TAMPA - PLAYS

by Peter Nason - March 05, 2025

Now that we are a quarter of the way through the 21st Century, the serious debate can begin: What is the best stage musical of this century so far? There are several contenders, including The Producers, Hamilton, Waitress, Wicked, Spring Awakening, Fun Home, Next to Normal and In the Heights. High o...

by Deborah Bostock-Kelley - March 01, 2025

Every princess delivers powerful notes that could shatter glass, making each number a thrilling experience. Playwrights Dennis Giacino and Fiely Matias' were in the audience, and it was as much fun watching them react to the actors as it was for this reviewer to watch the show and introduce her best...

by Peter Nason - February 22, 2025

Sondheim deserves the best, and that's what freeFall has certainly delivered!...

by Peter Nason - February 17, 2025

After experiencing it, and after the cast and crew put on one hell of a show, I just couldn’t shake my disdain for the actual material.   It sometimes seemed unworthy of these delightful performers....

by Drew Eberhard - February 14, 2025

A Beautiful Noise is a Jukebox musical centered around Neil Diamond’s life, times, and music. It celebrated its Opening Night on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre on December 4, 2022. Garnering much acclaim, the musical grossed more than $1 million at the Box Office leading up to its official openi...

by Peter Nason - January 19, 2025

It's a balls to the walls, big-hearted but empty-headed jukebox musical that celebrates the 1980s hair bands. Guaranteed to make you escape the world's current tumult!...

by Deborah Bostock-Kelley - January 17, 2025

Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to Cher's legacy, The Cher Show, currently running at the Straz Center through this Sunday, is a musical that doesn't just celebrate her life—it captures the enduring spirit and resilience of one of the greatest icons of our time, making it an unforgettable theat...

by Peter Nason - December 31, 2024

Local theatre saved me in 2024, which turned out to be an extremely rocky year--with statewide and national political maelstroms and two hurricanes hitting our area weeks apart....

by Drew Eberhard - December 08, 2024

What did our critic think of USHERING IN THE HOLIDAYS WITH ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY at TampaRep?...

by Peter Nason - November 24, 2024

A young cast brings Disney's most iconic musical to life, led by two scene-stealers: Larkin Mainwaring as Madame de la Grande Bouche and (especially) Ruby Ricardo as a boisterous LeFou....