Happy day to all my theater loving friends! I hope you are doing well. I’ve been pushing myself very hard lately on pretty much every front- working 2 new temporary jobs, my other work, film criticism and of course watching live theater. It’s amazing I’ve still managed to see as much as I have but I’m fortunate to have been able to do so. I also had the chance to recap the Tony Awards with my friend Marc for OnStage Blog

I also have 5 local shows I couldn’t wait to tell you about. Some I reviewed for utba and others are just mentioned on this log. Please let me know what you have been watching at a theater near you.

SHE LOVES ME- SPRINGVILLE PLAYHOUSE, SPRINGVILLE

It’s always fun when I get a chance to check out a new to me company (there’s so many in this area I could see a new one every day!) and it’s especially fun when they are doing one of my favorite shows. I recently had this experience when I went to the Springville Playhouse for the first time and saw their take on She Loves Me. I absolutely adore She Loves Me and this was a really fun community version of this wonderful musical.

I think the key is the Parfumerie story that it is based on just works. Whether it is this, The Shop Around the Corner or You’ve Got Mail it’s a great concept for 2 people to fall in love over their words. They hate each other in real life but are in love as penpals. It’s a great idea. She Loves Me takes this concept and then adds music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and it is completely charming.

At Springville they had a talented cast led by Allison Dean as Amalia and Jared Gaskil as George. They had a nice chemistry together and both brought a nerdy energy to their button-up personas. It’s super fun to see them become unglued and surprised as they realize they are falling in love. The sets and costumes were also very impressive with a 2-story set creating the Parfumerie store and then Amalia’s apartment, the restaurant etc.

The only downside was it was all performed at a school and the office chairs were pretty uncomfortable and the sound they had to work with was frustrating. It would be nice if when company’s are in an environment like that they gave a little notice on their social media so we could bring a cushion or something like that. I appreciated at Sugar Factory recently when they even had cushions to rent but they did give me a heads up so I brought my own pillow. I have never felt She Loves Me’s length before but I did feel it this night.

She Loves Me has finished its run in Springville but I look forward to seeing more from them. You can find out more here.

SEUSSICAL- HALE CENTER THEATRE OREM, OREM

I debated about whether I wanted to see Seussical at Hale Orem. I had just seen it at Centerpoint a few months ago and wasn’t that impressed with the show and figured it might just not be for me. (I have season tickets to HCTO so that’s why I had a ticket.) Eventually I decided to give it a shot and I’m glad I did. It was a lot better and just the visual components of the show alone were more than enough to make up for the scattershot script.

Seussical has music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens (who would go on to do Anastasia which I also don’t love) and it is of course based on the works of Dr Seuss. The problem is in attempting to tell all of Seuss’ diverse stories they fail to find a coherent narrative throughout them all and it’s just kind of sporadic and all-over-the-place.

Nevertheless, the folks at HCTO have made an incredible immersive experience with practical sets (not the AI!) and dynamic lighting, whimsical costumes. They also did a good job bringing out the humor of the piece. In particular Blake Barlow as the Cat in the Hat was very funny and since I was laughing I didn’t mind the disjointed story. Wade Robert Johnson is also very endearing as Horton the Elephant who takes care of the Whos no matter how small and sits on Mayzie’s egg.

I don’t think Seussical will ever go down as a favorite show of mine but HCTO has done about as good a job staging it as one could do. I recommend checking it out. It plays through August 3rd and you can buy tickets here.

INTO THE WOODS- OPPA, LAYTON

Anyone who has followed my content for any amount of time knows I’m not the biggest fan of Stephen Sondheim’s magnum opus Into the Woods. I respect things about it but I don’t think the subversion in Act 2 pays off and I just find the whole experience to be rather long and frustrating. Nevertheless, it is extremely popular particularly here in Utah so I often find myself seeing it and in spite of what people may think I can give a fair review of a show I’m not crazy about. I recently saw the production at OPPA and especially if you’re a fan of this show you should totally give this one a shot.

There are 2 aspects that made this version of Into the Woods stand out. The first is giving it a 1950s setting both in costumes and iconography in the backdrops with domestic housewife posters and advertising for the day. I think someone could even go further with this and have it be set in a city park with buildings around it, giving the woods an urban feel. It could be a cool way to freshen up a oft-told story. Nevertheless, I really appreciate that they tried to make it their own (director Kristie Post Wallace did a great job.)

The cast was also one of the strongest I’ve seen at OPPA. They have an education mission so I’m pretty forgiving of their imperfect casts but this one basically everyone was bringing it. I particularly enjoyed Caitlin Olsen as the Witch (I think she is one of the strongest singers acting in Utah today and her acting is compelling as well.) and Preston Fulllmer as the Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince was absolutely hilarious in both roles (I don’t think these roles are usually cast with the same actor but it really worked.)

