Hi friends! I hope you are all having a wonderful 4th of July and enjoying some local performances wherever you might be! Since I started chronicling my musical theatre patron journey I have given a mid-year best of the year analysis along with one at the end of the year. This year I did it a little later than previous years going all the way through June. I ended up with 105 shows seen, which is pretty good considering that’s 180 days in that time period. Out of 105 shows I whittled things down to a top 10, and I only have one show for each venue profiled. I would like to give an honorable mention to Grease Jr at Hopebox which was the best youth theatre I have seen this year (I have loved every chance I’ve gotten to review youth theatre, and I hope I have done so in a way that has been positive and encouraging for the teens.) I would also like to give an honorable mention to Cats at Centerpoint. In particular Jessica Andrus and her amazing Grizabella. She should be on Broadway.

Anyway, let’s go over the top 10

10. You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Silver Hair Edition)- Covey Center for the Arts, Provo

I really respect they opened this musical to me in a whole new way. This senior citizen cast was not only talented but they gave the script a humanity I hadn’t seen before.

9. Dogfight- Sentinel Theatre, American Fork

I must admit this material is a little darker than I usually prefer but what a ballsy bold introductory musical for Sentinel. The quality of the acting/singing was outstanding as were all the other aspects.  Alison Gordon as Rose gave a particularly devastating performance. Now I can’t wait for their Bright Star!

8. Beautiful– Pioneer Theatre Company, Salt Lake City

When I first heard PTC was doing Beautiful I didn’t have high hopes for it. Especially considering it is almost 3 hours it sounded quite boring and derivative. Fortunately it turned out to be one of the best jukebox musicals I’ve seen diving into deeper themes than expected and having so many songs not only the ones Carol King wrote. Underrated show well portrayed by PTC (also was a crazy weather day the night I saw it so that was memorable)

7. A Tale of Two Cities– Ogden Musical Theatre, Ogden

Being unfamiliar with the musical A Tale of Two Cities (I have read the book of course but didn’t know any of the songs of the musical) I was a little anxious going to a concert as my first experience with the show. I didn’t need to be because of the quality of the singing and how everything was staged. I said at the time it could have been at Lincoln Center and I stand by that.

6. The Wizard of Oz– Heritage Theatre, Perry

This year everyone seems to be doing The Wizard of Oz which makes sense given Wicked fever that is sweeping the land. Some of my favorite parts of this production were Hayley Bell playing the Wicked Witch (especially when she broke character when Toto was just too cute.) Also the incredible staging of “Jitterbug” with black light and fluorescent costumes. They even had an animatronic Oz puppet made out of shipping crates. Very inventive!

5. Bat Boy– SLAC, Salt Lake

Bat Boy is a show I hadn’t even heard of before I started to hear some buzz about the production at SLAC, and I was so impressed with it. The show does have some horror elements which might be too much for some but I really enjoyed it. The acting and singing at SLAC was great and the atmosphere they created drew me in to the story. I’d say it is a hidden gem

4. 12 Angry Men– Hale Centre Theatre, Sandy

Hale Center Theatre in Sandy has had a wonderful 2025. I loved their Little Women and saw it twice and Finding Neverland was outstanding, but I have to give the best of their season to 12 Angry Men. What an acting masterclass for all involved especially Paul Cartwright and David D’Agostini as the problematic Jurors 3 and 10 respectively. They also created atmosphere very well and I hope Hale feels encouraged to do more grown-up plays like this in their Jewel Box theater.

3. Emma– Sandy Arts Guild, Sandy

Everyone knows I am a huge Jane Austen nut, and love most adaptations of her work, but Emma at Sandy Arts Guild really took things to a new level. I loved basically everything about it including the casting, costumes, acting and wonderful script. I even had the adapter (and director) Laura Bedore Lerwill on my podcast. It was fantastic!

2. An American in Paris– The Ruth, Pleasant Grove

I really loved Cinderella at The Ruth but I have to give my top spot for this new venue to An American in Paris. What an achievement in especially choreography and dance! Both casts were exquisite but Rylee Rogers took things to a new level as Lise. I’ve seen this show on Broadway and this took my breath away. It still has a few more weeks if you haven’t seen it I hope you do.

