This review aired on KBAQ October 26, 2015

“BOOK OF MORMON” BIG HIT IN FIRST LOCAL ENGAGEMENT

“THE BOOK OF MORMON”
Broadway Across America – Arizona, ASU Gammage
Tempe, AZ

In 2011, “The Book of Mormon” opened as Broadway’s biggest musical hit in years.  It’s a fast and funny extravaganza with a catchy score plus an abundance of clever humor that keeps audiences happily entertained. It takes pointed jabs and delivers pungent barbs at the Mormon Church and its rigorous dogma, zealous rules, lifestyle directives, and dictatorial doctrines.

The show has finally arrived locally at ASU Gammage where the tour plays until November 8 in an … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ October 19, 2015

“ARIZONA LADY” LOOKS AND SOUNDS LIKE A BIG BROADWAY MUSICAL

“ARIZONA LADY”
Arizona Opera, Symphony Hall
Phoenix, AZ

How often do you see cowboy hats at the Arizona Opera?  Not often but the United States premiere of the first professional opera staging of Emmerich Kalman’s operetta, “Arizona Lady,” set in 1925 Tucson, brought lots of them to Symphony Hall.

What was on stage over the weekend looked and sounded a lot like big contemporary Broadway musicals complete with elaborate sets, attractive costumes, and a silly story reminiscent of ancient operettas like “The Student Prince,” “The Vagabond King,” and … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ October 12, 2015

“HERSHEY FELDER’S  IRVING BERLIN SHOW IS BEST TRIBUTE

“HERSHEY FELDER AS IRVING BERLIN”
Arizona Theatre Company, Center Stage, Herberger Theater Center
Phoenix, AZ

Hershey Felder has made a theater career by impersonating famous composers.  Arizona Theatre Company has presented the pianist’s interpretations of “George Gershwin Alone,” “Monsieur Chopin,” and “Beethoven As I Knew Him.”  While these shows have been full of interesting information about the composers, Felder’s latest show, “Hershey Felder As Irving Berlin,” that ATC is now presenting is his best to date.

Berlin’s musical creations are well known to many and the composer’s life story after … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ October 5, 2015

BIZARRE CHARISMA DELIGHTS IN “SIDEWAYS STORIES FROM WAYSIDE SCHOOL”

“SIDEWAYS STORIES FROM WAYSIDE SCHOOL”
Childsplay, Tempe Center for the Arts
Tempe, AZ

Childsplay always approaches theater for young audiences with a creative glimmer, a dash of charm, an infectious production, and adult performers who often essay young kids with charming sensitivity.  Such is the case with “Sideways Stories from Wayside School” that opens the troupe’s 39th season with bizarre charisma that will delight young audiences while entertaining their adult chaperones.

The play is based on Louis Sachar’s beloved children’s books.  The off-center production brings a wacky elementary school … Continue Reading