Review: SPRING AWAKENING at Rise Above Performing Arts
by Shanti M. Kennedy - June 11, 2024
Spring Awakening, with music by Duncan Sheik and Lyrics by Steven Sater, takes audiences on a wild ride through the tumultuous seas of adolescence. Exploring themes of attraction, desire, insecurity, and the rollercoaster of young adult life, this electrifying show is a must-see for anyone looking t...
Review: OAK at Urbanite Theatre
by Shanti M. Kennedy - June 03, 2024
Making its World Premiere, OAK is presented at our own Urbanite Theater. When entering the black-box space random hip-hop music is playing, but on closer observance, everything is placed with intention. The mix of music used throughout the story, from old TLC through Tyla’s current Billboard hit Wat...
Review: MARVIN GAYE: PRINCE OF SOUL at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe
by Shanti M. Kennedy - May 06, 2024
WestCoast Black Theatre Troupe revives one of their most popular original shows, Marvin Gaye: Prince of Soul. Created, adapted, and directed by WBTT’s founder, Nate Jacobs, Gaye’s story is told through the narration of his family and friends. Of course, peppered throughout is the enchanted music tha...
Review: HAMILTON at Van Wezel all you could hope for and more
by Jacob Ruscoe - March 29, 2024
Hamilton is one of those musicals that everyone should see at some point. Let’s face it, even non-musical theatre people know of and have most likely seen the production. The show has received heralded reviews at every turn. So it is no surprise that the Broadway touring version of Hamilton that gra...
Review: THE WHITE CHIP at Florida Studio Theater
by Shanti M. Kennedy - March 25, 2024
Another Florida premiere brought to us in Florida Studio Theatre Bowne’s Lab, White Chip brings highly charged raw emotion to the stage. No stone is left unturned in the trials of our main character, Steven, and his journey from being a wild young party boy to a full-blown alcoholic and back to sobr...
Review: LITTLE WOMEN, THE MUSICAL at Van Wezel
by Shanti M. Kennedy - March 11, 2024
What did our critic think of LITTLE WOMEN, THE MUSICAL at Van Wezel? Little Women, the Musical, based on Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel, focuses on the relationship of four sisters while their father is away serving in the Union Army during the Civil War. Loosely based on Alcott’s life, this beloved...