1. The Sound of Music– Centerpoint Legacy Theatre, Centerville

I’ve said many times The Sound of Music is one of the rare cases where I actually prefer the movie over the stage musical. I particularly think the songs they cut for the movie are real slogs in the musical. Well, even with all that the production at Centerpoint blew me away. They made so many bold choices like the background artwork featuring mountains the entire show and then when they are fleeing they literally climbed over the set. What was especially impactful was using clips from Germany 1930s in between scenes including a haunting clip of Hitler speaking to a crowd before the big concert scene. It contextualized the show in a powerful way that I’ll never forget. Incredible!

So there you have it. That’s the best I’ve seen in 2025 so far. What about you? Have you seen any of these shows? I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for supporting what I’m doing and the arts in your community. God bless!

If you enjoy my writing and would like me to review your production I’d love to. I also have a patreon which is a great way to support my shorter logs for shows I don’t get to review. I have some really fun perks like bonus episodes, patron polls and monthly Q&As with actors, directors and writers. Please take a look here.

At this point it’s not big secret that I do not have much love for the classic Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods. We all have our unpopular opinions and while I admire the bold ambition of the subversive nature of what Sondheim tries to do I don’t think he pulls that second act off. You can learn more about my feelings on the show here:

That said, Into the Woods is a show done enough that I am going to end up seeing it a couple times a year as a professional theatre critic. As such, I need to be able to look at an individual production and determine whether it is a good example of the show and one its many fans will enjoy. I recently had this opportunity with Creekside Theatre Festival’s production of Into the Woods. It’s perhaps most special for its setting but definitely worthy of your time if you like this musical.

When I say special setting what I mean is this production takes place in the woods! It’s at the Heritage Park Ampitheater in Cedar Hills and this stage is literally surrounded by trees. And this isn’t just window dressing. Director David Walker has the cast going out amongst the trees when they are looking for Jack or trying to find the giant. It’s a very immersive experience!

They keep everything on the actual stage really simple with almost no additional props outside of the Milky White puppet and the other items for the spell. The cast is all solid with David Peterson being the standout as the Baker. He elevates the part through both his excellent singing and acting making a character who can be one-note more nuanced and tender. I also really enjoy Cinderella’s Prince played by Kyle Burch. He has the swagger needed for the role and is very funny with Rapunzel’s Prince (Jared Wilkinson) in the best song of the show ‘Agony.’

I must admit I felt that Tiffany Nutter was a little low energy as The Witch the night I saw it but the vocals are there so maybe it was just an off night? All the costumes and makeup are excellent particularly for the Cinderella characters, and I had no problem hearing and understanding all the dialogue which can be challenging in outdoor amphitheaters.

You do want to make sure to bring a chair or blanket to sit on and some layers to get warm if it ends up being a chilly evening. I’d also recommend some bug spray especially if you are sitting on the grass. Into the Woods is playing through July 2nd and tickets can be purchased here. If I was reviewing just my personal taste I’d give it a Mixed Bag but for this show and its fans I’d say go see it.

Into the Woods has music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim with a book by James Lapine.

If you enjoy my writing and would like me to review your production I’d love to. I also have a patreon which is a great way to support my shorter logs for shows I don’t get to review. I have some really fun perks like bonus episodes, patron polls and monthly Q&As with actors, directors and writers. Please take a look here.

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well and enjoying some quality community theatre in your area. Recently most of my trips to the theatre have been for full reviews (if you are new to the site I do full reviews for shows I’m attending as a critic and shorter log for ones I pay for as a patron.) This is great as I enjoy the more in-depth reviews quite a bit. If you would like me to review your show please email me at rachelsreviews65@gmail.com. Also make sure you are following me on instagram for my out of theater reactions to all films and theatre I see.

Anyway, I have 2 shows to log today but let me know what you have seen and if you’ve been to these shows anywhere.

