theatre review - THE SUBMISSION - Nearly Naked Theatre - June 29, 2018

Devon Nickel and A.P. Nuri
Photo by Laura Durant

Click here for more information on this production that runs through July 14th.

"Jeff Talbott's 2011 play The Submission is a fairly well written drama that explores the issues of race, racial stereotypes and bigotry. Nearly Naked Theatre's production has direction that is clear and concise and is well acted, with a cast who perfectly embody their roles. While I have a few issues with the play itself, it is an intriguing drama with an interesting plot and themes that resonate........ " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - LITTLE WARS - Arizona Women's Theatre Company - June 28, 2018

KatiBelle Collins and Kathi Osborne
photo by Laura Durant

Click here for more information on this production that runs through July 8th.

"Steven Carl McCasland's Little Wars, which presents an imaginary meeting between such well-known, historical literary figures as Gertrude Stein, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker, and Agatha Christie, is an intriguing drama that blends fact and fiction and takes place in France right before Hitler invaded. The play is receiving its Arizona premiere from Arizona Women's Theater Company in a well-cast and astutely directed production...McCasland's script is well plotted and his dialogue is realistic, with each woman delivering lines that are in distinct voices and are character specific. There is also an abundance of nuance in each of the characters....However, there is a good amount of artistic liberty taken in the piece...Joy Bingham Strimple...has directed her cast to deliver realistic portrayals of these incredibly strong women. As Stein, KatiBelle Collins is bossy, authoritative and argumentative. Yet we also see from Collins' assured performance the love, trust and passion Stein feels for not only Toklas and her work but for all of these women. Her monologue, when she ponders "Why am I not normal?" is not only very well written but incredibly well delivered. Kathi Osborne's no-nonsense approach to Hellman creates a character infused with realism, strength and power. ....While some of the characters as depicted are slightly sanitized from reality, the piece is full of honest emotions and presents many difficult topics. It is a powerful play that depicts the strength, vulnerabilities and power of these famous women set against the dangerous realities of Hitler's Germany while also focusing on topics such as rape, misogyny and homophobia, which are, unfortunately, still relevant today. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY - Mesa Community College Theatre and Film Arts - April 20, 2018

the cast
photo by Kiri Malolo

Click here for more information on this production that runs through April 28th.

"...Anne Washburn's Mr. Burns, a post-electric play takes our fascination with pop culture and TV shows, and with the classic animated sitcom "The Simpsons" in particular, to new heights as she crafts an odd though entirely intriguing black comedy set in a post-apocalyptic future. While it's a bit long and the third act will clearly have some audience members scratching their heads in either boredom or confusion, or both, Mesa Community College's production features a cast who do well to balance the comedy and drama under Ron May's astute direction..." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - THE COLOR PURPLE - National Tour: ASU Gammage - March 17, 2018

Click here for more information on this production that runs through April 22nd.

"Based on Alice Walker's novel, The Color Purple is a moving and beautiful, yet also slightly sad, musical journey of one African-American woman and the people in her life, set over a forty-year period. While the show is somewhat disjointed, and the score isn't entirely memorable, the national tour of the musical, which plays at ASU Gammage through April 22nd, features several individuals who understudied or played their roles in the recent Tony-winning revival of the show and, with their stellar contributions, is a rich and emotional experience.... However, the score, which is a mostly forgettable combination of gospel, blues and jazz, and the book, which includes very little dialogue and isn't much more than a series of strung together scenes that hit the major plot points of the novel, leave much to be desired in giving clarity to both the changing time periods and some of the development of the people in Celie's life...The lack of set doesn't help at all in determining the location or period of the scenes...fortunately, Doyle has ensured his actors excel in their portrayals with performances that are rich, nuanced and full of fire.." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY - Arizona Broadway Theatre - March 15, 2018

Cassandra Klaphake and Bryant Martin
Photo by Scott Samplin

Click here for more information on this production that runs through May 13th.

