This review aired on KBAQ February 22, 2016

THEATER WORKS “CITY OF ANGELS” IS AN ENGAGING AND ENJOYABLE SHOW

“CITY OF ANGELS”
Theater Works, Peoria Center for the Performing Arts
Peoria, AZ

Peoria’s Theater Works often tackles challenging shows that haven’t been produced locally.  Two seasons ago, they mounted a triumphant “Ragtime” but last season, they presented a lackluster local premiere staging of Stephen Sondheim’s show business tale “Follies.”  Now the company crafts another hit with “City of Angels,” a jazzy gangster and detective musical with a stellar Cy Coleman score.  It explores Hollywood in the late 1940s and how Film Noir movie’s blurred the … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ February 18, 2016

EXQUISITE “BRIDGES” TOURING PRODUCTION EQUALS BROADWAY ORIGINAL

“THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY”
Broadway Across America – Arizona, ASU Gammage
Tempe, AZ

There’s an abundance of performing arts riches in the Valley including Arizona Theatre Company’s staging of August Wilson’s “Fences,” the recently closed Arizona Opera “Carmen,” and now at ASU Gammage comes the exquisite romantic musical “The Bridges of Madison County” in a superb touring production that equals the original Broadway production.

The musical is based on the popular 1995 Meryl Streep/Clint Eastwood movie adapted from Robert James Waller’s novel.  Set in 1965, the story traces an Iowa … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ February 15, 2016

POWERFUL “FENCES” ONE OF THE FINEST PLAYS EVER PRESENTED HERE

“FENCES”
Center Stage, Herberger Theater Center
Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix rarely sees a powerful drama with the stature of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize winning “Fences.”  Couple the insightful play that is part of Wilson’s telling “Pittsburgh Cycle” of scripts with an exemplary Arizona Theatre Company production and you have one of the finest plays to ever be presented here.  The exhausting but gripping play spans almost three hours as it keeps audiences fascinated as a gifted cast create each character with revealing depth.  Directed brilliantly by Lou Bellamy, … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ February 8, 2016

INTERESTING BUT DISAPPOINTING “LOOKING OVER THE PRESIDENT’S SHOULDER” AND A BRILLIANT “CARMEN”

“LOOKING OVER THE PRESIDENT’S SHOULDER”
Black Theatre Troupe, The Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center
Phoenix, AZ

The Black Theatre Troupe has struggled since they moved to a new Phoenix-financed playhouse on Washington Street that is a chore to reach.  Any theater is entitled to an occasional weak production but when disappointment becomes the rule, I seek other theater companies that might be doing better work to review.

Occasionally, BTT schedules an interesting production like the current “Looking Over the President’s Shoulder,” playwright James Still’s solo … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ February 29, 2016

PHOENIX THEATRE’S “EVITA” CAPTURES THE MUSICAL’S PULSATING DRIVE

“EVITA”
Mainstage Theatre, Phoenix Theatre
Phoenix, AZ

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s dynamic through-sung score for “Evita” sets off a melodically dramatic faux historic view of Argentine dictator Juan Peron’s wife, Eva, who failed to win world support for Peron’s corrupt regime.  She attempted the deed to further her ambitions to share power with Peron.  The strong Phoenix Theatre production under Robert Kolby Harper’s briskly paced staging captures the musical’s pulsating drive as it reveals the ego-centric title character.

Where this production suffers is star Alyssa Chiarello’s Eva.  The … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ February 1, 2016

CREATIVELY FLAMBOYANT “PERO…” IS MARVELOUSLY ENTERTAINING

“PERO, OR THE MYSTERIES OF THE NIGHT”
Childsplay, Tempe Center for the Arts
Tempe, AZ

Childsplay consistently mounts creatively flamboyant shows for young audiences that are also interesting for adults.  The current production, “Pero, or the Mysteries of the Night,” is a marvelously well produced and entertaining delight that tells a simple fairytale but the wondrous staging leaves you clueless about the next exciting twist or turn is coming.  This 70-minute production held young audiences at the opening performance in quiet awe afraid to make a movement or say anything for … Continue Reading