BIG FISH- KENSINGTON THEATRE, SOUTH JORDAN

Big Fish is one of those shows I’ve had on my bucket list for some time. It’s been put on a number of times locally but for whatever reason I always missed it. This is one of the many reasons I was thrilled to see it on the Kensington schedule this year. Now I have seen and I couldn’t be more impressed with the production Kensington put on. They are definitely the most underrated theater in the area and this was no exception.

The story of Big Fish honestly was a little muddled for my taste. I hadn’t seen the movie in a long time or read the book so perhaps that would help if it fresher on my mind. The closest I can think to compare it to is The Fantasticks which I also find narratively rambling and weak so maybe it’s just me?

Fortunately at Kensington director Toni Butler has seemingly thought of everything and she manages to make something special out of a flawed show. It especially impressed me how many different settings, costume styles, props and visual elements are required for the story. They also have a full live orchestra led by Michelle Willis. The cast is also uniformly strong with Tanner Tate playing the many different sides of Edward Bloom convincingly. Jack Sheehan is equally good as Edward’s stubborn son who is tired of Edward’s tall tales. That father/son dynamic is something anyone who has a Dad can relate with. Big Fish is also a sweet and endearing love story, so you know I’m going to be a fan of that. Unfortunately I saw Big Fish on its closing night but keep an eye on Kensington. They are an outstanding community theatre in this area and one can find out more information on them here.

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT- TIMPANOGOS COMMUNITY THEATRE, AMERICAN FORK

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT- TIMPANOGOS COMMUNITY THEATRE, AMERICAN FORK UT

In contrast to Big Fish I have seen Joseph multiple times so I was a little less enthusiastic about seeing the production at Timpanogos Community Theatre but they are so outstanding and I heard such good thing I decided I needed to give it a shot. In the end, I’m so glad I did because this is perhaps the best production of Joseph I’ve ever seen.

One of the unique things about this musical is it allows for company’s to put their own creative stamp on the material. I’ve seen everything from Taylor Swift being brought in to the story, to boy bands and everything in between. What I like about what director Chip Brown has done is they give the production its own creative touches without going too far. Set designer Caleb Wallengren has given everything a Vegas/Western appeal with Canaan Roadhouse, Beans and Hebrews, and “Welcome to Egypt” signs. The actors are also allowed to improv with lines like a reference to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and signs about Julia Regan (IYKYK). This keeps things fresh without being stupid.

It’s also really nice how much community participation is within the show- all ages and ability levels are allowed in the large ensemble and I always love seeing that in community theatre. The cast is across the board excellent with Austin Simcox nailing all of the Joseph songs and Brandy Taylor as an enthusiastic narrator. Like I said, you could not ask for more in a community production of Joseph. The show is playing through July 1st and tickets can be purchased here.

Big Fish has music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa with a book by John August based on the novels by August and Daniel Wallace. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics and book by Tim Rice based on the story of Joseph from the Bible.

These logged shows I pay for out of pocket and I’d love to do that as much as possible. If you have a show you’d like me to take a look at and write a full review let me know. I also have my patreon which is a great way to support what I do and get some really fun perks. Find out more here.

As much as I love a good comedy at the theatre it can be the hardest genre to keep exciting and new especially if it’s a play or musical I’ve seen repeatedly. It stands to reason most of us can only laugh at the same joke a few times and then it starts to become more tedious. This is how I was beginning to feel with The Play That Goes Wrong. Particularly the last time I saw it things just didn’t land right with it being in a theatre-in-the-round setup (a lot of the jokes require a wall for the payoff so theatre-in-the-round doesn’t really work.) Anyway, I was a little nervous when my entire family wanted to see the new production of The Play That Goes Wrong over at The Ruth but I went with them, and we all had a great time.

What I really appreciate most about this production at The Ruth is the hard work on the part of the actors to keep things fresh and new. Director Barta Heiner has clearly given her actors room to improvise and add their own dialogue to the chaos. Samuel Wright who played Chris/Inspector Carter is particularly gifted at this with the highlight of the night being an improvised line when an audience member shouted out and he replied “This isn’t Dora the Explorer. We aren’t asking for help from the audience.” I died laughing when he did that. There was another terrific moment of ad-libbing when Charles and Thomas are sword fighting and they started quoting Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. At one point one of them says ‘I have the high ground.’ I have never heard that in this play before and it was very funny.