"... a simple yet compelling story of two lost souls who form a deep connection over just a few short days in rural Iowa. While I have some issues with the show itself...the musical adaptation works very well in a rewarding and intimate production at Arizona Broadway Theatre...While the score is great, and includes a wide range of musical styles, there are a lot of romantic ballads and, with the simple plot, even though it is portrayed realistically, it still feels a bit long...With a voice that easily maneuvers its way through the challenging score and a natural acting style that excellently portrays the motherly compassionate traits of this woman, while also beautifully demonstrating the challenges that Francesca faces, this is the best performance I've seen from (Cassandra) Klaphake...As Robert...Bryant Martin injects an element of quiet mystery and a beautiful singing voice that is polished and pure...The plot does require the two leads fall for each other almost immediately, which Klaphake and Martin maneuver through admirably, though the change from strangers to lovers is a bit too dramatic. I have to believe the connection and progression will be more realistic after they have a few more performances under their belts...may not be a perfect show, but with a beautiful score and a very good cast, the intimate production that Arizona Broadway Theatre is presenting does well to deliver on the emotional choices and decisions that Francesca and Robert make... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - LEGALLY BLONDE - ASU Lyric Opera Theatre - April 13, 2018

Caelan Creaser, Drake Sherman, and Cast
photo by Tim Trumble

Click here for more information on this production that runs through April 22nd.

"The sleeper 2001 film Legally Blonde, which starred Reese Witherspoon, was adapted into the 2007 Broadway musical that has become a frequent choice of regional theatres across the country. With a fun, infectious score and likable characters, it's easy to see why so many theatres present this musical. Along with the fun, warm and rewarding story, ASU Lyric Opera Theatre's production also has a perfect cast, top notch direction, and inspired choreography. The end result is both joyful and joyous...Caelan Creaser is excellent as Elle. She injects the character with the right combination of spunk, compassion, a big heart, good comic timing, and also a sure-footed serious side to bring Elle vibrantly to life while also letting us see that she has her flaws... Director/choreographer Roy Lightner keeps the pace of the show lively, with swift direction, seamless scene changes, and superb choreography that is infused with humor and always-changing steps and moves..." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - 12 ANGRY JURORS - Zao Theatre - April 12, 2018

the cast
photo by Mickey Bryce

Click here for more information on this production that runs through April 28th.

"12 Angry Jurors is a superb, dramatic ensemble play where each of the twelve actors who play jurors deliberating a murder trial gets a moment in the spotlight. Zao Theatre's production of this popular, well-written play features a good cast and sharp direction which results in a passionate and intense presentation of this classic drama.... Zao's cast is led by Matthew Cary as the lone "not guilty" voting juror, who quietly and slowly works his concerns on the rest of the jurors. ..Cary so simply but naturally and effectively portrays this man who provides the one constant glimmer of hope throughout the play...Janis Webb and Robert Peters are the two obstinate and highly vocal antagonists of the piece. ..They both do well in portraying the opposite side of view from the one that Cary's juror is on...Director Mickey Bryce can be commended for his superb, taut direction...a thought-provoking production of this classic drama with a good cast and firm direction that immediately pull you into the action. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - THE UNDERPANTS GODOT - Nearly Naked Theatre - April 8, 2018

Amie Bjorklund, Jason M. Hammond, and Daniel Zemeida
photo by Laura Durant

Click here for more information on this production that runs through April 28th.

"...I try to always question when someone reinterprets a play or musical, especially when it seems the changes detract from the original intent of the piece. Duncan Pflaster's comedy The Underpants Godot, which is receiving its Arizona and West Coast premiere in a fun, thought-provoking and fairly solid Nearly Naked Theatre production, is a humorous look at the theatre business that focuses on what happens when a director reinterprets Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot where the actors all appear in their underwear or completely nude...a reimagined production still has to serve and enlighten the original work. The Underpants Godot succeeds in meeting that task, as it is an intriguing look into the limits of personal interpretation of a well-known piece of drama while also being a compelling case for the defense of the author's original intent. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - LOW DOWN DIRTY BLUES - Arizona Theatre Company - April 8, 2018

Click here for more information on this production that runs through April 22nd.