There was some kind of problem happening with Cinderella’s costumes. I assume this comes from the show being double cast but her dress was starting to come apart and I was nervous it was going to literally fall off her and there were a couple other costume construction issues. This is community theater after all. That said, this is a very strong take on Into the Woods and especially if you love this show and what it has to offer I highly recommend it. It runs through July 13th and you can purchase tickets here.

OLIVER!- HOPEBOX THEATRE, KAYSVILLE

Hopebox is a really special local theater with a wonderful mission of supporting individuals fighting cancer in the community. They’ve also never missed for me. Even if it is a show I’m not crazy about like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers they still put on a quality production that makes for an entertaining night of theater. I recently reviewed Oliver! there for UTBA and it was an incredible experience. I absolutely loved their steampunk take on the classic story. Being it is set in the Victorian era the steampunk sensibilities really make sense and work and it fit the venue so well. I highly recommend checking it out. You can read my review here. Oliver! plays through July 13th and you can purchase tickets here.

SCHOOL OF ROCK- CREEKSIDE FESTIVAL, PLEASANT GROVE

One of the shows on my musical theater bucketlist for some time has been School of Rock. I knew about it because it comes from Andrew Lloyd Webber, Glenn Slater and Julian Fellowes (all who I love) but I had never had a chance to see it. Fortunately I got the chance at Creekside Theatre Company in their Summer Festival series and I wrote my review for UTBA. There were a lot of technical issues which was unfortunate but I still really enjoyed the experience. I love the comradery between Dewey and the kids and there are some really catchy tunes especially “If Only You Would Listen.” I was thinking about it and I honestly think I prefer School of Rock over Matilda which might be a hot take but there it is. You can read my full review here. School of Rock plays through July 1st and you can get tickets here.

All of these logged shows not part of UTBA I pay for out of pocket. If you would like me to be able to see and write about more shows please consider checking out patreon which has some really fun perks. More information here. Thank you

Hi friends! I hope you are doing well and enjoying some great local theater wherever you might be. I have been busy starting 2 new part-time jobs but never too busy to support the arts. Here’s what I’ve been watching:

KISS ME KATE- CENTERPOINT LEGACY THEATRE, CENTERVILLE

I know some people bristle at the thought of seeing classic shows like Kiss Me Kate, South Pacific, Bye Bye Birdie etc. They definitely have their outdated elements so I can understand some reticence but there’s still a lot of good that can be gained from watching them. Such was the case with the amazing production of Kiss Me Kate over at Centerpoint Legacy Theatre over in Centerville. They are a theater consistently producing shows on a semi-professional level for a bargain price. I highly recommend getting a season pass for them.

So Kiss Me Kate was written (music and lyrics) by Cole Porter in 1948 and it is a take on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Of course Taming has its own set of outdated elements but the switching back and forth between a 1948 contemporary setting and the play in Padua keeps things fresh and engaging. My favorite songs in the show are “Too Darn Hot,” “Brush Up Your Shakespeare,” and “Where is the Life that Late I Led.” All were performed well by the Centerpoint cast but my favorite was actually Isaac Carrillo as Bill/Lucentio. He’s a terrific dancer and his “Bianca” was a showstopper. Michelle Blake and Addison Welch were also a lot of fun as the leads.

Like 42nd Street, which Centerpoint also recently did, Kiss Me Kate does feel a little long in the tooth, but I still would highly recommend it to any classic musical theater lovers and like I said a season ticket to Centerpoint is a no-brainer. This is one of many wonderful productions from one of our best local companies. Kiss Me Kate is playing until July 12th and you can purchase tickets here.

Verdict- See it

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA- KENSINGTON THEATRE, SOUTH JORDAN

It may just be my impression but it seems like to me that most of the critics and hard-core theater fans I know are real down on Andrew Lloyd Weber and his musicals. I know recently he had a big flop with Bad Cinderella but I personally have a hard time hating him as his music was my introduction to the joys of musical theater. I get he is big and brassy but I almost always have a good time at one of his shows. In fact, the very first big musical I ever saw of his was going to The Phantom of the Opera in San Francisco with my Grandma.

Anyway, I was really excited when I heard Kensington Theater was going to be one of the first regional theaters in my area to be putting on Phantom and I was even more excited when I heard it was going to be one of their youth productions. They so far haven’t missed for me as a company and I even liked their Into the Woods which you all know isn’t my favorite.

Now I have seen the production and I had an absolute blast with it. Sure it has the foibles and imperfections of any youth production but it was exciting to see the performers grow in confidence as the opening night jitters melted away. In particular DaCoda Helm really came to his own as the Phatom in Act 2 and “The Point of No Return” blew me away. Anna Bella Petersen brought a sweetness and innocence I really admired in Christine and she was up for all the challenging vocals in songs like “Think of Me” and “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again.” Malea Hyte was also really impressive as Carlotta. To have such a mature opera voice at such a young age is unbelievable. Plus she also brought a lot of comic timing to the role.

