Hi friends! I hope you are doing well. Just thought I would give a little update on my recent theatre activities. I just got back from a trip to NYC to attend the NYFF (see my film update here.) I also saw 5 shows while I was there and got the chance to write about the experience for my first piece at OnStage Blog. I am super proud of the piece and grateful they let me write something so personal for their site (I am going to be writing a monthly column for them going forward!)

To sum it up it was a great group of 5 shows without a dud in the mix. You can read my brief thoughts on all of them in the OnStage piece above and my longer review of Gutenberg: The Musical for UTBA. I would probably rank the 5 shows as follows:

1. Back to the Future: The Musical- fantastic spectacle, charming cast, brings back all the feels from a favorite movie of mine
2. The Shark is Broken- need to be a Jaws fan to fully appreciate but meticulously recreates the boat of the Jaws shoot and the 3 actors are tremendous.
3. Merrily We Roll Along– these 2 are basically tied. Really enjoyed getting to finally see this “Sondheim flop” with a unforgettable performance by Jonathan Groff
4. Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors– funny parody that actually includes a lot of the Dracula novel. James Daly steals the show as Dracula.
5. Gutenberg: The Musical– a serviceable satire on musical theatre and history that is made engaging by the chemistry of its leads Andrew Rannells and Josh Gadd. (The theatre this one was in is very uncomfortable. I’m not even that tall and my knees were up against the seat in front of me and the seats were tiny.)

So there you have it for New York. Now I have 2 local shows to recap

SWEENEY TODD- THE GRAND THEATRE, SALT LAKE CITY

It was super fun after seeing Merrily on Broadway to see another Sondheim classic Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Utah at The Grand (located in the SLCC Grand Theatre.) I have yet to be disappointed in a show I’ve seen there and while the old theatre is literally grand it does present the company with unique challenges of being such a large cavernous space to fill with performances.

For the most part this production of Sweeney Todd succeeds. It’s strongest qualities are its remarkable cast including a former teacher of mine Dallyn Vail Bayles as the title character. I’ve seen him in a number of roles over the years including Archibald in The Secret Garden and Emile in South Pacific but I have never seen him play such a dark role and he was up for the challenge. He has done national tours but I’m convinced if he wanted to live in New York he could have a leading man Broadway career. Tamara Howell is also strong as Mrs Lovett and Patrick Kintz as Judge Turpin.

My main gripe with the production is the 2-story set, (designed by Halee Rasmussen) while impressive, pushed all the action to the back of the stage, leaving large sections left unused. This is a particular problem at The Grand because it is such a large stage so you feel the wasted space. Also because all the action was pushed to the back of the stage and most on a 2nd story it was harder to see the emotion the actors were working so hard to develop. It just all felt like it was at a distance. I would have much preferred a simple set with the actors moved forward so we could see what was happening more effectively.

The costumes by Shannon McCullock (with wig and makeup by Erin McCullock) were all outstanding and everyone had their British accents down perfectly. If you have never seen Sweeney Todd this is a well done version and worthy of your time and investment. It runs through Oct 28th and you can purchase tickets here.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY- TIMPANOGOS COMMUNITY THEATRE- AMERICAN FORK

I wasn’t going to see The Addams Family at Timpanogos because I wanted an evening to refresh from my trip but when they reached out to me I decided it was worth my time, and I’m glad that I did! I can’t find the program at the moment so I will be brief but I was very impressed with this production. For a community theatre the quality of the sets, costumes, and other production values is oustanding. I also really enjoyed Mackenzie Tolk Houmand and Gregory Rampton as Morticia and Gomez. They have tremendous chemistry and are fantastic singers and actors. I honestly would put their performances up with any professional companies putting on this show.

There are some problems with the book- particularly the long “Full Disclosure” sequence that ends the first act but there are good moments like “Happy/Sad” and “Live Before We Die” where Morticia and Gomez get to show off their dancing chops! If you are in the area you can still see The Addams Family this weekend and I highly recommend it. You can purchase tickets here.

So there you have it! Let me know what you have been watching and if you have seen any of these shows.

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well I am actually typing this post from the Big Apple! I am taking a little trip to the city to attend the NYFF and I will be of course seeing a bunch of Broadway shows (5 to be more specific!) I will update my thoughts on those musicals here, so that should be fun. Before I do that, however, I have 2 theatrical experiences in Utah to update you all on. Here goes:

war of the worlds- covey center, provo

I’ve always been a big fan of old-time radio broadcasts. It’s a nostalgic form of storytelling that I find very engaging. It is for this reason I was intrigued by the new production of War of the Worlds at the Covey Center. I also know the director Adam Cannon and worked with him on the Schmigadoon recaps I did earlier this year. Fortunately it turned out to be a very enjoyable night of theatre and one I recommend checking out if you have the chance.

