Theatrecriticism

Terrific ensemble cast peels away layers of essential sisterhood in Bess Wohl's 'Liberation' - Theatre Criticism By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) At the beginning of Bess Wohi’s play Liberation, the character of Lizzie breaks the fourth wall to greet the expectant audience. She makes some ...

Read Alan Smason's review of Bess Wohl's "Liberation" currently playing at the James Earl Jones Theatre on Broadway pm Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/terrific-ens... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Classic Stage Company’s “The Baker’s Wife” combines the right ingredients - Theatre Criticism By LOU HARRY Thanks to its notorious David Merrick-produced/Patti LuPone-starring died-on-the-road 1976 tryout, the Steven Schwartz/Joseph Stein musical “The Baker’s Wife” landed a reputation as being...

Read Lou Harry's review of Stephen Schwartz and Joseph Stein's "The Baker's Wife" on Theatrecriticism.com: www.theatrecriticism.com/classic-stag... @theatrecritics.bsky.social @louharry.bsky.social

Cast of "Liberation." (Photo by Little Fang)

Read Alan Smason's review of Bess Wohl's "Liberation" on Theatrecriticism.com: www.theatrecriticism.com/terrific-ens... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

'The Notebook' reigns in Cleveland's Playhouse Square through Sept. 27 - Theatre Criticism By ROY BERKO The Notebook: The Musical tells the heart warming, and often heartbreaking life-long love story, of Allie and Noah.  It is based on a true tale inspired by author Nicholas Sparks’ wife’s-...

Read Roy Berko's review of "The Notebook: The Musical" starting its national tour in Cleveland at the Connor Palace, a part of Playhouse Square on Theatrecriticism.com: www.theatrecriticism.com/the-notebook... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Ants, Astronauts, and Asparagus: Latiné Theater Lab Delivers a Wild Ride with 'Last of the Red Hot Robots' - Theatre Criticism By AARON KRAUSE A social media influencer learns from a DNA test that she is among the 40 percent of individuals who can smell asparagus in their urine. An otherworldly being tells two zoo-goers that ...

Read Aaron Krause's review of "Last of the Red Hot Robots" on stage at Latiné Theater Lab in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/ants-astrona... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Fat Squirrel's 'The Crucible' heats up the stage at Big Couch - Theatre Criticism By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) When Arthur Miller debuted The Crucible in 1953, the nation was emerging from the dark and sinister times of accusations and recriminations know...

Read Alan Smason's review of "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller and produced by Fat Squirrel Productions on Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/fat-squirrel... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Jean Smart is riveting in 'Call Me Izzy' - Theatre Criticism By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) Jamie Wax’s play Call Me Izzy is set in Mansfield, Louisiana, some three to four hours away from where he grew up in Baton Rouge and New Orleans...

Read Alan Smason's review of "Call Me Izzy" by Jamie Wax and starring Jean Smart at Studio 54 on Broadway on Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/jean-smart-i... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

'Carousel' is final jewel set in Summer Lyric Theatre's sparkling season - Theatre Criticism By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) It is perhaps most appropriate that for the third jewel in Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane’s studded crown is Carousel, the Rodgers and Hammerste...

Read Alan Smason's review of the final production for the summer of Summer Lyric Theatre "Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Carousel'" on Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/carousel-is-... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Julie Benko, Raúl Esparza triumph in 'My Fair Lady' in concert in Aspen - Theatre Criticism By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) Julie Benko turned in a perfect performance as Eliza Doolittle in a concert version of Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady opposite Broadway veteran...

Read Alan Smason's account of "My Fair Lady" in concert in Aspen on Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/julie-benko-... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Shaw Festival offers repertory of plays, musicals - Theatre Criticism By LOU HARRY After a few days at the Stratford Festival, I stopped in at the Shaw Festival for the first time in a dozen years. Visiting the festival and the charming town made me regret those years I...

Read Lou Harry's review of several shows being performed in repertory at the Shaw Festival of Theatre on Theatrecriticism.com: www.theatrecriticism.com/shaw-festiva... @theatrecritics.bsky.social @louharry.bsky.social

Summer Lyric Theatre finds excellent 'Company' in Dixon Hall - Theatre Criticism By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out”) When Company by Stephen Sondheim (and a book by Mark Furth) opened on Broadway in 1970 it was such a breath of fresh air and so unlike anything ...

