Orange County Theatre Reviews

Musical
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December 16, 2018 | Laguna beach, Laguna Playhouse, Musical, Review, Uncategorized Comments (0) |

Beauty And The Beast: A Christmas Rose @ Laguna Playhouse – Review

Photo Credit: Cathy Cunningham Photography

Written by Daniella Litvak 

Seeing a Lythogoe Family Panto (a fairy tale with told with musical numbers, lots of jokes and audience participation) at the Laguna Playhouse during the holiday season has become an Orange County tradition.  Over the past few years, Lythoge Family Productions has staged Aladdin and His Winter Wish, A Snow White Christmas, and Sleeping Beauty and her Winter Knight.  This year’s production is Beauty And The Beast: A Christmas Rose (hereinafter “Beauty”). Continue Reading

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September 19, 2018 | La Mirada Theatre, McCoy Rigby Entertainment, Musical, Review, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on A Night With Janis Joplin @ La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts – Review |

A Night With Janis Joplin @ La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts – Review

(PHOTO CREDIT:  Jason Niedle)

Written by Alina Mae Wilson 

If you were to head over to La Mirada right now, you could treat yourself to a night of Janis Joplin over at the La Mirada Theatre.  Depending on your feelings towards 1960’s rock and blues music, you will either spend your evening besotted or in shock. If you walk in new to Janis (as I did) you’ll probably be in shock.  But A Night With Janis Joplin is loud, vigorous, and colorful!  If you walk in as a conscientious fan, I have no doubt you’ll leave besotted. Continue Reading

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July 23, 2018 | Laguna Niguel, Laguna Niguel Community Theatre, Musical, Review, Uncategorized Comments Off on Guys and Dolls @ Laguna Niguel Community Theatre – Review |

Guys and Dolls @ Laguna Niguel Community Theatre – Review

Written by Daniella Litvak

Wiseguys and musicals–they go together. If not like peanut butter and jelly, then perhaps like avocado and chocolate. The combination might appear bizarre, but as the success of Bullets Over Broadway and Kiss Me, Kate demonstrate, it works. Perhaps the most known entry in the wiseguy/musical pantheon is the show responsible for the Broadway standard “Luck Be a Lady” —Guys and Dolls. Continue Reading

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July 12, 2018 | Anaheim, Musical, Review, The Chance Theater, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on Big Fish @ Chance Theater in Anaheim – Review |

Big Fish @ Chance Theater in Anaheim – Review

(All photos by Doug Catiller, True Image Studio)

Written by Patrick Chavis 

Is it a tall tale or a story larger-than-life? Big Fish the Musical blends these concepts together over at the Chance Theater, in the stage vision adapted from Tim Burton’s popular movie from 2003.  Continue Reading

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March 23, 2018 | High School, Huntington Beach, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts, Musical, Review, Uncategorized Comments Off on Young Frankenstein @ Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts – Review |

Young Frankenstein @ Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts – Review

Written by Alina Mae Wilson 

Simply because of its universal infamy, the story of Frankenstein’s monster is heralded as one of the most well-known horror stories of all time. You don’t need to read the book to get the reference.  Anyone and everyone who has gone trick-or-treating at least once is familiar with the image of the stocky green monster staggering about with his arms stretched rigidly outward.  If you HAVE acquainted yourself with the original source material, you know that the story of the gargantuan creature cast out from society is tragic as well as terrifying.  But fear not –over at the Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts, they have opted for a significantly brighter approach.  They are doing the Mel Brooks’ musical Young Frankenstein, which although quite long, is well acted, well sung, and brimming with trollish humor. Continue Reading

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February 26, 2018 | Garden Grove, Gem Theater, Musical, Review, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on Bullets Over Broadway @ The Gem Theatre in Garden Grove – Review |

Bullets Over Broadway @ The Gem Theatre in Garden Grove – Review

Written by Daniella Litvak 

The term jukebox musical is used to describe a musical that features popular songs from the past. Shows like Mama Mia and Rock of Ages are popular examples. Bullets Over Broadway belongs to the jukebox musical category too. Reaching a little further back into musical history than the aforementioned examples, the show features songs from the 1910s to the 1930s. These are not exactly the songs you would envision yourself head banging to, but the musical numbers are most definitely energetic and vibrant. Continue Reading

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