If the world was going to be divided into musical fairy tale camps with one side being team Into the Woods and the other being team Once Upon a Mattress I would definitely be on the latter. While both have their assets I find Mattress to be such a delightful take on the genre, and I always jump at the chance I have to see and review a production of it. The latest is being put on by the good folks over at The Empress Theatre in Magna and it’s an enchanting night of community theatre.

The key to making any production of Mattress work is the comedic timing of the cast. At the Empress this is led by the over-the-top antics of Amy Hallett as the conniving Queen Aggravain. I love comedic performances dripping with disdain and she embodies that here. Josh Starr is also a lot of fun as the mute King Sextimus.

Nora Miller and Jonas Stone have terrific chemistry as Lady Larken and Sir Harry and I enjoyed their singing voices in songs like “In a Little While” and “Yesterday I Loved You.”

It’s always fun when a couple in real life can play one on stage and that’s what we get with Sam Fraser and Beck Fraser as our two leads Prince Dauntless and Princess Winnifred respectively. I particularly liked Beck’s sexy confidence that she brings to songs like “Shy” and “Happily Ever After.”

The stage at the Empress is an unusual one but director Adam Cannon has used it to its full capacity having the action happen on both levels and into the aisles. He also brings in creative elements like an aerialist performer on a hoop (Abigail Shelley) and lively ensemble choreography (Lorelai Byers and Michelle Moore.) I love how the backdrop of the stage is the mattresses stretching from the bottom floor all the way to the top where Princess Winnifred’s bed is. It works so well for the space in telling the story!

Naturally there were a few little hiccups on opening night mostly with the sound microphones but the cast worked around any such snafus. Once Upon a Mattress would make for a great night of theater for the whole family. It’s funny, romantic, and it’s not one we see performed much in this area. Take advantage of it being at the Empress when you have the chance. It is playing through August 2nd and tickets can be purchased here.

Once Upon a Mattress has music by Mary Rodgers and lyrics by Marshall Barer and a book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Barer. (The new revival on Broadway last year has book by Amy Sherman-Palladino of Gilmore Girls fame.

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.

Recently I had the opportunity to watch and review the TTH cast of Footloose at Hale Center Theatre in Sandy. My overall take on the performance was mixed, but I mentioned I would like to see the MWF cast because there was so much I did enjoy about the production. By chance I was available this Monday and the good folks at Hale are generous enough to permit me to see their show twice and write an additional review. Hale should be praised for allowing their work to be seen by someone who will be fair and honest but who admittedly had mixed feelings about their production. Not every company would be so open to feedback and willing to share their valuable ticket space with a critic like myself twice. In the end, I hope they will feel the gamble paid off because this second performance solved most of the issues I had with the previous night’s showing. It is an outstanding production of Footloose, and one I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys coming of age stories well told with all the spectacle and fun only Hale can put on stage.

First, I would like to speak a little bit about my previous review. I knew sitting down to write it some would be upset with what I had to say. I’ve been reviewing community theatre long enough to know that singling out a particular actor some would take as rude or unkind. It is something that in general I have learned to avoid in reviewing community theatre as most of the actors and crew are volunteering their time. In the end, what is basically a community goodwill project should be treated as delicately as possible. However, with a semi-professional company like Hale Center Theatre I would like to assume the people on and behind stage have some degree of professional aspirations and desires. I know for my career ambitions it can still sting to get feedback, but I try and push those responses away because unbridled and perhaps unearned praise would not help me to be a better critic and podcaster. Certainly if I am going to be a critic I need to be open and responsive to criticism of myself!

For people that are less accustomed to criticism and the process of being critiqued it can, however, be a quite jarring and uncomfortable experience. This is why I tried to temper my criticism with phrases like “maybe he was having an off night.” I certainly haven’t seen every night, and I don’t know the backstory to that particular performance and what might have been happening behind the scenes. I am by no means saying the actor isn’t capable of a great performance or making a judgement on their work ethic or talent in general. I am simply trying to give an honest assessment of what I witnessed on that night from that cast. I am trying to do my job as a professional theatre critic and sometimes that means saying a performance didn’t work for me. It’s as simple as that.

Anyway, I say all this to give some context to my thoughts of the MWF cast of Footloose at Hale Center Theatre. All of the many points of praise I gave of the production were of course still there for this cast. Certainly the heart and soul of the Footloose story are present in any version whether the original film or a stage adaptation. Perhaps because it is so ensconced in pop culture and music the story has more of a bubble-gum reputation than it deserves. Footloose tries to tackle some serious issues about faith, grief, censorship, forgiveness, parenting and more and it does so well. Director Dave Tinney and the entire team at Hale seem to understand the richness of the story but also don’t forget to have a great time with the spectacle I expect from this company especially at the Young Living Stage.

