It’s now time to do my first theatre update of 2024. It’s funny because I feel like I’ve hardly seen anything but that’s only because I didn’t see my first show of the year until 1/4 so there were like 2 weeks without any live theatre- madness! I now have a bunch of shows to update you all on and it’s turned out to be a promising start of the theatre year.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM VALLEY SPELLING BEE- UVP, SPRINGVILLE

My first show of the season was Spelling Bee at Utah Valley Players (which was new to me company) and this was a wonderful production of this very funny show. Unfortunately it also had a very short run closing on 1/9. You can read my full review at UTBA here. Look for future shows at UVP here.

A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER- REGALO, LEHI

Reviewing something like A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at Regalo is a tricky prospect for a critic. It’s one of those productions with the best of intentions where seemingly little goes as planned. Especially with a community theatre production I hate to kick a man when he’s down but it was not a satisfying night of theatre. The biggest problem was obvious. The actor playing Monty ended up ill at the last minute (we arrived Thursday 1/5 and they asked me to come back on 1/9) and unfortunately the understudy was not prepared and had to perform with the script in hand.

A Gentleman’s Guide is already a show I have mixed feelings on. It can be quite funny but pretty much all the music is forgettable. With a show being so reliant on comedic timing and chemistry, having a flat, non-emotive lead actor just reading lines really hurt the overall enjoyment and everyone else’s performances suffered as a result. I understand you work with what you’ve got in community theatre, but I also can’t pretend to enjoy something when I really didn’t. Fortunately, the strength of the production was in the costumes (designer Brooke Holahan) and the 2 ladies playing Phoebe (Brittini Smith) and Sibella (Joy Austin.) It was, however, still an overall rough sit. I’m not sure if the understudy changed things but the way they staged the romantic scenes and kisses was also very strange with dramatic fake kisses. It’s like they were trying to make it more Utah Country friendly but it just felt awkward.

I’ve loved everything else I’ve seen at Regalo so this is just a bump in the road and hopefully in the future they will make sure their understudies are more ready to go. It’s just not fair to the rest of the performers to literally be acting opposite a talking script book. Oh well! Can’t win them all. A Gentleman’s Guide plays at Regalo until 1/20 and tickets can be purchased here.

STARLIGHT EXPRESS- LIAHONA THEATRE FOR YOUTH, PLEASANT GROVE

When I saw A Christmas Carol at Alpine Community Theatre they were using the theater at Liahona Preparatory Academy, and I noticed their school’s theatre was doing Starlight Express in January, and I was highly intrigued. I have heard about Andrew Lloyd Webber’s roller skating show but never had a chance to see it, so I immediately bought a ticket. I don’t always see youth theatre, but I really wanted to see this show so I went for it, and I’m so glad I did.

I understand that the skating element might make this show more daunting but for how much Joseph is done I wish more would consider Starlight Express instead. The skating was so fresh and fun with them turning the theater into a race track for multiple scenes (I was amazed that none of the cast slipped even once.) It’s not a show with a ton of plot but similar to Cats or Joseph it’s about the bubbly songs and the quirky characters.

I really enjoyed the songs in particular “Light at the End of the Tunnel” and “Momma Sings the Blues.” Lily Bennion and Amara Davis were my favorites of the cast as Pearl and Dinah respectively but the whole cast shined with their energy and joy. All the costumes and lighting were excellent, and like I said, the racetrack was outstanding. I will definitely see anything else that director Jordan Long does in the future because he got the best out of his young cast and the whole thing was fresh and exciting. There were a few technical flubs but nothing that impacted my overall enjoyment. I loved it.

Starlight Express has shows today and one on 1/15 and I highly recommend it. You can purchase tickets here.

Merry Christmas! I hope you are all enjoying this festive time of the year and supporting the arts all around you in any way you can. Make sure you check out our latest episode of Theater Tuesday to hear more about what me and Maren have been watching

Here are my thoughts on some recent shows I have been lucky enough to see.

