NSMT’s ‘The Bodyguard’, the Musical’ Will Thrill Audiences

October 24, 2019November 3, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

(Cheaza Figueroa (Rachel Marron) and the cast of THE BODYGUARD at North Shore Music Theatre thru November 10. Photo by Paul Lyden)

by Tony Annicone

Las Vegas glitz and glam comes to North Shore Music Theatre’s latest musical production, the Boston area premiere of “The Bodyguard, the Musical”, based on the 1992 movie starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner. The stage version debuted in London back in 2012. A superstar is threatened by a stalker, so her manager hires a former Secret Service Agent to protect her. Both of them have a stubborn streak a mile long and both want to be in charge of any situation that arises. The music from the movie won a Grammy Award and the album was # 1 for five months. There are 15 songs in this musical version and Nick Kenkel returns in triumph to direct and choreograph another hit musical at NSMT. His past NSMT hits were “Legally Blonde”, “Chicago”, “Dreamgirls” and “Evita.” He molds his 19 cast members marvelously with their dance steps and their motivation for their characters. He is aided in his task by musical director, Wendall L. Vaughn, who conducts the superb orchestra. The musical numbers sparkle and shine with the energetic cast wowing the crowd completely. The last number of the show encourages the audience to join in the singing and dancing of “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”, and the already standing audience happily obliged after their thunderous standing ovation before the song “I Will Always Love You” was finished.

You Don’t Have to be Jewish to Love New Rep’s ‘Trayf’

October 24, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Zalmy (Ben Swimmer) and Shmuel (David Picariello) in New Rep’s ‘Trayf’

by Linda Chin

“Trayf”. Written by Lindsay Joelle. Directed by Celine Rosenthal. Scenic Design: Grace Laubacher. Lighting Design: Marcella Barbeau. Costume Design: Becca Jewett. Sound Design: Aubrey Dube. Stage Manager: Jenna Worden. Produced by New Repertory Theatre in partnership with Jewish Arts Collaborative, 321 Arsenal St., Watertown through November 3.

Lindsay Joelle’s positively terrific play, Trayf, is the story of Shmuel (David Picariello) and Zalmy (Ben Swimmer), two BFFs who’ve lived in Crown Heights NYC’s Hasidic community since childhood. Now 19, they spend their days cruising the streets of NYC in an RV converted into a Mitzvah Tank, seeking people to converse with about their Jewish faith. Shmuel was gifted the vehicle from his dad, so he’s the duo’s designated driver, and Zalmy’s in charge of navigating and the cassette deck. Zalmy lovingly prepares mixtapes with non-secular, non-trayf music they can listen to. At one point he reveals that he’s listened to Elton John, to which Shmuel asks – with curiosity, protectiveness, and concern – “Is he Jewish?”

‘Saltonstall’s Trial’ Captures Political Madness of Past, Present

October 23, 2019October 23, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Cast of ‘Saltonstall’s Trial’ at the Larcom Theatre in Beverly

by Leslie Rosenberg

‘Saltonstall’s Trial’ – Written by Michael Cormier & Myriam Cyr, Directed by Myriam Cyr; Scenic Design by Cat Stramer; Lighting Design by John Malinowski; Costume Design by Cat Stramer; Produced by Punctuate4 Productions at The Larcom Theatre, 13 Wallis St., Beverly, MA

Do the right thing.

A very important life lesson, but not always an easy thing to do, especially when you find yourself outnumbered, especially when you’re dealing with fear, superstition and suspicion, but mostly when it’s the 1700’s, and you’ve been brought in to assist on the Salem witch trials.

GBSC’s Marie and Rosetta Shines light on Two Unsung (S)Heroes of American Music History

October 22, 2019October 22, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

(Pier Lamia Porter as Marie and Lovely Hoffman as Sister Rosetta in Greater Boston Stage Company’s *‘Marie and Rosetta’*. Photos by Nile Scott Studios)

By Julie-Anne Whitney

‘Marie and Rosetta’ – Written by George Brant, Directed by Pascale Florestal; Music Direction by Erica Telisnor; Scenic Design by Baron E. Pugh; Lighting Design by Kathleen Zhou; Sound Design by John Stone; Costume Design by Michelle Villada. Co-Produced by Greater Boston Stage Company and The Front Porch Arts Collective at 395 Main Street Stoneham, MA through November 10, 2019.

In collaboration with The Front Porch Arts Collective, Greater Boston Stage Company (GBSC) continues their 20th Anniversary Season with the New England premiere of George Brant’s Marie and Rosetta. This 90-minute biographical play with music follows the revolutionary American gospel rock musician, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and her protégée, gospel singer Marie Knight, on the eve of their first rehearsal before embarking on a concert tour that would change their lives forever.

MRT’s ‘Cambodian Rock Band’ will Rock & Raise, Connect & Bind Us

October 21, 2019October 31, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

(Matthew Yee, Peter Sipla, Aja Wiltshire, Eileen Doan, Greg Watanabe in MRT’s “Cambodian Rock Band”. Courtesy Photo Victory Gardens Theater, Pittsburgh, PA/Kristi Jan Hoover)

by Linda Chin

‘Cambodian Rock Band’ – Written by Lauren Yee; Directed by Marti Lyons; Scenic Designer by Yu Shibagaki; Costume Design by Izumi Inaba; Lighting Design by Keith Parham; Sound Design by Mikhail Fiskel; Music Direction by Matt MacNelly. Presented with Victory Gardens Theater and City Theatre Company at the Merrimack Repertory Theatre, at 50 East Merrimack Street through November 10, 2019.

