off the new year with a bang with the much-anticipated, multi-Tony Award-winning phenomenon, Kimberly Akimbo. David Lindsay-Abaire’s book and lyrics, based on his 2001 play, are accompanied by Jeanine Tesori’s beautiful score in this hilariously dazzling take on love and loss.

Photos: The New York Public Library Opens the Harvey Fierstein Theatre Lab

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center recently unveiled its new theater incubator space, the Harvey Fierstein Theatre Lab, which is now complete and open and accessible to the public. Check out photos from the opening here!

Review: ONCE UPON A MATTRESS at Ahmanson Theatre

Lear deBessonet’s rollicking production of Once Upon A Mattress brings festive glee to the Southland.

Review: Carolee Carmello as KIMBERLY AKIMBO at the Eccles Theater is a Treat

The national tour of Best Musical Tony winner KIMBERLY AKIMBO, currently playing at the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, is darkly funny and lightly sad, anchored by three-time Tony nominee Carolee Carmello’s astounding interpretation of the title role. What a treat for Utah audiences to experience a performance of this caliber from a Broadway star.

Photos/Video: MACBETH IN STRIDE At Yale Repertory Company

Yale Repertory Theatre has released first look photos of the Philadelphia Theatre Company, Shakespeare Theatre Company, and Brooklyn Academy of Music production of Macbeth in Stride.

SIX is Coming to Popejoy Hall in March 2025

The Tony Award-Winning SIX by Tony Award-winners Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss is coming to Popejoy Hall in March. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Photos: ANASTASIA At Bucks County Playhouse

 Bucks County Playhouse has released production photos of its new production of “Anastasia: The Musical,” which opened November 22 and continues on the historic stage through January 5.

Photos: CULT OF LOVE Starring Zachary Quinto, Shailene Woodley and More

Now in previews on Broadway at the Hayes Theatre is the Second Stage production of Leslye Headland’s CULT OF LOVE. Check out first photos of the cast in action!

Review: HAMILTON at Orpheum Theatre

What did our critic think of HAMILTON at Orpheum Theatre?

YELLOW FACE Starring Daniel Dae Kim to Premiere on PBS

Great Performances has announced it will capture Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of David Henry Hwang’s Yellow Face for premiere on PBS. The Great Performances premiere on PBS will be announced at a later date.