Reviewed by Tony Annicone
The current show at Wilbury Theatre Group is the Rhode Island premiere of “Futurity”, an avant-garde-Americana musical by Cesar Alvarez and the Lisps. It mixes sci-fi with 19th Century Americana. The story follows the correspondence between Ada Lovelace, the real life daughter of Lord Byron, who was a poet and a mathematician, and Julian Munro, a completely fictional soldier during the American Civil War who served with the Ohio regiment.
Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Stadium Theatre’s holiday show this year is the new musical production of “A Christmas Carol.” This version of this well known holiday tale contains special flying effects, snow and a full 9 piece orchestra. This version was written by John Popa who also wrote the witty lyrics with music written by Steve Parsons. “A Christmas Carol” is a timeless story that still resonates with people of all ages and carries a message that is as genuine and poignant now as it was when it was first written back in 1843.
Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Current artistic director Kevin Hill directs this year’s presentation of its favorite holiday show once again. He also directed “Mamma Mia”, the megahit at NSMT this past summer for four sold out weeks. “Christmas Carol” is the tale of curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by the ghosts of Jacob Marley,Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come who hope to change his destiny and to save his soul. Audiences are taken on a strange and magical journey with Scrooge that helps him regain his exuberance for the true meaning of Christmas once more. Bill spares no expense in bringing this splendid heartwarming tale to audiences for his ninth year. Kevin and his cast and crew delivers the goods with audiences leaping to their feet at the curtain call. They are moved to laughter and tears at all the appropriate moments. Bravo once again on a job very well done!
Read more “NSMT’s ‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’ Brings the Classic to Glorious Life”
By Linda Chin
Oliver! Directed by Zoe Bradford and Jodie Saucerman .Presented by The Company Theatre at the Center for Performing Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell through December 16
Seeing shows, particularly musicals at Company Theater usually puts me in a good mood (and for me, are worth the long drive to Norwell), and the current production of Oliver! (running through December 16) is no exception. It is a theater company whose productions and casts seem to be selected with the audience and community in mind, and feelings of family and pride for local talent permeate the experience once you walk through the door.
Read more “Company Theater’s Oliver! a Homegrown Joy”
“Man in the Ring” – Written by Michael Cristofer. Directed by Michael Greif. Presented by Huntington Theatre Company, Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, 527 Tremont Street, Boston through December 22.
Playwright Michael Cristofer certainly had his work cut out with him when he took on the charismatic, controversial, and complex Emile Griffiths as his subject in “Man in the Ring”, the moving and emotionally compelling drama currently playing at the Huntington. So strong was the piece, the performances, and the man that I couldn’t wait to get home and do some further research.
Read more “Huntington’s “Man in the Ring” Delivers Emotional Knockout Punch”
By Deanna Dement Myers
‘1776’ – Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards; Book by Peter Stone. Co-directed by Austin Pendleton and Kelli Edwards. Production Team: Cristina Todesco, Scenic Designer; Rachel Padula-Shufelt, Costume Designer; Alberto Seggara, Lighting Designer; Lee Schuna, Sound Engineer; Todd C. Gordon; Music Director; Kevin Schlagle, Stage Manager; and Brian M. Robillard, Assistant Stage Manager. Presented by New Repertory Theatre at 321 Arsenal St, Watertown through December 30
“This is a revolution, dammit, we’re going to have to offend somebody!”
Before Hamilton, there was 1776. Debuting on Broadway in 1969, this musical by Sherman Edwards based on the book by David McCullough, about the impassioned debate preceding the signing of the Declaration of Independence, has relevance to the political climate of our time. The New Repertory theater in Watertown presents a racially and gender diverse cast which provides wry commentary and insight into the difficult discussions during the early days of our country.
