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"Next to Normal," show #865

In Laramie Dawn Woolsey’s director’s note, she writes, “My hope is that our audiences find pieces of themselves reflected in this show…”...

"Hairspray" show #863

The current touring production of Hairspray packs a mighty punch of energy and talent, led by a dynamite Niki Metcalf as Tracy Turnblad,...

"A Strange Loop" show #855

In easily the most vulnerable piece of musical theatre writing I’ve witnessed grace a Broadway stage, Michael R. Jackson’s Pulitzer and...

"MJ: the Musical," show #854

I’ll be honest: I was not totally looking forward to seeing MJ: The Musical. I’m, at best, a moderate appreciator of the late pop icon’s...

"Dear Evan Hansen," show #857

Dear Evan Hansen, your show is one complicated piece, and here’s why: there’s so much to love and so much to cringe at. I want to love...

"Kimberly Akimbo," show #853

Kimberly Akimbo lives with progeria, a rare disease which ages you four-and-a-half times faster than is typical. Victoria Clark is...

"Fun Home," show #845

It’s not often a graphic novel-memoir gets the stage adaptation treatment, let alone a musical stage adaptation, let alone a Tony-winning...

"Follies"

Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman were on to something when they wrote Follies. Often cited as among Sondheim’s top scores, Follies...

"The Little Mermaid," show #844

Sierra Repertory Theatre is a gem because they take on dramas, comedies, Shakespeare, and family musicals with the same gusto and...

"The SpongeBob Musical," show #843

Anyone who follows my blog regularly, or who knows me in general, has been made aware that I am not a fan of The SpongeBob Musical. I...

"Ragtime," show #842

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley is running an intimately cast but mightily performed production of the modern epic musical, Ragtime. I use...

"Rent" show #841

It’s never lost on me that when a theatre group chooses to take on Rent, there is a tall order to be filled. This Pulitzer-winning,...

"Company," show #838

When the recent London production of Company transferred to Broadway, complete with gender-swapping characters and new lyrics, some...

"Hadestown," show #837

I bookended my Best Musical winners with 2020’s title, Hadestown, Anaïs Mitchell’s triumph of musical theatre. The story of Eurydice and...

"Moulin Rouge!," show #836

Moulin Rouge! is a Broadway show that, once you’ve seen the 2001 film, just makes sense to put on stage. After sweeping the 2021 Tony...

"Six," show #835

There are certainly more than six reasons why Six is a fantastic show, but I’ll make it easy on you and just give one: the cast! Adriana...

"Wicked," show #834

The currently touring production of Wicked delivers the goods on the sweeping Schwartz score and Holzman book with energy and commitment...

"Hamilton," show #833

The tour of Hamilton is young, scrappy, and talented! I had the pleasure of seeing this outstanding cast deliver a fantastic performance...

The Road to 1,000: Blog2
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