This spirit of improvisation is such a smart approach for this material because I would bet I am not the only person who has seen this play before in the audience. It’s been done a lot in this area so finding a way to brighten things keeps the chaos from being oddly predictable. It really works!

I saw mostly the TTHS cast with Samuel Wright stepping in as Chris/Inspector Carter and Heather Shelley as Sandra/Florence. They do have a challenge of fitting everything for this play into such a small space (this is the smaller theater at The Ruth) but set designer Jason Baldwin manage to make it work (it’s probably the smallest second story setup I’ve seen for this play.)

I can see why some might say some of the scenes are a little rushed and not all the jokes land but most of them did. And like I said, there’s enough room for improvisation to keep things fresh and exciting.

At the end of the day with a comedy it all comes down to the jokes. Watching The Play that Goes Wrong with my family at The Ruth had me laughing throughout. One can’t ask much more than that. It is playing through August 16th so there’s still lots of time to see this hilarious play. Tickets can be purchased here.

The Play that Goes Wrong is a play written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields of Mischief Theatre Company.

If you enjoy my writing and would like me to review your production I’d love to. I also have a patreon which is a great way to support my shorter logs for shows I don’t get to review. I have some really fun perks like bonus episodes, patron polls and monthly Q&As with actors, directors and writers. Please take a look here.

I love workshopping new plays and musicals. While I admit you often need to have your patient pants on as the company works out kinks and issues, it’s fun to see the potential in a new piece and be part of creatives trying something new. I wish more Broadway shows did their tryout in Utah. We have such a wonderful, seasoned group of theatre fans here that much like Shucked we could give a lot of helpful feedback for new shows. One venue that often hosts material being workshopped is the Hive Collaborative in Provo. I recently saw experimental piece on death there called Paperweight and this week I had the chance to see the farcical family comedy The Fork. While it is far from perfect, the bones are there for an entertaining comedy if they keep working on it.

If anyone knows me they know I love an old-school slapstick comedy. The broader the better. In play form there are some classics like See How They Run and the more modern The Play That Goes Wrong. There are times that writers Ken and Dennis Agle tap into that tradition in their script for The Fork. I particularly enjoyed the back and forth with a supposed dead body that has to be moved around in ridiculous fashion. I think they could have leaned into that spirit even more and gone wild with the antics (ala Lucky Stiff if they wanted musical inspiration.)

The story for The Fork centers around 2 brothers who are hoping to get a good review from a famed food critic (Ioane Camacho) who goes by the title of ‘The Fork’. When things go wrong for the critic the brothers scheme on how they can still get their good review and chaos results. Jacob Baird and Adam Hartshorn play the 2 brothers, and they have the feeling of a classic comedic duo that’s needed for material like this. I also enjoyed Esther Slaeker as The Fork’s assistant Eva. She gets the best song of the night entitled “The Woman Behind the Man.” Sydney Olsen is also funny as a business-card dispensing “life coach” named Janey.

I was also impressed with the set the Agle Brothers are able to create (Ken directing, Dennis tech director and props master.) It has the feel of a little Italian restaurant with a believable cooler door in the kitchen and even a Mama’s Boys sign greeting you as you enter the theater. The only complaint I have with the space is that it was very warm the night I attended which can add to a sense of fatigue in the slower portions.

I hate to say it but my advice for the show would be to seriously analyze whether it needs to be a musical at all. There are long stretches without songs and that’s when the comedy could build momentum to its full effect. Not every story needs to be a musical and I really wonder if this one does? There is a plot element to the story involving Puccini and his singing but you could always be a play with music and have just a couple songs without being a full-on musical. Plus, I don t think the music aspect of the story was a core part of the farce that is so effective.

Even so, The Fork is a fun time at the theater if you like broad comedy. It is playing through July 11th and tickets can be purchased here. Use code FORK50 t get 50% off. Take a risk and see something new!