Read Alan Smason's review of Stephen Sondheim's "Company" at Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane on Theatrecriticism.com: www.theatrecriticism.com/summer-lyric... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Stratford Festival offers theatrical roller coaster - Theatre Criticism By LOU HARRY You don’t need to go to an amusement park to have the feeling of riding a roller coaster. In Stratford, Ontario, you can acquire something akin to whiplash at a festival where you can see...

Read Lou Harry's thoughts on the Stratford Festival in Canada on Theatrecriticism.com: www.theatrecriticism.com/stratford-fe... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

New York revival of 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence' is beautifully realized - Theatre Criticism By SCOTTY BENNETT A famous line from the John Ford film “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” is spoken by the newspaper reporter character, Maxwell Scott, near the end of the film, after hearing the tru...

Read Scotty Bennett's review of the revival of "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" currently playing at the Gene Frankel Theatre in New York on Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/new-york-rev... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Gilbert & Sullivan's 'Pirates! The Penzance Musical' is a jazzy treatl - Theatre Criticism By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) In Pirates! The Penzance Musical, Rupert Holmes proves he knows how to take a popular hit,  re-set it in an improbable location and adapt and re...

Read Alan Smason's review of "Pirates! The Penzance Musical" now playing at the Todd Haimes Theatre (Roundabout Theatre Co.) on Broadway on Theatrecriticism.com: www.theatrecriticism.com/gilbert-sull... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Absurdist 'Letter to LBJ or God' is anything but absurd - Theatre Criticism By: SCOTTY BENNETT A Letter to Lyndon B. Johnson or God: Whoever Reads This First is a gem of a play written, directed, and performed by Xhloe Rice and Natasha Roland. This two-hander makes a connecti...

Read Scotty Bennett's review of "A Letter to Lyndon B. Johnson or God Whoever Reads This First" that ran at SoHo Playhouse in New York on Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/absurdist-le... @theatrecritics.bsky.social @sohoplayhousenyc.bsky.social

National tour of 'Chicago' sizzles at the Saenger - Theatre Criticism By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) Chicago –the longest running show now on Broadway and the second longest running show in history – made its way to the Saenger Theater in New Or...

Read Alan Smason's review of the national tour of "Chicago" on Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/national-tou... @chicagomusical.bsky.social @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Le Petit's 'Ain't Misbehavin'' has the joint jumpin' - Theatre Criticism ˘By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out”) Fats Waller, the very talented American singer and songwriter, lived an unfortunately short but prolific life, dying in 1943 at the age of 39. ...

Read Alan Smason's review of "Ain't Misbehavin'" on Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/le-petits-ai... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

World premiere of 'Oak' fails to find roots - Theatre Criticism By LOU HARRY I caught the opening night of Terry Guest’s play Oak at the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Center, the second of its three rolling world premiere productions. Some thoughts: – Oak concerns a pl...

Read Lou Harry's thoughts on "Oak" at the Frank & Katrina Basile Theatre in the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre in Indianapolis on Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/world-premie... @theatrecritics.bsky.social @louharry.bsky.social

Summer Stock Stage holds highly recommended 'The Prom' - Theatre Criticism By LOU HARRY I caught the first performance of The Prom, produced by Summer Stock Stage, a unique company that fuses the talents of established performers with early career actors. It’s now a resident...

Read Lou Harry's review of "The Prom" at Summer Stock Theatre of the Butler Arts & Events Center in Indianapolis on Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/summer-stock... @theatrecritics.bsky.social @louharry.bsky.social

Hilarious 'Something Rotten' is Eggs-cellent at Rivertown Theaters - Theatre Criticism By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick, the two brothers who conceived Something Rotten! and more recently wrote the music and lyrics for the musical Mrs. ...

Read Alan Smason's review of Rivertown Theaters' "Something Rotten!" now playing on Theatrecriticism.com: www.theatrecriticism.com/hilarious-so... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Superbly acted, flawlessly directed 'Doubt' at Le Petit Theatre is divine - Theatre Criticism By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt: A Parable is a brilliant indictment of organized religion and the negativity attached to innuendo and gossip. While it finds root in the Catholic Church of Shanley’s own youth, the damage to reputation and the stain on the lives of the accused could …

Read Alan Smason's review of "Doubt: A Parable" now playing at Le Petit Theatre www.theatrecriticism.com/superbly-act... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Magical Angelica Tour of 'Hamilton' casts its spell on New Orleans - Theatre Criticism By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) It’s been a full decade since Lin-Manuel Miranda’s idea of a “mixtape” about the Founding Fathers was playing at the Public Theater to sold out ...

