CVLT’s “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” is some kind of wonderful
The Brill Building located at 1650 Broadway Avenue in New York City, New York was the epicenter of the 50s and 60s music revolution. This unassuming structure built in 1931 housed the top music publishers, recording studios and composers of the early rock and roll era. Among the writers were the teams of Carole King/Gerry Goffin and Cynthia Weil/Barry Mann who crafted songs that are remembered to this day: “It Might As Well Rain Until September”, “Be-Bop-A-Lula”, “Some Kind O
Cleveland Public Theatre’s ‘Into The Heart Of One Star” trips the light fantastic
I began writing theater reviews some sixteen odd years ago (and believe me they have sometimes been odd). Once, I took my oldest son, Stephan, to see a show titled “Tender Napalm” at CPT. From what I remember, the stage set was a rather detailed kitchen area with a chrome and linoleum table with padded chrome chairs. There was also a large counter top with sink. Pretty much what you would find in an efficiency apartment from the 50s. There may have been a sofa. At least this
Con-Con’s ‘I Wanna F*** Like Romeo and Juliet’ is almost good
Convergence-Continuum prides itself in being “Cleveland’s up-close and OUT there Theatre” (proof of this can be found in past productions such as the delightfully nutty “The Squirrels”). Their latest romp is titled “I Wanna F*** Like Romeo and Juliet”. It is a gay play that delves into relationship dynamics, Greek mythical creatures, a Catholic Saint and existentialist crisis. Pretty much standard fare for Con-Con. Cupid (Rajah Morales) is a Latino deity who has had it with h
Dobama Theatre’s ‘The Comeuppance’ stays true to its definition
An enigma wrapped up in a conundrum or currently the Dobama Theatre production of “The Comeuppance”. It is the day of the 20 th reunion of St. Anthony’s Class of 2002 in suburban Washington D.C. Five friends have gathered for a drink and “a smoke” before heading to the school for the “official proceedings”. The five who have gathered are remnants of a clique who had called themselves M.E.R.G.E. or Multi-Ethnic Reject Group Experience. These were “the bright kids” who took th
Karamu House’s ‘Jubilee’ will change you for the better
It is music, choreography, harmony, opera, humor, drama, church, costuming, projections, revival, history and herstory all blended in a perfect balance. It is Karamu’s “Jubilee” now on stage in the Jelliffe Theatre at 2355 E. 89 th St. in Cleveland, Ohio. What makes this show so superb is the seamless mixing of story, song and staging that makes the nearly two and a half hours (with intermission) fly by. The Fisk Jubilee Singers were an African-American a cappella group made
Great Lakes Theater’s production of ‘Macbeth’ is crazy good
“Double, double toil and trouble: Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.” “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” “Out damned spot! Out, I say!” “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t.” “Lay on, Macduff, and damned be him that first cries, “Hold, enough!” “There’s daggers in men’s smiles.” “Nothing is but what is not.” “What’s done cannot be undone.” Without a doubt, William Shakespeare is the most quoted
Cleveland Public Theatre’s ‘Haunted’ is a bit of spooky fun
As you enter the stage and seating area of the James Levin Theatre at Cleveland Public Theatre you pass through the front door of a house. On the left is the standard “For Sale” sign advertising “Vincent Jones, Realtor”. What furniture that remains in this distressed listing has the look of abandonment that picked over living rooms across the country have. There are various boxes of flotsam, a pile of chairs with table, ratty curtains, a blow up couch and chair(?) and a book
KeyBank Broadway Series ‘Water For Elephants’ brings the glorious big top on stage
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND BOYS AND GIRLS WELCOME TO THE GREATEST SPECTACLE ON EARTH! Virtually every circus show in the world has been introduced to audiences around the world with this resounding phrase. As can be expected the resulting shows waver between barely passable all the way to extraordinary. It is a huge challenge to recreate the behind the stage feel as well as the three ring presence of the “Greatest Show On Earth” for a touring Broadway spectacle. The touring pro
Cleveland Play House’s ‘Rachmaninoff and the Tsar’ is not to be missed
There is great theater...then there is GREAT THEATER such as Hershey Felder and Jerry Patch’s “Rachmaninoff and the Tsar produced by Cleveland Play House and now on stage in the Allen Theatre at Playhouse Square. This two hour show without intermission flies by with such solid entertainment that you do not even notice the passing of time. It is March of 1943 and Sergei Rachmaninoff (Hershey Felder) has returned to his home in Beverly Hills, California. At 69 years old he is s
Playhouse Square’s touring production of ‘The Choir of Man’ is just what we need!
“Beauty is in the eye of the...beerholder.” Cleveland has a very special place in its heart for “The Choir of Man”. This was the very first show to grace a Playhouse Square stage after Covid. That was back in 2022 when the vaccine was not yet as universal as it is today. It took a tremendous amount of courage for the cast to risk everything simply to bring entertainment to our city. What it did after two years of epidemic uncertainty was to give us hope that perhaps we had tu
