We've all heard about Hamilton, the Tony winning sensation that has audiences flocking to see it around the country.  You may also be familiar with the Disney film Moana.  Writer/composer Lin-Mauel Miranda was behind both of these.  However, before there was Hamilton or Moana, there was In the Heights.  Miranda is a Hispanic performer who... Continue Reading →

We've all seen the Broadway musicals. They are big and bold and cost a fortune to launch. They have high production values and often times have a “hook” built in to get press and public recognition to help build interest and sale, which are crucial to their success. But not all musicals are created in... Continue Reading →

I had never heard of this musical and many of you may not, but don't let that stop you from seeing it. Some may remember the 1955 Daddy Long Legs movie with Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron. Some may know it was based on a novel written in 1912 of the same name written by... Continue Reading →

Happily ever after... Isn't that how all the stories end? Sondheim mixes several fairy tales into one to explore not just what it takes to get to happily ever after, but what happens after the happily ever after. Blending together the stories of Jack (Arthur Clifford) and the Beanstalk; Cinderella (Courtney Koval), Rapunzel (Rachel Adcock)... Continue Reading →

Farce can be a fickle thing. Comic timing, fast paced, sexual innuendo, physical comedy, mistaken identities, slamming doors, quirky plot twists and people trying to pretend to be someone else are all necessary elements of a great farce. Unnecessary Farce at OCTA has all of these and is a delightfully fun evening (or afternoon) of... Continue Reading →

There is a sort of tradition--though by no means religiously followed--for the Lyric to close out their season with something light. This year, they have followed that tradition with Rossini’s take on the first of Beaumarchais’s Figaro plays. What results is a gleefully silly performance that kept the audience laughing from beginning to end. Count... Continue Reading →

Since their landlord decided not to renew their lease, the Barn Players had to find a new home. After much searching, they have found a home in the Arts Asylum at 9th and Harrison in Kansas City, MO. This is a big move because it's near downtown, miles from their old home. With any move... Continue Reading →

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the key to a long happy life is to never be a soprano in an opera. In "Rigoletto", the story of the titular jester is punctuated when his deeds bring about the defilement and death of his daughter, who is --if anything--utterly blameless. Rigoletto (Leo An,... Continue Reading →

It is no secret that the annual "New Moves" show is this reviewer's favorite part of the ballet season. Devon Carney has once again brought new and emerging choreographers together for a night of being taken to new places. It is always exciting to watch an art form grow before your very eyes, and this... Continue Reading →