WHITE CHRISTMAS- CENTERPOINT LEGACY, CENTERVILLE

I’ve said it before but I think this adaptation of White Christmas is one of the best examples of screen to stage adaptations I’ve seen. It keeps everything we love about the original film, tightens the slow parts and removes the culturally awkward parts such as the Minstrel number. David Ives and Paul Blake did an excellent job with the book and of course the incredible songs by Irving Berlin still entertain in 2023 as much as they did in 1954. While the production I saw at the Regalo in Lehi will always be my favorite this was an entertaining night of theater that should please old and young.

The cast is all strong with Craig Williams being my favorite as Phil Davis. I also really liked Melody L Baugh as Martha who is the busybody manager at the Inn. As is always the case at Centerpoint the choreography (by Jessica Merrill) was the standout with wonderful dancing in numbers like “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing” and “Blue Skies.” The production was not on the scale with the attention to detail they had at the Regalo but it’s still a lot of fun for the holidays. White Christmas is playing until Dec 21st and you can purchase your tickets here.

A CHRISTMAS STORY- SCERA, OREM

Another enjoyable screen to stage adaptation for the holidays is A Christmas Story: The Musical based on the popular 1983 film and I recently had the chance to review a wonderful production at the Scera in Orem for UTBA. You can read my review here. A Christmas Story: The Musical plays until Dec 16 and you can purchase tickets here.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL- HALE CENTER THEATRE, SANDY

Once I decided to review as many versions of A Christmas Carol as I can this season I knew I needed to see the production at Hale Center Theatre in Sandy. It is probably the most famous regional version with them even doing a filmed version for all of us to get through the pandemic in 2020. I couldn’t have been more grateful for that in the year without theater. Now in their 39th year putting on the show they have another strong production. This one doesn’t take any risks like the recent production at Hale Orem or the bolder script at the Parker but it is comforting told and professionally mounted. Especially if you are someone who wants the traditional story than you can’t do better than A Christmas Carol at Hale Sandy.

I particularly enjoyed the watercolor backgrounds they had and the way they integrated traditional carols like “Greensleeves”, “Silent Night” and “Wassail Wassail” into the original score by Barlow Bradford. The Scrooge is always outstanding at Hale and this was no exception with David Weekes in the lead role. Again, if you are looking for a classic retelling of this story you can’t go wrong with Hale Sandy’s version. It plays until Dec 27th and you can purchase tickets here.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER- PG PLAYERS, PLEASANT GROVE

One of my favorite local theaters is the tiny theater in the Pleasant Grove library called The Pleasant Grove Players. I had the privilege to interview its directors Howard and Kathryn Little for Theatre Tuesdays and was so impressed with them as I have been with all their productions. The latest is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever which is a nice break from the Santa and Christmas Carol themed shows that actually focuses on Jesus and the power of His birth.

It’s a one act play about a family of roughians who make it their goal to take over the local church nativity pageant. Everyone starts more than a little judgy but they all learn something along the way. It was very impressive how many cast members they got on the stage with over 30 people, mostly children involved. I particularly enjoyed Julianne Barney as Imogene Herdman who showed a lot of vulnerability as her tough character realizes the value in the baby Jesus.

Unfortunately The Best Christmas Pageant Ever closes Dec 11th and it is sold out (which congrats to them for a sold out run!) but keep PG Players on your radar. They always have great shows

A CHRISTMAS CAROL- ALPINE COMMUNITY THEATRE, PLEASANT GROVE

When I decided to see as many versions of A Christmas Carol as possible this year one of the versions that intrigued me was by famed composer Alan Menken. I had seen the movie adaptation with Kelsey Grammar and thought it was alright but never the show. So I jumped at the chance to review a new to me theater company, Alpine Community Theater’s production staged at the Liahona Theater in Pleasant Grove. Evidently they have bene doing this adaptation for many years and they have the wonderful mantra “where everyone can act.” I adore this mission because as much as I love Utah theater sometimes it can be too competitive where someone who just wants to participate and have a fun community experience is prohibited.