"Welcome to Big Mama's, a down and dirty blues club in Chicago where a trio of singers will take you on a two-hour musical journey as they perform over two dozen blues songs. Low Down Dirty Blues, the jukebox musical set at Big Mama's and having its Phoenix premiere at Arizona Theatre Company, may be slight with only a wisp of a story, but the performers in this production are excellent as they infuse the songs with heat, humor, and a big dose of emotion... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

concert review - VANESSA WILLIAMS WITH SETH RUDETSKY - Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts - April 7, 2018

"The final concert in this year's "Broadway @ Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts" series featured multiple Grammy, Emmy and Tony nominee Vanessa Williams. While Williams may not have as vast a Broadway career as past performers in this series, her life story, which has its fair share of ups and downs, is incredibly fascinating. Williams' down to earth and honest conversation about her past was equally matched by her warmth, style, and rich vocal delivery of numerous show tunes and pop hits she's performed over her thirty-year career... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - LITTLE WOMEN - Valley Youth Theatre - April 6, 2018

Kendra Richards, Sara Pansing, Tatum Dial, Stephanie Larson, and Lily Castle
Photo Courtesy of Valley Youth Theatre

Click here for more information on this production that runs through April 22nd.

"... For over twenty years Bobb Cooper has been nurturing and guiding youth of all ages at Valley Youth Theatre, and their production of the musical adaptation of Little Women is a thrilling, emotional journey which features some of the best and brightest youth talent in town. The success of this production is not just a testament to Cooper's keen directorial and casting decisions but also to the dedication and talent of the production's young cast.... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST - Hale Centre Theatre - April 5, 2018

Spencer Dooley, Clara Bentz, Aaron Blanco, Shelby Daeffler, and Laura Soldan
Photo by Dave Dietlein

Click here for more information on this production that runs through May 12th.

"Oscar Wilde's enormously popular comedy The Importance of Being Earnest is infused with a combination of elegance, style, and an abundance of comical bon mots as it pokes fun at social customs in late 1890s England. The witty nature of Wilde's most popular play and the heightened style of the dialogue require a keen attention to detail in order to prove truly successful. Fortunately, Hale Centre Theatre's production features a talented cast who achieve comically rich performances which is matched by direction that expertly balances the humor with the romance of this classic comedy... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - IN THE HEIGHTS - Desert Foothills Theater - April 1, 2018

Reginald Graham, Jonny Ramirez, Sonia Rodriguez Wood, and Issie Ocampo
Photo by Jeremy Andorfer of Vangelis Productions

Click here for more information on this production that runs through April 15th.

".Long before composer Lin-Manuel Miranda turned the life of Alexander Hamilton into the blockbuster, epic musical Hamilton, he created, with bookwriter Quiara Alegría Hudes, In the Heights, a beautiful and simple, yet just as impressive, musical that captures the hopes and dreams of a group of neighbors in New York City. In the Heights follows a young shop owner and the members of his tightknit community as they encounter change and discover what it means to be "home." With just a few small shortcomings, Desert Foothills Theater's production of this Tony-winning musical features an exceptional cast and solid direction, along with an in-the-round design that brings an intimacy and immediacy to this universal story...." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - HENRY IV, PART I - Southwest Shakespeare Company - March 24, 2018

Tony Latham and Joshua Murphy and Cast
photo by Laura Durant

Click here for more information on this production that runs through April 7th.

"Long before "Game of Thrones" portrayed fictional families pitted against each other in a fight to see who will ultimately reign over a kingdom, William Shakespeare's history plays depicted a combination of actual and fictional figures in 15th century England and dramatized the feuds and friendships between such monarchs as Richard II and Henry IV. Southwest Shakespeare Company's production of Henry IV, Part I features a small ensemble of very talented actors and spirited direction that effectively balances the humor and drama in this Shakespeare classic.... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - SPIN - Brelby Theatre Company - March 25, 2018

Melody Chrispen (far right) and Cast
photo by Shelby Maticic

Click here for more information on this production that runs through April 14th.

"Anyone who has ever been a member of a group of people that spends a lot of time together knows that these close relationships can quickly evolve into a surrogate family who collectively experience both the highs and lows of life. With realistic dialogue and characters that represent a diverse group of individuals, Shelby Maticic's drama, Spin, playing in a world premiere production at Brelby Theatre through April 14th, features a solid cast who throw themselves (literally and figuratively) into this story of a family that is formed by a group of female roller derby skaters who bond together as they face good times and bad.... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT - Don Bluth Front Row Theatre - March 22, 2018

Harmon Swartz and Katherine Martin
Photo Courtesy Don Bluth Front Row Theatre

Click here for more information on this production that runs through April 28th.

