Photo Flash: ONCE at South Coast Repertory
by A.A. Cristi
- Sep 13, 2017
Once tells the story of a Dublin street musician about to abandon his dream when a beautiful woman takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs. As the chemistry between them grows, his music soars to new heights, and their connection becomes more than an everyday romance. A captivating tale that will draw you in from the very first note.
BWW Review: The National Touring Production of Once is “GOLD!!!”
by Nicholas Pontolillo
- Jul 3, 2017
Based on the 2006 indie hit film, Once tells the captivating love story about Irish musician Guy and Czech immigrant Girl and how they are drawn to each other based on their shared love for music. From the moment Guy and Girl meet, the audience is enraptured by their chemistry and wait at the edge of their seats, gasping for air, watching how the next scene will either result in a stepping stone or a set back for their relationship.
BWW Review: ONCE at Velma V Morrison Center
by Leesa Williams
- Jan 23, 2017
This weekend the Velma V. Morrison Center brought us ONCE, based on the 2007 movie of the same name. The low budget film won an Oscar for for the best original song 'Falling Slowly', and I am thrilled that most of the music (the best part of the movie) is included in the musical version.
BWW Review: ONCE Was Enough at PPAC
by Andria Tieman
- Dec 5, 2016
ONCE, the award-winning stage musical based on the award-winning film of the same name, is an obvious addition to Broadway. Featuring songs written by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, who also starred in the film, this production seems like it can't miss. Unfortunately, despite excellent music and vocal and musical performances from an obviously talented cast, this production's book, by Irish playwright Enda Walsh, seems to assume that the only people who would be interested in this show are those who have seen the movie. Therefore, there is next-to-no character development, and random scenes inserted that make no sense to anyone not intimately familiar with the source material. Since this is a show about music and musicians, one would think that story goes out the window then in favor of reworking this as almost a musical revue, rather than a traditional narrative. That would have worked, since the story is a sweetly simple one and doesn't require much, but the choice was made instead to shoehorn in extra scenes of dialogue, most of which take far longer and meader far more than necessary to advance the plot, and wind up creating something that is just dull and lazy.
Top 10 Screen To Stage Musical Adaptations
by Marianka Swain
- Aug 17, 2016
The path from screen to stage hasn't always been a smooth one, and celluloid success is no guarantee of musical triumph (just ask the Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark team). But London is currently awash with popular medium-jumpers, from Aladdin and The Bodyguard to new musical Groundhog Day, which opened last night at the Old Vic. Here are 10 of the best screen to stage adaptations.
BWW Review: ONCE Settles in Nicely at the Denver Center
by Felicia Tassone
- May 26, 2016
Once is definitely not your typical Broadway musical. It does not implement nor does it require the razzle dazzle that is usually typical of musical theatre. Instead there is a subtle intimacy and ease to the storytelling. From the moment you enter the theatre, you are transported to another place, a Dublin bar to be exact. The show uses creative staging as the audience is able to traverse the stage to buy a drink at the bar and are then surrounded by the actors/musicians as they jam out to some Irish folk music.
BWW Review: ONCE Enchants New Haven
by Lindsey Sullivan
- Jan 29, 2016
Guy meets girl. They make some music. And they either end up together or apart, delighting or devastating their respective audiences. It's just as typical a story as the romance of the Broadway musical (and usually has a similar effect). Well, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova's Once is hailed for dashing the typical boy meets girl tale, and its North American tour installment does not seem to do typical either. Magic was made at New Haven's Shubert Theatre last night as the cast of Once took their first bow of the weekend (and received the first of what are likely to become many standing ovations).
BWW Reviews: ONCE Is Not Your Typical Broadway Musical, Using Music Organically to 'Speak and Sing of What It Is to Be Human'
by Jill Schafer
- Jun 24, 2015
There's no big opening number, no splashy dance with dozens of chorus girls and boys, no pit orchestra, no large moving set pieces, no colorful glamorous costumes. ONCE is not your typical musical. In fact, according to The Cherry and Spoon Music-Theater Spectrum it's not a musical at all, but rather a play with music. Yet this atypical not-really-a-musical musical won eight Tony Awards in 2012. Why is that? Why was this quiet and quirky musical based on a little Irish movie awarded Broadway's biggest prize? Perhaps because it is different from other musicals. Perhaps the voters awarded the creative and organic way music is used to tell this beautifully simple and non-traditional love story. ONCE is a new kind of music-theater, and proves that musicals don't always have to be big and loud to have a profound effect on the audience. ONCE is quietly, beautifully stirring.
BWW Reviews: ONCE Is a Musical Love Story at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
by Steve Wilson
- Jun 17, 2015
Once, the humorous modern musical, opened on Tuesday June 16 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, Missouri. The love story only needs to be seen Once to appreciate the beauty and charm of the captivating tale. Once is based on the motion picture written and directed by John Carney, with book by Edna Walsh and music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.
BWW Reviews: Is ONCE Enough?
by Christine Swerczek
- May 14, 2015
ONCE is not enough. You must see it as many times as possible, because it is unique. It is indefinable. It is a bittersweet love story of longing, and it will leave you wanting more.
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