The mission is certainly clear from the get-go with A Christmas Carol and the huge cast they have assembled. Practically every scene is bursting with people and it’s interesting how the entire introduction to Scrooge is staged in the town-square rather than in the office and other settings we normally see. The amount of people that Costume Coordinator Stephanie Russon had to get multiple outfits for is staggering and they were all well done. I particularly liked the design for Past that was just whispy enough with an elaborate crown on her head that lit up. I also liked a song called “Dancing on Your Grave” where Future and Scrooge are surrounded by monks in the graveyard. The choreography by Rebecca Call and Laura Snyder was also very impressive throughout the entire show.

My only criticisms of the production is that oftentimes Scrooge and the ghost was off to the side so we didn’t get his reaction or impression of what was happening. I particularly liked Charles Graves’ Scrooge at the beginning when he is angry Scrooge but I think part of that is we saw him more up close and centered on the stage in those sections.

My other critique of the show would be to the writing team including Alan Menken. Far too often it feels like warmed over versions of what we know and love from Beauty and the Beast. There’s even a baland about Home in both numbers and a boisterous Busby Berkeley style number with elves and a kickline that might as well have been “Be Our Guest.” Obviously this is no fault of ACT but it does make it feel less inspired as a piece of musical theater. Menken has done and can do much better!

Still, this is the kind of production you want to be a part of. It’s welcoming to all and really captures the spirit of the season. I highly recommend it! A Christmas Carol is playing at the Liahona Theater in Pleasant Grove until Dec 18th and you can purchase tickets here.

JACOB MARLEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL- COVEY CENTER, PROVO

I had the chance to review a new take on A Christmas Carol at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo called Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol for UTBA and unfortunately it was a bit of a disappointment. The talent was doing their best but I found the script to be frustrating. You can read my full review here. It is playing until Dec 23rd and ticket scan be purchased here.

There you have it! What have you been seeing lately? I would love to hear all about it

It’s no big secret that most Broadway musicals these days are adaptations of popular movies and shows. As both a film and theatre critic it can be fascinating to see the way the 2 artforms work together and create different art (and sometimes it goes from movie to Broadway to movie again like in The Color Purple in theaters this month.) This dynamic of screen to stage adaptations is fresh on my mind because last night I saw the new adaptation of Christmas in Connecticut at Pioneer Theatre Company. I love the 1945 film starring Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan, and had been looking forward to seeing this stage adaptation all year. My friend theatre critic Tim Leininger gave it a rave review on his channel last year and so I was thrilled to see that PTC was going to be only the 2nd company to mount the adaptation. I even had the chance to see the movie on the big screen at the new Maven Cinemas in American Fork (which I am super excited about) on Friday to get ready for this musical on Saturday (this seemed like a great idea at the time but in retrospect it might have been better to have some distance from the movie but oh well.)

Anyway, I saw the musical and to say it is a loose adaptation would be an understatement but if judged on its own merits it is a charming rom-com musical and something we need in the holiday Broadway landscape. Currently there are 4 stories that make up almost all of the Christmas shows done by companies (A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story, Elf: The Musical, and White Christmas.) I love all of these 4 but if Christmas in Connecticut became a 5th option I wouldn’t complain!

QUICK TAKE

To give the analysis I would like I have to share some spoilers to both the movie and the show so I thought I’d just give a quick take and then a deeper dive below. Basically Christmas in Connecticut is a bubbly rom-com that particularly in the 2nd act becomes a relationship farce with multiple couples all stuck in a big house interacting with all kinds of miscommunications. The highlight of the show is a sequence called “Chemistry” where the power has gone out and the back and forth between the various couples had serious Noises Off vibes. The cast at PTC is uniformly strong with Alyse Alan Louis and Eric William Morris making convincing ‘enemies to lovers’ leads. Like I said, once it gets to that second act the script is witty and the holiday shenanigans are a ton of fun. Shelley Butler does an excellent job directing the actors using the whole stage as they go in and out of doors trying to keep track of all their lies. I also thought the scenic and costume design by Lex Liang was strong with period-accurate hair by Cynthia Johnson. If you love Hallmark movies or other holiday rom-coms you’ll love this show! I hope you find time during this busy holiday season to see Christmas in Connecticut at PTC. You won’t regret it! You can purchase tickets here.