If you enjoy my writing and would like me to review your production I’d love to. I also have a patreon which is a great way to support my shorter logs for shows I don’t get to review. I have some really fun perks like bonus episodes, patron polls and monthly Q&As with actors, directors and writers. Please take a look here.

One of the joys of being a supporter of community theatre is the unexpected and raw moments of live performance. This is why I feel sorry for my friends that only participate in the world of film (which I also love) because there is something so unfiltered and real about live performance. It’s incredible. I had a terrific example of how wild things can get this weekend at the Creekside Theatre Festival and it is an experience I won’t soon forget.

The day started out with a little one act play called Box-Car Children at the inside theatre in the Black Box at the Liahona Preparatory Academy theatre. I was intrigued to see this production because it is an adaptation of the popular novels by Gerturde Chandler Warner penned by local playwright Melissa Leilani Larson. I have fond memories of not only reading the Box-Car books as a child but recreating the scenes in my playtime with my friends and sister (there is nothing better than pretending to be a self-sustaining orphan when you’re an independent little kid!) My Dad also has good memories with the books so he joined me for the show.

This one act would be a great way to introduce kids to a more manageable play and to the experience of a black box theatre. It is also starring a lovely group of child actors including Gavin Ward as Henry and Taebria Bybee as Jess. Some of the adult actors were a little over-the-top in their villainy but it’s for kids so I am more forgiving on that kind of thing. The set by Cannon Hadfield is really cute recreating the classic boxcar in miniature for the small black box stage and the puppet of the dog Watch made of fabric scraps is adorable.

Blake Barlow directs Box-Car Children with warmth and a soft touch that is perfect for an introductory play for children. Unfortunately has now finished its run but I’m sure it will be workshopped so keep an eye out for it.

My review of Henry V at Creekside will be a little different than I typically do. It is more about the experience I had than the play itself but they all merge together, which once again is part of the joy of live performance. Henry V is at the outdoor venue portion of Creekside Theatre Festival at Heritage Park. The night I attended Mother Nature decided to throw a wind storm the likes I’ve rarely seen in Utah. It’s too bad they weren’t doing The Wizard of Oz because it would have fit right in with the plot!

The actors in this production are not microphoned, and I sat up close but the wind was so loud it did prove challenging to hear the dialogue (they did their best. This was truly bizarre conditions nobody could plan for.) Even with the challenges I appreciated the performances especially by Jarod Lewis as Henry and Anton Moss as Dauphin and Macmorris. But honestly I was just blown away by their stick-to-itive-ness and bravery to not give up once they had started the performance. It was thrilling to be apart of.

I am grateful for a kind stranger who loaned me a blanket as I was woefully ill-prepared for a freezing cold windy night (just the other night I had been roasting outside at Murray Amphitheater so you never know!). When Henry gives his big St Crispin’s Day speech towards the end of the play there was a sense of victory in all of us that we had gotten to that point as both a cast and audience given the crazy conditions. Like I said it was unforgettable!

I can tell the play is directed well by Jon Liddiard (who was there in the audience watching this crazy course of events play out) but I really can’t wax poetic about the costumes or other elements. I’m sure it’s all outstanding but in this night it was all about persevering when nature wanted us to stop! We will not be thwarted in our Shakespeare! I give a huge applause to the incredible cast and strongly encourage anyone to see this production. You won’t regret it (but bring an extra blanket just to be safe!) It is playing through June 30th and tickets can be purchased here.

Note- they did offer to comp those in attendance tickets and reschedule. I’m just so booked I won’t be able to make it but I will be seeing their Into the Woods on Friday to close out the festival

If you enjoy my writing and would like me to review your production I’d love to. I also have a patreon which is a great way to support my shorter logs for shows I don’t get to review. I have some really fun perks like bonus episodes, patron polls and monthly Q&As with actors, directors and writers. Please take a look here.

There are times when I go to see a show based more on the reputation of the company than the material itself. The Scarlet Pimpernel at Music Theatre West in Logan is a good example. I think it’s a pretty middle-of-the-road show, but I knew MTW would make it entertaining and that’s just what they did.

