Review: FUN HOME at Sarasota Players
by Jacob Ruscoe - March 13, 2025
Sarasota Players has provided audiences with a thought-provoking musical with their recent production of 'Fun Home,' the Tony Award-winning musical that brings Alison Bechdel's poignant graphic memoir to life. This innovative and emotionally resonant show, which first premiered on Broadway in 2015, ...
Review: NEIL BERG'S 115 YEARS OF BROADWAY at Van Wezel
by Shanti M. Kennedy - March 09, 2025
Neil Berg's '115 Years of Broadway' is an absolute show-stopper! It's like a time machine whisking you away to the glamorous eras of Broadway, starting from the dazzling 1930s and 40s all the way to the present day. ...
Review: THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK at Rise Above Performing Arts
by Shanti M. Kennedy - February 25, 2025
Rise Above is a theatre group venturing into a new territory as they perform 'A Diary of Anne Frank', which is the first play they have taken on. This timeless story, known to many, carries a deep emotional weight as it sheds light on the struggles of our fellow human beings. Despite the lessons lea...
Review: ANNA IN THE TROPICS at Asolo Repertory Theatre
by Shanti M. Kennedy - February 24, 2025
Asolo's latest play, 'Anna In The Tropics,' delves into heartbreak and tragedy with a touch of elegance and flair. The plot unfolds in a mesmerizing dance of life imitating art, as the characters find themselves entangled in a web of emotions as intricate as a Russian novel. With each passing moment...
Review: COME FROM AWAY at Van Wezel
by Jacob Ruscoe - February 19, 2025
Do you ever go see a show and know you will be on your feet for a standing ovation the minute the last chord sounds? I have now seen Come From Away 7 times including last year at the Van Wezel and it simply never gets old. It is powerful. It stirs your soul...
Review: FOREVER TANGO at Van Wezel
by Shanti M. Kennedy - February 12, 2025
On a dimly lit stage enveloped in an air of mystique, a melodious bandoneon tenderly caresses the night's silence, its haunting notes reverberating through the hushed theater. Bathed in a solitary spotlight, the instrument's melancholic melody sets the stage, foretelling an evocative and passionatel...
Review: THE ADDAMS FAMILY at Van Wezel
by Jacob Ruscoe - February 04, 2025
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall recently hosted a vibrant rendition of 'The Addams Family,' a musical that has captivated audiences since its Broadway premiere in 2010. Based on the beloved characters created by cartoonist Charles Addams, the show effortlessly blends humor, macabre charm, and cat...
Review: THE CANCELLATION OF LAUREN FEIN at Florida Studio Theatre
by Shanti M. Kennedy - February 04, 2025
Lauren Fein, a distinguished tenured professor at her university, has dedicated her life to assisting others through her groundbreaking research efforts. Her valuable contributions to the unnamed University community, along with a strong network of esteemed colleagues and a loving family, showcase t...
Review: FENCES at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe
by Shanti M. Kennedy - January 28, 2025
August Wilson penned his Pulitzer Prize-winning play in 1983. Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, it delves into the African-American experience, generational prejudices, and other challenging themes. By concentrating on the journey of one family, the play portrays a spectrum of difficult times that individual...