Orange County Theatre Reviews

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March 20, 2021 | Fullerton Community College, podcast, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on Breaking The Fourth Wall With Ashlee And Tim Espinosa Podcast |

Breaking The Fourth Wall With Ashlee And Tim Espinosa Podcast

Tim Espinosa

Written by Daniella Litvak

Ashlee and Tim Espinosa are active members of the Southern California theater scene. They’re actors, directors, and educators. Orange County audiences might be familiar with Ashlee’s performance as Alison Bechdel in Chance Theater’s production of Fun Home in 2020, and Tim directed Fullerton College’s 2017 production of American Idiot. (The Orange Curtain Review has reviews for both shows). They’ve taught at UC Irvine and Fullerton College. They have also turned their talents to Podcasting. Continue Reading

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May 10, 2019 | Musical, Review, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on Fiddler on the Roof @ Segerstrom Center for the Arts – Review |

Fiddler on the Roof @ Segerstrom Center for the Arts – Review

(Photo by Joan Marcus)

Written by Patrick Chavis 

When it comes to storytelling there is often overlap with certain themes.  Storytelling doesn’t happen in a bubble. Stories are told by humans, and because of similar life experiences, similar themes pop up in different stories. It’s the nature of the beast.  While watching Fiddler on the Roof at Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts one of these themes pops up.  The philosophical struggle between tradition and an ever-changing world and how do we cope with it? Fiddler may have one of the most nuanced solutions.

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April 11, 2019 | Costa Mesa, Musical, Review, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Uncategorized Comments Off on CATS THE MUSICAL @ SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS – Review |

CATS THE MUSICAL @ SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS – Review

(Photo by Matthew Murphy)

Written by Patrick Chavis 

Cats was, for nearly a decade, the longest-running Broadway show in history. Some of the songs in Cats are iconic. I’ve never seen Cats, but I found myself humming along to the tunes as if I’ve known them my entire life. Cats is playing now at the Segerstrom Centers for the Arts for a very short run of 6 nights. While this production will probably thrill the already initiated Cats fan. The spectacle of Cats can leave newbies a little confused with the direction of the story. Continue Reading

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April 3, 2019 | interview, podcast, Review, Santa Ana, Santa Ana College, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on Interview with Amberly Chamberlain Director of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot playing now @ Santa Ana College – PODCAST |

Interview with Amberly Chamberlain Director of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot playing now @ Santa Ana College – PODCAST

(Art by Pedro Garcia) (Photos: Jaime Diaz)

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot
by Stephen Adly Guirgis
A hilarious, poignant, thought-provoking work, boasting a zany cast of characters that asks one of the most plaguing questions in the Christian ideology: What happened to Judas Iscariot and should we care? Taken from the website. 

***For mature audience, due to strong language and subject matter***
Remaining performances:
Friday, April 5 at 7:30PM, Phillips Hall Theatre
Saturday, April 6 at 7:30PM, Phillips Hall Theatre
Sunday, April 7 at 6:30PM, Phillips Hall Theatre

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February 7, 2019 | Costa Mesa, Musical, Review, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Uncategorized Comments Off on Canada Rocks : Come From Away @ Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa – Review |

Canada Rocks : Come From Away @ Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa – Review

Written by Patrick Chavis 

Even though Come From Away is set against the tragic backdrop of 9/11, it focuses more on the tension, feelings, and emotions of the time — as opposed to a more strait-laced recap of the period. The characters we see stranded in Canada remind us of the pain felt by all Americans at home and abroad alike. Yet even in tragedy, the characters were about to find a silver lining.   Continue Reading

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January 31, 2019 | Costa Mesa, Review, South Coast Repertory, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on The Barber is In: Sweeney Todd is Back in Town @ South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa – Review |

The Barber is In: Sweeney Todd is Back in Town @ South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa – Review

(photo by Jordan Kubat)

Written by Scotty Keister 

Chinese proverb: He who seeks revenge should remember to dig two graves.

The legend of Sweeney Todd is a long and storied one. Todd began life in the mid-19th century in a penny dreadful tale. In this original version Todd was a secondary character. He soon came to life in a stage version penned by George Dibdin Pitt. His legend continued throughout the 20th century in dozens of stage, film and television versions. Ultimately, when British playwright Christopher Bond created Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street in 1973, new life was breathed into Sweeney’s aging, bloodthirsty barber. The tale was fleshed out, making the story into more of a revenge tragedy, and not simply a bloody horror tale. This is the version that first brought Sweeney to Stephen Sondheim’s attention and led to him creating  what might be considered the ultimate edition in 1979. Continue Reading

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