The play is written by David Hanson and it focuses on the broadcast of H.G. Wells’ novel War of the Worlds that caused large-scale pandemonium because people believed it was a real broadcast. The most compelling part of the play is the dynamic between Orson Welles, his writer Howard and producer John. 2 of these roles Howard and Orson are played by women NaRhea Dawn and Cathleen Metten respectively. At first I was a little nervous about this but they did a good job of creating a successful opposite gender character without it feeling like a caricature. Jacob Baird is excellent as the much put-upon John.

I actually think the play would have been better off focusing on just the 3 main leads and talked about the people reacting rather than showing them. That’s where the piece fell into caricature as most of the believers of the broadcast were depicted as hicks and buffoons. A simple 3 person structure with snippets of the broadcast played would have been more effective but I still enjoyed what we got.

It was also a lot of fun to see the workings of an old-time radio broadcast including the foley set-up creating sound effects for the show. Costume designer Elizabeth Crandall also does excellent work in creating the feel of 1938 and giving the women in opposite gender roles convincing attire and hair.

If you are a fan of old-time radio broadcasts or just want to see some terrific acting check out War of the Worlds at the Covey Center in Provo. It’s a real theatrical treat and is playing until Oct 21. You can get tickets here.

DISNEY ENCANTO; THE SING ALONG FILM CONCERT- ECCLES, SALT LAKE

I really enjoyed Disney’s animated classic Encanto but I actually have never gotten the chance to see it with a crowd of kids. The one time I saw it in the theater was at a critics screening. So I jumped at the chance to attend the sing-along concert done by Disney Concerts. It ended up being a fun night but I don’t know if it is worth the high cost especially for a family. To pay $50 plus for a movie screening with a small band is a lot. Also the new parking situation at the Eccles is a mess. They have closed off Main Street to vehicles making it difficult to access the main parking lots because of construction on neighboring streets. I ended up paying $18 for a parking lot 2 blocks away. The whole experience was frustrating to say the least.

Like I said, the whole concert is a fun experience particularly to hear the kids laughing and singing with the music. It reminded me what an excellent film Encanto is and it’s a shame it got caught up in all the Covid mess because it should have done better in the theaters. I’d probably skip the concert because of the cost but if you get a chance to see Encanto on the big screen and can afford it I’d take it! You can purchase tickets to the Encanto Sing Along here.

So there you have it! What have you seen lately? Next update will be on my big Big Apple trip! Happy theatre friends!

If you like my writing and want to support what I do check out the patreon for some great perks here..

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well and enjoying local theatre in your area. We had another wonderful episode of Theatre Tuesday including a look at 14 local theatres upcoming 2024 slates. Fellow critic Maren Swensen and myself give each slate a grade based on our excitement level:

I just had an unbelievable long weekend of performances and I can’t wait to tell you about all these amazing shows. Here goes!

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD- PARKER THEATRE, SALT LAKE

As much as I love seeing my favorites like Bright Star and Les Miserables it is also neat to check shows off my bucket list. This is what I got to do with The Mystery of Edwin Drood at one of my favorites Parker Theatre. This is a show based on Charles Dickens unfinished novel and it’s biggest strength is its interactivity. Audience members get to decide what happens to the characters in Act II and when you have a particularly boisterous audience like I did it makes for an enjoyable night of theatre.

I must say I was somewhat underwhelmed by the songs considering it won the tony for Best musical, book and score but they were performed well with one exception. Unfortunately the actress for Princess Puffer was injured so director Mary Parker Williams stepped in and it wasn’t the best performance if I’m being blunt. I get it. You make it work but it was challenging to listen to.

I know it’s just a little thing but I love the attention to detail the Parker has. They even have concessions themed to the show you are seeing. It just makes the whole experience more fun and immersive. There are also some of the best lighting (Danna Barney- such good lightning!) and sound design (Anthony Buck) in the entire state. I definitely recommend The Mystery of Edwin Drood at Parker Theatre to have a unique, interactive experience with a show not done very often.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood is playing at the Parker until Oct 28 and you can purchase tickets here.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (1965)- HALE CENTER THEATRE, SANDY

I’ve recently realized something about mysteries- that I almost always find the first act to be boring and the second act to have all of the fun. It makes sense if you think about it because all of the clue building happens in the first act and then all the reveals and problem solving happens in the second. I suppose the success of the mystery then depends on how satisfying that pay-off is and does it make the tedious sections worth sitting through. In the case of Catch Me if You Can at Hale Sandy I’d say it does.

You might be thinking this is the musical based on the film about the con-man but this far pre-dates it (and I admire Hale for picking such an obscure piece that could be confusing for some audiences.) The mystery revolves around Daniel Corban (Dallin Bradford who I have really enjoyed in a number of local productions) who’s wife is missing while on vacation in the Catskills. Inspector Levine is on the case and played with a ton of charm by Jason Hackney.