If you didn’t know The Scarlet Pimpernel is based on the book by Baroness Orczy. It’s been a popular story for years because it meshes together so many genres- comedy, romance, adventure etc. And even though I think this adaptation is rather bland the source material is strong enough to deliver on all those areas making it an entertaining night for most any audience- young and old.

It’s interesting because my favorite part of this production of The Scarlet Pimpernel doesn’t actually come in until the last scene of the show (rare I know!) but director Melinda Potts Richards has built everything up to make the final fight choreography really work. It was one of the best sword fighting sequences Ive seen on stage ever. Perfectly choreographed (Holden Matthews and Amber Freestone are listed as choreographer but no fight choreographer spefically mentioned in the program.)

Dallin Clark as Percy Blakeney is more effective in the humor than the more heroic or romantic sections. I particularly loved him and his group of silly English lords in “The Creation of Man.” The costumes by Emma Lovan and wigs/hats by Rachel Olsen are also key to making that scene work. They need to be flowery and as silly as possible while still fitting the time and setting. Patrice Weatherston has a very convincing French accent as Maguriette St Just but the best singer of the leads is Nathan Scott as Chauvelin. I almost wish he was in more songs because his singing voice is so lovely. “The Riddle” with all 3 leads singing to close Act 1 is probably the highlight of the night vocally.

It’s a bit unfortunate the most elaborate set of the night is for the guillotine sequences because they aren’t used very much. The rest is fairly standard columns and the bookshelves of Percy’s English estate. The choreography for “They Seek Him Here when Chauvelin and Marguerite are trying to uncover the Pimpernel at the ball with people gaining clues as they dance from partner to partner is extremely effective.

The show is on the long side at 2 hr 50 minutes but it has enough humor and intrigue to make it an entertaining night. Plus, it’s a treat to hear such a great orchestra conduced by Dallas Aksoy. I do think this is weaker than the other shows like Ragtime, Catch Me if You Can or Singin in the Rain I’ve seen at MTW but that’s only because their standard of excellence is so high. The Scarlet Pimpernel is playing through June 28th and tickets can be purchased here.

The Scarlet Pimpernel has music by Frank Wildhorn and lyrics and book by Nan Knighton based on the novel by Baroness Orczy

If you enjoy my writing and would like me to review your production I’d love to. I also have a patreon which is a great way to support my shorter logs for shows I don’t get to review. I have some really fun perks like bonus episodes, patron polls and monthly Q&As with actors, directors and writers. Please take a look here.

I have been reviewing Utah theatre long enough that I have come to look forward to certain traditions. One of those is the incredible productions put on by Murray Arts every summer in their amphitheater. They were in particular my introduction to Shrek: The Musical which was a million times better than I expected. This year they are putting on Something Rotten, which is another hilarious show from them even if the scaled back approach isn’t necessarily my favorite.

I must admit I feel a little bit redundant in talking about Something Rotten because I just reviewed it last weekend at the brilliant production at Hopebox Theatre. It’s a show I have seen many times and unlike some comedic musicals it is still enjoyable with each rewatch (I find comedies are sometimes less rewatchable than dramas or other genre plays.) You can read some of my other reviews of this musical for more of my thoughts on the material itself (I love it) but this review I will stick with the unique things at Murray Arts.

First of all, it was interminably hot the night of the show and I admire all the actors for pushing through with their performances especially in the Renaissance garb the show requires. I think I might have passed out particularly in the large dance numbers. Director Candy Tippetts and choreographer Alan LeFleur get everything from kick lines to full ensemble tap routines out of their company and it’s a ton of fun to watch.

The cast at Murray Arts’ Something Rotten is also really solid and entertaining with Nathan Holcomb and Patrick O’Boyle having nice chemistry as Nick and Nigel Bottom respectively. They have nice chemistry together and I enjoyed O’Boyle with Emma Roberts as Portia. The energetic spiritual of “We See the Light” is an underrated song in the show and was performed with the gusto the song requires.