The MWF cast of Footloose is led by Benjamin David Tate as Ren McCormack. It’s an extremely demanding role for a young man to take on, and he does so expertly. His dancing is excellent, and he sells Ren’s emotional arc within the musical. It was also nice to see Tate with Bryndal Braithwaite who plays Ariel. I saw Braithwaite as a substitute in the TThS cast and while she was good, the chemistry wasn’t quite there. I said in the review it’s “got to be easier to have chemistry with someone you are regularly acting with” and that is definitely the case here with her and Tate. In addition, Braithwaite has a deeper chemistry with Greg Hansen playing her father Rev Shaw Moore in this cast. Collin Larsen is also a riot as Willard Hewitt and “Mama Says” is still my favorite song in the show.

To be clear, I did not have a miserable time with the other cast. I would not have seen it a second time if that was the case. It was a mixed reaction because of a performance that did not work for me. Now I have seen what I think is the best version of this production, and I can recommend it without any reservations. Especially moments like “Holding out for a Hero,” which I still won’t spoil for my readers, will be a highlight of their theatre-going year. It’s a blast and well worth your time and money. Footloose is playing through August 30th and tickets can be purchased here.

Footloose: the Musical has a stage adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie based on the original screenplay by Pitchford. The music is by Tom Snow with lyrics by Dean Pitchford and additional music by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins and Jim Steinman

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.

For someone that sees as much theatre as I do one can crave more experimental and fresh approaches to the artform. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy a production of The Music Man or A Christmas Carol as the next person but it’s exciting to see something that feels innovative and new. Such was my experience at the Meanwhile Park venue in Sugarhouse with their new one act short plays Vacation and Red Devil.

Meanwhile Park is a place I had heard about but had never been invited to review until now. It’s a wonderful concept started by Jeff Paris after the pandemic (began in 2021) and the entire production takes place in a Salt Lake City backyard. The stage is a cement patio with all the lighting and other effects that one needs and they have a small group of chairs for the audience to enjoy the shows.

They truly think of everything even giving snack boxes, custom-made cocktails and bug spray wipes to make your experience comfortable. This intimacy and charm is part of why I think it would make for such a fun date night.

As far as the actual plays this is the first year they’ve done 2 one act plays that were selected as part of the Meanwhile Park Playwright Prize. Evidently there were over 170 submissions for consideration, which is kind of amazing for something out of someone’s backyard.

The first act show is called Vacation and it’s a dark two-hander where a gay couple Barrett (Alexis Baigue) and James (Dan Beecher) have taken their frustrations with each other out in very funny and violent ways. Even though this is a dark comedy it is about a relationship so again brings me back to my great date night idea. Something like Meanwhile Park could easily be a gimmick but the acting and the material are entertaining. I’m not excusing anything because of the environment it is presented in.

The second act show is called Red Devil and it’s more of a bittersweet comedy about 3 women getting treatment for breast cancer. Rose (Vicki Pugmire) and Val (Reb Fleming) are our older patients who are shocked when a young girl named Emmie (Laura Elise Chapman) comes in for treatment and has a completely different way of looking at the world. Chapman gives the most compelling performance here embodying Emmie with equal parts bubbliness and loneliness. Writer Andrea Berting writes the character well also when she could have easily been nothing but a dopey influencer. Red Devil might be too light and frothy for some given it deals with cancer but I enjoyed it. Again it balances just the right tone for date night.

With the intermission the night at Meanwhile Park will take you around 80 minutes which is perfect for this cozy, charming experience. They are rapidly selling out as there aren’t that many chairs so sign up today! It plays through July 20th and if you get to see it let me know what you think.

Vacation is written by Nathan Johnson and directed by Jason Bowcutt. Red Devil is written by Andrea Berting and directed by Teresa Sanderson.

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.

As a film and theatre critic I am well aware many readers want strong definitive opinions on everything. The world of Rottentomatoes has turned everything into either liking or hating whatever it is I’m critiquing. I recently experienced this with my & Juliet review which I was decidedly mixed on and yet I’m asked ‘why did you hate the show?’ Sigh. Believe me when I hate something you know! Anyway, I bring this up because I was very mixed on Hale Center Theatre’s new production of Footloose. There’s a lot to love in it but some choices that didn’t work for me and given Hale is charging $69 for each ticket it’s worth giving a well-rounded review.

Given its Utah roots most of us know the basic story of Footloose (the 1984 film was filmed here in Utah!) It’s one of those movies that is probably remembered for being more bubble-gum storytelling than it actually deserves. I watched it last year for my podcast and it goes to some darker places beyond just kids fighting town council for the ability to dance. If you haven’t seen it in a while I recommend giving it a rewatch. It’s a good film about parenting, religion, tradition, and of course the frustrations of being a teenager.

As far as the Broadway adaptation it’s pretty good in translating the script of the film to the stage and unlike projects like Pretty Woman they were able to get all of the key songs from the movie for the musical. Hale favorite director Dave Tinney has created some really fun sequences especially “Holding Out for a Hero.” I won’t spoil it for you but it had me grinning from ear-to-ear.

