Luke Darnell

THE CRAIC Makes History at the Stackner Cabaret
by Stephi Wild - Feb 14, 2025

The World Premiere of The Craic created by Artistic Director Mark Clements and Deanie Vallone has officially become the best-selling show in Stackner Cabaret history.

Review: Musical THE CRAIC is Snug Irish Fun at MILWAUKEE REP
by Kelsey Lawler - Jan 24, 2025

To say The Milwaukee Rep’s The Craic is good fun would be redundant. The word “craic” (pronounced crack) essentially means “fun” in Irish. This world premier written by Mark Clements and Deanie Vallone is not just good fun, but also a cozy theatrical hug. The Craic invites us out of the bleak midwinter to a space filled with the warm voices, oustanding instrumentalists, easy laughter, toe-tapping trad tunes, and heart-tugging ballads. 

Video: Behind the Scenes of THE CRAIC World Premiere At Milwaukee Rep in January
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 19, 2024

Milwaukee Repertory Theater will present the World Premiere of The Craic where Irish music and great company collide this January 17 – March 16, 2025, in the Stackner Cabaret. Check out behind the scenes footage of the show gearing up for its debut in the new video.

THE CRAIC World Premiere to Begin Performances at Milwaukee Rep in January
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 17, 2024

Milwaukee Repertory Theater will present the World Premiere of The Craic where Irish music and great company collide this January. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Review: Fleet Fingers & Vocal Fireworks
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Jul 29, 2024

Maine State Music Theatre’s third concert of the season features a wild roller coaster ride through the history of early rock and roll with Jason Cohen and his stellar bandmates paying tribute to the legendary pianist and songwriter, Jerry Lee Lewis and his contemporaries. In an evening that offers electrifying pianistic virtuosity and raw energy vocals, Cohen and company bring down the house and demonstrate the power and the revolution that early rock and roll was.

GREAT BALLS OF FIRE to Play Gretna Theatre in August
by Blair Ingenthron - Jul 29, 2024

Gretna Theatre will present GREAT BALLS OF FIRE, a musical celebration of Jerry Lee Lewis, featuring his iconic hits and electrifying performances. Join us for a night of rock 'n' roll nostalgia.

Review: A BRONX TALE IS A 'HIT' at The Argyle Theatre
by Nicholas Pontolillo - May 29, 2024

What did our critic think of A BRONX TALE IS A 'HIT' AT THE ARGYLE THEATRE at The Argyle Theatre?

Photos: First Look at A BRONX TALE at the Argyle Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Apr 30, 2024

All new photos have been released from the Argyle Theatre's production of A Bronx Tale. Check out the photos here!

Photos: Argyle Theatre's A BRONX TALE Celebrates Opening Night
by Genevieve Rafter Keddy - Apr 28, 2024

The Argyle Theatre's production of A Bronx Tale, directed and choreographed by Todd L. Underwood, with musical direction by Jonathan Brenner, opened Saturday, April 27 and BroadwayWorld was there to capture the festivities. Check out photos below!

Photos: Go Inside the A BRONX TALE Opening Night Curtain Call at Argyle Theatre
by Genevieve Rafter Keddy - Apr 28, 2024

The Argyle Theatre's production of A Bronx Tale, directed and choreographed by Todd L. Underwood, with musical direction by Jonathan Brenner opened Saturday, April 27 and BroadwayWorld was there to capture the curtain call. Check out photos here!

Argyle Theater Announces The Cast And Creatives For A BRONX TALE
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 12, 2024

Get the latest updates on the cast and creatives for A BRONX TALE at Long Island's ARGYLE THEATRE, starting April 25, 2024.

GREAT BALLS OF FIRE To Have New York City Debut At The Triad
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 22, 2024

Experience the electrifying rock and roll of the 1950s in GREAT BALLS OF FIRE, a theatrical concert celebrating the legendary Jerry Lee Lewis. Premiering at the Triad Theater, NYC, the show features Jason Cohen, renowned for his showboat piano style and high-energy performances.

Video: Go Inside Rehearsal for JERSEY BOYS at The Gateway Playhouse
by Blair Ingenthron - Aug 6, 2023

Check out rehearsal footage from The Gateway Playhouse's production of Jersey Boys!

JERSEY BOYS to Have Long Island Premiere at The Gateway Playhouse
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 27, 2023

Get ready for the long-awaited Long Island premiere of JERSEY BOYS at The Gateway Playhouse. Experience the magic of this iconic Broadway show as it takes the stage from [Date] to [Date]. Get your tickets now!

Review: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY: The Legend and the Legacy Live in MSMT's New Production
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Jun 30, 2023

There are certain moments of history that become emblazoned in our collective human  psyches. Fans of American popular music all remember with a searing certainty the day when Charles Hardin Holley was killed in a plane crash at age twenty-two,  his pioneering meteoric rock ‘n’ roll career brought to a tragic end. But if  Feb 3,1959, was “the day the music died “ - as Don McLean wrote - MSMT’s Buddy Holly STORY turns that trope on its head. The new production, staged by Angela C. Howell makes clear that the legacy of Buddy Holly lives, and if MSMT’s production of the jukebox musical about Holly’s legend and his legacy rocks the Pickard Theater to the rafters with its visceral musical energy, it also speaks volumes about the warmth and heart of the Holly story.

Interview: Lianne Marie Dobbs of WHY CAN'T A WOMAN...? at 54 Below November 16th
by Stephen Mosher - Nov 14, 2022

Lianne Marie Dobbs returns to the nightclub stage with her acclaimed show for the first time since pre-pandemic, and she has some wise words to go with her great music.

See Santino Fontana, I WISH: THE ROLES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN & More Next Week at 54 Below
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 11, 2022

Next week, 54 BELOW will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. A recipient of the 2022 Tony Awards Honor for Excellence in the Theatre, 54 Below celebrates Broadway musicals and writers of the past and present, promoting an ongoing engagement with their work.

Lianne Dobbs Debuts WHY CAN'T A WOMAN…? On Wednesday, November 16 At 54 Below
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 11, 2022

Performer Lianne Marie Dobbs' evening of feminism and music, Why CAN'T A Woman...?, plays at 54 Below on Wednesday, November 16th at 7 PM. Music director is Ron Abel, with additional guest musicians Kendra Jo Brook, Amanda Morrill, Luke Darnell and guest vocals and choreography by Luis Villabon.

Photos: First Look At THE SPITFIRE GRILL at Vanguard Theater
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 4, 2022

Don’t miss Vanguard Theater’s production of “The Spitfire Grill.”  Channeling musicals like Once and Come From Away,  this show serves up comfort and respite from a complicated world, with a beautiful score that is a hybrid mix of folk, blues, and bluegrass. Get a first look at photos here!

Vanguard Theater Opens Season with THE SPITFIRE GRILL, November 4- 20
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 2, 2022

The Vanguard Theater kicks off its second season with the heartwarming musical drama, The Spitfire Grill. The show runs November 4 - 20, 2022.