It is also extremely impressive that Murray Arts has full orchestras for their productions especially when one considers the ticket prices are only $12-$15! I wonder if we realize how rare things like that are outside of Utah? It just doesn’t happen every day like it literally happens here!

I have seen Something Rotten productions that lean less into the musical theatre Easter eggs of the piece and this production is one of them. For the most part the jokes are kept to the lyrics rather than costumes or props. As an example, there is a line about things being miserable in Renaissance England and Nostradamus says “they call it Miserables.” In most versions I’ve seen a player will come out with a red flag in parody of the bastille moment in Les Miserables. Here it is kept just to the dialogue and no additional humor. I particularly think less seasoned theatre-goers might be left out of some jokes that a more blatant performance on stage might help them to understand (my dad, for instance, would have no idea what musical hints to Rent and Cabaret are without being more obvious in the staging.)

Anyway, one cant talk about a production of Something Rotten without a mention of Shakespeare himself played here by Aidan Hughes. I love seeing how different actors give their own unique takes on over-the-top roles like this and Hughes has an infectious energy we don’t always see. I love how he perks up whenever Nigel is talking about his play ideas and one can’t help but laugh when he says ‘that’s a good line.” Hughes’ take is cocky but there’s also a little bit of genuine theatre fan-boy in the performance that is very funny.

It is worth reminding Utah audiences Something Rotten is a saucier show for this area; although, I imagine much of the innuendo and tawdry humor will go over little one’s heads. Still it won’t be for the more puritan audience members. Fortunately it is extremely funny and the production at Murray Arts has plenty to delight and entertain. Unfortunately its last show is tonight 6/21, but I would definitely recommend checking it out if you get a chance. Tickets are on sale here.

Something Rotten has music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick with a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell

If you enjoy my writing and would like me to review your production I’d love to. I also have a patreon which is a great way to support my shorter logs for shows I don’t get to review. I have some really fun perks like bonus episodes, patron polls and monthly Q&As with actors, directors and writers. Please take a look here.

Hi everyone! I hope you are having a great time enjoying local theater wherever you live. I have a couple theatre logs to share with you as well as some reviews of several Broadway proshots I have recently watched. If you are new to my site these logs are quick thoughts on theatre I was a patron for where I do the full detailed reviews for shows I’ve been requested to view as a critic and the tickets are complimentary. I hope you enjoy both types of content and am always curious for what you have seen and had fun with.

TARZAN- Herriman Arts Council, Herriman

I’m a little sad that I got behind and didn’t do my log sooner on this incredible production of Tarzan. Hopefully my social media posts and reaction helped give it some love and attention. Make sure you are following me on instagram to see all of my out of theater reactions both film and live theatre.

Anyway, this really was a remarkable piece of community theatre. Herriman always goes above and beyond in whatever they put on. They not only have a full orchestra but every other detail is thought out. Like, for example, they had a jungle gym bars set up on the stage so they could make it look like the actors were swinging through the jungle as apes- how clever is that? Honestly producer Emily Berbert and director Shelby Walles thought of everything. They even have themed concessions with flavored sodas and treats to add to the immersion (I always love that!)

The cast was also very talented with Spencer Bowler and Leo Falbo giving professional worthy performances as old and young Tarzan respectively. Abigayle Berbert was a fiesty Jane and Meagan Rudd was a beautiful Kala. The costumes by Emily Berbert looked fantastic with makeup by Walles. The only challenge is the outdoor pavilion they use is very echoey which is tough vocally but it’s still a wonderful experience and thank them all for their gift to the community. You can find out more about Herriman Arts here.

CATS- Centerpoint Legacy Theatre, Centerville

I was really excited to see Centerpoint’s new production of Cats both because I love Centerpoint and it was the first show in their newly renovated Second Stage black box theater! Even though I don’t think it is the space feels bigger than what they had before and it is certainly more comfortable (my back thanks you for the new chairs!) It’s such an exciting thing for a company like Centerpoint to have a thriving black box where they can do more intimate and edgy stuff and they can keep the mainstage more family focused.

