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'Jersey Boys' stands out as great musical
When you’ve seen a great musical a few times (and let’s not mince words, “Jersey Boys” is a great musical) you start to wonder what exactly it is that makes it stand out.As the touring production of...
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Musical talent in 'Once' is evident onstage
When musical theater is special it can be close to magical. Such is the case with “Once,” which is now playing at the Fox Theatre through April 20.I’ve often bemoaned musicals based on movies as being...
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Peppy musical injects design into classic
There is something life-affirming about a light and peppy musical. “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is about as light and peppy as it gets as it takes a biblical story and gives it a...
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'The Wizard of Oz' lives up to iconic movie
Few things in pop culture are as universally iconic as “The Wizard of Oz.” Even if you belong to the .001% of the population who has never seen the movie, phrases like “Follow the yellow brick road,”...
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'Dirty Dancing' may be impressive, but it feels like a pale imitation
When you have a musical adaptation of a movie, the typical approach is to strip-mine the story for a few memorable plot points and then pack the thing with original (mostly lousy) songs. This results...
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'Phantom of the Opera' is what musical theater is all about
Some shows are built for success. The cast, the direction and the venue all hardly matter for some musicals, which boast such a strong infrastructure they are essentially foolproof.“The Phantom of the...
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'Matilda' is as clever as it is entertaining
A good musical needs to have a consistent sensibility that permeates every corner of the production. So many times a show is a jumble of moods and styles to the point it winds up not having anything...
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Production of 'White Christmas' is a crowd-pleasing entertainment extravaganza
There is something to be said for a classic. The combination of familiarity, simplicity and timelessness can be a force to be reckoned with if done well.The touring production of “Irving Berlin’s White...
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'Wicked' is a surefire hit for the whole family
“Wicked” is one of those productions that is a glorious showcase of all that is wonderful and possible on the stage. Its production values and set design are second to none, it boasts some very strong...
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'Newsies' is entirely worthy of success after long, arduous journey
“Newsies” is a show that proves eventually everything finds an audience. Initially a 1992 movie starring a young Christian Bale, the musical was an epic flop and one of Disney’s lowest-grossing movies...
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'Beautiful' has big enough heart to be much more than simple jukebox musical
As a child of the 70s, I grew up with Carole King’s “Tapestry” seemingly always playing in the background.The singer/songwriter’s smash album was a slice of mellow, AM radio gold that defined pop...
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Taking a chance on unproven 'If/Then' is one decision you won't regret
We all have made choices in our lives that have left us wondering how things might have been different if we had selected a different path.The new musical “If/Then,” currently on its first national...
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'The Bridges of Madison County' musical would have been better left on the shelf
Musicals are tricky creatures and not every story lends itself well to the medium. So, just because you can turn a story into a musical, doesn’t mean you should.“The Bridges of Madison County,” which...
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'The Sound of Music' leaves audiences completely thrilled
“The Sound of Music” has been done. It has been iconic and sealed into our imaginations ever since Julie Andrews went twirling around in that Alpine field of flowers. The point is it’s pretty hard to...
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'A Gentleman's Guide ... ' provides laughs with a slight shade of darkness
We’re all entitled to some occasional, light-hearted, murderous fun from time to time. And there’s no better way to harmlessly indulge in a high body count than the thoroughly enjoyable “A Gentleman’s...
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'Finding Neverland' musical actually improves upon the movie it was based on
I have often taken issue with movies being adapted into musicals for the stage. At best, the efforts are forced and, at worst, they are shameless money grabs.But then along comes an exception to my...
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'An American in Paris' is a joy to behold and a must-see for dance enthusiasts
The movie “An American in Paris” was essentially a star vehicle and provided an excuse to have Gene Kelly, at the peak of his career, sing and dance his way across a Technicolor Parisian backdrop.There...
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'Something Rotten!' is a fast-paced mashup of jokes and references to pop...
Sometimes it’s just fun to have a celebration of things you love. The musical “Something Rotten!,” playing now through Feb. 19, at the Fox Theatre, is an unabashed party thrown in the honor of musicals...
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'Cabaret' tackles big ideas and isn’t afraid to eschew a happy ending
One of the more daring productions to hit the stage of the Fox Theatre in a while is the Roundabout Theatre Company’s touring production of “Cabaret.”Now, sure, this stark and overtly sexual version of...
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Ambitious 'Motown the Musical' delivers both too much and not enough
“Motown The Musical” is an ambitious and mostly effective production; however, it ultimately falls victim to the rarest of problems, simultaneously delivering too much and not enough.On paper, this...
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