For the most part the big reveal really worked in this play but the most impressive aspect was the unbelievable set recreating a mid-century vacation home with 2 stories and a wall of “glass” for background. It is stunning and scenic designer Jenn Taylor deserves huge praise for it. I wasn’t planning on seeing Catch Me if You Can because I’m not the biggest fan of mysteries but I received my ticket as part of an instagram giveaway. In the end, I’m glad I went and I enjoyed an afternoon of mystery in the 60s!

Catch Me if You Can is playing at Hale Sandy until Nov 11 and tickets can be purchased here.

DADDY LONG LEGS- OPPA, LAYTON

There are certain shows that are hard to miss for me (I think every theatre critic and fan feels that way about particular shows.) Well, I feel that way about Daddy Long Legs. I truly feel like Paul Gordon (music and lyrics) with a book by John Caird (based on the novel by Jean Webster) have crafted a perfect show here. I love basically everything about it. What’s interesting though is I had actually never seen it not performed by David Smith and Kelly Coombs at both Hale Theatre Sandy and Orem (and Hale at Home) unless you count the Broadway HD version with the original cast, which I highly recommend.

So I wondered how I would warm up to the production at OPPA with new leads and now after having seen Emily Voorhees as Jerusha and Danny Ketch as Jervis I still loved it and loved their performances. It was a perfect show for the pandemic because it only features 2 actors and it is all about corresponding over letters. Jervis is the mysterious benefactor orphaned Jerusha is writing to as she goes to college on his dime. Her letters are charming and their relationship builds organically bit-by-bit over the course of the musical until the final reveal pays off.

This production at OPPA is on their smaller creators stage and it is directed by Leslie Barrett (who I saw recently at CenterPoint’s The Lion in Winter) and she wisely relies on the strength of the book and the chemistry of the actors to do all the heavy lifting. By the end of the show you are rooting for these two people to get together and be happy. I love all the songs and admire any actor brave enough for taking on such a daunting word-heavy, challenging show. It is an exhilarating love story to watch unfold and I will drive to any local company who puts it on. Perfection!

Daddy Long Legs is playing through Oct 14 and tickets can be purchased here.

AMADEUS- REGALO THEATRE, LEHI

When I heard that one of my favorite local theaters, Regalo in Lehi, was putting on Peter Schaffer’s Amadeus I bought my ticket immediately. I love the feature film by director Milos Forman and think it is one of the most deserving best picture winners of all time. I’ve always wanted to see the play which it was based on and the production at Regalo did not disappoint. What an amazing piece of theatre and one that I wish far more people would take time to see.

If you don’t know Amadeus tells the fictionalized story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through the lens of his rival fellow-composer Antonio Salieri. Shaffer weaves the music from both men seamlessly as we the tension between them builds. He also gives Salieri a feud with not only Mozart but with God himself and how God chooses to dole out the talents of men and women.

Director Michael Carrasco uses simple sets and costumes to allow his actors to shine and tell their stories. Patrick Brannelly is nuanced and yet just unhinged enough as Salieri and Morgan Gunter is both irritating and sweet as Mozart. It’s brilliant work I hope you all seek out. I enjoyed it so much I told my parents (big classical music fans) they need to see it and they are going this weekend. Definitely make time in your schedule for this very special experience and let’s reward a company for taking a risk on a play like Amadeus. It’s one I won’t soon forget.

Amadeus runs through October 16th and tickets can be purchased here.

If you like my writing and want to support what I do check out the patreon for some great perks here.

Hi theatre friends! I hope you are doing well and enjoying some good local theatre in this wonderful season of Fall. I am continuing on my Theatre Tuesdays segment and have a really fun new episode with Reagan Fausett where we pick the best and worst songs of our favorite Broadway musicals:

I have 3 shows to catch you up on that I saw in the last week as well as a UTBA review to catch you up on. Please let me know what you have been watching.

RAGTIME- MUSIC THEATRE OF WEST, LOGAN

If I am going to drive all the way up to Logan it has to be for a show worthy of my time. Fortunately Ragtime up at Musical Theatre West in the Eccles Theatre was such a production. I’ve never seen this show before but this was definitely an equity level production with everything from the costumes to, to the sets, to the quality of the singing being top notch.

Ragtime opened on Broadway in 1998 but it has the feel of an older show with the big brassy numbers but it has the messaging and brave themes of a modern show. The combination really makes it hold up nicely. It is a long show and it takes on a lot with 3 main characters interacting with a variety of other characters in turn-of-the-century New York. The main focus, however, is on the immigrant experience and the outsiders looking in on white elite citizens of the time.

The most impactful story of Ragtime revolves around Coalhouse Walker who was played very well by Conlon Bonner. His love Sarah (Brittany Andam) and him are separated at first but come back together through the help of a kindly woman just named Mother. Unfortunately not many share in this kindness and that’s how we see it all play out.