As far as Cats this was a blast. I always say that Andrew Lloyd Webber loves writing what I call “introducterals.” Meaning it’s not really a story but a couple hours of getting introduced to quirky characters. This is certainly true with Cats but also Starlight Express, Joseph and even Jesus Christ Superstar. So you just have to know what you are getting into when you see Cats and have fun with it.

This production is directed by Jared Haddock and he has brought the best out of his cast of cats and they all do an incredible job interacting with the audience, even coming up to us in the front row and playing with my purse like a cat would! I was especially impressed with Jessica Sannar who is Jellyorum who made eye contact with me throughout- I felt like she was performing just for me all night! Jessica Andrus is Broadway level quality as Grizabella and Gage Reese stood out as a dynamic Munkustrap. They did have some problems with the microphones the night I attended but other than that I don’t know how you could ask for more from a community production of Cats. The real and projected sets (designer Josh Roberts) are bright and vibrant, the makeup and costumes (Stephanie Colyar, Kristen Alley) are professional quality. The rotating stage with a staircase in the middle keeps things moving. It’s fantastic. I highly recommend. It is playing through July 15th and tickets can be purchased here.

YELLOW FACE- PBS Great Performances, Broadway PBS

I want to make sure to share a few quick thoughts on 2 proshots that are available to watch on PBS Great Performances just for a few more days. The first is the play Yellow Face. This is semi-autobiographical comedic play by David Henry Hwang. He is the protagonist of the piece and it chronicles the experience he had after a controversial casting of Miss Saigon in 1990. While it is an unreliable narrator the conceit of the story is that Hwang mistakenly hires a non-Asian actor to play an Asian role even though he had spoken out against such practices before. There is also the evolving relationship between Daniel and his banker father HYH who is very idealistic about his role as an immigrant and the American dream.

This is a very relevant play but it’s also funny and entertaining. Daniel Dae Kim is dynamic and captivating as Daniel and Francis Jue shows why he won the Tony Award for his role as his father. It perhaps gets a little more cluttered than it needs to. I’m not sure we needed to know about every actor who ever worked with Daniel and the actor Marcus (played by Ryan Eggold.) Still, Yellow Face is definitely worth checking out before it leaves PBS on 7/1/25.

NEXT TO NORMAL- PBS Great Performances, West End PBS

Also leaving PBS 7/1/25 we have the West End proshot of Next to Normal. While I do recommend this to anyone who hasn’t seen this musical, it doesn’t feel as special as Yellow Face. I have seen multiple local productions of Next to Normal that are as good as this version if not better including this year at the Hart Theatre Company. This version is directed by Michael Longhurst and stars Caissie Levy as Diana, Jamie Parker as Dan, Eleanor Worthington Cox as Natalie and Jack Wolfe as Gabe.

As I was watching this proshot I did have the thought- do we love Next to Normal because it dares to talk about mental illness more than it actually talks about that topic well? I am not a psychiatrist or a person with bipolar disorder so it’s hard to say but I do think Dan and even Natalie are a bit judged by the script when what they are going through is incredibly difficult. Having Gabe as an actual person makes Diana seem more logical and her behavior more appropriate. I’m not sure. It’s definitely a show that makes you think about things after you see it and requires so much of the actors that I admire anyone who takes it on. But like I said I wonder if I like the attempt more than the actual material itself?

Anyway, everyone is excellent here and if you haven’t seen Next to Normal it’s worth a watch especially since it’s a proshot that captures the theatrical experience perfectly. Nothing amazing but good.

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Tarzan: The Musical has music and lyrics by Phil Collins with a book by David Henry Hwang (2 of him this post!) based on the 1999 film and the novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs , Cats has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by T.S. Eliot, Trevor Nunn and Richard Stilgoe based on the poem by Eliot. Yellow Face is by David Henry Hwang. Next to Normal has music by Tom Kitt and lyrics and book by Brian Yorkey.

These logged shows I pay for out of pocket and I’d love to do that as much as possible. If you have a show you’d like me to take a look at and write a full review let me know. I also have my patreon which is a great way to support what I do and get some really fun perks. Find out more here.