Theatre by the Sea Closes Season with Triumphant ‘Kinky Boots’

August 1, 2022November 29, 2022 michaelhobanLeave a comment

by Tony Annicone

Theatre by the Sea’s closing musical of their 89th season is the 6 Time Tony Award winning musical “Kinky Boots” with book by Harvey Fierstein and music by Cyndi Lauper. Owner and producer Bill Hanney spares no expense in bringing the incredible musical to this historic Rhode Island Theatre. This show is based on true events in Northampton, England. After inheriting the shoe factory from his father, Charlie Price struggles to keep his family business open. He isn’t really interested in the family business due to his fiancée Nicola but in order to keep it afloat has to lay off 15 employees. Lola, a fabulous, sassy and popular female impersonator comes up with a wild and crazy way to save Charlie’s shoe business but also teaches people about love and acceptance of people who are different. Charlie and Lola create a partnership but also learn important lessons from each other. And with a little bit of understanding this unexpected pair learns to embrace their differences and create a line of stilettos unlike any the world has seen. Director/choreographer Kevin Hill casts this show marvelously and elicits brilliant performances from the entire cast while musical director Jacob Priddy brings out incredible vocals from them, as their voices soar off the charts. What sets this show about from others is the group choreography, with the drag performers doing their routines with everyone in perfect unison. Lola and the group steal many a scene with their breathtaking dance moves (in kinky boots) throughout the show. The singing, dancing and acting in this show is spectacular and wins the cast a thunderous and prolonged standing ovation.

Theatre by the Sea’s ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ is a High Energy Musical Extravaganza

May 28, 2022May 29, 2022 michaelhobanLeave a comment

The cast of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET playing at Theatre By The Sea thru June 18, 2022. Photos by Mark Turek

by Tony Annicone

Owner and Producer Bill Hanney opens his historic “Theatre by the Sea” after a two-year pandemic with “Million Dollar Quartet.” This Tony nominated musical is set on December 4, 1956, when an extraordinary twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley together at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions ever. It tells the tale of record producer, Sam Phillips, who brought these four stars together for a once in a lifetime jam session – before Jerry Lee Lewis became famous. Sam wanted Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash to sign future contracts with his record label. Elvis, whom Sam sold his contract to RCA and has become a Hollywood movie star, brings his girlfriend to the meeting, while Jay Perkins and their friend, Fluke are also there. This high energy musical extravaganza enthralls you from start to finish. Director Greg Santos picks the best performers for these roles so you can forget about your cares and woes to escape back in time to Memphis, Tennessee to witness Rock n Roll over 60 years ago.

Theatre by the Sea’s “Singing in the Rain” Shines

June 18, 2019June 22, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

(Tim Falter as Don Lockwood in SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN live on stage at Theatre By The Sea thru July 13, 2019. Photos by Steven Richard Photography)

Reviewed by Tony Annicone You won’t hear people singing in the rain this year because we’ve been having a very rainy year and are sick of it. However when you come to see it rain in the theatre it will definitely put a smile on your face, a song in your heart and your feet tapping away. The second summer blockbuster musical for Theatre by the Sea’s 86th season is “Singing in the Rain”, the 1985 stage version of the classic 1952 movie. It starred Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds and was directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. The show was written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and is set in 1927 Hollywood. It is a light hearted musical romantic comedy about the early days of sound film, when many a studio found itself scrambling due to the career of chipmunk-voiced silent film stars.

World Premiere of ‘Love and Other Fables’ – a Comic Gem

June 2, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Blake Hammond (King Croesus), Brian Sears (Aesop), Peter Saide (Philocalus) and the cast of the World Premiere of LOVE AND OTHER FABLES playing at Theatre By The Sea thru June 16, 2019. Photos by Steven Richard Photography.