Everything else about this Phantom is outstanding. Everything from a full orchestra (in an orchestra pit under the stage!), to immersive direction (director Toni Butler) where the cast frequently came out into the audience, to ballet dancers on toe, to sets that would impress productions with double and triple the budget. It’s well worth your time. Interesting that the most outstanding youth productions I’ve seen this year have both been Andrew Lloyd Weber with Liahona Academy’s incredible Starlight Express earlier this year. Don’t miss out on this one. It plays through June 24th and tickets can be purchased here.

Verdict- See it!

SILENT SKY- EMPRESS THEATRE, MAGNA

I have to admit the first time I saw Silent Sky at Hale Center Theater I was a little bit underwhelmed. While an admirable story and I was glad to learn about Henrietta Leavitt I found it kind of dry and dull. However, I have season tickets to Empress so I decided to give it another shot and for the most part I had a better experience this time. It could be I was just less tired or perhaps the more intimate space of Empress helped the story work better who’s to say?

Silent Sky is a play written by Lauren Gunderson and it tells the story of real life scientist Henrietta Leavitt who worked at Harvard mapping out the stars in the early 1900s. The play tries to flesh out her story by having Henrietta’s sister Margaret as a character painting a contrast between her family life and her career. It can still feel too workmanlike at times but I did find it more compelling this time. The cast at Empress are all up for the challenging amount of dialogue with Stacy Mayren pulling off a convincing Scottish accent for Williamina Flemming.

The production for the play was very simple with only a couple desks and podiums. The only choice I didn’t love is they had all the props be pantomimed or imagined. I could understand that for a telescope or even the slides which might be hard to make but for items like a book or letter it was a distracting to see the actors pretending to read something that could easily be there. Overall, Silent Sky is an edifying play about a woman worth knowing something about. I’d recommend it especially if you have young girls who could use some inspiration in their scientific studies. Silent Sky is playing until June 22 and you can purchase tickets here.

Verdict- See it

GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY- ECCLES THEATER, SALT LAKE, NATIONAL TOUR

First I will state outright that I decided to leave Girl From the North Country a little early. I didn’t enjoy the first act and getting into the second my back was really starting to hurt me and I was just not having a good time and as I am not formally reviewing the piece I felt it was ok to call it a day. I am sure some people will really appreciate the different approach this musical takes but it just wasn’t for me. It is based on music and lyrics from Bob Dylan with a book by Conor McPherson. It is set in the 1930s and is about a Black woman who becomes pregnant and has to resist her white adopted father’s attempt to marry her to a rich friend of his.

Honestly it’s not worth hardly mentioning the plot as the musical doesn’t do much with it. Characters come in and out spouting folksy wisdom but there is no real narrative thrust to what is happening which makes it hard to feel emotion for our characters or get invested in what you are seeing on stage. This problem is amplified by the total disconnect between what is happening to the characters and the songs which are not integrated into the plot in any way. I would have preferred it just be a concert of Bob Dylan songs than this inconsistent unsatisfying mixture I experienced.

The cast is all talented but again I’d rather just hear a concert of them singing than whatever this was. I also didn’t think the musical was well directed with so much happening on stage that what was already muddled became more confusing. Frequently actors are on stage that don’t seem to be doing much and the sets are so full of clutter that it makes it hard to connect with what is happening. Like I said, I know a few people who liked Girl From the North Country but most of my friends left early like I did. Oh well. You can’t win them all!

Verdict- Not for Me

So there you have it! What have you seen lately? I’d love to know your thoughts on any of these shows if you’ve seen them at venues near you or on Broadway. Thanks!

Most of the logged shows I pay for out of pocket. If you would like me to be able to see and write about more shows please consider checking out patreon which has some really fun perks. More information here. Thank you

Hi theatre loving friends! I’ve got a bunch of productions to update you on. Some of them I’ve reviewed for UTBA and others were just for this log. Let’s get started!

THE WEDDING SINGER- IDEAL PLAYHOUSE, HEBER

It’s always super exciting when a new theater company opens up even if it means the long drive out to Heber. I am so excited what the folks at Ideal Playhouse are doing renovating 2 theaters in the town of Heber that will be showing all kinds of concerts and productions as well as new and classic movies. I reviewed their opening production of The Wedding Singer (a musical I find very underrated) and I enjoyed it enough to see it a second time. I think it is a terrific start to their company! You can read my review here.