Read Alan Smason's review of the national tour of "Hamilton" playing to nearly sold out houses at the Saenger Theater in New Orleans on Theatrecriticism.com: www.theatrecriticism.com/magical-ange... @theatrecritics.bsky.social @hamiltonmusical.bsky.social

Final week to see electrifying 'Billy Elliot' at JPAC - Theatre Criticism By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) When the season announcement was made last year that Jefferson Performing Arts (JPA) would be producing Billy Elliot: The Musical for its final ...

Read Alan Smason's review of "Billy Elliot: The Musical" on Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/final-week-t... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Superb cast makes first national tour of 'Funny Girl' especially memorable - Theatre Criticism By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) It’s hard to believe, but until three years ago there had never been a revival of Funny Girl on Broadway. The starring vehicle in 1964 that turn...

Read Alan Smason's review of the first national tour of "Funny Girl" finishing its run in New Orleans today at the Saenger Theater on Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/superb-cast-... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Using a cloak of humor, 'Wounded' reveals deep pain of characters - Theatre Criticism By SCOTTY BENNETT One of the fascinating things about humans is how easily they mask intense feelings in a cloak of smiles and good humor. Pain, both physical and emotional, can be disguised but not c...

Read Scotty Bennett's review of "Wounded" finishing its run as the SoHo Playhouse in Manhattan on Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/using-a-cloa... @theatrecritics.bsky.social @sohoplayhousenyc.bsky.social

Sarah Silverman’s musical comedy 'The Bedwetter' gives a surprisingly poignant look at childhood mental health - Theatre Criticism By ELIZABETH SCHABINGER The Bedwetter, based on Sarah Silverman’s memoir of the same name, is an intimate look at Silverman’s year as a 10-year-old. In The Bedwetter,  Sarah is a fifth grader in a new...

Read Elizabeth Schabinger's review of Sarah Silverman's "The Bedwetter" currently playing in Washington, D.C.'s Arena Stage through March 16 on Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/sarah-silver... @theatrecritics.bsky.social @sarahsilverman.bsky.social

Electrifying 'Parade' pays homage to the pain of prejudice - Theatre Criticism By ROY BERKO Parade, which is now on stage at the Palace Theatre as part of the Key Bank Broadway series, is a musical with a book by Alfred Uhry and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. It is a dr...

Read Roy Berko's review of the national tour of Jason Robert Brown's "Parade" finishing its run this weekend in Cleveland on Theatrecriticism.com : www.theatrecriticism.com/electrifying... @theatrecritics.bsky.social @playhousesquare.bsky.social

Saenger plays host to 'Mamma Mia' 25th anniversary national tour - Theatre Criticism By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) As hard to believe as it may be, Mamma Mia!, the ABBA hit jukebox musical is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. It continues to enthral...

Reading Alan Smason's review of the 25th anniversary national tour of "Mamma Mia" on Theatrecriticism.com will get you saying "I Do, I Do, I Do!":
www.theatrecriticism.com/saenger-play... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Theatre for a New Audience’s 'Henry IV' - Theatre Criticism By LOU HARRY, Special to Theatrecriticism.com Yes, “Henry IV” is the complete title.  Sans the  “part 1” and “part 2” that traditionally complete the title of William Shakespeare’s historical take, th...

Lou Harry reviews's "Henry IV" adapted and starring Dakin Matthews at the off-Broadway Theatre for a New Audience in Brooklyn on Theatrecriticism.com:
www.theatrecriticism.com/theatre-for-... @theatrecritics.bsky.social

Sibling rivalry goes beserk in JPA's 'True West' - Theatre Criticism By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) Sam Shepard’s powerful play about the toxic relationship between two brothers – True West – is back at the Jefferson Performing Arts’ Westwego T...

Read Alan Smason's review of Sam Shepard's study of brotherly disfunction and sibling rivalry gone beserk in "True West" on Theatrecriticism.com: www.theatrecriticism.com/sibling-riva... @theatrecritics.bsky.social