theatre review - YOU SAY TOMATO I SAY SHUT UP! - Herbeger Theater Center - January 8

"a humorous and heartfelt look into romance, love, parenting, and the love/hate relationship within relationships. There are numerous laugh out loud moments in the witty script. But just as many times when you'll find yourself identifying with the less humorous situations and life lessons that the characters have encountered.  Annabelle Gurwitch and Jeff Kahn have found a way to not only portray some of their very personal experiences on stage but have them solidly connect with the audience. While it might be a "wart's and all" view of relationships, it is also an honest, very funny and realistic view that anyone will relate to." - Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - NANA'S NAUGHTY KNICKERS - The Palms Theatre - January 4

Louise Keeton and Sherry Konjura

"With a game cast and a humorous script, Nana provides a pleasant theatrical experience with a few laugh out loud moments and a lot of chuckles. Nana has its charms and the Palms production does have a winning cast.  Sherry Konjura's direction is skillful, not allowing too much of the shtick to play too broad, with a wink and nod to the audience. While you may know most of what is going to happen from the predictable script, there are still a few surprises in store as well an abundance of charm and good performances in the Palms production of Nana's Naughty Knickers." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)





Photo Credit: Toni Kallen Photography 

theatre review - MURDER FOR TWO - Arizona Theatre Company - January 3

"The 95-minute whodunit is likable enough, but not much more. A brilliant turn from co-creator Joe Kinosian as all of the suspects in the show is the major reason to see this production. But, overall, it's a bit of a letdown in how the frantic nature of the musical and the corny jokes, eccentric characters and convoluted ending don't add up to much when the 'who' in the whodunit is unmasked." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read complete review)

theatre review - THE PRODUCERS - Scottsdale Musical Theater Company - January 2

"Scottsdale Musical Theater Company struck gold with their recent production of the Mel Brooks musical juggernaut The Producers. Not only did they have superb leads and a rousing twenty-plus piece orchestra but also the luxury of fairly elaborate sets, costumes and backdrops, all of which were used for a recent tour of the show and other professional productions. The end result was a hilarious production with almost all top notch aspects."  - Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (Click here to read complete review)