DADDY LONG LEGS- CACHE THEATRE COMPANY, LOGAN

Everyone knows how much I love and adore Daddy Long Legs as a musical. I even recently interviewed its music and lyricist Paul Gordon

TRecently I was up in Logan to see my friend Caroline’s new store Kings Finest Vintage (if you are in Logan you should totally check it out!). So I saw Daddy Long Legs while I was up there at a new to me company Cache Theatre Company. Sadly I must admit this was probably as close as I will ever get to disliking a production of this beloved musical. They did not give me a program so I can’t site details but the leads had nice voices but the direction choices were very strange. In particular they chose to have Jervis sitting behind a desk for most of the show. This cuts off a huge part of his performance. He also didn’t collect the letters like I’ve always seen (usually they are pinned on the wall and he is reading over them.) It just made the chemistry non-existent and it’s a show that lives and dies on chemistry. It was also in a banquet hall with incredibly uncomfortable chairs and the whole experience just wasn’t pleasant (I was going to stay another day for the second cast but decided against it.) Oh well! On to the next staging! They have a production of Beauty and the Beast Jr coming up to Cache Theatre Company and it looks like it is in a more comfortable theater so is probably worth checking out here.

MATILDA: THE MUSICAL- FRIENDS OF HERRIMAN ARTS COUNCIL, HERRIMAN

Most people know I have my issues with Matilda: the Musical– particularly with the book but it still has some very catchy tunes and is worth seeing. Continuing on this weekend they have a production at Butterfiled Park Pavilion in Herriman that is outstanding. They even had a full live orchestra present! I reviewed it for utba you can see my review here. Matilda: the Musical is playing through 6/17 and tickets can be purchased here.

THE LITTLE MERMAID- DRAPER AMPITHEATER, DRAPER

Like with Matilda, the Broadway adaptation of The Little Mermaid is one I have a lot of issues with. It is not my favorite but I can still have a good time seeing it. In fact, this year I saw a truly unforgettable production of it at Bluffdale Arts that had a cast of over 200 people! You can read my review of that here. This week I was able to attend a staging of it at Draper Amphitheatre and it was a lot of fun. It was made more memorable by the rainstorm and the actors pushing on through the storm. The highlight was the aerial performers that did incredible flips and twists and helped give the appearance of swimming. The cast was all strong with Naomi McClure standing out as Ursula. Director Susan DeMill really tried to make the stage come alive in new and creative ways. It’s still not my favorite adaptation but it made for a memorable night with my friends. This run is over but they have Legally Blonde Jr coming up and you can purchase tickets here.

THE LIGHTNING THIEF- WEST VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, WEST VALLEY

First of all, I want to say I am thrilled to hear that WVPAC has gotten an extension on their funding and we have at least another year of their wonderful productions. They are an ambitious, exciting company that we need in this valley and I will continue to support them in any way I can. This weekend I saw their new production of The Lightning Thief and I really think they did about as good a job as could be done with this imperfect material.

I actually have read Rick Riordan’s book this musical is based on and while I enjoyed it I wouldn’t call myself a fan- something of which I know there are many. I remember when this musical premiered on Broadway it had a small run and then wasn’t nominated for any Tony awards in 2020 which there wasn’t much competition in 2020…

To be honest I can see why it didn’t get much awards love. The attempt by music and lyricist Rob Rokicki and book writer Joe Tracz to translate this book into a musical is not successful. The story is over-loaded with a barrage of characters that come in and out of the story without any real consistency- some even die and then come back to life at seemingly random times. The storyline and plots are also equally numerous and fragmented. For example, just in villains we meet demons, Smelly Gabe, a Minotaur who kills a character, Luke the son of Hermes, Medusa, a spirit named Chimera, Hades and more. How are we supposed to keep all of this straight? It also doesn’t help that it should never have been a musical to begin with. There’s not a memorable song in the bunch and the songs just take time away from the story and we need that time to understand what is happening.

That said, the folks at WVPAC did an outstanding job putting on this flawed show. The visual effects and set design was impressive and creative. For example, the way they create a train, bus, the underworld, ocean all works and is quite seamless. I also enjoyed the puppetry they used and the entire cast was strong. Ren Cottam puts his all into the role of Percy Jackson and is asked to be dramatic, funny and stretch his action chops and he rises to the challenge.

If you love fantasy and love these books you definitely have to see this show for the ambition alone. Plus, it’s something new and fresh and that should be supported. I didn’t love the material they had to work with but they did what they could with it and I respect that. The Lightning Thief is playing through June 19th and you can purchase tickets here.

Most of the logged shows I pay for out of pocket. If you would like me to be able to see and write about more shows please consider checking out patreon which has some really fun perks. More information here. Thank you

Hello my theatre loving friends! Believe it or not it is June and so that means it is time for me to do my mid-year retrospective on what I have had the privilege of watching on stage so far this year and what have been some of my favorites. I saw 58 live shows in this time with 16 of them being straight plays and 42 musicals at 40 different venues some for the first time such as the Egyptian in Park City or Sugar Factory Theater Company. I even got to attend 2 shows while in Austin, Texas and visit the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. 

Obviously I did not see every show in my area nor did I see every cast of a particular show so my ‘awards’ are by no means comprehensive. It’s just what I enjoyed and want to give a mid-year shout-out to. 

