Orange County Theatre Reviews

The Chance Theater
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July 25, 2022 | Anaheim, Musical, Review, The Chance Theater, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on Green Day’s American Idiot @ Chance Theater – Review |

Green Day’s American Idiot @ Chance Theater – Review

Photo credit : (Camryn Long & Doug Catiller)

Written by Daniella Litvak

“We are the kids of war and peace/From Anaheim to the Middle East”[1]

A lot has been said about the similarities between the Vietnam War and the Iraq War. One way they differ though is how they impacted popular music. While the Vietnam War spawned a subgenre of protest songs that are highly regarded to this day, the protest songs commenting on the Iraq War are not numerous or as well remembered. Green Day’s 2004 rock opera American Idiot is the exception to the rule. In addition to becoming a commercial and critical success, American Idiot spawned a Broadway musical adaptation of the album, and now it’s playing at the Chance Theater. Continue Reading

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April 11, 2022 | Review, The Chance Theater, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on Orange County Premiere of Cry It Out @ Chance Theater – Review |

Orange County Premiere of Cry It Out @ Chance Theater – Review

Written by Patrick Chavis

(Photos by Camryn Long)

The Orange County Premiere of Cry It Out is now playing at the Chance Theatre in Anaheim Hills. This play is a dramatic comedy about new mothers dealing with the struggles of motherhood in modern times. It’s set in 2019 and somewhere in Port Washington, Long Island. Chance Theater’s production of Cry It Out is incredibly entertaining, comedic, and serious. It is a beautifully cathartic telling of three different women living very close to each other but with very different lives. Continue Reading

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October 19, 2021 | Review, The Chance Theater, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on Yellowman @ Chance Theater – Review |

Yellowman @ Chance Theater – Review

Written by Alina Mae Wilson

(All photos by Doug Catiller, True Image Studio)

In 2002, Dael Orlandersmith’s play, Yellowman, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.  It’s understandable. As far as categories are concerned, Yellowman could not be considered anything else. With only two actors playing an entire cast of distinct and lively characters, this play is chock-full of opportunities for the chosen pair to showcase their talents.  And the cast of Chance Theater’s production certainly showcase their talents. Masterfully directed by Khanisha Foster and passionately performed by Julanne Chidi Hill (Alma + ensemble) and Dante Alexander (Eugene + ensemble), Yellowman is a vicious exploration of self-hate within Black America and an attempt at love by two of its children.

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July 27, 2021 | Musical, Review, The Chance Theater, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on Orange County Premiere of EDGES @ Chance Theater in Anaheim Hill – Review |

Orange County Premiere of EDGES @ Chance Theater in Anaheim Hill – Review

All photos by Doug Catiller, True Image Studio

Written by Patrick Chavis

The Chance Theater brings back live, in-person theater for the first time since the pandemic with the Orange County premiere of EDGES, a musical written by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, the award-winning songwriters of La La Land, The Greatest Showman, and Dear Evan Hansen. EDGES is an earlier work from the award-winning duo, and the signs of their talent are all over this script. Still, this script’s bones (structure) feel uneven, and this striped-down production shows off the flaws in the material instead of improving on it.  Continue Reading

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May 15, 2021 | Anaheim, Musical, Review, The Chance Theater, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on A Heart Breaker : The Story of My Life @ Chance Theater in Anaheim – Review |

A Heart Breaker : The Story of My Life @ Chance Theater in Anaheim – Review

(All photos courtesy of Chance Theater)

Written by Patrick Chavis

Heartstrings, heartstrings, heartstrings — writer Brian Hill hits you and keeps hitting you in the heart until the curtain closes at the end of the production.  He understands the heart — or at least a portion of it — in this grounded two-hander about friendship, loss, and life now playing at the Chance Theater in Anaheim through a digital live streaming production. Continue Reading

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December 31, 2020 | Anaheim, Musical, Review, The Chance Theater, Theater, Uncategorized Comments Off on A Very, Very Chance Holiday Cabaret @ Chance Theater in Anaheim – Review |

A Very, Very Chance Holiday Cabaret @ Chance Theater in Anaheim – Review

Written by Patrick Chavis

A Very, Very Chance Holiday Cabaret is a streamed show full of Holiday Musical performances. The musical performances are split up by the comedic styling of well-known Chance Performers Alex Bueno (Loch Ness) and Matt Takashi (A Charlie Brown Christmas). While some of the songs are quite moving, the choice of mostly slow songs and ballads drags the show quite a bit. If you’re patient enough and can see through the 90’s style video production quality, the show can be quite charming and a throwback in a way. Continue Reading

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