The timeline for the book of Ragtime feels a little confusing. There are multiple storylines including the family moving to Atlantic City and Coalhouse courting Sarah and finally winning her over, and yet the baby remains a babe in arms the whole time. It felt like at least a year had gone by but I guess it was just weeks? Regardless, the events feel authentic and true and the songs including “Wheels of a Dream,” “Make Them Hear You,” and “Back to Before” are stunners.

My favorite moment of the show is the end of Act 1 when Sarah’s Friend (Nneka Barcelona) sings “Till We Reach That Day.” I can’t recall a show leaving the audience into intermission on a more moving note. Wow! (They also have a full live orchestra for this incredibly professional show.)

Unfortunately Ragtime has finished its run but if you are in the Logan area Music Theatre West is worth checking out for wonderful theatrical experiences. You can find out more information here.

ARSENIC AND OLD LACE- PG PLAYERS, PLEASANT GROVE

I love any chance I get to see a show over at PG Players in Pleasant Grove. It is an adorable little theatre in the Pleasant Grove Library and their latest Arsenic and Old Lace was hilarious. I went with my friend Rachel and she enjoyed it as well. I wrote up my review for UTBA you can read here. Arsenic and Old Lace is playing until Oct 16 and you can purchase tickets here.

THE LITTLE MERMAID- HOPEBOX THEATRE, KAYSVILLE

If you’ve followed my content for a while you know I’m not the biggest fan of this Broadway adaptation of The Little Mermaid. I love the Disney classic film (of course) but they made some weird choices when adapting it as a Broadway musical that I don’t love (such as making Flounder in love with Ariel…what?) However, my friend and fellow theatre critic Amber Kacherian was playing Ursula, and I love supporting Hopebox and their mission, so I decided to give it a watch. While I still have issues with the adaptation it’s a fun jubilant community production and one most families will enjoy.

I saw the Silver Cast and Julia Bradford is strong as Ariel. She has a beautiful belt voice and a nice chemistry with Jayden Barrera as Eric. Most of the time I have seen The Little Mermaid on stage Ursula has been played by a man in drag but Amber has a big enough personality that I didn’t mind the change (I still think it is stupid to make Triton and Ursula related in this version but oh well…)

The ensemble scenes like “Under the Sea” are a ton of fun in this production, and I appreciate the diversity in the cast including an ensemble member in a wheelchair. Integrating her seamlessly into the choreography is awesome. The production values including the sets and costumers were good but a little more muted than I expect from Hopebox. It felt like they ran out of money and couldn’t make it as elaborate as most of their other productions.

But that’s really my only flaw. The singing and performances were all wonderful and the cast seemed to be having a great time together. Especially with their hopeful mission I love being a part of Hopebox and recommend supporting them whenever you can. The Little Mermaid plays until Oct 7th and tickets can be purchased here.

JEKYLL & HYDE- CENTERPOINT LEGACY THEATRE, CENTERVILLE

It’s funny as a theatre critic I often see shows in waves. Sometimes a trend is obvious like seeing A Christmas Carol in December or The Addams Family in October but then other times it’s totally random. Like, for instance, this summer I went from never having seen Jekyll & Hyde to seeing it 3 times since May. The experience at Draper Historic is unlikely to be topped any time soon especially having Tanner Tate as my Jekyll/Hyde (he has since guested on my Theatre Tuesdays segment.) Now I have seen it at CenterPoint Legacy and it’s another quality production from a theatre that almost always delivers.

There are problems with the book by Leslie Bricusse. It takes so long for the Jekyll/Hyde transformation to come, which is really when the plot starts to get interesting. It needs to come way sooner but they did the best they could at CenterPoint. The cast is all uniformly strong. In particular Jessica Knowles Andrus is outstanding as Lucy. She has a Broadway-worthy voice and her acting and stage presence really stands out. Christian Lackman is good as Jekyll/Hyde but I didn’t get the rawness of the transformations or as invested in his character as I did with Tanner’s performance at Draper.

I also found the fight choreography by Justin Lee to be excellent. It really feels like characters are fighting and hitting each other. The violence and kills feel real and are staged convincingly. The rest of the production lives up to the quality I expect from CenterPoint. The only critique I’d give is they had big screens on top of the stage that mostly played images of windows. Since I was in the balcony these don’t add much to the experience and are distracting. Also some of the costumes, particularly the corset fits, are a little sloppy and needed work.

All that said, this is a quality production of Jekyll & Hyde and it’s worth attending for the amazing performance by Jessica Knowles Andrus as Lucy. Jekyll & Hyde is playing at CenterPoint until Oct 21. You can purchase tickets here.

If you like my writing and want to support what I do check out the patreon for some great perks here.

