By ROY BERKO Former South Euclid resident and Brush High School graduate, Dr. Alan Wieder, is on a quest “to stem the time of forgetfulness.” An oral historian, Wieder has been on the faculties of both South Africa’s University of Western Cape and Stellenbosch University and is concerned that “Few young South Africans know of […]
By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) When most people consider the macabre work of Stephen Sondheim and his delicious sense of dark humor, they typically point to Sweeney Todd as his greatest achievement. While that may well be for most of his fans, the fact is the tale of the “demon barber of […]
By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) One of the most eagerly awaited new musicals in the country bowed recently in Milwaukee, not a typical launching place for such productions. But having the world premiere of Run Bambi Run, open at the Milwaukee Rep made perfect sense; it is, after all, based on a […]
By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out”) Following his success with both Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at Le Petit Theatre last season, Salvatore Mannino is back, helming a new production, Let the Right One In appropriately arriving just before Halloween. Based on […]
By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) (NEW ORLEANS) – A Wonderful World, sub-titled “A New Musical About the life and Loves of Louis Armstrong,” made its bow in New Orleans during the first week in October at the historic Saenger Theater. Situated along famous Basin Street and Canal Street – two famous thoroughfares […]
By ROY BERKO The reconfigured The Wiz, as one of its major song’s states, is easing down the road on its way to Broadway. Previews for that show begin on March 29, 2024, with the Big Apple opening scheduled for April 17. Until it gets to New York City, it is touring the hinterlands in a […]
By ANNE SIEGEL In honor of hip hop’s 50th anniversary, Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents Parental Advisory, a breakbeat play. The Rep’s intimate Stiemke Studio stage has been turned into a recording studio for the show, with theater patrons representing a sort-of concert audience. Parental Advisory opened on Friday and continues through October 29. In the […]
By ROY BERKO When I saw the show in its Broadway run, I wrote in my review: “The total effect of Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 is breathtaking. The traditional music, dress, stylized acting, and Josh Groban’s booming voice add to the over-arching effect. Yes, this is more than a musical, it […]
By ROY BERKO Thurgood Marshall, the subject of Thurgood, on stage at Cleveland Play House’s Allen Theatre, was the grandson of slaves. He was born in segregated Baltimore and attended all-Black schools. After high school he enrolled at Lincoln University, the oldest college for African Americans in the United States. Marshall desired to go to […]