Robert Lippert

BWW Review: Stray Dog Theatre's Rousing and Arousing THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

I can recall viewing The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the old Varsity Theatre in the Delmar Loop before it closed its doors many years ago. There was a mood generated by the grungy atmosphere of that old movie house, with fans packed in like sardines, and dressed in various character costumes for the occasion, that's impossible to recreate when you can just pop in the DVD or Blu-Ray and watch it at home by yourself. Besides, it's always more fun to see it with an enthusiastic crowd. Happily, Stray Dog Theatre is presenting an enjoyable and thoroughly engaging production of the original musical the film was based upon, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, and they encourage audience participation (within reason). Go and have an absolute blast!

BWW Review: ATOMIC Triumphs at New Line Theatre

ATOMIC receives it's Midwestern regional debut with New Line Theatre's thoroughly engaging and informative production. While it might not seem typical of the productions you're used to seeing the company present, it falls into a category which they excel at; breathing fresh life into a new show, and in the process, displaying its many artistic merits. As noted in the director's notes, this is a modern Prometheus story in a sense, with physicists creating a sort of Frankenstein's monster as they construct this weapon of mass destruction. The analogy of letting the genie out of the bottle could also apply, since this new technology also led directly to the Cold War and arms escalation that occurred. This isn't just a slice of history that explains how the atomic bomb was created, but more a piece that shows us the emotional impact it had on its creators, Filled with a clever and catchy pop/rock score that drives the angst the characters feel, particularly Leo Szilard, a name passed over in many history books despite his brilliance, feels over how the bomb is going to be utilized. Full of surprising amounts of both humor and heart, this is great theatre, and I could tell from the discussions that happened during intermission, a show that will surely provoke a lot of lively debate. It's essentially must-see entertainment that will have you pondering many of its myriad of aspects and points of view long after the lights have dimmed.

Last Chance to Vote for the BroadwayWorld St. Louis Awards

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!

Time is Ticking to Vote for the BroadwayWorld St. Louis Awards

Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!