Hey everyone! I am back to give you an update on everything I’ve been watching at the theatre over the last couple of weeks. It’s been a fun and eclectic time and I’m excited to tell you about them.

My latest Theatre Tuesdays is up with a fun exercise. Tanner Tate and myself figure out what alternatives could be chosen by theatre companies over the most popular shows we’ve all seen a million times. Check it out

SISTER ACT- DRAPER HISTORIC THEATRE- DRAPER

I’ve said it many times before but sometimes I think I prefer a scrappy flawed community theatre production over the glossy equity level professional shows. Both have their place but there’s something wholesome and satisfying about seeing untrained performers come together and put together the best show they can. Such is the case with Sister Act at Draper Historic Theatre. It was not on the same level as their recent Jekyll and Hyde which blew me away but it still has much to offer.

Some might not know this Sister Act musical is adapted from the movie by Alan Menken with lyrics by Glenn Slater (the team behind Tangled.) Based on the 1992 film with the same name the musical is actually surprisingly full of mature moments. For example, in one scene our bad guy shoots a man point blank with no remorse. This is an important scene because you need compelling motivation for Deloris to go into hiding but I still always find it surprising.

At Draper Historic director Beth Bruner uses the small stage to its maximum capacity bringing in projections and using the aisle to expand the stage. Sophie Manzanares is the vocal standout in the production as the shy diminutive Mary Roberts with Nicole Scoubes also shining as Mother Superior.

Some of the other singing was weak (particularly with the men) but it was all done with such cheerfulness I couldn’t help but leave with a smile. Sister Act is playing through 9/25 and you can purchase tickets here.

BRIGHT STAR- THE EMPRESS- MAGNA, UT

Everyone who knows me knows how much I love Bright Star. I love the story, songs, score, and everything else. Still, I was unsure whether I wanted to support this production at The Empress because of a recent scandal. You can read more about that here.

Believe it or not I think this might be my 10th time seeing Bright Star. I love everything about this musical written and created by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. This version at The Empress had a lot going for it. In particular the large 11 member live band (band conductor Marie Buhler) is outstanding. I honestly wish they had a concert night where I could just enjoy the band.

Of the main cast Bradley Barker stood out the most as Billy with a natural stage charisma and personality and a beautiful singing voice. Heather Shelley is also strong as the lead Alice. In addition, Ashley North and Cheryl Cripps do excellent work as the costume and wig designers respectively. It’s particularly impressive the way they are able to transform Alice from old to young even in her hairstyle so quickly.

Unfortunately the night I attended was one of those nights of theatre where just about everything goes wrong. The sound was giving them all kinds of grief losing the microphones and then pinging loudly at times. But even worse the light panel began malfunctioning so they had to start intermission before the important Act 1 train scene. However, as we all know in theatre ‘the show must go on’ and they powered through it and did the best that they could. I’m sure future performances won’t have such bad luck. Either way, it’s a beautiful show and for a theatre that oculd use a dose of hope it’s just what the doctor ordered. You can see Bright Star at Empress until Sept 30th. Get your tickets here.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS- HALE CENTER THEATRE- SANDY

I was honored and thrilled to get to review the latest extravaganza production over at Hale Center Theatre for UTBA- Around the World in 80 Days. It was a challenging review to write because I am not well-versed in circus acrobatics and dance. However, I asked questions and did the best I could. Enjoy! You can read my review here.

Around the World in 80 Days is playing until Oct 20th and tickets can be purchased here.

A DOLL’S HOUSE- OPPA- LAYTON

As much as I love a musical sometimes I wonder if community theatres would be better off performing more straight plays. I know they usually sell less tickets but there are such fewer moving parts it can be easier to nail than a musical. Anyway, I got to see A Doll’s House at OPPA on Monday and I was very impressed by it.

The play, A Doll’s House, goes all the way back to 1879 when it was first published by Henrik Ibsen. Particularly in the 2nd act, the play expertly explores themes of marriage, honesty, conflict, womanhood and more. There’s a moment where the lead Nora (Katie Plott) realizes her husband isn’t the man she thought he was and the actress completely pulled off that devastating realization but in a subtle way. I still don’t know if I buy the character would actually leave her children like that but was an impressive moment of acting.

The rest of the production is relatively simple but it does the job for this story. If you want to see A Doll’s House it’s at OPPA through Sept 30th. Tickets can be purchased here.

So there you have it! Have you seen any of these shows? I would love to hear your thoughts

If you enjoy what I do please support me at my patreon here.

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I suppose I should give a quick update from my last post about The Empress. I have decided to support the new leadership of the theatre and the cast of Bright Star who have worked so hard and some of who were the whistleblowers for the whole unfortunate situation. I will definitely have my eye on them but I feel good about this decision and look forward to seeing my favorite show this Saturday.

