Regional Roundup: Top 10 Stories This Week Around the Broadway World - 12/9 - MOBY DICK in Baltimore, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG in LA and More

**BONUS** Voting is NOW OPEN for the 2016 Regional Awards in ALL regions below:

Appleton, Atlanta, Austin, Australia-Sydney, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Cabaret, Central New York, Central Pennsylvania, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Connecticut, Dallas Delaware, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Israel, Italy, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Long Island, Los Angeles, Louisville, Madison, Maine, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Jersey, New Orleans, Omaha, Orlando, Palm Springs, Philadelphia, Philippines, Phoenix, Portland, Raleigh, Rhode Island, Rockland / Westchester, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Seattle, Sioux Falls, South Africa, South Bend, Spain, St. Louis, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Toronto, UK / West End, Washington, DC, West Virginia, Wichita

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Baltimore, San Francisco, Costa Mesa and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include MOBY DICK in Baltimore, DADDY LONG LEGS in San Francisco, and MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG in California, just to name a few.

East/Northeast

1. Maine: Editor Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold reviews OLIVER! at Penobscot Theatre. She says, "In the trio of leads, Zachary Spreng was a mournful Oliver, Brianne Beck a tough, strong-voiced Nancy, and Dominick Varney an ingratiating, wily Fagin. As Mr. Bumble, Ben Layman displayed a fine voice and understood the comic dimensions of the character perfectly, while Elena Di Siervo was his ideal partner as the Widow Corney. Annie Leonardi-Merchant contrasted her dual roles of the strident Mrs. Sowerberry and kindly Mrs. Bedwin, as did Alekzander Sayers as Sowerberry and then Dr.Grimwig." Read more here.

2. Baltimore, MD: Editor Charles Shubow reviews MOBY DICK at Arena Stage. He says, "Christopher Donahue's Ahab is a just plain magnificent in this role. Ahab has always reminded me of "Captain Queeg" (played by Humphrey Bogart), the diabolical character who becomes mentally unstable in the "The Caine Mutiny". The character "Starbuck" (yes that's where the coffee emporium got its name) is played by Walter Owen Briggs who even attempts an unsuccessful "mutiny"." Read more here.

3. Central NY: Editor Natasha Ashley reviews MARY POPPINS at Syracuse Stage. She says, "The entire cast performs the tunes passionately. There is attention to detail for every note, dance move, and facial expression. The audience falls in love again with classic tunes such as "Spoonful of Sugar" and "Feed the Birds." The high-energy and toe-tapping numbers such as "Step in Time" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" come to life in a very entertaining way thanks in part to the intricate choreography by Anthony Salatino." Read more here.

Midwest

4. Minneapolis, MN: Editor Karen Bovard reviews THE LION IN WINTER at the Guthrie Theater. She says, "But the heart of this show is the language, which is modern and full of insults and wit and the occasional shaft of undefatigable love. Eleanor may have the best lines and the aristocratic Laila Robins relishes delivering them. Kevyn Morrow as King Henry is less magnetic though in the early performance I saw he grew into the part as the play progressed. Torsten Johnson, as Richard Lionheart, the oldest son and Eleanor's favorite, is publicly martial, and privately credible." Read more here.

5. Cleveland, OH: Editor Roy Berko reviews CABARET at Blank Canvas. He says, "
Bernadette Hisey is properly pragmatic and tender as Fraulein Schneider, whose purpose in life is to survive at all costs. John J. Polk is wonderful as Herr Schultz, the Jew who thinks he is a German and naively assumes that the forces that are coming will assume the same. The duos' versions of "It Couldn't Please Me More" and "Married" were charmingly tender. Hisey's "What Would You Do?" was wrenching." Read more here.

West Coast

6. San Francisco, CA: Editor Harmony Wheeler reviews DADDY LONG LEGS at TheatreWorks. She says, "Their romance is at once naïve and endearing. Derek Carley sports a sweet smile and lovely voice in a superb performance as Jervis. But the show belongs to Jerusha, an exceptionally written character. Her journey to adulthood becomes the center of our world, and a compelling performance from Hilary Maiberger captivates from start to finish. Maiberger's voice blends beautifully with the chamber orchestra, which features a piano, cello and guitar. The haunting melodies stay with us, and in the same way, these two remarkable characters give us a warm glow during the holiday season." Read more here.

7. Salt Lake City, UT: Editor Tyler Hinton reviews Pioneer Theatre Company's OLIVER! He says, "Bill Nolte as Fagin keeps the audience enrapt with his captivating performance--especially when performing solo onstage. Howard Kaye, who charmed in IT HAPPENED ONE CHRISTMAS at PTC last holiday season, returns in a very different role as a believably short-tempered Bill Sykes." Read more here.

8. Los Angeles, CA: Editor Ellen Dostal reviews MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG at The Wallis. She says, "This is a production that chews up your emotions, along with the characters', and spits them out until you find yourself somewhere inside their stories. Whether it's in the I-can-conquer-the-world moment Sputnik passes over the rooftops or in the shadows where the realization of what compromising your dreams has cost you, you're in there. I think that may be one of the best reasons to see the show, to check where you are on your own path while there is still time to make a course correction." Read more here.

International

9. Melbourne, AU: Editor Tim Carney reviews THE GATHERING at 45 Downstairs. He says, "An ensemble of 6 fine young performers brilliantly tells the thought-provoking story. They have a wonderful connection and synergy in bringing the work to life. Granger fully embodies the character of Tom, vocally, physically and emotionally, delivering a very heartfelt performance. Shannen Alyce Quan's beautiful 'Sweet December Feelings' is a stunning ballad showcasing her powerhouse vocals. Hannah Sullivan McInerny as Daisy delivers some very sweet folk vocals." Read more here.

National Tour Highlight:

10. Rhode Island Editor Robert Barossi reviews A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER at PPAC. He says, "Also uniformly brilliant are every one of the actors and actresses assembled for this touring production. Kevin Massey plays Monty Navarro with an impressive amount of charm and charisma, making us love and root for him even though he's committing murders left and right. He's got a sinister twinkle in his eye but also an endearing, genuine and lovable quality that Massey brings perfectly to the character. John Rapson plays the entire D'Ysquith Family, all eight of them, and it's an impressive feat. It may take some audience members a while to realize that it's him playing the role each time, and even then they might not believe it at first. Rapson is another impressively talented, versatile and charismatic actor, and a great partner in crime, of sorts, along with Massey." Read more here.

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