Tag Archives: Broadway musical

Canadian soprano Sharon Azrieli overcomes sometimes weak material on a crossover album of songs by prolific Broadway composer Frank Wildhorn.

The Gallery Players' sterling new production reminds us that 'A Chorus Line' is not only loaded with some of the greatest show music ever, but one of the best pieces of meta-theater ever devised.

As the Irish Repertory Theatre's revival of 'On a Clear Day You Can See Forever' explores past-life regression, it beautifully, seamlessly renders the illusive with authenticity.

This production was very funny, with energetic dance numbers and stunning vocals. The plot is timeless and engaging, and the good-looking set, colourful costumes, and tight choreography all played a part in making it an entertaining show.

Rather than rehashing what's wrong with 'Chess,' I'll describe why it's still possible to enjoy the Gallery Players' production. The music is perhaps the most advanced artistic evolution of glossy '80s pop. And while I'm sure there are some curmudgeons out there who weren't fans of ABBA's sunny sound, Andersson and Ulvaeus were brilliant songwriters, master craftsmen not only of shiny dance tunes but also of lovely songs of love and loss.

With just four chairs and a keyboard director Scott Guthrie leads a full-tilt cast of five crisply through the sharp and funny series of twists and turns that make this epitome of self-referential shows shine.

The Brazilian jazz pianist goes full-tilt from the start, with dense and intense rhythms, indeed a florid, Lisztian intricacy, on "To Each His Dulcinea." One listen to Elias's substitutions on the theme and you know she's playing with a full quiver of creativity as well as a twinkle in her eye.

The scrappy Secret Theatre, whose snazzy production of 'Cabaret' was an Off-Off-Broadway highlight last year, has done well by another classic big musical with a sinewy 'Gypsy.'

With a good and humourous story, great music, superb singing and acting, and lovely costumes and set, 'The Addams Family' may be almost 80 years old but this grand dame makes for a timeless concept of 'family' that entertains even today.

Kyle Jarrow has conceived a story that puts the show's appealing characters into a doomsday scenario encrusted, sea anemone-style, with a surprisingly persistent if easy to take sociopolitical edge.