"The "screwball comedy" was a staple on the silver screen in the 1930s and '40s. One of the best in this genre, featuring witty, fast-paced dialogue and madcap adventures and also centering around the battle of the sexes or the struggle between the classes, was It Happened One Night. This Frank Capra directed movie wasn't only a box office smash but also won big at the Oscars, receiving the top five awards for Best Picture, Director, Actress, Actor and Screenplay. That screenplay, written by Robert Riskin, with additional input from director Frank Capra, has been brought to life on stage at the Don Bluth Front Row Theatre in Scottsdale in a production that is as rewarding, rich and whimsical as the original film, with standout performances by Katherine Martin and Harmon Swartz... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

cabaret review - Christine Ebersole with Seth Rudetsky - Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts - March 17, 2018

highlights from local critics reviews - (click link at bottom of each review to read complete review)

"Early in her career, two-time Tony winner Christine Ebersole served as both an understudy and a last minute replacement for the female lead of two big Broadway musicals. Last week, Ebersole found herself back in this position when she took over for Laura Benanti, who had to bow out due to a family emergency, for a concert with Seth Rudetsky at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts....Even after enduring a nightmarish 12-hour journey to get to Arizona from New York due to having to change to a later flight after mechanical problems on their first flight, Ebersole was in spectacular voice and entertained the audience with stories of her past, both comical and serious.. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - THE KING AND I - National Tour: ASU Gammage - March 20, 2018

Jose Llana
photo by Matthew Murphy

Click here for more information on this production that runs through March 25th.

"The classic musicals of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II offer rich characters, intriguing storylines and an abundance of well written and beautiful songs. Their 1951 musical The King and I, which focuses on the relationship between the King of Siam and an English schoolteacher in the 1860s, is full of intrigue and rewarding characters as well as an abundance of classic show tunes. The National Tour of the recent award-winning Lincoln Center production comes to Tempe for a week-long run in a production that is as rich and rewarding as Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved show. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

concert review - Rob Kapilow: What Makes It Great? Finishing the Hat: The Songs of Stephen Sondheim - Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts - March 15, 2018

"I believe that Stephen Sondheim is the most influential Broadway composer of the past 50 years. He is a writer who is frequently praised for his intricate, complex and succinct lyrics that perfectly state what his characters feel and want to say. But what about his music?
Last week Rob Kapilow, a composer and teacher who for over 20 years has presented his "What Makes It Great?" series of concerts, was in Scottsdale to explore the musical structure of Sondheim's work in an evening that delved deep inside four of Sondheim's songs. Kapilow's concerts deconstruct and explore the music of famous composers, both classical and contemporary. This one was an eye-opening view into the mind of a brilliant musician..." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - GIDION'S KNOT - Stray Cat Theatre - March 10, 2018

Alison Campbell and Shari Watts
photo by John Groseclose

Click here for more information on this production that runs through March 24th.

".Something very bad has just happened in Johnna Adams' Gidion's Knot, an intriguing drama that pits two very different women in a room for 75 minutes while secrets and truths are revealed about what led up to this unfortunate, horrible event. The room where the play is set is a fifth-grade classroom and the two women are the teacher of the class and the mother of one of her students, who just committed suicide. Though not a perfect play, Stray Cat Theatre's co-production with Tempe Center for the Arts is well directed with two actresses who exquisitely deliver nuanced performances full of heightened, raw and deep emotions....The drawback to the play is that...the debate never feels truly fair...Also, for a 75-minute one act play, the facts take a very long time to be revealed... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET - Phoenix Theatre - March 9, 2018

Kavan Hashemian, Christopher Lash, Kurt Jenkins, Alyssa Chiarello, Bill Scott Sheets, and Austin Case
Photo by Reg Madison Photography

Click here for more information on this production that runs through April 15.

"Based on an actual event, Million Dollar Quartet documents one famous night in the lives of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley. Phoenix Theatre's area premiere of this upbeat jukebox musical features two dozen hit songs and four talented musicians who expertly embody these iconic rock and country legends. The end result is a crowd-pleasing, toe-tapping, thrilling and energetic fact-based musical journey to the past..." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - NO, NO, NANETTE - Hale Centre Theatre - February 15, 2018

Click here for more information on this production that runs through March 31st.

