By ROY BERKO The history of American musical theater is laced with firsts and trendsetters. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma” introduced the well-made book musical in which a story was told, with music, lyrics and dance all integrated and setting the pattern of the first act ending with a conflict that would be solved in the […]
By ALAN SMASON Melissa Errico continues to take her concert tour to the people as the star of Passion and Amour, fresh off a recent “Playbill” cruise, brought her Sondheim show to a London cabaret for several nights before crossing the pond and landing in the Big Easy for a special night where she was joined briefly […]
By ALAN SMASON, Theatre Critic, WYES-TV (“Steppin’ Out”) When ballet stars Robert Fairchild and Leanne Cope began their roles as expatriate American artist Jerry Mulligan and native Parisian ballerina Lise Dassin, they had no way of knowing their performances would last for most of three years as they opened first in Paris in 2014, transferred to […]
By ALAN SMASON, Theatre Critic, WYES-TV (“Steppin’ Out“) Now that Chanukah has ended and Christmas is nearly here, there’s time to reflect on the amazing happenstance that Jewish composers and lyricists have contributed mightily to the Christmas musical landscape in ways that seem somewhat at odds with their religious upbringing. No American alive or dead […]
By AARON KRAUSE FT. LAUDERDALE — There are moments in Love Never Dies, the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, that will likely startle, or cause many to recoil or gasp in horror and surprise. The unexpected will keep you riveted to the stage. Love Never Dies is in the midst of its first North American tour […]
By AARON KRAUSE FT. LAUDERDALE — Chances are, you’re familiar with The Sound of Music. But you’ll rediscover this classic musical anew once you’ve witnessed three-time Tony Award-winning director Jack O’Brien’s fresh, vital take on the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein show. The production, which has been on the road since 2015, is playing the Broward Center […]
By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI — Exactly two years after the bio-musical On Your Feet! The Emilio & Gloria Estefan Broadway Musical opened for previews on Broadway, the first national touring production of the electric show about the Miamians opened – where else? – in Miami recently. And what a reception the large crowd gave the famous […]
By ALAN SMASON, Theatre Critic, WYES-TV (“Steppin’ Out“) Like his American contemporary counterpart, author L. Frank Baum, James M. Barrie was a London playwright, who spun a tale that enchanted children so much that his creation is still a part of the popular lexicon of children’s fare. In the case of Barrie, his creation had […]
By AARON KRAUSE MIAMI — “The King and I,” to borrow King Mongkut’s words, is a puzzlement. How can two people who’ve irritated each other so much, two people who seemingly have nothing in common, have such a profound effect on each other? That surprisingly strong, life-changing effect is at the heart of Richard Rodgers […]
By ANNE SIEGEL The bling and glamour of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Cinderella was met with cheers, oohs and ahhs – mainly by youngsters – who attended a recent opening of this fabled fairy tale musical in Milwaukee. No wonder. This version, which was adapted for Broadway in 2013, started out as a modernized […]