This review aired on KBAQ March 28, 2016

THREE MAJOR LOCAL THEATERS ANNOUNCE 2016/17 SEASONS

It’s March and the annual theater season announcements have started with the three biggest local theater companies revealing their 2016/17 season picks.

ASU Gammage’s Broadway season includes seven shows plus three optional attractions.  While the season includes four recent Broadway musicals, two musical revivals, and a play, several current Broadway hits that tour during the season will not play here.  Two of the optional attractions are popular musicals that have previously played here plus a magic show that doesn’t qualify as a Broadway show.

The recent Broadway musicals include … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ March 21, 2016

SUPERB PHOENIX THEATRE “LADY DAY” BRINGS BACK BILLIE HOLIDAY

“LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL”
Phoenix Theatre
Phoenix, AZ

Yolanda London becomes legendary songstress Billie Holiday in the superb Phoenix Theatre production of “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill.”  As the 90 minute show evolves, London sings through an amazing musical and dramatic evolution of Holiday in March 1959 just four months before the star’s untimely  and tragic death at age 44  from drinking, illegal drugs, and abusive relationships that caused  liver cirrhosis and heart disease.  As a jazz singer and songwriting superstar, Holiday brought … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ March 17, 2016

DWARFED BY ASU GAMMAGE “GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE…” SUFFERS IN A PLODDING TOUR

“A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER”
ASU Gammage
Tempe, AZ

Broadway musicals that play in the small theaters around Times Square are usually better than the touring productions the Valley sees of the same shows.  Occasionally, there’s a surprise success but that’s certainly not the case with the 2014 Tony Award winning musical “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” that opened Tuesday at ASU Gammage.  The plodding touring version is riddled with too many mediocre performances and there is no starring performer like Broadway’s … Continue Reading

This review aired on KBAQ March 14, 2016

WITTY “ANYTHING GOES” A SPARKLING HIT AT HALE CENTRE

“ANYTHING GOES”
Hale Centre Theatre
Gilbert, AZ

1934’s “Anything Goes” is one of Cole Porter’s best musicals.  Amazingly witty and clever, it relies on a simplistic plot where a group of passengers cruising from New York to London, resolve a variety of silly plot consequences to end up with compatible partners.  For a production of “Anything Goes” to soar, it must be superlatively cast, cleverly staged, and attractively set with elegant period finery.  Every element of the sparkling Hale Centre Theatre confection hits these demanding requirements.

Cambrian James’ exuberant … 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