"It may not be a well known musical today and the score only has a few memorable songs, including the standards "Tea for Two" and "I Want to Be Happy," but Hale Centre Theatre's production of No, No, Nanette amounts to two hours of sheer, infectious joy. The combination of a cast that dances and dances and dances some more, including a stellar performance from Sydney Davis whose tap dancing will put a huge smile on your face, with Hale's usual high quality creative elements, including Cambrian James' direction and choreography, instills the entire show with a tremendous amount of fun and makes for perfect escapism from the troubles of today.... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - KINKY BOOTS - National Tour: Broadway at the Orpheum Theatre - February 16, 2018

Click here for more information on this production that runs through February 18th.

"Kinky Boots, the five-time Tony Winning Broadway musical, is a fun and infectious well-crafted "feel good" show that features a beautiful upbeat score by pop icon Cyndi Lauper. About to celebrate its fifth anniversary of opening on Broadway, the second national tour of the show comes to Phoenix for a five-performance run and while this production is slightly reduced from the Broadway and first national tour versions, the cast is stellar and the message about acceptance and being true to yourself shines through brightly in full force.. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - DRIVING MISS DAISY - Desert Foothills Theater - February 3, 2018

Barbara McBain and T.A. Burrows
Photo by Leanne Brodie

Click here for more information on this production that runs through February 11th.

"The power and strength of a friendship that develops between two people from opposite backgrounds is at the core of Alfred Uhry's powerful Driving Miss Daisy. This popular play, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was adapted into the successful Oscar-winning 1989 film, is receiving an impressive production from Desert Foothills Theater with exceptional performances from Barbara McBain and T.A. Burrows.,,. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - HAND TO GOD - Stray Cat Theatre / Phoenix Theatre - February 2, 2018

Eric Zaklukiewicz
photo by John Groseclose

Click here for more information on this production that runs through February 25th.

"If you thought the puppets in Avenue Q were filthy and foulmouthed, wait until you meet Tyrone, the profanity-spewing sock puppet from hell who causes plenty of havoc in Robert Askins' hilarious Hand to God. The Obie-winning, Tony-nominated Best Play makes its Valley debut in a spectacular co-production from Stray Cat Theatre and Phoenix Theatre, featuring one of the best casts I've ever seen in a Stray Cat show, led by Eric Zaklukiewicz who is brilliant as both the shy, troubled teen Jason and his hand puppet Tyrone, who has a ferocious mind of his own....Director Ron May scores once again in finding a cast who are able to exceptionally portray both the humor and heartfelt sides of this group of troubled souls ..Even though it is a comedy, the truth that May and his cast bring to this play and their parts is exquisite.... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - HAMILTON - National Tour: ASU Gammage - January 31, 2018

the national tour cast
photo by Joan Marcus

Click here for more information on this production that runs through February 25th.

"You'd probably have to be living under a rock to not know anything about the musical phenomenon that is Hamilton....With the musical on the verge of total world domination, the big question is, "does Hamilton live up to the hype?" The answer is a resounding "yes"! ...It's been a while since there has been a musical that has changed the way we think about the art form. I'd have to go back about 30 years to when Les Misérables first took the world by storm to find a piece of musical theatre that found a similar way to bring an epic story to life so vibrantly on stage. While Hamilton doesn't quite have the same emotional payoff that Les Misérables has (chalk that up somewhat to the slight disconnection from the audience to the cast that this show will face when playing very large venues as it tours across the country), it has an infectious energy and modern sensibility that Les Misérables didn't. Miranda's intricate and massive score, the use of the multi-racial cast, the vibrant and distinct creative elements, and Kail's focused and precise direction come together to make this an epic masterpiece. Hamilton makes history accessible like never before by using modern musical styles and a cast that is more representative of the make-up of America to humanize and breathe life into the people in our history books.. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

concert review - KELLI O'HARA - Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts - January 27, 2018

Kelli O'Hara
Photo by Laura Marie Duncan

"This past Saturday night kicked off the first of four concerts in the 2018 "Broadway @ Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts" series with a sublime evening of song and story featuring Tony winner Kelli O'Hara. The series features popular Sirius XM radio host Seth Rudetsky as host and pianist, with a different Broadway performer each evening. Rudetsky draws on his expert knowledge of Broadway to engage each guest to speak about their experiences in an informative and spontaneous conversation in between songs. O'Hara's charming and spunky personality and soaring voice brought both plenty of laughs and poignancy during the discussion and her sublime and pristine vocal abilities were rewarded with not only applause but also a prolonged standing ovation at the end of the evening....Future dates for shows in this year's season of "Broadway @ Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts," are Megan Hilty on February 24, Kristin Chenoweth on March 17 and Vanessa Williams on April 7.. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

review - IT'S ONLY A PLAY - Phoenix Theatre - January 26, 2018

Tony Latham, Debra K. Stevens, Toby Yatso, D. Scott Withers, Pasha Yamotahari, Rusty Ferracane, and Ashley Stults
photo by Reg Madison Photography

Click here for more information on this production that runs through February 11th.

