Archive for the ‘Musicals’ Category
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Review: Definitely Not Normal, But Superior — “Next To Normal” at Artists’ Rep.
03 May 2012
There's a lot to recommend this production to theatre goers — it won two Tony's in 2009 for its score, it won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and has Portland's delightful Susannah Mars (of Mars On Life) in the lead role. Most of all, it deals frankly with a risky subject: a seemingly quintessential suburban American family unit's struggle with a family member with multiple diagnoses of mental illness, and how far each family member goes down the rabbit hole of this very real affliction; and, as if that weren't challenge enough, it does it in a musical, no less, without (mostly) every coming off glossy-slick, coy or too easy with its subject matter. That alone is quite the feat to endorse it (and probably what nabbed it that coveted Pulitzer).
There are some some quibbles I had with the play itself — technically, it's more of an operetta than a musical (nearly everything, save a few brief, telling moments, is sung). Is it truly a rock musical? Eh... the bass, drums and guitar rock a bit, but it is more standard Broadway musical-sounding faire with some fuzz pedal than what the Rolling Stone quote would have you believe. Some devices in the play are a bit derivative. And a needlessly mawkish staging of the finale almost jarred me out of the good will of emotive realism (though sung) that had built up until that point. Almost.
But these are small quibbles and not reasons to avoid this production. Quite the contrary — Mars and the other cast members’ artistry, under John Kretzu's skillful direction in a hard piece to pull off, make this a piece of not just a highly engrossing evening of theater and music, but one that can be truly cathartic for both those suffering from mental illness, and for the friends and family feeling entrapped by the on-going also. And throughout our world, who has not been touched in some way by this and wouldn't find it necessary to at least to witness a public voice of this affliction? Just about everyone, as far as I know. -
Preview: The Broadway Rose Theatre Presents – The 40′s Musical – The Andrews Brothers
24 Apr 2012Mistaken identities, madcap humor, and some of the greatest songs of the 1940s fill this hilarious musical comedy. It’s 1945 in the South Pacific, and The Andrews Sisters are scheduled to headline the big USO show, but when a flu outbreak quarantines the girls and they fail to arrive at the big gig, three soldiers find themselves giving the performance of a lifetime!
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Preview: Lakewood Theatre Company Presents – City of Angels
20 Apr 2012Lakewood Theatre Company concludes its 2011-2012 season with the award-winning musical, City of Angels Worlds collide side by side as a writer tries to adapt his book for a Hollywood screenplay, and his fictional private eye tries to solve a crime in the story within the story.
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Review: “Recognition” at PSU Lincoln Hall
23 Mar 2012Christopher Tabor's self-referential production on the lives of wheelchair-bound youth and their caretaker family members who are involved with a “Dancing Wheels” dance troupe for those in wheelchairs, definitely has a lot of potential, especially with its own self-stated goals to “combat cynicism and celebrate life’s ‘everyday heroes.’” There is original music by Tabor, a full 16-piece orchestra for musical numbers and dancers galore in and out of wheelchairs. But instead of hitting its purpose, this production does come off quite syrupy at times, and while Tabor's “Recognition,” his sense of inter-being with these people he finds at a low point in his own career, might work for him personally, it lacks a true connection beyond that, both in the writing of that character with the rest of the cast and with the audience as a whole.
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Preview: Broadway Across America Presents – Million Dollar Quartet
09 Mar 2012Fred Meyer Broadway Across America Portland announces MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET. The Tony Award-winning musical, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is set on December 4, 1956, when an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley together.
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ANNOUNCEMENT: Want to See Wicked For Super Cheap? Got Patience?
05 Mar 2012Fred Meyer Broadway Across America Portland has announced that a day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held daily for WICKED, which will be performing from March 14 - April 8, 2012 at Keller Auditorium.
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Review: Stumptown Stages’ Club Morocco
28 Feb 2012Stumptown Stages has attempted to fashion itself an easy-going evening of swing dancing music and fun with its Club Morocco, complete with a dance/supper club, dancers, crooners, full swing band and a comic gangland trifle.
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Announcement – Broadway Across America Announces 2012-2013 Season
20 Feb 2012I am beyond excited to be posting this latest press release. It’s something that I wait with baited breath for…
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Review: Portland Opera and Broadway Across America Present – Beauty and the Beast
17 Feb 2012The smash hit Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast has come to Portland at the Keller Auditorium. Complete with puppet wolves and much better costumes, it's only here for 8 performances, (closing Sunday evening - 2/19), and you won't want to miss the chance to take the whole family to this one.