Read more “New Rep’s ‘1776’ Brings Diverse Take to Birth of Nation”
by Nicholas Whittaker
‘Breath and Imagination’ – Written by Daniel Beaty; Directed by Maurice Emmanuel Parent; Music Director, Asher Denburg; Additonal Music Direction, Doug Gerber; Scenic Design, Baron E. Pugh; Costume Design, Elisabetta Polito; Lighting Design, Aja M. Jackson; Sound Design, David Wilson. Presented by the Front Porch Collective and Lyric Stage Company at 140 Clarendon St. Boston through December 23
In the early movements of Breath and Imagination: The Story of Roland Hayes, a memory by Daniel Beaty, the eponymous character’s mother Angel Mo’ instructs her young son on a sung phrase. Together, they pore over the short phrase, focusing not on the precise notes, but on the spirit of the song, the intricacies of vocal flows and riffs and tone and emotion that characterize the tradition of Black gospel and church music. Together, they transform the phrasing from a mere collection of notes to a song, a deeply felt religious moment of love, joy, and community.
Read more “LYRIC STAGE & FRONT PORCH COLLECTIVE’S ‘BREATH AND IMAGINATION’ TAKES YOU TO CHURCH”
By Sheila Barth
BOX INFO: Almost three-hour, two-act musical, by Sherman Edwards, book by Peter Stone, appearing at New Repertory Theatre through Dec.23, at Mosesian Center for the Arts, MainStage Theatre, 321Arsenal St., Watertown. Showtimes vary. $25-$72. student,senior,group discounts, 617-923-8487, newrep.org.
Sometimes, innovation in a theatrical production works great. Think award-winning productions like Lin Manuel Miranda’s wildly famous, cross-gender, mixed race historic musical,“Hamilton”. Miranda’s fusion of musical genres is exciting and memorable, too. However, at New Repertory Theatre’s production of Tony Award-winning musical “1776,” incorporating the same innovative casting trends loses something in translation.
Read more “New Rep’s ‘1776’ Loses the Battle”
‘WET: A DACAmented Journey’ – Written and performed by Alex Alpharaoh, Directed by Brisa Areli Munoz; Costume Design, Niki Hernandez-Adams; Lighting Design, Aaron Johansen; Sound Design, Broken Chord; Scenic Coordinator, Bradley Gray; Scenic and Costume Artist, Nery Cividanis; Lobby Installation, Nicolas Gonzalez; Jointly presented by ArtsEmerson, Cara Mía Theatre and Ignite/Arts Dallas at the Emerson Paramount Center’s Jackie Liebergott Black Box, 559 Washington Street, Boston through November 25, 2018.
Jumping out right from the headlines and onto the stage is Alex Alpharaoh’s deeply personal account of his perilous journey to become an American citizen. Having entered the country as an infant with his 15-year-old mother, he grew up – and continues to live – in the California metropolis, the only place he has known as home. American in every way, except on paper, WET: A DACAmented Journey, running at Emerson’s Paramount Black Box through November 25, depicts his maze-like process of trying to attain citizenship.
Read more “‘WET: A DACAmented Journey’ Provides Insight into Immigrant Experience”
Review by James Wilkinson
‘NSFW’ – Written by Lucy Kirkwood. Directed by Darren Evans. Costume Design: Liz Sheehan. Lighting Design: Emily Bearce. Scenic and Sound Design: Darren Evans. Fight Choreographer: Jess Malone. Presented by Theatre on Fire at the Charlestown Working Theatre through November 17.
The acronym, for those of you who may not know, means ‘Not Safe for Work.’ You’ll find it in email subject lines and online article headlines as a shorthand that the content contains images (usually nudity) you probably don’t want popping up on your work computer where your boss can walk by. It’s meant to spare embarrassment, though it can just as easily act as a beacon for someone on the hunt for salacious material. The acronym also lends itself as the title of British playwright Lucy Kirkwood’s 2012 play, a piece concerned with what happens at the intersection of salacious material and the workplace. It’s an incredibly intelligent and wickedly funny play being given an incredibly intelligent and wickedly funny production by the Charlestown-based company, Theatre on Fire.
Read more “Theatre on Fire’ ‘NSFW’ Offers a Picture Worth a Thousand Words”