DEEP DIVE

So the biggest change they make from the movie in Christmas in Connecticut is they change the love interest for Liz so she doesn’t fall for the soldier Jefferson Jones any more. Instead she falls for a new character named Victor who is a socialist and activist who meets Liz earlier in the story when she is still an idealistic writer. Now that she has to create a facade of the happy homemaker he is disgusted with her and they have an enemies to lovers type arc instead of the surprise of the film with her unexpectedly falling for the wholesome soldier (they provide a love interest for the soldier in a character named Gladys who is the fact checker who doesn’t believe Liz’s story.)

I really liked both the leads at PTC and in particular Morris playing Victor had a snark to him that was charming and very attractive. And like I said the “Chemistry” number was excellent as was “The Ornament Song” that ends Act 1. I guess my only gripe is I do think in making Liz an activist and a modern woman who actively hates all the homemaking articles she’s writing she becomes a bit of a feminist cliche. Surprisingly it can actually feel less nuanced than the original character from the film. There’s something about the snark of Barbara Stanwyck in the movie that’s refreshing. She doesn’t have any real problems deluding thousands of readers as long as she doesn’t get caught. I watched the movie and thought ‘she’s remarkably modern for a woman from 1945.’ After all, she doesn’t have the slightest clue how to change a diaper or flip a pancake and her greatest desire is to own a fur coat not to have a family or run a barn. If she has to fool gullible readers then she has no problem doing so, and in a way isn’t that more modern than someone who has to proclaim how modern they are?

If they were going to ask for my advice I’d suggest they do what they can to get everyone to the house a lot sooner. The strength of the show is the screwball antics of all the couples lying to each other and with each lie it gets more silly and romantic. There’s a very funny scene where Victor is pretending to be the soldier and he and Liz kiss but she doesn’t know it is him because the power is out. That is gold and the kind of scene rom-com fans will love. Also a scene where they eat Christmas dinner is very funny with gags like Victor is a vegetarian but has been portrayed in columns as an expert poultry carver. That’s an amusing juxtaposition for the character as he’s reluctantly trying to play his part.

I also think they could create more jealousy on the part of Victor over the soldier Jefferson. Make the soldier more of a credible threat for Liz’s heart. This could work for Gladys also becoming jealous as she becomes more interested leading to more humor. In any rom-com it’s obvious who the leads are going to end up with but the more tangled you can make the journey the more fun we usually have (like if we think of Pride and Prejudice Lizzie has several options come up in Wickham and Mr Collins as the ‘enemies to lovers’ overall romance develops between her and Darcy.)

Anyway, this deep dive is just meant to be helpful and share my thoughts as a huge fan of the Christmas in Connecticut film. It’s still a very fun night of theater, and I look forward to seeing it grow as a musical going-forward. You can purchase tickets here.

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Hey everyone! I hope you are doing well. I have been beyond busy attending movie screenings almost every night as well as everything to watch for Hallmarkies Podcast during this time of year. This has obviously limited my theater time but I do have a couple shows to report on (and I should have a few more the next couple of weeks.)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL- PARKER THEATRE, SALT LAKE

Last year I saw A Christmas Carol 4 times including twice at Parker Theatre. It takes a lot to see a show I see so frequently twice but that just goes to show how much I enjoyed this production. You can read my review of last year’s production for UTBA here. Naturally having liked it so much last year I made sure to go opening night this year and once again it was completely outstanding. In fact, it was so good I had Scott Savage on Theatre Tuesdays to talk about it (he reviewed it this year for UTBA) and to talk about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was a great listen:

