Orange County Theatre Reviews

Tustin
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July 15, 2017 | Musical, Review, Top Hat 8 Repertory, Tustin, Uncategorized Comments Off on Top Hat 8 Repertory: Heathers The Musical in Tustin – Review |

Top Hat 8 Repertory: Heathers The Musical in Tustin – Review

Written by Patrick Chavis 

Before  there was Mean Girls–a movie in the early 2000’s about a three-girl clique of popular girls dominating their high school with  pretty looks, attitude and cruel gags, there was a much darker, less comical movie in the earlier 90’s called Heathers–a movie about a three-girl clique dominating their high school with pretty looks, attitude and cruel gags. A musical version of Heathers was created much later and while it maintains some of the darkness of the original film it goes in a much more fun and comical direction.   Top Hat 8 Repertory’s version of Heathers High School Edition is done completely with high-schoolers.   While technically flawed in certain sections, the performance from much of the cast coupled with the movement thought up by the director and perfect live band accompaniment makes this production of Heathers a great first showing for anyone.   Continue Reading

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August 17, 2016 | Broadway in the Park, Musical, Review, Tustin, Uncategorized Comments Off on Broadway in the Park presents : Beauty and the Beast @ Peppertree Park in Tustin – Review |

Broadway in the Park presents : Beauty and the Beast @ Peppertree Park in Tustin – Review

Written by Alina Mae Wilson 

In a departure from what has traditionally been for many years a space to revisit older classics less known by the youth, Peppertree Park is now hosting Disney’s popular musical Beauty and the Beast.   Presented by the Tustin Area Council for the Fine Arts and the Chance Theater, this production is engaging and extremely well-performed but also more exhausting than one might expect. Continue Reading

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August 9, 2015 | Aldersgate Methodist Church, Musical, Tustin, Uncategorized Comments (1) |

Fiddler on the Roof @ Aldergate Church in Tustin – Review

Written by Patrick Chavis 

Family, tradition, and moral values –no matter what culture or religion you subscribe too –these things matter. They appear in the Bible, the Torah, the Quran, and in many more religious and cultural traditions all over the world. The stories may be different, but many of the lesson are very much the same.  Aldergate Church in Tustin, California –a Methodist church by association — putting on the most famous Jewish musical of all time, demonstrates their belief in this very concept.  Some may say it’s an odd choice, but Aldergate doesn’t think so. 

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Photo Courtesy: Aldergate Church

A little history: Fiddler on the Roof was at one time the longest running show to hit Broadway for quite a while.  Fiddler’s long reign on the great white only lasted until Grease came along.  At the time Fiddler first came out, many people thought the production might be too Jewish for a mainstream audience and not Jewish enough for a Jewish one. Both were wrong –like any well written story —Fiddler straddled the line of being to appealing to all demographics while staying true to it’s Jewish roots.  The musical is based on a story written in the 1800’s about a Jewish dairyman man named Tevye who has six troublesome daughters. Continue Reading

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August 30, 2014 | Hair, Musical, Mysterium, Review, Santa Ana, Theater, Tustin Comments (2) |

Little Chapel of Errors, Holds You With Spirit : Hair @ The Mysterium Theatre in Santa Ana – Review

hair1Written by Alina Mae Wilson 

Tonight I had my first experience with Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical at the Mysterium Theater in Santa Ana.

Yes that is correct, my first time seeing this iconic musical known for naked singing hippies, and I chose to see it in a little chapel.  There were multiple technical problems,  but the zeal of the people on stage balanced it out a bit.   Continue Reading

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