If you missed it make sure to check out my latest episode of Theatre Tuesdays. I was privilege to host local directing team Howard and Kathryn Little who are a true powerhouse of the theatre. Their love story is beautiful and I loved hearing about their experiences behind one of my favorite local theatres- the Pleasant Grove Players at the Pleasant Grove, Library.

PEABO BRYSON

One of the best deals in entertainment in Northern Utah is the Summer season pass to the Scera Shell in Orem, Utah. You not only get to see 3 theatrical productions but there are 7 live concerts and 6 outdoor movies. Some of the concert performers I’m very familiar with and others are new to me which can be fun. One new entry this year is the R&B singer Peabo Bryson. I admittedly went to hear his 2 big Disney hits- “A Whole New World” and “Beauty and the Beast” but was curious for the rest of the set list.

Overall it was an enjoyable concert. While some of his selections felt a little too long and his backup singers and duet partners could use some work he is clearly a pro and was fun to listen to. Of course, the highlight was the Disney numbers but again his singing partner felt amateurish for such iconic songs. Still I enjoyed the night and seeing someone I’ve never seen before.

JEREMY JORDAN

Also at the Scera in Orem we had the much hyped (and very well attended) concert from Broadway star Jeremy Jordan with the Utah Valley Symphony. This concert was a bit reason I bought the pass and it didn’t disappoint. Jeremy is super charming and puts on a wonderful show. I also appreciate the symphony did approachable sets from Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera for their numbers. Some of his choices were a little weird like singing “Soliloquy” from Carousel which is such an exposition plot-heavy song that it feels out of place in a concert setting. I also thought his medley of Oscar standards sung by Andy Williams could have been more modern. It would have been nice to hear him sing something from Little Shop of Horrors since he is returning to that show.

Like I said he was very personal and engaging as a performer and it was super fun to hear him sing favorites like “Santa Fe” from Newsies and “Moving Too Fast” from The Last Five Years. I also appreciate it wasn’t a perfect performance. He had to fight for some notes and that made the experience more memorable and endearing. Overall, it was a super fun concert and I’d definitely see Jeremy again.

Also I find it impressive how Scera keeps everything organized and well run. Compared to other outdoor venues like USANA or Deer Valley it’s such a better more pleasant experience. To purchase tickets for the indoor Scera season here.

CLUE- HALE CENTER THEATRE OREM, OREM

There are a couple of comedic straight plays that seem to be making the rounds amongst the local theatres here in Utah: The Play that Goes Wrong, The 39 Steps, See How They Run and Clue seem to be the favorites. These plays are popular for a reason because they are funny and relatively family-friendly so they find a home in this state. Clue is probably my least favorite of that group but it’s enjoyable and since I am a season ticket holder at HCTO I went down to see it last Friday. I did review a production at WVPAC for Utah Theatre Bloggers in February which I think was overall stronger but they have the advantage of a much bigger stage (you can read my review of that production here.) Still, the production at HTCO was a lot of fun and certainly anyone who hasn’t seen Clue will have a great time with this energetic production.

My biggest praise for the show has to go to the brilliant direction by Rodger Sorenson who found a way to make the tiny stage work for multiple rooms and set pieces for the mystery. This is not easy to do as there are clues in each of the rooms and sometimes multiple storylines within a particular scene that have to make sense. I also really enjoyed Jon Liddiard as Wadsworth and Bryson Smellie as Mr Green. They worked in some improv into their scenes and had a winking charm to the audience that brought a lot to the mystery and overall enjoyment of the production.

Some of the casting felt a little off to me. Particularly Mrs White and Mrs Peacock are usually cast with older actresses which seems to make sense for their characters but the cast did have a nice chemistry together and worked well off of each other. They also did a good job integrating sound effects and props (like a gun shot going off at the right time or a chandelier crashing down) to maximum effect for the mystery story.

I could probably go without seeing Clue again for a while but if you are in the area it’s a fun time, and I always love supporting HCTO and their wonderful productions. I hope they don’t lose what makes them special in their new grand theatre opening next year. We’ll see… Clue plays through Sept 23rd and tickets can be purchased here.

If you appreciate what I do in covering theatre and film support my patreon and get some great perks https://www.patreon.com/hallmarkies

Hey everyone! I hope you are doing well. I have some local productions to update you all on as well as my other theatre work to tell you about.

SHE LOVES ME- BROADWAY HD

This week for my Family Movie Night segment on my youtube channel I reviewed a pro-shot that is available on Broadway HD. It’s the 2016 live broadcast of She Loves Me from Broadway production at the Studio 54 theater. It’s a wonderful staging with Laura Benanti and Zachary Levi and well worth your time. You can get a 7 day free trial of Broadway HD here.

