Thursday, August 6, 2026

Theater Review: THE SAVIORS (Atlantic Theater Company / New York) by Alex Simmons

SACRED GROUND, SHIFTING FOOTING Bubba Weiler’s quietly affecting drama finds two boys questioning far more than their faith For generations, serving as an altar boy has been one of the mos…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 05:15PM[SHARE]

Theater Review: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company / Boston) by Lynne Weiss

SOME ENCHANTMENT REQUIRED Thirty years on, Commonwealth Shakespeare still knows how to charm a crowd A lot is unknown about William Shakespeare, including the order and dates in which he wro…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:59AM[SHARE]

Theater Review: URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL (Ray of Light Theatre / San Francisco) by Chuck Louden

WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A PAY TOILET This irreverent musical entertains while refusing to let its audience off the hook After more than 25 years of producing fun, hip musicals all …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:59AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Off-Broadway Preview: A GHOST IN YOUR EAR (Audible Theater / New York) by Tony Frankel

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY SOUNDS Audible Theater’s immersive headphone horror transforms the oldest ghost story trick into a chilling theatrical experience Imagine listening to an audioboo…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 05:12AM[SHARE]

Cabaret Preview: MALTBY & SHIRE: OUR STORY GOES ON (Merkin Hall / New York) by Tony Frankel

THE STORY GOES ON—AND IT SHOULD The American Songbook Association celebrates Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire while reaffirming why America’s great songwriting tradition deserves to e…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 04:45AM[SHARE]

Off-Broadway Review: THE PASS (La MaMa E.T.C.) by Gregory Fletcher

NO PASSING THE TRUTH John Donnelly’s drama examines the devastating cost of repression, secrecy, and the life that might have been The American premiere of John Donnelly‘s The Pass (orig…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 12:31AM[SHARE]
Monday, August 3, 2026

Dance Preview: FALL FOR DANCE FESTIVAL (New York City Center) by Tony Frankel

A WORLD OF DANCE IN TEN DAYS Eleven premieres and an extraordinary range of artists make New York City Center’s annual festival one of the season’s most rewarding events. For more than t…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 05:00AM[SHARE]
Sunday, August 2, 2026

Theater Review: APPLAUSE (The Group Rep / Lonnie Chapman Theatre / North Hollywood) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

ALL ABOUT EVE… WITH JAZZ HANDS Bruce Kimmel’s affectionate revival proves that a sturdy backstage classic and a committed cast can still earn plenty of applause, even when there are rese…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 05:21AM[SHARE]
Saturday, August 1, 2026

Theater Review: SALLY & TOM (Zach Theatre / Austin, TX) by Leo Emerson

PURSUIT OF TOO MUCH HAPPINESS At Zach Theatre, Suzan-Lori Parks’ ambitious play-within-a-play has plenty to argue about, but its self-consciousness too often gets in the way of its drama. …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:59AM[SHARE]
Friday, July 31, 2026

Theater Review: ALL NIGHTER (The Village Theater / Rivendell Theatre Ensemble / Chicago) by C.j. Fernandes

CRAM SESSION, CRASH COURSE Natalie Margolin’s sharply observed comedy captures the fleeting intensity of college friendships Natalie Margolin’s All Nighter, which opened Off-Broadway in …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 07:01AM[SHARE]

Theater Review: YO HO. (Babes With Blades Theatre Company / Chicago) by C.j. Fernandes

ALL ABOARD THE S.S. SEX FARCE These gender-liberated pirates need to boink more and bicker less On the deck of the pirate ship Revenge, a buxom young lass leads a blindfolded young man to a …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 04:05AM[SHARE]
Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Theater Review: ALANIS MORISSETTE’S JAGGED LITTLE PILL: THE MUSICAL (Chance Theater / Anaheim) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

A PILL THAT’S HARD TO SWALLOW Chance Theater’s committed cast sells the songs in this jukebox musical, but can’t overcome a sprawling script When Alanis Morissette released Jagged Litt…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 05:00AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, July 28, 2026

ORIGINAL MUSIC IS THE FIRST THING SMALL PRODUCTIONS CUT. THAT MATH IS CHANGING. by Lamont Washington

Ask the producer of a 99-seat show or a festival short what disappears first when the budget tightens, and the answer is rarely the one audiences would predict. Costumes survive. Lighting su…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 06:40AM[SHARE]
Monday, July 27, 2026

Theater Review: SCAPIN (North Coast Repertory Theatre / Solana Beach) by Milo Shapiro

FARCE MAJEURE This inventive adaptation trades reverence for revelry, with hilarious results Not everything ages well: milk, dress codes, and comedies are among the many things that are ofte…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 06:59AM[SHARE]

Theater Review: BUYER AND CELLAR (Hub Theatre Company / Club Café / Boston) by Emily Brenner

SHOPPING FOR LAUGHS Jonathan Tolins’ delicious one-man comedy turns retail therapy into theatrical therapy A special kind of theatre magic occurs when a comedic play can live in the perfec…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 05:30AM[SHARE]

Theater Review: THAT MATH SHOW (The Science Theater Company / New York) by Paulanne Simmons