"...Terrence McNally's comedy It's Only a Play... stars some of the top comic actors in the Valley. While the play itself is a bit long and includes a lot of famous name dropping and backstage drama that might go over the heads of those not well versed in the in-depth knowledge of the business of Broadway and New York City, it still amounts to a fun, charming and often times hilarious ride through the nonstop behind the scenes theatrics at the opening night party for a new Broadway play...McNally's characters are funny and interesting individuals that are fairly fleshed out and three dimensional, though they are also almost all narcissists who truly only care about themselves. ..Director Matthew Wiener has assembled a cast of gifted comedians who get some big laughs from McNally's funny script, though not every joke lands and a few aren't delivered as successfully as they could be. Chalk that up partly to the unfamiliarity of some of the names that are dropped that are very specific to New York and Broadway as well as the somewhat uneven tone and direction the play goes in the second half of the second act which pads out the play and shortchanges some of the humor of the show.... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - CAVE BOYS - Paradise Valley Community College - February 1, 2018

Joey Whelan (foreground), and Jason Jones, Larak Rogers, and Taylor McMurray (background)
Photo by Courtney Kenyon

Click here for more information on this production that runs through February 4th.

"Making its world premiere at Paradise Valley Community College is Anne Negri's Cave Boys, an intriguing 80-minute play set in France during World War II that's based on a true story. ...Much is said in the play about the immigrants who have come to Montignac from places far away and the confusion about whether they can be trusted or if their intentions are suspicious, and the similarity to the current plight of immigrants to the U.S. is especially relevant. Negri's Cave Boys makes a fine addition to her body of plays for young audiences and PVCC's world premiere production features a cast, direction, and creative elements that do justice to the important historical and true story on which the play is based. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - THE SNOWY DAY AND OTHER STORIES - Childsplay - January 28, 2018

Nathan Alfred, Andre Johnson, and Savannah Alfred
photo by Tim Trumble

Click here for more information on this production that runs through March 11th.

"...I had a huge smile on my face throughout. While it provides a good introduction to the wonder of live theatre for children by using theatrical elements to let childhood adventures that youngsters can easily identify with play out it from of them, it also allows grownups to return to the simple wonders of childhood and experience just how enchanting and delightful the small moments in a child's life can be.. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - JERSEY BOYS - National Tour: Broadway at the Orpheum Theatre - January 23, 2018

Chris Stevens, Jonny Wexler, Tommaso Antico, and Corey Greenan
photo by Joan Marcus

Click here for more information on this production that runs through January 28th.


"...part docudrama, part rock concert, Jersey Boys...tells the true behind the scenes story of how four guys from New Jersey became the pop sensation The Four Seasons. The national tour of the Tony winning show is in town for a week-long run in a production with a talented cast led by Jonny Wexler, who is excellent as the group's lead singer, Frankie Valli....a gifted cast who effectively evoke the foursome with crisp creative elements and smart direction that are modeled on the original Broadway production. It is a show filled with the rich and intriguing story of the struggles these men endured to make music that is still well-known today, and the combination of the true story with so many hit songs is what makes Jersey Boys incredibly entertaining.. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - CABARET - Spotlight Youth Theatre - January 20, 2018

Aaron Brown and Sophia Donnell
Photo by Joanne Wastchak

Click here for more information on this production that runs through January 28th.

"... another stunning example of Kenny Grossman's expert directorial abilities and the amount of amazing youth talent in the Valley....In her Spotlight debut, Sophia Donnell is a knock-out as Sally. ..Donnell's performance is one of the best I've seen in a youth production this season. Vincent Pugliese is cunning, lovable, fearless, scary, and forcefully commanding as the Emcee. ..As Cliff, Aaron Brown evokes the realistic sincerity of a young writer as well as an appropriate level of both hesitancy and recklessness once Sally comes into his life. ...With an excellent cast and superb direction, Spotlight's Cabaret is especially potent and shocking. It is a production that explodes with grit and glamour, while also being raw and realistic in portraying the immediacy and heartbreaking horrors of Nazism. Some people don't think a youth theatre should present shows that have serious, adult themes like Cabaret, but when it's done with such honesty and emotion it's hard to argue why they shouldn't." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - VERDICT - January 19, 2018

Bella Tindall, Carrie Ellen Jones, and Peter Cunniff
Photo by Renee Ashlock

Click here for more information on this production that runs through March 4th.