There are so many things I love about this production of A Christmas Carol but let me share a few of my favorite aspects. First, the script expands on the novel in effective ways like introducing us to Jacob Marley and crafting an authentic moment between Scrooge and Fred at the end of show. The projections and lighting are also outstanding and create atmosphere that keeps the story from feeling stale. I also love that the Parker has themed concessions to go along with all of their shows:

@hallmarkiespodcast

The little details make for a great theatrical experience #theater #utahtheatre

♬ Promosi – Satria Petir

I’ve set a goal to see every iteration of A Christmas Carol in the valley I can this holiday season but suffice it to say the Parker has set the bar high and it will be tough to beat. You can purchase tickets to A Christmas Carol at Parker through Dec 23 here.

ELF: THE MUSICAL- HALE CENTER THEATRE, SANDY

It’s always interesting to see the evolution of shows- how some shows remain popular year in and year out (The Music Man for instance) and others strike hot for a few years and aren’t seen as much after that. Elf: The Musical would be an example of the latter. It seemed like a few years ago everyone was doing this adaptation of the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell and now only one theatre is doing it, Hale Center Theater in Sandy. It’s probably just as well because I think it is a pretty forgettable adaptation with mostly bland set of festive songs to accompany the story.

Fortunately the production at Hale rises above these mundane elements to create something charming for the whole family. The spectacle is where Hale shines and Elf is no exception with wonderful scenic design by Kacey Udy and lighting from Jaron Kent Hermansen (it feels like a winter wonderfland.)

I also really enjoyed David Paul Smith, who is a former teacher of mine, as Buddy and Kelly Coombs as Jovie. They are favorite performers of mine and have worked together in the past so they have lovely chemistry. Josh Richardson also makes for an edgy modern Santa Claus. If you are looking for something festive and jolly to do with the family they will all have a great time with Elf: The Musical at Hale Sandy. You can purchase tickets to Elf: The Musical through Jan 6 here.

SHE LOVES ME- HERITAGE THEATRE, PERRY

Anyone who follows me knows how much I love the story of Parfumerie. This is a play that has been turned into one wonderful iteration after another. I love The Shop Around the Corner, The Good Old Summertime and You’ve Got Mail but probably most of all I love the musical She Loves Me. I like it so much I drove the hour it takes to get to Heritage Theatre to make sure to see their latest production of this wonderful musical.

When you see a production at Heritage one has to keep in mind it is a community theater with amateur performers who are learning and growing. You cannot expect the same level that is anticipated at Hale or even something like Hopebox. In the end the rough nature of the productions become part of the charm of the experience and that is the case with She Loves Me. In fact, I would say it is the best show I’ve ever seen from them but I’m sure that opinion is helped by the fact it’s a musical I just love.

What makes it work so well is the chemistry between the 2 leads with Ashlee Giblette shining as Amalia Balash and Gary Robertson having a swagger that sells the Georg Nowack character (he was obviously less experienced as a performer but the smile and endearing nature made him endearing to watch on stage.) I also thought Hannah Smith was excellent as Ilona Ritter- maybe the best singer of the entire cast.

The sets by W. Derek Hendricks helped set the scene of the Maraczek store and the costumes by Megan Merkley helped immerse the audience in the story and the choreography is a lot of fun. She Loves Me might not be the first musical that comes to mind when we think of the holidays but there are several holiday songs and the entire show ends on Christmas day. It’s a delight and I highly recommend seeing it at Heritage and supporting their charming community theatre whenever you can. You can purchase tickets to She Loves Me through Dec 16 here.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL- HALE CENTER THEATRE OREM, OREM

Finally, I was able to see A Christmas Carol at Hale Center Theatre Orem and review it for UTBA. It is a very unique version done through extensive narration and I am very excited to see them shake things up and try something new with a classic story. You can read my review here. Tickets for A Christmas Carol at HCTO can be purchased through Dec 23 here.

So there you have it. What have you been seeing? I hope you are supporting your local community theaters and other arts programs during this festive time of the year. Merry Christmas!