BEST PROFESSIONAL MUSICAL-

This one has to go to either tick, tick… Boom at the Kennedy Center which blew me away on every level or to Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet at Pioneer Theatre Company which I enjoyed enough to see it a second time in the nosebleed seats! Both had incredible lead performances (Brandon Uranowitz and Kevin Earley respectively) with Great Comet having the more elaborate visual elements but tick tick having the more impactful story. If you ever get the chance to see either I highly recommend it.

BEST PROFESSIONAL PLAY

I have seen some terrific professional plays this year so far but my favorite has to be Bald Sisters from SLAC. This is a funny, heartfelt story of sisters trying to bond after their mother’s passing. It deals with the immigrant experience and how sometimes we love our family members more than we actually like them. Wendy Dang was the highlight as the older more responsibility burdened of the two sisters. I also really enjoyed The Lehman Trilogy at Pioneer Theatre Company (aside from Bonnie and Clyde what a season they had at PTC!)

BEST SEMI-PROFESSIONAL MUSICAL

For best semi-professional production (not an official term but what I think of as the step just below equity priced shows around $30) but my favorite were definitely Spring Awakening at Hart Theatre Company which was one of the most striking uses of a blackbox space I’ve seen. With live music and an extremely well-directed cast this was an incredible introduction to this daring musical. My other prize would go to Catch Me if You Can by the always unbelievable Music Theatre West. If you are in Logan I can’t recommend one of their productions more highly. Everything about this production was outstanding from the period accurate costumes to the lively choreography to the chemistry amongst the whole cast. I think Catch Me is a very underrated show and MTW did it right!

BEST LOCAL PLAY-

The best non-professional play that I saw has to be either Shakespeare in Love at WVPAC or Pride and Prejudice at Parker Theatre. Both were near-flawlessly executed love stories so of course they will be right up my alley. I particularly was blown away by the chemistry between Josh Egbert and Jillian Joy in Shakespeare in Love. It was masterfully done. As WVPAC is fighting for their life I know I will make sure to see as much there as I can. Save WVPAC!! Pride and Prejudice at Parker is the kind of show I wish had a permanent residency because I could just keep seeing it over and over again. So good.

REST OF THE GREAT MUSICALS

The best of the best of the other musicals I saw include Legally Blonde at Draper Historic (both casts), My Fair Lady at Heritage (leads had such good chemistry they even sold the ending!), Starlight Express from Liahona Academy (dazzled by the skating and fresh energy), all 4 casts of Daddy Long Legs I saw but especially Sydney and Bronson Dameron as Jervis and Jerusha at Lehi Arts Council, and finally The Little Mermaid at Bluffdale Arts with a cast of over 200 people I’ll never forget being part of such a community event.

So there you have it! Thanks to everyone who put on such amazing theatre!

Most of the logged shows I pay for out of pocket. If you would like me to be able to see and write about more shows please consider checking out patreon which has some really fun perks. More information here. Thank you

Hi theatre friends! I hope you are doing well. I’ve had a busy last couple of weeks and have actually had the chance to rewatch several shows I loved along with a couple new productions. Here are my thoughts:

LEGALLY BLONDE- DRAPER HISTORIC, DRAPER

I previously saw the Fuschia cast of Legally Blonde at Draper Historic as part of my season pass and I enjoyed it so much they were kind enough to comp me a ticket to see the the other Magenta cast and I loved it all over again. I honestly don’t know what else you could ask for in a community theater production. Everything from the singing to the choreography to the wonderful cast chemistry all worked. They even had confetti drop when Elle gets into Harvard. They thought of everything!

Draper Historic is rapidly becoming one of my favorite local companies and how amazing to have them in my hometown. I’m not big into improv so I had dismissed them for years because of the improv company that performs there but ever since Jekyll and Hyde last year they have consistently impressed me with the quality of the singing and the gravitas of the productions. If you are considering getting a season pass to a company they would be high on my list of recommendations especially for the price.

Makayla Connor and Travis Wright were absolutely outstanding as Elle and Emmett. Also shoutout to Adrian Dayton who was hilarious as hot UPS man Kyle in both casts. To find out more about Draper Historic look here.

COMPANY- ZIEGFELD THEATRE, OGDEN

I was really excited going into review Company at Ziegfeld Theatre for UTBA. It’s my favorite Sondheim musical and outside of their Rent they have consistently impressed me as a theatre. Unfortunately the decisions they made in casting really hurt my overall enjoyment of the production. I was honestly probably a little nicer in the review than I should have been (it’s hard to know the line when reviewing community theater how tough to be.) There were some good things about it but the attempt to do the gender swap when I’ve since found out they did not have permission to do the gender swap revival did not work. Also their marketing of this production has left a bad taste in my mouth. I wish they had just done Company as written and cast in a way that’s consistent with the characters on paper. The talent was there and they could have done it (I love the gender swap revival btw). It’s a real shame and I think I will be taking a break from this company for a time. You can read my full review here.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST- PARKER THEATRE, SALT LAKE

The Importance of Being Earnest is a classic play written by the great Oscar Wilde. I love that the Parker Theatre has found a niche for itself in doing period pieces and after the downer (very well done) of Of Mice and Men it’s a wise choice to give their audience some laughs. As is always the case with the Parker the acting and entire production is as good as anything you’d see in an equity theater and I defy anyone to find a stronger regional theater working today.

