Dorset Theatre Festival’s ‘Queen of the Night’ Spins Evening Magic

August 28, 2021August 28, 2021 michaelhoban1 Comment

Leland Fowler and Danny Johnson in ‘Queen of the Night’ at the Dorset Theatre Festival

‘Queen of the Night’ – Written by travis tate. Directed by Raz Golden. Scenic Design by Christopher and Justin Swader; Lighting Design by Yuki Nakase Link; Sound Design by Megumi Katayama; Costume Design by Fabian Fidel Aguilar. Presented by Dorset Theatre Festival at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester, Vermont through September 4.

By Shelley A. Sackett

Finding one’s seat (a folding beach chair) for Dorset Theatre Festival’s world première of “Queen of the Night” at Southern Vermont Art Center’s rustic plein-air stage is like entering a fairy forest world where reality and theater blend. Night creatures are everywhere – by design – piped in over the sound system, and by Mother Nature in the woods, open field and air that are the outdoor playhouse. As dusk fades to night, the stars complement the strung overhead lights to create a magical haven far removed from the day’s blaring headlines and latest COVID statistics.

Come Hear the Music Play at Seacoast Rep’s ‘Cabaret’

August 26, 2021 michaelhobanLeave a comment

‘Cabaret’ – Written by John Kander (Lyrics); Fred Ebb (Music) and Joe Masteroff (Book). Ben Hart and Brandon James (Co- Directors), Jason Faria and Alyssa Dumas (Choreographers), Suzanne Jones (Music Director), Kelly Gibson (Lighting Design), Andrew Cameron (Sound Design), DW (Costume Design), Elise O’Connell (Properties). Through September 5 at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre, Portsmouth, NH.

By Linda Chin

In a beautiful seaport city called Portsmouth, New Hampshire in a country called America there is a wonderful Theatre…and though this past year has felt like the end of the world, artists and audiences have continued to safely gather there and connect with each other. One of the few theatres in New England performing for in-person (and live-streamed) audiences in 2021, Seacoast Rep closes its summer block with the audience-favorite, the Tony Award-winning musical Cabaret.

Feeling All the Feels Again – Rock of Ages at Company Theatre

August 16, 2021 michaelhoban1 Comment

Cast of ‘Rock of Ages’ Rocks at Company Theatre in Norwell

Directed by Zoe Bradford, Musical Direction by Steve Bass, Choreography by Sally Ashton Forrest, Costume Design by Alison Gordon, Lighting Design by Dean Palmer Jr., Set Design by Ryan Barrow.

by Linda Chin

Welcome to the 80s, or as the show’s narrator (Brad Reinking) delightfully describes, “the Reagan era…a time before most of the people on this stage were born.” Like many musicals, Rock of Ages is thin on plot, a classic girl-meets-boy story of small-town girl and aspiring actress Sherri (Emily Lambert) and city boy and rock star wannabe Drew (Braden Misiaszek) searching for fulfillment in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Their field of dreams – the Bourbon Room – is being targeted by a greedy developer Hertz (Kevin Groppe), and club owner Denise’s (Janis Hudson) attempts to save her business from the wrecking ball, including hiring an egomaniacal rock star Stacee Jaxx (Trey Lundquist/Shane Hennessey) add additional twists to the storyline.

Gloucester Stage Serves Up a Tasty Comic Dish with ‘Seared’

August 11, 2021August 16, 2021 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Jordan Pearson, James Louis Wagner, Matt Monaco, and Emily Bosco in ‘Seared’ at the Windhover Center for the Performing Arts in Rockport. Presented by Gloucester Stage Company. Photos by Jason Grow.

Seared – Directed by Victoria Gruenberg. Scenic Design by Anya Klepikov; Stan Mathabane Sound Design by Stan Mathabane; Lighting Design by Aja M. Jackson; Costume Design by Kathleen Doyle. Presented by Gloucester Stage Company at Windhover Center for the Performing Arts, 257R Granite St, Rockport, MA through August 22

by Mike Hoban

It’s an age-old question. Does making money and achieving a degree of fame from one’s chosen art form somehow diminish the art itself? If your name is Harry, the gifted chef in Theresa Rebeck’s entertaining comedy Seared, the answer is a resounding ‘YES’. After winning praise from New Yorker magazine for a particularly inventive and mouthwatering scallop dish that is boosting business at his struggling restaurant, Harry (James Louis Wagner) immediately goes full-on diva, refusing to make the meal for customers because (ostensibly) the quality of said mollusks at the fish market fail to meet his lofty standards.