Hi everyone! It’s been a few weeks since my last post on here and it’s mostly because my work as a film critic gets very intense during this time of year. I have a screening almost every night and I’m very busy covering holiday films for Hallmarkies Podcast. Basically my theater time is more limited in November and December. There will be some. Don’t worry. But just not as much as I usually do. (I have also started judging debate, which is super fun, but does cut into my weekend time to see shows.)

THE SECRET GARDEN- BYU, PROVO

I did review the impressive production of The Secret Garden at BYU for UTBA and you can find my review here.

SLEEPY HOLLOW- WVPAC, WEST VALLEY

There are times when I purposefully wait for the run of a show to end before sharing my thoughts particularly when I have an especially negative response. It is not my desire to tear down the efforts of small regional theater companies that are often short-staffed and cast by volunteers. That said, I’m a human being with tastes and a critic and am not going to like everything that I see. Such is the case with the production of Sleepy Hollow at WVPAC. While the cast was talented and did their best with the material there’s not much else positive I can say about this show.

It’s been a while since I read the Washington Irving story or seen Disney adaptation but the main problem with this adaptation is it saps all the fun out of the story. It’s like if they made Brigadoon but only focused on the one guy who hates Brigadoon. Ichabod Crane isn’t superstitious or amusing in any way. He moralizes and disciplines the children and tries to start a choir for a long section. I intensely disliked all the music, finding it repetitive and uninspired. There just was nothing here outside of the talent of the cast. It felt so long and I almost left at intermission. And honestly I probably should have. I guess you could say this one just isn’t for me. I can confidently say this is a show I will never watch again but I do love WVPAC and you can find out more about their shows here.

SWEENEY TODD- EMPRESS THEATRE, MAGNA

I do feel genuinely badly I didn’t get my thoughts on Sweeney Todd at The Empress out sooner as it is closing this weekend. Hopefully my promotion on social media helped them in some small way because it is a production worth much praise. I actually saw it opening night and there were some hiccups in the technicals of the production I preferred it over the more glossy professional staging I saw at The Grand (although that one was good too.) Sweeney Todd at The Empress had an intimacy and passion that went a long way in covering any flaws.

Director Andrew Jefferies deserves great praise for his use of the unusual stage at The Empress and taking advantage of all the different levels it provides. Sometimes Sweeney Todd productions can stay too much in the barbershop chair leaving the character at a distance from us as an audience. That isn’t the case here. We get up and close with Sweeney sometimes with him looking at us straight in the eyes and singing right to us. They also have a tremendous cast with Todd Christensen owning Sweeney and bringing out the increased mania of the character.

There were hiccups in the show the night I went but I’d highly recommend if you can get out to Magna this weekend watching Sweeney Todd at The Empress and you can purchase tickets here.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY- CORNER CANYON HIGH SCHOOL, DRAPER

I honestly don’t see many high school productions even though there are many outstanding programs in my area. The main reason is because often the shows can be a frustrating experience for non-familial audience members. Usually the students are doing their best in large auditoriums with less-than-ideal sound equipment. This can make it difficult to appreciate the wonderful performances when we can’t hear what was going on. However, a friend invited me to see The Addams Family at my local high school, Corner Canyon, and in the end I’m glad I did. They managed to not only put on an outstanding show but also to avoid the high school audio and other technical problem issues.

If you’ve read my reviews of other The Addams Family productions you know I have my issues with the book particularly the “Full Disclosure” section that ends Act 1 but it has some delightful songs and it can be saved by a good Morticia and Gomez. Fortunately this production has terrific casting with Jo Rose and Alyssa Miller in those iconic roles. They have great chemistry together and especially Miller doesn’t shy away form the campy sex appeal of Morticia. It’s super fun.

The rest of the cast is all strong with the large ensemble impressing particularly in the singing and dancing segments like “When You’re an Addams” and “Tango De Amor.” The costumes and set design are also very well done and it all makes for a very enjoyable night of theatre. The Addams Family is playing until Nov 13th and you can get tickets here.