In a classic conversation between parent and child, the child/adolescent/adult-child says, or shouts:
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
And the parent stumbles and stammers in response:
“It’s grown-up business. I didn’t want you to worry. Or, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you wanted to know.”
Or my late mom’s guilt-inducing favorite:
“You’ll understand when you become a mother.”

Trayf is in Eye of the Beholder in New Rep’s ‘Trayf’

October 21, 2019October 21, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

*Jonathan (Nile Scott Hawver), Zalmy (Ben Swimmer) and Shmuel (David Picariello) in New Rep’s ‘Trayf’*

By Shelley A. Sackett

Hasidic teenagers Zalmy and Shmuel, the main characters of the New Repertory Theatre’s “Trayf,” are, at face value, typical 1990s adolescents. They love cruising around New York City in their brand-new van, blasting their favorite music and singing along at the top of their lungs. Their good-natured banter, conversational short cuts and puppy-like rapport reveal a chemistry borne of lifelong friendship. They talk about everything, from music to families to the riddle of sex. Any mother would be proud to claim them as her budding mensches.

Harvard Square Comes Alive Again with “The Rocky Horror Show”

October 20, 2019October 21, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

*(Cast of Moonbox Productions’ “Rocky Horror Show” – Photos by Sharman Altshuler )*

“The Rocky Horror Show”. Music, Lyrics and Book by Richard O’Brien. Directed by David Lucey. Presented by Moonbox Productions, 25 Brattle Street, Cambridge, through November 2.

Recent developments in Cambridge’s iconic Harvard Square have been pretty depressing. An entire block of buildings that once housed Curious George as well as my dentist’s office is now kaput, torn down to make way for – get this – a mall. Storefronts that once held funky shops are now banks or empty. Cheap restaurants have all but disappeared. From now until November 2, however, Harvard Square gets its mojo back with Moonbox Productions’ electrifying, dynamic and sexy “The Rocky Horror Show”. The bold and beautiful signage that adorns the windows and door of the former site of Hidden Sweets is the tipoff: this is no ordinary production. Interestingly enough, the film version of the stage show ran at midnight for 28 years at another empty space, the AMC Loew’s Theater.

Good, Clean Fun Abounds in “The SpongeBob Musical”

October 18, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

By Michele Markarian

“The SpongeBob Musical”. Based on the series by Stephen Hillenburg. Book by Kyle Jarrow. Music by various artists. Musical Production Conceived and Directed by Tina Landau. Presented by NETworks Presentations at the Boch Center, Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont Street, Boston, through October 27.

A few years back, a friend and I drove to New York to see the latest incarnation of “Boys in the Band”. While we waited for the show to start, we started chatting with the older guy next to us, who turned out to be a frequent theatregoer and Manhattan resident. “What’s the best show you’ve seen all year?” we asked him. “This may sound a little crazy, but The SpongeBob Musical”, he told us, before revealing that he’d seen it something like three times. We looked at each other sideways, but were intrigued enough to jump on the opportunity to see “The SpongeBob Musical” when it rolled into town. Sure enough, the guy was right. From start to finish, it’s fun, engaging, and spectacular to look at.

‘Saltonstall’s Trial’ An Eerie Reminder of Mob Rule

October 17, 2019October 26, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

By Sheila Barth

BOX INFO: The original play, “Saltonstall’s Trial,” continues with its full production debut October 25-27: Oct. 24-26 at 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 26, 27, at 2:30 p.m. at the 560-seat Larcom Theatre, 13 Wallis St., downtown Beverly. Tickets start at $19.50. punctuate4.org, 978-390-2425, thelarcom.org.

There are many reasons to see Punctuate4’s production of playwright-director Miriam Cyr and Michael Cormier’s timely, two-act, two-and-a-half-hour production of “Saltonstall: One Man’s Stand Against the Salem Witch Trials” this week.

Throughout October, the entire North Shore resonates with eerie, bizarre reminders of our forefathers’ shame – the two-year scourge of witchcraft hysteria – when pious-but-bad neighbors accused innocents of bearing the “mark of the devil” and committing supernatural, evil acts, usually during the night. Accusers further claimed the “witch” conjured up demonic helpers, throwing young church-going girls and everyone else into uncontrollable fits, hysterical fear, and illness.

Exploring Native Gardens at Gloucester Stage

October 13, 2019 michaelhobanLeave a comment

(Leigh Strimbeck, Alaina Fragoso, Eduardo Ruiz, Patrick Shea in ‘Native Gardens’ at Gloucester Stage. Photos by Jason Grow)

Review by James Wilkinson

Native Gardens – Written by Karen Zacarias. Directed by Kelly Galvin. Scenic Design: Lindsay Genevieve Fuori. Lighting Design: Marcella Barbeau. Costume Design: Chelsea Kerl. Sound Design: Alexis Rappaport. Props Design: Emme Shaw. Produced by Gloucester Stage Company, 267 E. Main St., Gloucester through October 20.

It was idle curiosity, more than any other factor, that brought me to Gloucester Stage Company’s production of Native Gardens. The play by Karen Zacarias made Theatre Communication Group’s list of the most produced plays for the 2018/2019 season (tying for placement with Paula Vogel’s Indecent), and I think that the achievement means something about where we (and that’s the collective “we”) are right now. In an age where more plays than ever are being written and with the canon of producible plays being so vast, something about this play managed to capture the attention of audiences across the country (or maybe it’s more appropriate to say that it managed to captured the attention of the regional theater Artistic Directors). All art is reflective of the artist, but popular art is reflective of the culture. I missed the Merrimack Repertory Theatre production last year, but now the play has come to Gloucester Stage and I wasn’t going to miss the chance to partake and see just who it is we all are.