Jonathan McBride brings a foppish fun to his performance as Algernon and Kristin Hafen is very funny as the flighty Cecily. The costumes by Rebecca Fenton were also sumptuous and detailed. Unfortunately this play is a little dry for me. Once the initial set up of the fake relations gets set up it doesn’t do much for me as far as story or great laughs. That said, I’d still recommend attending the show for the quality of the productions and it’s just one of those plays you have to see at least once in your theatre-going life so might as well support this terrific company while you do so! The Importance of Being Earnest is playing through June 22 at the Parker Theatre so you have lots of time. Get your tickets here.

NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812- PIONEER THEATRE COMPANY, SALT LAKE

I enjoyed seeing Natasha, Pierre… at Pioneer Theatre Company so much the first time for my review I decided to go a second time on the last night of its run. It’s interesting because I can see lots of flaws within this show. The story is melodramatic and the ending isn’t that satisfying but I still love it!

Kevin Earley is still the standout as Pierre but I appreciated Ali Ewoldt as Natasha more on this go-around. She has an emotional immaturity that allows her to make foolish decisions but she’s so sincere about those choices that it’s easy to empathize with her. We all make stupid choices as teenagers right?

Everything else I said in the review of Natasha, Pierre… is still great and I’m grateful to PTC for bringing this special production to Salt Lake for me to enjoy. I will treasure it always. This marked the end of PTC’s season but make sure to check out their exciting new season with 2 theaters here!

GWYNETH GOES SKIING- AWKWARD PRODUCTIONS, EGYPTIAN THEATER, PARK CITY

I first heard about Gwyneth Goes Skiing last year when it premiered in London and instantly I was intrigued. Not only did it sound hilarious (let’s be honest Gwyneth Paltrow’s whole persona with Goop and all gives much for the playwright to lampoon) but it also has a deep Utah connection with the accident and trial all happening right here. I don’t go up to Park City often but I absolutely had to attend the production at the Egyptian Theater as soon as I heard it was announced. Fortunately it did not disappoint.

Gwyneth Goes Skiing stars Linus Karp as Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Martin as optometrist Terry along with filmed cameos and audience participation throughout the show. I am not the biggest improv fan but Martin and Karp (who also wrote the piece) do a good job combining fresh jokes with the written material. I particularly think everything gets going in Act 2 when the trial begins. In fact, it might be stronger as a one act comedy but I suppose that would be less marketable. Either way the laughs never stop and I would definitely recommend it if it is coming by you. To learn more about Awkward Productions follow them here. You can also find out more about The Egyptian here.

So there you have it! Let me know what you have been watching on the stage and if you saw any of these performances what you thought.

With the exception of the 2nd viewing of Legally Blonde (and Company that was reviewed for UTBA), all of these logged shows I paid for out of pocket. If you would like me to be able to see and write about more shows please consider checking out patreon which has some really fun perks. More information here. Thank you

Naturally everyone knows I love romantic comedies and this week was a real treat to get to see 2 of my favorite genre on the stage- Pride and Prejudice at The Grand and Legally Blonde at Draper Historic. They were both excellent and I hope that if you are in the area you seek them out and support such excellent productions.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE- THE GRAND THEATRE, SALT LAKE

First up we have Pride and Prejudice at The Grand Theatre in Salt Lake City (at SLCC) and if there was ever a sure thing at the theater that I would definitely like it is this. Obviously I love the novel and have read it many times but I have seen this same adaptation by the incredible local playwright Melissa Leilani Larson (who I have been lucky enough to interview twice- here and here) at HCTO last year- both casts. I LOVED the adaptation at Parker Theatre this year (and saw that twice) but had to get my ticket the moment I heard they were putting Melissa’s adaptation on at The Grand and it did not disappoint. I attended the preview performance but it was a clean run-through with no interruptions.

In some ways I think it is hard to do Pride and Prejudice wrong. It’s just a good story but the most key elements to get right is the chemistry between Lizzy and Darcy. This they had in spades at The Grand with Niki Rahimi and Gordon Dunn working so well off each other. It’s essential in this story that we feel the connection between the 2 even before they both recognize it in each other and they did this so well. Even in the big proposal scene there is a moment where Darcy obviously wants to kiss Lizzy but she is rejecting him! It was great.

The stage at The Grand is massive (especially in comparison to HCTO) so what they have done is kept things very simple using minimal sets and props mostly consisting of plastic blocks rearranged in different ways. This might be a problem in a story myself and most of the audience are less familiar with but since we are it worked great and helped us focus in on the characters. Director Mark Fossen gets the most of out his actors and the costumes by Shannon McCullock and wig/makeup by Erin McCullock bring you straight into Jane Austen without elaborate sets (also the dresses were ironed which is sometimes lacking in these period plays!)

