REVIEW: Rough Five Points Has Its Moments (Theater Latté Da) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Bev Wolfe - April 18, 2018April 18, 2018 Alejandro Vega as John Diamond Junior with the cast of Theater Latté Da's world premiere of the musical Five Points. Photo by Dan Norman. The musical Five Points had its world premiere at Theater Latté Da last week. It is the latest milestone in Theater Latté Da's NEXT 20/20 initiative to develop
REVIEW: Something Rotten Smells Great! (Orpheum/HTT) Arts Dance Music Theatre Visual Arts by Bev Wolfe - April 8, 2018April 8, 2018 The cast of the Something Rotten national tour. Photo by Jeremy Daniel. Something may be rotten in the state of Denmark, but the musical Something Rotten playing at the Orpheum Theatre is simply delightful. John O’Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick wrote the book for this Broadway musical, and Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick
REVIEW: Stirring Howl of The Wolves (Jungle Theater) Arts Theatre by Bev Wolfe - April 7, 2018April 7, 2018 Michelle de Joya (#11) and Wolves teammates in the Jungle Theater's production of The Wolves. Photo by Dan Norman. Engrossing. Authentic. Astounding. The words aptly describe the Jungle Theater’s current production of The Wolves which opened last week. Playwright Sarah DeLappe’s play about a women's soccer team was one of last year’s
REVIEW: Corduroy the Show, Corduroy the Cast (Children’s Theatre Company) Arts Theatre by Bev Wolfe - March 29, 2018March 29, 2018 Dean Holt as Corduroy in the Children's Theatre Company production of Corduroy. Photo by Dan Norman. The Children’s Theatre Company is showing the world premiere of the play Corduroy written by Barry Kornhauser. Kornhauser has a great taste for ageless physical humor; he also penned the fanciful Balloonacy, which was recently
REVIEW: Outrageous Humor in the Familiar: Danai Gurira of Black Panther‘s New Play (Guthrie Theater) Arts Theatre by Bev Wolfe - March 24, 2018March 30, 2018 The cast of the Guthrie Theater's production of Familiar by Danai Gurira. Photo by Dan Norman. An unexpectedly uproarious drama by Danai Gurira – one of the stars of the blockbuster movie Black Panther – opened last week at the Guthrie Theatre. The play weaves together various themes concerning assimilation, immigration, and family. In
REVIEW: Kids Rock Out in School of Rock (Orpheum/Hennepin Theatre Trust) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Bev Wolfe - March 10, 2018March 11, 2018 The cast of the national tour of School of Rock. Photo by Matthew Murphy. Andrew Lloyd Webber made much of his name and reputation with original – and now classic – rock operas like Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. Returning to the genre in 2013, however, Andrew Lloyd Webber surprisingly chose something quite
REVIEW: New Twist on The Pirates of Penzance (Park Square Theatre) Arts Dance Music Opera Theatre by Bev Wolfe - February 26, 2018February 26, 2018 Christina Baldwin (center) as the Major General in Park Square Theatre's The Pirates of Penzance. Photo by Petronella J. Ytsma. Park Square Theatre's current production of The Pirates of Penzance is a refreshing spin on the classic comic opera. This comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and lyrics by W.S. Gilbert premiered in New York City in
REVIEW: Terrifying Assassins (Theater Latté Da) Arts Theatre by Bev Wolfe - February 18, 2018February 18, 2018 Dieter Bierbrauer as John Wilkes Booth in Theater Latté Da's production of the Sondheim musical Assassins. Photo by Dan Norman. “Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life.” Oscar Wilde's words haunted me as I was finishing this review and learned the horrific news of the shooting in Broward County,
REVIEW: The Royale Knockout (Yellow Tree Theatre) Arts Theatre by Bev Wolfe - February 12, 2018February 12, 2018 Santino Craven and David Murray in Yellow Tree Theatre's production of The Royale. Photo by Justin Cox. "BAM", "POW", "KAPOW" – A Knockout Bam goes the fist. Pow – another punch and someone’s seeing double. Kapow – the countdown is on and the play begins. Such is the flow of The Royale, an experiential telling of the
REVIEW: Stunning Sights and Dancing in The Wiz (Children’s Theatre Company) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Bev Wolfe - January 30, 2018January 30, 2018 Aimee Bryant as Addaperle in the Children's Theatre Company production of The Wiz. Photo by Dan Norman The Children’s Theatre Company and Penumbra Theatre co-production of The Wiz is an engaging endeavor that makes you wish these two theatre companies had teamed up earlier. Director Lou Bellamy and choreographer Patdro Harris have created