This review aired on KBAQ April 28, 2014

BRILLIANT “LES MISRERABLES” AND BLAND “CHAD DEITY”

“LES MISERABLES”
Phoenix Theatre
Phoenix, AZ

It was a busy theater weekend with three very different shows opening.  I will review two today, Phoenix Theatre’s brilliant revival of “Les Miserables” and Stray Cat Theatre’s impressive production of “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity,” a draggy comedy about wrestling.

The “Les Miserables” production brought back many of the excellent things about the company’s 2009 staging.  It’s an epic musical and the smaller production provides the show’s requisite grandeur while emphasizing the tender emotional core of the touching show.  It’s set during the … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ April 21, 2014

AMAZINGLY SILLY “THE PORNOZOMBIES” AT NEARLY NAKED THEATRE

“THE PORNOZOMBIES”
Nearly Naked Theatre
Phoenix, AZ

Audiences never know exactly what’s in store when they attend a Nearly Naked Theatre production.  The group’s current production, an amazingly silly farce “The Pornozombies,” is one of the most off the wall shows the company has ever presented.  In fact, this show is full of off-color language and blatantly sexual situations.

I had a good time and laughed a lot but “The Pornozombies” is not really theater.  It spoofs bizarre porn with outlandishly lewd scenes and the characters crazy desires fuel flagrant … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ April 14, 2014

BROADWAY MUSICALS ARE DIVERSE

“Aladdin”
New Amsterdam Theatre
New York City, NY

“Bullets Over Broadway”
St. James Theatre
New York City, NY

“Forbidden Broadway Comes Out Swinging”
Davenport Theatre
New York City, NY

“If/Then”
Richard Rodgers Theatre
New York City, NY

“Kinky Boots”
Al Hirschfeld Theatre
New York City, NY

Valley theater has come a long way since I arrived here 35 years ago.  Back then, no major Broadway musical tours stopped here but even now when several Broadway shows stop here each season, there’s still nothing like seeing a big Broadway musical.

Last week, I reviewed three current Broadway musicals – “Beautiful,” “The Bridges of Madison County,” and the … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ April 14, 2014

FINE PHOENIX THEATRE “AVENUE Q” IS A ZANY RIDE FULL OF SHENANIGANS

“AVENUE Q”
Phoenix Theatre
Phoenix, AZ

The delightfully wacky “Avenue Q” pictures contemporary life with a comically skewed look at our crazy lives through nine puppets operated by four puppeteers and three characters.  It’s a zany ride and the fine Phoenix Theatre production looks as good as the show did originally on Broadway and it plays with the necessary shenanigans and malarkey that turn it into a comic delight.

Jeff Whitty crafts a clever book from Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx’s original concept and the pair … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ April 7, 2014

THREE BROADWAY MUSICALS PAINT DIFFERENT STORIES SUCESSFULLY

“BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL”
Stephen Sondheim Theatre
New York City, NY

“THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY”
Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
New York City, NY

“PIPPIN”
The Music Box Theatre
New York City, NY

For theatergoers who love splashy musicals, Broadway is a great place.  A recent New York trip provided the chance to see eight Broadway musicals.  Of the shows, the musical version of “Bullets Over Broadway,” Idina Menzel’s “If/Then,” and the newest “Forbidden Broadway,” were in previews so these shows can’t be officially reviewed.

Today, I will review three shows including “Beautiful – The Carole … Continue Reading