The Marriage Matinee - Page 5

The draw is easy: Joshua Henry, Broadway star, with a meteoric rise which includes HAMILTON. Enough said, right? But therein lies the beauty of the setting of a cabaret.

THE KING AND I has the power to evoke many iconic songs, images, and fond memories. It has become a designated Broadway classic. However, what do the classics have to offer us in this modern age? Timothy Matthew Flores fills us in on how this national tour has breathed new life into the classic, showing its timeless qualities.

'Grease' is certainly the word at Beef & Boards as the original production of the celebrated musical started its run.

SCHOOL OF ROCK is a musical about rebellion, the mantra of "sticking it to The Man", of children finding their voice in a controlled and advantaged setting and finding their courage to rise up.

We had the privilege of speaking with Deidre Lang, who plays Ms. Sheinkopf in the upcoming touring production of School of Rock, and she had quite a few reasons why we all need to go back to school. She reflected with us on what this show can mean as something beyond a musical, which predominantly features kids, and how it can speak to us as adults.

The advertising is very clear: for mature audiences only. MURDER BALLAD is a rather steamy and enticing piece of musical theater.

The assumption when you take your seat for THE BOOK OF MORMON is that you will laugh, perhaps even laugh a lot, but that is far from the truth. You are much more likely to be in physical pain from full-belly laughing for nearly the entire show. Trey Parker and Matt Stone did an exceptional job using humor as a vehicle for some excellent life lessons.

The first impression created by THE BOOK OF MORMON does not necessarily scream 'timeless themes,' but Corey Jones, who plays the General in the second national tour, begs to differ. The musical is the brainchild of Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of South Park, a duo expected to deliver hilarity, but Jones gives an insight into why this musical is relevant for more than a few laughs.

It was our pleasure to be invited to review CIRCUMSTANTIAL HOLIDAYS by local playwright and director Christine Kruze, and we have to say that we came in with a certain amount of skepticism. That was a huge mistake on our part because the production was nothing but fun from start to finish.

Many of us are sure to feel a surge of nostalgia as we recall the days when Dr. Seuss' beloved children's books graced our shelves. But nothing quite evokes that feeling as much as DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! THE MUSICAL.

'Elf the Musical,' that is playing at Beef & Boards this past holiday weekend, left this reviewer longing to go home and watch the 2003 movie that inspired the traveling musical. But, that's not because I was disappointed.

Many of us find ourselves caught up in the hubbub of daily life, constantly being pulled this way, then that. It becomes so easy to lose your way and forget that there can be more. BRIGADOON calls to us out of the misty forest to remember a simpler time, when life was focused on living and loving.

When you go to a Broadway revue or a show featuring a mixture of performance types, you usually expect it to be good. You don't expect what had the pleasure to witness on Monday night.

It seems impossible to improve upon a classic, but the touring company of THE LION KING has managed just that. It has shown that classics become so for a reason, and they can still take on new life in the hands of a talented director and cast.

We had the honor to speak recently with one of the stars of the upcoming production of THE LION KING that is coming through Indianapolis shortly for Broadway Across America. Gerald Ramsey is portraying the iconic character of Mufasa and has done so for a few years now.

A period of intense drought hardly seems the breeding ground for either hilarity or romance, but RAINMAKER somehow manages to make a drought the perfect setting for both. Its fast-paced dialogue and intense characters help it strike a balance of fun and thought-provoking moments.

Our subject today is pretty simple… newspapers and the people who sell 'em. We are going to start this review by asking you to try to picture a special kind of super-tabloid. This Fort Wayne Civic Theatre adaptation of the 1992 Disney movie musical - itself inspired by the New York newsboy strike of 1899 comes roaring to life on stage, and this show certainly takes it to you. Seriously though… You don't hear lines like "We've got a union!" coming from "The Little Mermaid."

Once you've read past the words 'happily ever after,' the book typically closes and all is right with the world. But INTO THE WOODS takes that idea and turns it on its head. Haven't you ever wondered what happens beyond those three words? Is the prince really that charming? Does the death of an enemy cure all ills? That is what makes this musical so amusing and enticing. It is a chance to look past the last page.

It may have been 20 years since RENT first took Broadway by storm, but there's a clear reason why it's earned a 20th anniversary tour. It resonates with truths that echo through all decades, not just the one in which it was created.

DOGFIGHT seems to imply a ring of competitors, lots of sweat, and probably a few black eyes. But in this frolicsome musical it means an all-out brawl…about who has the ugliest date. This, combined with a trio of 'bad boys,' makes DOGFIGHT a real treat for viewers who visit Buck Creek Players.