‘BORN FOR THIS’ Raises Hopes and Spirit

July 1, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

BOX INFO: ArtsEmerson presents the New England premiere of new musical “Born for This,” based on the true story of BeBe Winans, through July 15: Tuesdays-Thursdays, excluding July 4, at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2,8 p.m.; Sundays 2,7 p.m. Emerson Cutler Majestic Theater, 219 Tremont St., Boston.$20-$80, prices subject to change; senior, student, group, package discounts. ArtsEmerson.org, 617-824-8400.

Hey, you sinners and believers, get ready to shout, sing, clap those hands and rejoice with hallelujahs and hosannas at new musical “Born for This.” A high-powered, stellar, spectacular, 20-strong member cast of well-known Broadway, national and international fame drives this vibrant two-act, two-hour production. Because the play began had its infancy in Boston in 2013 and 2014, Mayor Thomas J. Walsh declared its official opening this year, June 22, as Boston’s “Born for This” Day. The show’s last day is July 15, so grab the kids, and don’t miss this inspirational story of reaching for the stars and achieving it.

“She Did All That” a Glowing Tribute to Betty Ford

June 30, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

by Michele Markarian

“She Did All That”, a documentary play by Lisa Rafferty. Directed by Lisa Rafferty. Presented by Birch Tree Productions at Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, 949 Commonwealth Avenue, through July 8.

Watching a play about the Ford Administration, which took place a mere forty-odd years ago, is like watching a future – only it’s in the past – where politicians had integrity and progress was the goal. Ford, who had to take over the Presidency in the wake of Nixon’s resignation, addressed the country with the following: “My fellow Americans, our long, national nightmare is over” (reader, there was an audible snort from the audience after he said it). He must be turning over in his grave at what his party has become. But that’s not the point of the piece, which is a loving tribute to a very remarkable First Lady, Betty Ford. Not exactly a play, “She Did All That” arranges actual letters, speeches, and quotes to form a portrait of a very positive, free-thinking, ground-breaking First Lady.

A Spirited OKLAHOMA! Kicks up its Heels in Ogunquit

June 29, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

By Sheila Barth

BOX INFO: Ogunquit Playhouse presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved, timeless musical through July 7, directed by Fred Hanson, music directed by Jeffrey Campos on main keyboard; choreography by Susan Stroman, adapted by Ginger Thatcher. 10 Main St., Route 1N, Ogunquit, Maine: Tuesday-Saturday, 8 p.m., matinees Wednesday, Thursday, Sundays, 2:30 p.m. also the last Saturday.Tickets start at $52. ogunquitplayhouse.org, 207-646-5511.

At last Thursday’s matinee, the chaos and drama behind the curtain was more dramatic and intense than the powerful, all-time great musical, “Oklahoma!” itself. That morning turned out to be a not-so beautiful one, as the post-overture, opening song heralds, because Equity male star Stephen Mark Lukas, (who portrays confident cowhand, Curly) became too sick to perform, sending the company scrambling for a last-minute replacement.

‘Born For This’ Lifts Us Up with Music, Comedy

June 27, 2018July 8, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

(Left to right: Donald Webber Jr. as BeBe Winans, Liisi LaFontaine as Whitney Houston, and Loren Lott as CeCe Winans in BORN FOR THIS. Photo ©Joan Marcus 2018)

By Mike Hoban

Born for This – Music and Lyrics by BeBe Winans. Book by Charles Randolph-Wright, BeBe Winans, and Lisa D’Amour. Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright; Scenic Design by Neil Patel; Lighting Design by Jason Lyons; Sound Design by Jon Weston; Choreography by Warren Adams. Presented by ArtsEmerson. At Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston, through July 15.

You’re not likely to find a more consistently entertaining musical on Boston stages this year than Born for This, gospel and pop star Bebe Winan’s autobiographical work now in its latest incarnation at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre. A powerhouse score delivered by an extraordinary cast combined with a very funny script are sure to make this show an overwhelming crowd-pleaser (if the opening night crowd is any indication), even if the book won’t make anyone forget Les Miserables or Ragtime anytime soon.

NEWSIES – Academy Players of RI

June 23, 2018December 27, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Academy Players of RI’s 63rd season starts off with a bang with the Rhode Island premiere of “Newsies” by Walt Disney. Disney’s “Newsies” is based on the 1992 Disney film and is inspired by the real-life “Newsboy Strike of 1899,” when Newsboy Kid Blink led a band of orphan and run away newsies on a two- week-long action against Pulitzer, Hearst and other powerful newspaper publishers. The show has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and a book by Harvey Fierstein. The musical premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in 2011 and made its Broadway debut on March 29, 2012 where it ran for over 1005 performances closing August 24, 2014 before touring the country from then until October 2, 2016. The choreography in the musical by Julia Gillis is phenomenal, astounding, entertaining and energetic from start to finish. Director Rita Maron with music director Matthew Cunningham leading a splendid 7 piece orchestra wins these 54 performers a standing ovation.