".In Agatha Christie's Verdict, the famous mystery writer goes against her signature style that she so skillfully exhibits in her other plays and books. Instead of slowly providing clues and character's motives, to have the audience guess "whodunit?," she crafts an interesting and intriguing expose into the finer details of just what happens in the aftermath of a murder.
... Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre's production of this psychological drama features astute direction and a fine cast led by Peter Cunniff, who delivers a superb portrayal in his first lead role in a straight play after appearing in dozens of musicals in town...." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - THE GRADUATE - Mesa Encore Theatre - January 18, 2018

Christian Boden and Kim Lavelle
Photo by Candice Thornton

Click here for more information on this production that runs through January 28th.

"The 1967 film The Graduate is a classic movie that still stands today as a biting satire on the young, misunderstood and delusional youth of the 1960s and their bored, materialistic, two dimensional and unappreciated parents. Therefore, I'm not quite certain what's to gain from a stage adaptation when the film said exactly what it needed to say under Mike Nichols' expert direction. Terry Johnson adapted the film screenplay, and the 1963 novel by Charles Webb that the film was based on, into a faithful stage version that loses much of the visual starkness of the movie and adds in several new and not exactly necessary scenes. Mesa Encore Theatre's production does a good job of instilling the requisite anti-establishment tone of the piece and, while the entire cast is fine, Kim Lavelle is simply sublime as the sexy seductress Mrs. Robinson...." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - SHOW BOAT - Arizona Broadway Theatre - January 14, 2018

Jamie Parnell and Brittany Santos (center) and Cast
photo by Scott Samplin

Click here for more information on this production that runs through February 10th.

"When Show Boat premiered in 1927 it was hailed as a landmark musical of the time, as it was one of the first shows to successfully combine both comedy and drama with a story that featured a wide range of characters, including parts played by both white and African-American actors. ...focused on such serious topics as racism, addiction and abandonment....was almost like the Hamilton of its time in that it completely changed the way the musical art form was and would ever be again....With a cast who expertly embody their characters and whose voices deliver some stunning vocals on the show's many classic songs, Arizona Broadway Theatre presents a slightly scaled down and edited version of this groundbreaking show, providing a a beautiful production of this rarely produced American musical classic..." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - LIFE COULD BE A DREAM - Hale Centre Theatre - January 16, 2018

Micah Jondel DeShazer, Kale Burr, Angela Kriese, Vinny Chavez, and Danny Karapetian
Photo by Nick Woodward-Shaw

Click here for more information on this production that runs through April 17th.

"Roger Bean can pretty much be given the title of "King of the Jukebox Musical." The creator of the hit revue The Marvelous Wonderettes, along with its numerous sequels, Bean has also crafted over half a dozen other shows that feature familiar tunes from the 1950s, '60s and '70s. Hale Centre Theatre is currently presenting one of his latest creations, Life Could Be a Dream, and though it isn't quite on the same level as Wonderettes... it still makes for a fun, charming and heartwarming journey back in time with a cast who deliver two dozen well-known tunes with an infectious glee....Hale's cast features five performers who all have numerous previous credits appearing on the Hale stage. Vinny Chavez, Kale Burr and Danny Karapetian make a winning threesome as the school friends Denny, Eugene and Wally, respectively, while Micah Jondel DeShazer does well as the quiet loner Skip and Angela Kriese is charming as Lois. All five create unique individuals while providing a good mix of vocal contributions from solos to harmonies that blend beautifully under Lincoln Wright's astute music direction....Cambrian James' direction and choreography infuse the entire production with a wealth of fun moments, with plenty of humor and always changing dance moves that feature synchronized period moves delivered well by the cast. ...It may be a lightweight musical but it still results in a fun trip down memory lane that is filled with laughs and over two dozen tunes of yesteryear. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - ERMA BOMBECK: AT WIT'S END - Fountain Hills Theater - January 13, 2018

Cathy Dresbach
photo by Carly Weekley

Click here for more information on this production that runs through January 28th.