I also loved the supporting cast with Darrin Burnett and Viviane Turman stealing the show as Mr Collins and Lady Catherine De Bourgh respectively. I also really enjoyed Taylor Wallace’s modern free-spirited take on Charlotte Lucas (also Larson’s script helps expand on her character quite a bit, her and Jane.) Jane Austen would love this adaptation!

I can’t tell you whether this production is better than Parker. I adored them both. I can say go see it! You definitely won’t regret it. Pride and Prejudice is playing at The Grand until June 8th and tickets can be purchased here.

LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL- DRAPER HISTORIC THEATRE, DRAPER

I think Legally Blonde: The Musical has to be one of the biggest surprises to ever come out of Broadway. So many movies are made into musicals and often they are uninspired and bland but in my opinion Legally Blonde took the good things about the movie and made it even better. It is funny, sweet and full of incredibly catchy tunes. I absolutely adored a production they had at OPPA a few years ago but I haven’t had a chance to see it again until Draper Historic put it on and it was also outstanding. I liked it so much I am going to see the other cast on next week! (I can’t believe they have enough talent to double cast this thing!)

Anyway, this iteration of Legally Blonde is directed by Mindy Eckroth and has music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin and a book by Heather Hach. The musical has all the major scenes of the movie but the songs capture Elle’s journey so well and are very catchy with numbers like “So Much Better,” “Positive,” and “Chip on My Shoulder.” I love the way they use the projected AI backgrounds at Draper Historic. It’s a small stage and it allows them to create so many different settings with ease. They also have a huge cast that nail the bubbly choreography.

I saw the Fuschia cast and they were all outstanding with Ellie England as Elle who seems perfect for this role with a beautiful voice to match her bright positive performance. Autumn Walton was also a standout as Paulette with a terrific belt voice (they should give her the lead next!) and Bradley Baker makes for an endearing Emmett. But honestly the whole cast was excellent. You couldn’t ask for a better group from a small community production. The costumes by Rachel Wright also deserve a shoutout with some quick costume changes that are executed without a hitch.

Like I said, I enjoyed this enough to want to see the other cast next week. It is a joy to watch on stage and I highly recommend it. I don’t’ know what else you could really ask from a community production like this? They even had confetti come from the ceiling in the first act! You can see Legally Blonde: The Musical through May 25th and get tickets here.

All of these logged shows I paid for out of pocket (if I am comped I do a full stand alone more lengthy review.) If you would like me to be able to see and write about more shows please consider checking out patreon which has some really fun perks. More information here. Thank you

Hi friends! I hope you are all doing well and enjoying some great community theater wherever you are. I’ve actually been critiquing more than ever but they have almost all been for UTBA but I’m very passionate about those reviews so I will share the links here. I also did a full proper review of Natasha Pierre… at PTC that you will definitely want to check out. If any company wants my full thoughts I am more than happy to do so. Just email me at rachelsreviews65@gmail.com or contact me on social media. Here’s my quick takes on what I’ve seen recently:

EVITA- EMPRESS THEATRE, MAGNA

I was very excited when I heard Empress would be taking on Evita in their 2024 season. It’s not performed very often (the last time I saw it was at the Scera in 2002 so before my mission!) I would say I think it is one of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s more underrated shows and while I can understand some feel uncomfortable aggrandizing someone like Eva Peron I think it paints a pretty complex character for a musical (lyrics by Tim Rice elevate typical Weber material)

The standout in the production at The Empress is the performance of Eva Peron by Sophia Morrill Mancilla. She perfectly embodies the pride and aloofness of the character and her singing voice is rich and beautiful to listen to. She has good chemistry with the Che (Armando Serrano Huerta) and Juan Peron (Ben Tutor) and she makes songs like “I’d Be Surprisingly Good for You” and “You Must Love Me” work.

The men in the cast struggled a bit with their singing throughout but I appreciate the effort and it’s refreshing to have racially correct casting for a show like Evita. There were also quite a few microphone issues the night I watched it but I still enjoyed it and am grateful for a unique and authentic night of musical theater. Evita is playing at the Empress through May 25th and tickets can be purchased here.

SPRING AWAKENING- HART THEATRE CO, SALT LAKE

Spring Awakening is one of those shows I’ve had on my bucket list for some time. It’s not often performed in Utah but Hart Theatre Co is one that takes risks and chances and to open their new venue they decided to do Spring Awakening and I reviewed it for UTBA. It’s definitely an edgier piece so it won’t be for everyone but I really enjoyed it. You can read my review here. Spring Awakening plays through June 2nd and you can purchase tickets here.