I am not sure if it is backlash from the obstructive stage elements of Beauty and the Beast but I have noticed Hale being a lot more careful about how they have been using their Young Living Stage. Most of the stages brought in and out are flat without any barriers that block audience view. The only exception in this show is the bridge setpiece but it was done in a way that won’t obstruct anyone. Scenic designer for Footloose is Jenn Taylor with lighting design from Jaron Kent Hermansen (he also did the video/projection design which is full of Utah imagery and a nice nod to the Utah legacy of this piece.)

One special treat for Footloose is Hale had a live band which I don’t think I’ve seen from them. Live music adds to the rock-n-roll quality of the entire experience (feels less like karaoke with it.) In general I enjoyed the cast in the TThS group with Bryndal Braithwaite subbing in for Ariel (she’s usually MWF cast) and Weston Wright stealing the show as Willard. My favorite song of the show is “Mamma Says” and Wright’s performance along with Afton Wilson’s choreography made sure it did not disappoint.

I hate to single out individual performers in community theater but sometimes a critic has to be honest with their experience. Ren Cottam did not work for me in the lead role as Ren McCormack. Maybe he was having an off night but he was stiff and felt too old for the role. He was frequently out of breath and seemed to struggle with the choreography, which is a problem when the show is literally about dancing. Since he is in almost every scene it was a major barrier in me fully embracing the production. I’m actually kind of curious to see if the MWF Ren would win me fully over but that was definitely my experience with this Ren. I am also curious to see if the MWF cast has better chemistry because Braithwaite would be in that cast regularly (got to be easier to have chemistry with someone you are regularly acting with.)

All that said, Footloose is a show for teens that isn’t afraid to tackle some tough issues and it could lead to some quality discussions for families. There is also enough spectacle from Hale with details like full size automobiles brought on stage and other details I won’t spoil. The live band adds a lot to the environment, and there really is much fun to be had with this production. If it sounds like something you’d enjoy than I’d recommend it even with its flaws.

Footloose: the Musical has a stage adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie based on the original screenplay by Pitchford. The music is by Tom Snow with lyrics by Dean Pitchford and additional music by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins and Jim Steinman

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.

Nothing makes me happier than seeing children get inspired by theatre. It brings me back to my childhood when I was first introduced to Phantom of the Opera, Shakespeare, and West Side Story. This is why even though I have my issues with Matilda I’m always going to be excited to support and cheer on any company that sets out to do it. Deep down I know this performance will be a catalyst for dozens of young people to become excited about musical theatre and that’s key to the preservation of the artform. The latest staging of Matilda comes through a collaboration between Kaysville City Musical and Hopbox Theatre at Davis High School in Kaysville. While this isn’t the flashiest version of Matilda I’ve seen, it’s entertaining and worthy of your time.

As with any performance associated with Hopebox they have a Hopebox recipient who is facing cancer and the performances fundraise to help this recipient. This is a wonderful mission, but I appreciate that Hopebox doesn’t lean on the mission. In fact, they use it as a catalyst to make passionate and wonderful theatre. I wondered if the loss of their intimate space would hurt their appeal but director Amy Turner has brought that heart and soul to the larger Davis High auditorium and one can’t help but be touched by the community spirit the cast and crew bring to the entire proceedings.

I saw the Teal Cast, and they are all very good with their roles. I was particularly impressed with Benjamin Stevens as Bruce. The song “Bruce” was a real highlight. I also love “The Smell of Rebellion,” and they do a great job with that here. Matilda is played with plucky determination by Avenley Sidwell and Tyler Bell is a very sarcastic Trunchbull. The rest of the cast is large and the choreography by Kelsey and Kayley Turner is a lot of fun.

The main critique I’d offer for the company is to work on enunciation. The microphones they are using muffle the sound quite a bit and if I was less familiar with the show I might have struggled to know what the actors were saying or singing. Also the production is simpler than I expected. I have seen both Kaysville and Hopebox put up such outstanding work I assumed the two of them collaborating would dazzle (like Kaysville’s Secret Garden was stunning, and Hopebox’s Oliver blew me away.) Instead it’s on the modern simpler side. Most of the set design is colored lighting with sets for Miss Honey and the Wormwood’s houses/Trunchbull’s office but something like the Chokey is more basic in its portrayal. Not bad just simpler than I was expecting.

At the end of the day Matilda is about the kids and their introduction to musical theatre. While I do have my issues on the musical’s book, I can’t deny kids get a story which focuses on their independent worth and value. It also can be quite funny with its over-the-top villain and ridiculous parental figures in Mrs and Mr Wormwood (Larisa Stewart and Drew Anderson respectively. ) They are all terrific here, and I’m sure the other Silver cast is equally strong.

If you want to learn more of my thoughts on Matilda (and Annie) check out this episode of my podcast.)

With it being at Davis High School this production has a shorter run than the typical month Hopebox shows receive. So get the family together and have a good time at Matilda. It’s not a perfect show but there’s still plenty here to entertain and inspire families. It plays through July 15th and tickets can be purchased here.

Matilda features music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and a book by Dennis Kelly based on the Roald Dahl novel of the same name.

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 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.