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Twelve Angry Women Review- Regalo Theatre Co

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Twelve Angry Women (adapted by Sherman L. Sergel from Reginald Rose’s classic 12 Angry Men) is a full-length courtroom drama centered on 12 female jurors deliberating the fate of a 18-year-old on trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. Direction: The director and this production was Michael Carrasco.  Carrasco made sure to assemble a production team that worked well together. He had a clear vision, and made sure to let his team know what he wanted. All parts of the show flowed together because of his clear direction. Carrasco made sure to play to all the serious moments and brought the emotion that was needed to make the show. Throughout the rehearsal process he kept both the female and male casts separate from each other to let them develop and be different from each other. The hard thing with this show is that the cast is supposed to be staying at a table discussing the case. Carrasco added movement and levels to make it so that most people could be seen. He had the char...
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Jekyll & Hyde Review- Empress Theatre

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Jekyll & Hyde is a  musical that tells the story of a 19th-century London doctor who experiments on himself to separate good and evil, accidentally unleashing a murderous alter ego. It is  based on the 1886 novella The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Originally conceived for the stage by Frank Wildhorn and Steve Cuden, it features music by Frank Wildhorn, a book by Leslie Bricusse and lyrics by all of them.  Direction: The director for this production was Kylee Larsen. Larsen is know well enough where she is able to draw in a talented group of actors and production team. For this production, this was definitely the case.  She had a clear vision, and made sure to let her team know what she wanted. Most parts of the show flowed together because of her clear direction. She made sure that the actors on stage could be seen at most angles, and made sure that the story could be told. Larsen made sure all the scene changes were quick, an...
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A Midsummer Night's Dream Review- Empress Theatre

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A Midsummer Night's Dream   is about a world of mountain folklore, rural tradition, and whispered superstition. Lovers cross paths under the cover of night while something wild and magical stirs deep in the woods. When a traveling troupe, feuding families, and mischievous forest spirits collide, reality bends and chaos takes hold beneath the summer sky.  This production is placed in  the moonlit hills of 1930s Appalachia.  This reimagined Shakespearean classic blends poetic language with the rich atmosphere of the Appalachian mountains, where love is unpredictable, magic feels just out of sight, and nothing is quite as it seems once the forest wakes. Direction: The director for this production was  Dallyn Steenerson. They took a different approach to Shakespeare, in a delightful way. Steenerson added a dance/movement and the beginning and end of the show. (Classical theatre almost always incorporates some kind of movement and song.) They also had their music dir...
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Anything Goes Review- Hopebox Theatre

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  Anything Goes   follows wall-street assistant Billy Crocker as he stows away to win back debutante Hope Harcourt, who is engaged to wealthy Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, with the chaotic comedic help of evangelist-turned-singer Reno Sweeney and a disguised gangster. The  music and lyrics are by Cole Porter. The original book was a collaborative effort by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse, revised considerably by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Direction: The show was directed by Jan Williams and Wyatt Welch. The team accomplished something that I never thought was possible- finally making me a like a production of "Anything Goes."  They made sure to assemble the best production team around. They had a clear vision, and made sure to let their team know what they wanted. All parts of the show flowed together because of their clear direction and vision.  The show was music directed by Brooks Teeples. The vocals during "There's No Cure Like Travel" were togethe...
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Cinderella Review- The Panto Theatre

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  Cinderella   is a British pantomime that follows the classic Cinderella, the story  of a girl, her fairy godmother and a royal ball. With magical help, she attends a royal ball, captures a prince's heart, and leaves behind a glass slipper that ultimately frees her. The script is by John Yates, with added local flair by Jords Shami.  Direction: The show was directed Jords Shami, with Chalese Craig as assistant director. Shami added local jokes, that added to the comedy. They started the show with introducing the characters and making sure the audience knew what catchphrases they needed to say. They kept the show flowing, with minor flaws. The addition of music to add in humor was a delightful addition. (The vampire joke was my favorite) The use of multiple puppets helped distinguish different characters, since many actors played more than one role.  The show was choreographed by Chalese Craig, with Kayla Thygerson as assistant choreographer. They  choreogr...
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The Lightning Thief Review- Empress Theatre

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  The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical follows troubled teenager Percy Jackson, who discovers he is a demigod, embarks on a quest to find Zeus's missing lightning bolt, and works to prevent a massive war among the Greek gods. Based on Rick Riordan’s book, the stage adaptation features a book by Joe Tracz and music/lyrics by Rob Rokicki. Direction: The director for this production was Beth Bruner, with Braxton Moore as assistant director. Bruner  made sure to assemble the best production team around. She had a clear vision, and made sure to let her team know what she wanted. Most parts of the show flowed together because of her clear direction. She made sure that the actors on stage could be seen at most angles, and made sure that the story could be told. There was a good use of a projection to help set the setting of certain scenes. There was also an effect with an exploding toilet during capture the flag that was brilliant and helped show Percy's powers. The music ...
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Disney's Descendants Review- Empress Theatre

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Disney's Descendants The Musical   i s a stage adaptation based on the popular Disney Channel movies, focusing on the teenage children of Disney's greatest villains who are given a chance to attend school alongside hero kids. The four Villain Kids (VKs)—Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos—must decide whether to follow their parents' wicked footsteps or embrace goodness   This production is a little different because all of the actors are 45 years of age or older.  Direction: The director for this production was Adam Cannon with LeiLoni Bertrand as the assistant director. With the production being 45+ they played to the humor of some lines that referred to age. (ie. The Beast was talking to Ben and said, "16 is just a baby.") They pulled all the adults to play to the best of their ability as a believable teenager.  The choreographer was Jords Shami with Tony Faauli-Sao as the assistant choreographer. The choreography for "Rotten to the Core" filled the stage and w...
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