So there you have it! What theatre have you been enjoying? I’d love to hear about it and what you think of these 3 shows if you’ve seen them!

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Hey everyone! In addition, to my formal review of The Rocky Horror Show at Pioneer Theatre Company I wanted to log my thoughts on 2 other recent shows I had the privilege to see. These were both purchased by me and not a formal requested review but as I strive to promote local theatre here are my thoughts:

THE MUSIC MAN- HALE CENTER THEATRE OREM, OREM

It can be a bit of a mixed blessing when you’ve seen a show as many times as I’ve seen The Music Man. Just since July I’ve seen it 3 times and over the years I’ve seen it countless times including 2 productions on Broadway. It’s a favorite but I also probably notice things someone seeing it for the first time or more rarely wouldn’t ever care about. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the production at HCTO. I did but it wasn’t a favorite staging for a few reasons.

First the strengths of the show are how well it is crafted with books, music and lyrics by Meredith Wilson. It’s story of redemption for the con-man Harold Hill is a classic for a reason. Harold’s story of finding love in the midst of his con which inspires him to change is beautiful and it accompanies some of the greatest songs ever written for the stage or otherwise. Again, it’s a classic for a reason.

Director Jennifer Hill Barlow has done a tremendous job (as is always the case) using the small stage at HCTO to its full capacity. They don’t have the luxury of changing out sets much there but they do a lot with props and costumes to create different settings like the library or the gymnasium. The whole production has an energy and community spirit you love to see and I think is another reason why companies keep turning to the The Music Man. It’s just a fun show to be part of. The costumes by Elizabeth Banks Wertz were also very strong.

I guess my only gripes with this production is how theatrical the portrayals of Harold Hill by Ryan Shepherd and Marian Paroo by Cecily Ellis-Bills. He especially is really hamming it up to the audience and after a while it felt like I was seeing a comedian more than a slick confident salesman. Marian wasn’t as much but there were moments when I felt she was a little over-dramatic to counteract Harold’s goofiness. The performances didn’t match up with how I see the characters but maybe that’s just me. (Also there must have been something wrong with Winthrop because they didn’t do “Gary Indiana Reprise” like the program noted.)

But like I said, most people won’t notice this problem as they haven’t seen the show dozens of times. It’s got a lot to offer and if you are in the Orem area I will always recommend seeing The Music Man whenever you get the chance (I may try and see the other cast as Bronson Dameron is a favorite of mine and if I do I will update here.) The Music Man is playing until Nov 18th and you can get tickets here.

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN- ZIEGFELD THEATER, OGDEN

As a big fan of the 1974 Mel Brooks’ film, Young Frankenstein, I have been interested in seeing the stage adaptation for some time but it is a challenging show to put on so it isn’t done often. Fortunately they mounted it in an ambitious new production at The Ziegfeld Theatre in Ogden and I had a great time watching it despite it’s somewhat daunting runtime.

If you are a fan of the film you definitely want to see the musical as they basically include every scene and joke. I particularly love the scene with the blind man serving soup and he sings “Please Send Me Someone.” I also really enjoyed any song from Elizabeth (Samantha Wursten) who channels Madeline Kahn effectively (as the funniest actress of all time that’s no small accomplishment.) I particularly like her and Victor Frankenstein (Caleb Parry) singing “Please Don’t Touch Me” in her introductory scene.

The combination of projections and set design by Parry are extremely impressive and they effectively capture the feeling of the film and its homage to the universal monster movies. There were also some very funny lines particularly for Inga (Karaline Taylor) and Frau Blucher (Joel Bennett.) The Ziegfeld bills themselves as a professional theatre and they earned it with this one. All the production details and performances are outstanding.