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN- PAYSON COMMUNITY THEATRE, PAYSON

I love going down to Payson for the shows at Payson Community Theatre. Their staging of Matilda is still one of the finest pieces of community theatre I’ve seen as a critic. Outstanding. Their recent Annie Get Your Gun may not have been on that level but it was still highly enjoyable. I was proud to not only review it for UTBA but it be the 2600th review on the site. You can read my review here. Annie Get Your Gun plays until Sept 4th and you can get tickets here.

THE DUCHESS OF MALFI- THREEPENNY THEATRE CO- SALT LAKE

Any theatre fan is a great theatre fan in my books but one of the most rewarding parts of my quest to support local theatre in the last 2 years has been in digging deeper and finding the unique small productions that I would have otherwise missed. Such is the case with the ThreePenny Theatre company and their new production of The Duchess of Malfi. This is an Jacobean tragedy first published in 1613 by John Webster (so just after Shakespeare’s era.) It has many of the same beats of a Shakespearean tragedy and reminded me most of Othello or King Lear.

What’s really cool is ThreePenny is producing the play as a public service and inviting anyone to come and pay whatever they can. The cast is excellent with Isabella Giordano as the title character Duchess and Ryan Kiville as Bosola (I recently saw both of them in The Lion in Winter at Centerpoint Legacy). Syd Vance is also strong as Ferdinand-the woman who hires Bosola to kill her sister who has had a child in an inappropriate marriage. I have never seen this play before but it was all done in a way that I had no trouble understanding what was going on and the acting was excellent. The costumes are simple and the sets non-existent so we focus solely on the story and I highly recommend the experience. This is true ground-roots theatre! You can see The Duchess of Malfi at St Paul’s Episcopal Church through Sept 3rd and get tickets here (parking is limited.)

NINE- HART THEATER CO- TAYLORSVILLE/PARK CITY

I love me an old classic. I’ve seen The Music Man, Singin in the Rain and Beauty and the Beast countless times. That said it is nice when a company does something fresh and new, that isn’t often done in Utah. Such is the case in the Hart Theater Company’s new production of Nine. I saw it at Midvale Performing Arts Center- a venue I love. But it is going to be up at the Egyptian Theatre in Park City Sept 1-10th and I’d definitely recommend adult audiences checking it out.

Nine is based on the movie 8 1/2 by Federico Fellini, which is not a movie I love. You can read my review here (I know it’s a ‘classic’ but one of the things you learn being a film fan is you don’t have to like all the classics!) Regardless, the story focuses on a director named Guido who is at a creative crossroads and all of the women who for some reason are drawn to him. The story isn’t my favorite but the cast at Hart were all strong especially Jin-Xhang Yu as Guido’s wife Luisa. She is new to Utah and I’m thrilled because the way she hit the low notes was outstanding. The whole cast felt professional in their singing abilities. The musical highlights were probably “Be Italian,” “My Husband Makes Movies” and “Unusual Way” (the latter sung beautifully by Erin Royall Carlson.)

I didn’t mind the mature content for the show. I knew that having seen the movie but it was a little disturbing to have such racy scenes with a child featured in them. I don’t know how you get around that as it is part of the script but it did make it seem more shocking than it might otherwise have been. Still, for a chance to see a show rarely performed and performed well check out Nine while it is playing in Park City next week. You can purchase tickets here.

So there you have it! What have you been watching? I would love to hear your thoughts if you’ve seen any of these shows. And don’t forget to check out Theatre Tuesday coming tomorrow to the channel/podcast.

Over the last week my mind has been on Shakespeare a lot! Not only did I go to Cedar City for the Utah Shakespeare Festival for the first time in years, but also I saw the hilarious musical satirizing Shakespeare Something Rotten at Centerpoint Legacy Theatre. So here are all my thoughts on all this Shakespeare:

somethinG rotten- centerpoint legacy, centerville

Seeing the show at Centerpoint last Wednesday marks my 3rd time seeing Something Rotten in the last 2 years. I saw it at Pioneer Theatre Company and then reviewed it for UTBA at Midvale Arts in June. They were both excellent productions and I do think there is something that makes comedies harder to impress on the repeat. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed the production at Centerpoint and as always they excelled at the dancing, singing and other production values.

With music and lyrics by brothers Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick, Something Rotten tells the story of 2 brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom who are trying desperately to compete with the foppish and conceited star of the Renaissance William Shakespeare. Obviously nothing in this show should be taken for historical accuracy but they get a lot of laughs playing Shakespeare as a pompous superstar and lampooning musical theater as the Bottoms discover the future of the artform.

All the leads are strong in the cast but the standout for me was Scott W Butler as Nostradamus. He brought a manic energy to the role that really worked. I also loved Annie Ferrin as Nick’s wife Bea and Isaac Carillo is appropriately hamming it up as Shakespeare. They did make some alterations to the script but it still has some bawdy humor. My favorite songs were probably “A Musical” sung by Nostradamus and “Hard to Be the Bard” by Shakespeare.