"...Erma Bombeck was a household name and the voice of reason for housewives and homemakers across the country. Bombeck, who was a wife and mother of three, found great success due to her uncanny ability to write in her syndicated columns and books what people across America were thinking. Fountain Hills Theater presents the Valley premiere of the new one woman show, Erma Bombeck: At Wit's End, which features one of Phoenix's favorite comical actresses, Cathy Dresbach, as Bombeck. While the one act play may be slight, Dresbach's wry delivery and ability to breath life into the somewhat disjointed script results in a fun romp through the past...does a fairly good job of painting the backstory to how Bombeck became a success while folding in many of her funny lines and quotable quips. But there aren't a lot of layers or much substance in the show, which barely runs over an hour. ...What's also missing is any drama or a more in-depth account of the trials and tribulations she went through to become as successful as she did. ...Director Ben Tyler and Dresbach do a good job bringing a liveliness to this slightly static show. ...Dresbach is a gifted comic and knows how to deliver some of Bombeck's most famous lines to get laughs.... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - GORE VIDAL'S THE BEST MAN - Compass Players - January 12, 2018

C.D. Macaulay and Steve Murphy
Photo by John Menard

Click here for more information on this production that runs through January 28th.

"...with today's politically charged climate Gore Vidal's The Best Man feels like it could have been written as a biting satire and cautionary tale of the result of last year's election. ...Director Jeanna Michaels has assembled a very competent cast to portray the vast range of characters. ...Steve Murphy and Matthew Cary portray Russell and Cantwell, respectively, and they are both well equipped to deliver the necessary gravitas of these vastly different opponents. ...C.D. Macaulay is excellent as the former president...Compass Players' production proves that Gore Vidal's The Best Man is still fresh and, unfortunately, still relevant today. Though the fact that some of the dialogue gets laughs now...only shows how forward-thinking Vidal was in crafting this intriguing expose into the political wheeling and dealing that goes on behind closed doors and how unfortunate and disgraceful the state of politics has become.. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - MAN OF LA MANCHA - Arizona Theatre Company - January 11, 2018

Philip Hernandez and Carlos Lopez
photo by Tim Fuller

Click here for more information on this production that runs through January 28th.

"Taking a classic musical that is beloved and cherished by many and changing its time period, style of music, and overall feel and visual theme can often prove to be an exercise in futility. Therefore, I'm happy to say that Arizona Theatre Company's production of Man of La Mancha, which adds Spanish and flamenco influenced song and dance to the score and changes the time period from the Spanish Inquisition of the late 16th century to the 1950s Franco-led regime, proves to be exceptionally vibrant and full of life. It's like a breath of fresh new air has been instilled into this 50-year-old classic musical and the end result is one of the best shows I've seen at ATC as well as one of the most exceptional productions I've witnessed since reviewing shows here in the Valley..... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

theatre review - SEE HOW THEY RUN - Hale Centre Theatre - December 30, 2017

Lindsay Hope, Vinny Chavez, Ami Porter, Jacob Goodman, and Alexis Harris
photo by Nick Woodward-Shaw

Click here for more information on this production that runs through February 10th.

"Philip King's See How They Run may not be as well known as other classic farcical comedies such as Lend Me a Tenor, but it sure amounts to one fun and funny farce. With the necessary requirements of split-second timing and performances that go far but don't go too far over the edge into caricature, farce is always hard to pull off well. Fortunately, Hale Centre Theatre's cast and creative team hit the ground running and virtually never stop in a production that features excellent physical comedy and a nonstop abundance of hijinks and hilarity....While the play takes about 15 minutes to set the scene and introduce the plot and all of the characters, and some of that is a little slow going to completely jell. Once the insanity starts, the punchlines fly and the parade of characters start to run into and out of the Vicar's house, and you truly appreciate how well crafted King's script is. He even adds a fitting coda at the end for a perfectly hilarious punch. Under Cambrian James' spotless direction...The entire cast are adept at delivering the lunacy and split-second timing the play requires, along with perfectly played facial expressions, double takes, and well delivered punchlines. ...See How They Run is a well written comedy and with a firecracker cast and polished direction. Hale's excellent production is first-rate, fresh, funny and entirely delightful.. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)