COUNT ME IN Dr. Arthur Benjamin turns mathematics into an engaging theatrical experience Who would have dreamed math could be fun? Certainly not students sweating over difficult equations, t…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 04:02AM[SHARE]
Sunday, July 26, 2026

Theater Review: GOOD PEOPLE (4 Chairs Theatre / Theater Wit / Chicago) by C.j. Fernandes

GOOD PEOPLE, GREAT SHOW David Lindsay-Abaire’s poignant drama delivers a powerful reminder that luck, circumstance, and class often shape lives as much as talent or determination In an all…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 04:01AM[SHARE]

Theater Review: HAIR: THE AMERICAN TRIBAL LOVE-ROCK MUSICAL (Kokandy / Chicago) by C.j. Fernandes

YESTERDAY’S REBELS Time has softened the musical’s edges, but not its beating heart In 1968, a rock musical featuring a ragtag group of hippies took Broadway by storm. With book and lyri…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:58AM[SHARE]
Saturday, July 25, 2026

Theater Review: ROMEO AND JULIET (Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum / Topanga) by Shari Barrett

A TIMELESS TRAGEDY TAKES ON A GILDED GLOW A beautifully conceived update proves Shakespeare’s young lovers lose none of their power in a new era There’s something magical about sitting i…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 08:51PM[SHARE]

Theater Review: HAIRSPRAY (San Francisco Playhouse) by Chuck Louden

GOOD MORNING, SAN FRANCISCO The songs, the dancing, and the joy remain impossible to resist The summer’s most fun musical has arrived at the San Francisco Playhouse: Hairspray is here, and…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 08:17AM[SHARE]

Cabaret Review: ETHAN MATHIAS: WAIT ‘TIL YOU SEE WHAT’S NEXT (The Green Room 42 / NYC) by Rob Lester

WAIT ‘TIL YOU HEAR HIM A gifted young singer proves he’s more than a novelty act When singers do their shows in New York City’s cabaret rooms, their audiences often include plenty of f…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 07:55AM[SHARE]

Theater Review: HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (JK Entertainment / Chicago) by C.j. Fernandes

STILL ANGRY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS A daring revival proves the musical’s power endures, even when one major directorial gamble doesn’t When people think of musicals, the stereotype is a s…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:59AM[SHARE]
Friday, July 24, 2026

Off-Broadway Review: 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE (New World Stages) by Lynne Weiss

SPELLBOUND This warm, witty revival reminds us that growing up is never easy—but it can be hilarious Bee-lieve the hype. The Off-Broadway revival of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 05:00AM[SHARE]

Theater Review: ABSOLUTE SCIENCE FICTION! (Word for Word / San Francisco) by Chuck Louden

PRESS BUTTON. REGRET LATER. Word for Word pairs two visions of the future with mixed results Z Space, known for developing original and experimental theater, is also home to Word for Word, a…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 04:54AM[SHARE]

Off-Broadway Review: THE PIANO AND ME: A NEW PLAY WITH MUSIC (59E59 Theaters) by Lynne Weiss

A LIFE IN THE KEYS Hershey Felder’s deeply personal journey proves as compelling as the music that shaped it Hershey Felder steps onto a stage with a grand piano surrounded by piles of old…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 04:52AM[SHARE]
Thursday, July 23, 2026

Theater Review: & JULIET (North American Tour / Chicago) by C.j. Fernandes

POP GOES THE BARD A jukebox musical that thrilled its fans while leaving this critic wishing the story mattered as much as the songs As I was settling into my seat at the gorgeous Auditorium…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 04:01AM[SHARE]

Opera Review: FELLOW TRAVELERS (San Diego Opera / Balboa Theatre / San Diego) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

SEXY, SINCERE… AND SLIGHT Outstanding chemistry can’t quite compensate for an opera that compresses too much Andy Acosta has sung Timothy Laughlin enough that the role has started to fee…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:58AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Theater Review: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (Long Beach Shakespeare Company) by Judson Feder

MORE VICTORIAN THAN NEW ROMANTIC Long Beach Shakespeare Company delivers Wilde’s classic with clarity and charm, even if its concept never fully blossoms Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 06:30PM[SHARE]

Theater Review: F**KING STRANGERS (Echo Theater Company / Los Angeles) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

NO STRINGS ATTACHED? THINK AGAIN Erik Patterson’s provocative world premiere boasts superb performances but mistakes repetition for depth In F**king Strangers, receiving its world premiere…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 02:38PM[SHARE]
Monday, July 20, 2026

BEYOND THE PLAYBILL: TURNING A SCENE INTO SOMETHING YOU CAN KEEP by Nia Liat

A ticket stub fades and a programme yellows in a drawer. For the performances that stay with us, there are better ways to hold on to the image. Everyone who loves the stage or the screen col…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 04:00AM[SHARE]

Cabaret Review: EMILY SKINNER (CV Rep / Cathedral City) by Jason Mannino

SKIN IN THE GAME Tony nominee Emily Skinner brings powerhouse vocals, incisive storytelling, and irresistible humor to CV Rep’s Summer Cabaret Series There is a rare tier of theatrical roy…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 04:00AM[SHARE]

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