All that said, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel the runtime on this one. It was close to 3 hours long and the intermission doesn’t come for a full 90 minutes. I honestly don’t know how the actors had the stamina with so many scenes and choreography. Maybe I was just tired but I think this is a show that could use a major edit? You don’t need to include every last detail from the movie (maybe having Mel Brooks do the book on this one was a mistake and they should have had someone with a little more space from the film?) I don’t know. They did an amazing job at the Ziegfeld but I don’t know I would jump at the chance to see this one again. It was just too exhausting but that’s just me. Young Frankenstein is playing until October 28th and you can purchase tickets here.

Living and reviewing theatre out of Utah there are certain shows I have come to accept I may never get a chance to see as a patron or critic. It’s such a risk in this area to do a more mature-themed show but every once in a while a company takes such a risk and I gleefully check an R rated show off of my musical theatre bucket list. Such is the case with the new production of The Rocky Horror Show opening at Pioneer Theatre Company in Salt Lake (they perform at the University of Utah.)

While I have seen the 1975 feature film adaptation entitled The Rocky Horror Picture Show I have never participated in any of the screenings or midnight showings it is famous for. So one might say this production at PTC is my first communal experience with the property and it turned out to be a great way to lose my Rocky Horror virginity. I think readers should know enough about the reputation of the material to know if it is something they will enjoy but if they are up for it get ready for a sexy, bawdy silly good time.

Rocky Horror actually started out as a bit of a flop on Broadway in 1975 with music, lyrics and book by Richard O’Brien. The film was also released in 1975 and it has the longest running release in film history with it still running in limited release in 2023, 48 years after its premiere (now that is a true cult classic!) Part of the reason for this legacy of both film and stage is the way both engage with the audience. At PTC prop kits are available for purchase with items like newspapers to wear on your heads, glow sticks to light up and bubbles to blow at the appropriate time. I forgot to order my kit (can be done here) but enough people were doing the tasks around me that I still felt like a part of the whole experience.

I think that’s what makes Rocky Horror such a satisfying night of theatre is the community abandon it encourages. It’s not often we get to just let loose and have a great time with our fellowmen and women here in Utah and that’s what you get to do here. It’s not heavy on plot but the songs are fun, the spectacle is big and the performers loaded with charisma to make for a great evening.

If you didn’t know the story centers on yuppie couple Brad and Janet who become lost at an old castle (“Over at the Frankenstein Place.”) Here they meet Dr Frank-N-Furter who becomes obsessed with the couple and brings out a whole new side they never anticipated!

Director Karen Azenberg has taken her energetic cast and done all she can to keep the action moving and using the entire stage to tell the story. Most of the memorable songs are in the first act including “Time Warp,” “Charles Atlas Song,” and “Hot Patootie.” The sets by George Maxwell are brightly painted but easy for the characters to move about in and transform within, which help keep the jokes coming. For instance, one set piece is Dr Frank-N-Furter’s pink bed that stands upright and allows for some really funny moments between our couple and Frank. The costumes by Aaron Swenson are also just the right amount of camp sex-appeal without pushing this audience too far off the ledge.

The entire cast was charismatic and up for the challenge of show (there’s really no lighter moments in the songlist. It’s go go go from scene one!) Jeremiah James gives a different take on Frank than Tim Curry does in the movie but I liked his sarcasm and more masculine bravado to the role. However, my favorite of the cast is Alex Walton as Brad. He’s the most out of his comfort zone of the characters and never failed to make me laugh. His expressions and reactions to everything presented to him in the house are hilarious. Walton also has a wonderful singing voice that’s especially shown in “Once in a While” and “Damn It, Janet.” Some of the other singers could work on their enunciation as it was sometimes hard to tell what they were singing about in particular scenes. Also there were some microphone issues you don’t typically have with PTC but it was probably just opening night glitches.

Helen Gregory conducts a 4 piece band that’s on the stage with the performers and gives a ton of energy to the whole experience- makes it feel like a concert more than a musical. It all works out to a wonderful time and chance to let loose and enjoy something silly and wild together with your fellow Utahns. The Rocky Horror Show is playing until Halloween night at PTC and you can purchase tickets here.