Like always the production at Centerpoint is strong with energetic choreography by Heather Sessions-Gaillard and costumes by Tammis Boam. Something Rotten is playing at Centerpoint until Sept 2nd and I highly recommend it. Tickets can be purchased here.

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG- UTAH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, CEDAR CITY

Along with Something Rotten, one of the best comedies to come out of Broadway in recent years is the farce The Play That Goes Wrong. Created by a group called The Mischief Theatre Company (Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields) this show is now part of a franchise of ‘Goes Wrong’ plays including Christmas Carol Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong. I do admit the shock factor on some of the gags is lessened the more times I’ve seen it but it’s still a lot of fun and the production at Utah Shakespeare is excellent.

The gimmick for the show is the Cornley Drama Society is putting on a mystery show called Murder at Haversham when everything (and I mean everything!) that could go wrong, goes wrong (as the play’s title would suggest). The whole cast was strong and they all commit to physical comedy giving just the right expressions when their hands are stepped on or they get hit on the head by a door. It’s all very over-the-top but a lot of fun.

The set by Jason Lajka does a ton of heavy lifting for the production. Mantles and paintings have to fall at just the right moment, elevators have to stop working, clocks have to fit a person and yet be moveable etc. It all works great and feels effortless, which is the sign of a great set. Director Geoffrey Kent clearly has a tireless attention to detail and a skill at getting the most out of every joke from his actors that it’s a delight to watch.

The Play That Goes Wrong plays through Oct 7th and you can get tickets here.

EMMA, SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, CEDAR CITY

Anyone who follows my content knows what a big Jane Austen fan I am. I’ve read her books countless times, seen all the movies and series and adore any chance I get to see an Austen adaptation on the stage. I am also a huge fan of lyricist and composter Paul Gordon. In particular his show Daddy Long Legs is a favorite of mine. This is why I was so disappointed the first time I saw his adaptation of Austen’s Emma at HCTO in 2021. Nevertheless, I decided to give it another try at Utah Shakespeare hoping more measured expectations would help me enjoy it more. Unfortunately I still left thoroughly underwhelmed.

The production of Emma is strong and it was hard for me to believe it is the same stage I had seen The Play that Goes Wrong just the day before. I don’t know how they get such complicated sets taken down and reassembled so quickly. Jason Lajka brings a lot of regal charm to his sets here and Lauren T Roark’s costumes feel expensive and accurate to the regency time period. I also thought it was funny how director Valarie Rachelle stages the actors to come out as a silhouette in the background when they are being discussed by other actors (for instance, Robert Martin in the background when they sing “Robert Martin”)

Aside from the thoroughly bland and unremarkable songs, my main problem with this production is the casting. Cedar City is a college town so I don’t know why they couldn’t have found a younger actress to play Emma and Harriett. Allie Babich and Laura Brennan bring a lot of humor to the roles respectively and have nice voices but they both felt too old for the characters- who’s immaturity are essential to their character arcs.

I love supporting Jane Austen adaptations but I will probably pass on seeing this particular musical again. It just doesn’t do it for me and I find it to be an overlong and tedious watch. I’d rather watch the straight play version of Emma I saw at Parker Theatre earlier this year any day!

a midsummer night’s dream- utah shakespeare festival, cedar city

Despite my experience with theatre and so many productions over the years, I am actually far from an expert on Shakespeare and his plays. Of course, I know the basic stories, but I can’t give the kind of detailed analysis some scholars of his work can do. Nevertheless, the production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Utah Shakespeare Festival was truly outstanding especially under the unique circumstances we experienced on the night of August 19th.

The first 2 acts of the play were a mild drizzle but by the 3rd act moving forward the rain had turned into a torrential downpour. I thought for sure the staging would be canceled, and we wouldn’t get to see the rest of the show but in the grand theatrical tradition of ‘the show must go on’ the actors pushed forward and it made for a very memorable night of theatre.

All the actors were outstanding, many playing dual roles, but the particular standout was Topher Embrey as one of the acting troupe members (or mechanicals.) He brought a ton of humor to his performance and even broke character to comment on the rain several times. It was very impressive. I also really enjoyed Kayland Jordan’s Helena as she is fought over by lovesick Lysander (Aamar-Malik Culbreth) and Demetrius (Ty Fanning.)

The set by Jo Winiarski for this Midsummer was also outsanding with beautiful pillars of light that changed colors as the story grew and changed and a forest backdrop that delivered all the whimsy we needed for a story with Gods and magic. Ann Closs-Farley’s costumes, particularly for Hippolyta, are awe inspiring and often allowed the characters to easily morph and change losing fabric to create new looks right before our eyes.

I do think the mechanicals section almost feels like a different play than the forest plot and I was getting a little fatigued after a while but it still was an outstanding retelling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and one I’d recommend to anyone attending the festival- especially if you can get to see it in the rain! What a treat!