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The world has been waiting thousands of years for this musical about Aesop and his friends, but fortunately it has taken only 86 years for a World Premiere to come to Bill Hanney’s Theatre by the Sea. The first show of this historic theatre’s 86th season is “Love and Other Fables” written by John McMahon and Jay Jeffries. This comic musical which is bawdy and burlesque-like is set in 600 B.C. on the island of Samos in Greece. Aesop who later in life becomes a famous writer, is still a slave in this show. He yearns to become famous, win the girl of his dreams (who doesn’t find him attractive), outwit the King of Egypt to obtain his freedom by solving three conundrums and become renowned for his spinning of his stories.

Theatre by the Sea Delivers Rollicking ‘CHICAGO’

August 18, 2018August 20, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Welcome to the 1920’s with the final musical at Theatre by the Sea’s 85th season. Director Bob Richard and his wife, Diane Laurenson, the choreographer transports the audience to the prison atmosphere needed for this musical “Chicago.” Kander and Ebb’s 1975 vaudeville type show is based on the 1926 play by Maurine Watkins. The 1997 musical version won six Tony Awards and the 2003 movie version won the Academy Award. In roaring twenties Chicago, married chorine Roxie Hart murders her faithless lover, Fred Casely, and convinces her hapless husband, Amos, to take the rap for her. That is until he finds out he has been duped and turns on her. She and fellow murderess, Velma Kelly, both on death row, vie for the headlines and spotlight, hoping the publicity will launch them to fame, freedom and successful stage careers with the help of slick lawyer, Billy Flynn. The story is a satire on the corruption of criminal justice system and logic of “celebrity criminal” and works perfectly in the current day situation of this country of fake news and reality TV shows. Keep them off balance and they won’t realize what is really going on. It also worked much better in the late 1990’s after the OJ trial travesty which was a lot like the circus like atmosphere of Chicago in the 1920’s. Bob blocks the show beautifully and Diane creates wonderful choreography. Both of them bring out the best in their talented cast members.

The Joint is Jumping with Theatre by the Sea’s AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’

June 2, 2018 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The first musical of Theatre by the Sea’s historic 85th season is Fats Waller’s musical revue “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920’s and 1930’s comes to life onstage as a tribute to the black musicians of that era. It was an era of growing creativity, cultural awareness and ethnic pride. This musical revue first opened in the Manhattan Theatre on February 8, 1978 and ran for 1,604 performances, winning three Tony Awards including the Best Musical. Five performers present an evening of rowdy, raunchy and humorous songs that encapsulate the various moods of that time period.

“THE PRODUCERS” Theatre by the Sea, Matunuck, RI

August 20, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The closing show of the 84th season of Theatre by the Sea is the Broadway sensation “The Producers” which is based on the Mel Brooks Academy Award winning 1968 film. This bawdy musical is the story of down on his luck theatrical producer, Max Bialystock and a mousy accountant, Leo Bloom. Their “sure fire” theatrical fiasco is none other than the musical “Springtime for Hitler” written by neo-Nazi, Franz Liebkind, an ex-Nazi storm trooper which tells of the rise of Hitler to power in song and dance.

“Beauty and the Beast” at Theatre by the Sea

July 12, 2017July 31, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

By Richard Pacheco

“Beauty and the Beast”, now playing at Theatre by the Sea, is a musical extravaganza, a treat for eyes and ears, and a sheer delight for all ages. This spectacular production is marked by stunning sets, glorious costumes and propelled by an extremely talented and flashy cast. The choreography is standout too – vibrant, daring and dazzling.

“The Music Man” at Theatre by the Sea

June 21, 2017July 5, 2017 michaelhobanLeave a comment

By Richard Pacheco

“The Music Man” is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey and is currently playing at Theatre by the Sea in a spirited, energetic and fun production. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys’ band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to the naive Iowa townsfolk, promising to train the members of the new band. Harold is no musician, however, and plans to skip town without giving any music lessons. Prim librarian and piano teacher Marian sees through him, but when Harold helps her younger brother overcome his lisp and social awkwardness, Marian begins to fall in love. Harold risks being caught to win her.