THE TIME MACHINE- HALE CENTRE THEATRE, SANDY

Also for UTBA I reviewed the latest play from Hale Centre Theatre, Sandy. This means I will have reviewed both the current Hale productions, which I am very grateful for. Of the 2 current offerings The Time Machine is my favorite. It is inspired by the HG Wells classic novel but stands on its own as a piece of quality entertainment. I especially enjoyed the amazing traveling inspired visual effects. They looked fantastic! My review for UTBA is here. The Time Mancine is playing until July 20th and tickets can be purchased here.

ENCHANTED APRIL- SUGAR FACTORY PLAYHOUSE, WEST JORDAN

The Sugar Factory Playhouse was a new venue for me but I had to try it out when I heard they were doing a play I love called Enchanted April. Some may know this play from the movie adaptation from the 90s but it is a delightful little romp about 4 women in the 1920s who decide to rent an Italian villa together. This production is just the kind of thing I love to find in community theater! It’s small and simple but with a wonderful cast putting their all into a wonderful play (sometimes I think the plays are a smarter way to go for small companies. They are more manageable than the musicals.)

My favorite part of this production was the chemistry between the entire cast but especially between Kassidy Rackham as Lotty and Ann Sharp as Rose. You feel their friendship and how they both love each other and drive each other nuts. Sally Cooper is also really funny as the snobby Mrs Graves. The men also do a great job but it is the women that really steal this show.

The seats are pretty hard but they have cushions you can rent for only $1. Enchanted April plays at Pioneer Hall in West Jordan until May 18th and you can purchase tickets here.

So there you have it. That’s what I have been watching lately on the stage. All of these logged shows I paid for out of pocket. If you would like me to be able to review more shows please consider checking out patreon which has some really fun perks. More information here. Thank you

As much as I enjoy seeing my favorite classic musicals like The Music Man or Fiddler on the Roof it is even more exciting when a local company takes a risk on a new and innovative show. That’s just what Pioneer Theatre Company has done with their new production of Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812. Naturally I had heard of this musical because of its tony nominations but also it having Josh Groban (who I’m a superfan of) in the original cast. Friends who saw the Broadway staging told me of the awe and spectacle of that production and I was intrigued with how PTC was going to pull it off. Now that I have seen it I can say they executed this unusual musical masterfully. It’s a must watch for this theatre season!

Natasha, Pierre… is a musical that while I was watching it I couldn’t help but wonder ‘how did this thing get greenlit?’ and that’s not because it isn’t good. It is but in the age of movie musicals and ‘theme park’ Broadway it seems like such an anti-commercial musical that was almost guaranteed to not find an audience. The fact it had 336 performances on Broadway is a bit of a miracle and a testament to Groban’s star power in the early part of the run. The reason why I think it is anti-commercial is it is based on 70 page segment from Leo Tolstoy’s tume of a novel War and Peace that few modern audiences have read or care about (music, lyrics, and book by Dave Malloy.) It does not have the belt-friendly cabaret numbers that do so well for fans of shows like Wicked or Rent and the characters aren’t particularly relatable to modern audiences (the betrothed Natasha and the isolated Pierre who spend almost no time together within the narrative.)

I mention all this just to undermine how amazing it is that Natasha, Pierre... got made at all and even more so that the production at PTC works so well. It really is a miracle of musical theatre. The most outstanding aspect is the incredible cast particularly Kevin Earley who owns the stage as Pierre. I was so blown away by his rendition of “Dust and Ashes” that I wanted to give him a standing ovation right then and there. He absolutely knows how to sell a song to the audience and it felt like he was signing it right to me and nobody else in the audience. I almost felt sorry for the other actors because he was just that good.

Some of the other highlights of the night was “The Opera” where director Karen Azenberg manages to pull together so many different moving parts (the characters are watching an opera with them each having their own flirtations and stories going on) and the “Balaga” where the revelers come out into the audience and even began to talk and interact with us (I was on the row in front of that action so that was a fun dynamic.)

I know not everyone enjoys audience immersion in musical theater but I love it. In fact, my only disappointment in this production is I could have used even more. The interactivity and inventiveness of the staging had been a bit over-sold to me and while it was all outstanding there was really only 2 segments that I would say were immersive or particularly inventive. Still, it is a handsomely mounted production by scenic designer Jo Winiarski. The orchestra was also excellent both on the stage and in the pit. The cast occasionally interacts with conductor/keyboardist Phil Reno which is a lot of fun but again I could have used even more of that to keep things fresh and exciting.

Still, I highly recommend seeing Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 at Pioneer Theatre Company if you enjoy inventive, exciting musical theater that is extremely well acted and sung (and why would you be reading this review if you didn’t?) I just wish I had time to see it again. I may make time! It plays through May 25th and you can purchase tickets here. There is also a munch and mingle an hour before the play where you can purchase drinks and snacks that was a lot of fun (I love it when theaters have themed concessions!) Don’t miss this special show!

This is a review and as a professional theatre critic my ticket was comped but I still need your support to be able to continue showcasing regional theater here in Utah and beyond. Please consider supporting the patreon with some really fun benefits here.