Registered Critic: Don Grigware
Marilyn, Mom & Me (Hollywood)
Outstanding virtual reading of a new play by Luke Yankee Marilyn, Mom & Me about the friendship of Eileen Heckart and MM on the set of Bus Stop. Wonderful cast led by Laura Gardner and sensitive direction from Yankee.
This Side Of Crazy
Brilliant writing and direction from Del Shores and sensational performances from Sharon Garrison, Bobbie Eakes, Dale Dickey and Rachel Sorsa. Don’t miss this laugh.out.loud dramedy about Southern women who enjoy making life miserable for one another.
Hamlet The Rock Musical
This new musical will astound you with its bright, upbeat music and brilliant ensemble. Payson Lewis and Kevin Bailey lead the way in opening the doors to this Shakespearean classic, presented in a whole new light. Young and old audiences alike are loving it.
Joanna Gleason: Out of the Eclipse
Joanna Gleason has beautifully written, directed and performed in this exquisite show about coping with the deaths of her parents in 2017. She sings sublimely with a terrific trio the Moontones and with her husband Chris Sarandon as special guest. There is something for everyone to relate to in this show.
Bobby Bennett
Bennett returns in fine style to Sterling’s for the first time in 8 years. The show really takes off with hits by Barry Manilow and many others including Johnny Mathis. “The Twelfth of Never” is rarely heard and wonderfully presented.
CANCELED – A BODY OF WATER
A marvel of a play. Blessing’s insights into human perception are truly brilliant. This is an amazing cast of three with stellar direction from Nan McNamara.
IN MY MIND’S EYE
Bruce Kimmel finely directs one of Doug Haverty’s early plays about a young girl and a woman who are legally blind. He captures blindness in a whole new light by letting us see the person for who she is from the inside out. There is some character confusion at first, but once this is resolved, there is much to enjoy with a dynamic cast.
WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME
Heidi Schreck has written a play that must be seen. Women are not protected under the law of the fourteenth amendment and the fight for equality goes on.
DISNEY’S FROZEN
This is Disney’s answer to Wicked, which is a show I much prefer musically. However, the performances are wonderful, there is much heart, and if you are in to technology and special effects, Frozen is a winner.
MATTHEW BOURNE’S SWAN LAKE
Sensational artistry on display. The ballet of male swans on the lake is breathtaking. Bourne has done it again, taking everyone on a magical ride to the heavens. Tchaikovsky’s music is so powerful.
SUMMER – THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL
High on entertainment value and a must for Donna Summer fans, the book needs work. We are treated to glimpses of Summer’s life and career, but scenes need to be fleshed out more. Donna Summer is the Disco Queen and deserves more than this.
The Music Man
The Music Man is what great musical theatre is all about. Adam Pascal breathes new life into Harold Hill with superior direction from Larry Raben, amazing choreography from Peggy Hickey and great musical direction from Brad Ellis. The entire cast is magnificent.
IN TROUSERS
An intriguing musical of the 70s written by William Finn. It is the first musical to deal with homosexuality as a lifestyle. Even though fast paced, frenetic actually, the music is real and engrossing. The performances from the four actors are amazing.
ANASTASIA
A brilliant look at the fact based story of the Romanov dynasty of Russia and whether Grand Duchess Anastasia survived the execution of the family by the Bolsheviks in 1917. Cast headed by Lila Coogan are superb and the projection design by Aaron Rhyne is amazing putting you right in the middle of St. Petersburg and Paris.
“I Wanna Be Evil: The Story of Eartha Kitt”
Janelle Lynn Randall gives a lasting impression of the passion and heartache that was the one of a kind Eartha Kitt. Looking and sounding like her, Randall is an outstanding performer who will leave her mark just as Kitt did.
LATIN HISTORY FOR MORONS
John Leguizamo is a brilliant talent, but beware his humor is raw and not for young children. Leave the kiddies at home. You will laugh out loud at the characters he creates and what he has to say about reeducating America about Latino history.
Skintight
Joshua Harmon’s ode to a dysfunctional Jewish family, who reunite for the father’s 70th birthday. Harry Groener is sensational as the father who has turned gay and so is Idina Menzel as the skrewed up daughter bent on destroying her father’s happiness as well as her own and that of her son. Spectacular cast and superior writing.
GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL
A wonderful night out for laughs and mirth. It has a splendid cast led by Hal Linden, who is delightful as a horny grandpa and Cathy Rigby as Punk, an unusually funny little country bumpkin who sees life from a different angle.
OTHERWISE ENGAGED
Director Linda Alznauer has led this production with exceeding caution, paying attention to every detail. Michael Robb as Simon is superb, leading a wonderful ensemble. Simon Gray’s writing is bold, astute and fun. Chris Winfield’s set is on target for a London flat in 1975.
LOOSE KNIT
Theresa Rebeck is a glorious playwright. Unexpected encounters arise filled with diabolical humor. The seven actors are sensational under L Flint Esquerra’s fluid direction.