NEWSIES

June 21, 2018December 27, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

Weston Drama Workshop’s 56th season starts off with a bang with “Newsies” by Walt Disney. This group is a Youth Repertory Theater and the 56th season is dedicated to Andrew Ramsey who was a member of this group and sadly passed away last July 25. Disney’s “Newsies” is based on the 1992 Disney film and is inspired by the real-life “Newsboy Strike of 1899,” when Newsboy Kid Blink led a band of orphan and run away newsies on a two- week-long action against Pulitzer, Hearst and other powerful newspaper publishers. The show has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and a book by Harvey Fierstein. The musical premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in 2011 and made its Broadway debut on March 29, 2012 where it ran for over 1005 performances closing August 24, 2014 before touring the country from then until October 2, 2016. The choreography in the musical is astounding, entertaining and energetic from start to finish. Director Chris Brindley, the choreographer Emily Craver with music director Bethany Aiken leading a splendid 9 piece orchestra with their combined expertise wins these 51 young performers a standing ovation.

A Dark and Humorous Noir Hamlet

June 20, 2018June 21, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

By Michele Markarian

Noir Hamlet. Written by John Minigan. Directed by Joe Antoun. Presented by Centastage, Plaza Black Box Theatre at the Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont Street, Boston, through June 30.

“There’s nothing wrong with Hamlet that a drink and a gun won’t fix”, reads the tagline on the program for Noir Hamlet. I am not sure if the line refers to the play or the actually character of Hamlet, but I’d like to think that it refers to the Shakespearean play, which, in this incarnation, contains many guns and many drinks as well as a healthy dose of humor.

NO TELL MOTEL (Newport Playhouse)

June 15, 2018July 15, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The current show at Newport Playhouse is “No Tell Motel” by Michael Wilmot which was originally called “Love Shack” when it premiered back in 2010. Brandon and Sarah plan a quick, sexy rendezvous at Bird of Paradise Motel and discover getting what you want isn’t always what you want. A meddling motel manager with issues and the fall out from a Bible salesman with ulterior motives get in the way. Also a roll-away cot, guilt, misunderstandings and an inconvenient husband somehow combine for a happy ending. The show is about sexual fantasies and full of good natured humor. Director Daniel Lee White casts these four comic roles beautifully and gives them each their moment to shine and some clever shtick to perform to keep the audience laughing all night long.

Summer Fun with “Dirty Dancing”

June 15, 2018June 18, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

By Michele Markarian

Dirty Dancing by Eleanor Bergstein. Directed by Sarna Lapine. Presented by Amber Jacobsen, Networks Presentations LLC, Col Joye in Association with Lionsgate and Magic Hour Productions at the Boch Shubert Theatre Stage, 265 Tremont St, Boston, MA through June 17.

It would be hard to find anyone who hasn’t seen the 1987 film “Dirty Dancing”, starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, about a college-bound teenager who falls in love with a dance instructor at a family camp in the Catskills. The stage show is pretty faithful to the film, which gave all of us in attendance at the premiere of “Dirty Dancing” at the Boch Shubert Theatre Stage a healthy dose of familiar fun.

ANYTHING GOES (Stadium Theatre, Woonsocket, RI)

June 15, 2018July 15, 2018 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Reviewed by Tony Annicone

The Stadium Theatre’s first musical of their summer season is “Anything Goes” by Cole Porter. Originally written in 1934 for Ethel Merman where it ran for 420 performances, the show’s book was revised in 1962 and then again in 1987. Director Brian Lopes takes this 1934 version of the script and infuses his talented cast with high energy to pull off these roles. The show takes place in the 1930’s aboard the luxury liner S.S. American sailing from New York to London with a group of unusual passengers. The story of boy, Bill Crocker who loves girl, Hope Harcourt who is engaged to wealthy British suitor, Lord Evelyn, who is pursued by singing and dancing evangelist, Reno Sweeney is the basic storyline of this show. Throw in boy’s heavy drinking boss, girl’s overbearing mother, public enemy # 13, his sexy gun moll, Reno’s four fallen Angels, the captain, the purser, the sailors and the passengers plus fantastic music direction by Brittany Dyer and fabulous choreography by Julia Nelson and you have a sure fire crowd pleasing musical entertainment which wins a standing ovation at the end of the night.