Just in: a theatre review

 This review is a little different, because I am reviewing the show from the perspective of the stage manager.) Little Shop of Horrors is a wildly entertaining musical comedy that blends doo wop, rock, and Motown with outrageous humor and heart. Follow meek flower shop assistant Seymour as he discovers a mysterious plant with an insatiable appetite and a talent for bringing him fame, fortune, and romance… at a deadly cost. Packed with unforgettable songs, larger than life characters, and deliciously dark comedy, this cult classic is a thrilling, laugh out loud experience for audiences of all ages.  Honestly, I have never loved Little Shop of Horrors. The director of this production knew my opinion of the show, change my mind of it, and created something that is worth seeing. Direction: The director for this show was Nanny McKenzie. Any time Nanny asks me to be a part of her projects, I will always answer yes. She has a talent to make productions to be even more than what they...

  Beetlejuice Jr.   is a family-friendly, shortened, and adapted version of the Broadway musical, following strange teen Lydia Deetz as she moves into a haunted house, teams up with mischievous ghost Beetlejuice to scare the living (including her new stepfamily), and navigates grief and the afterlife with newly deceased ghosts Barbara and Adam Maitland. The music is by  Eddie Perfect and the book is by Scott Brown and Anthony King. This show is based of the 1988 film directed by Tim Burton from a screenplay by Michael McDowell and Warren Skaaren based on a story by McDowell and Larry Wilson.  Direction: The director for this production was Scott Savage, with Cara Johnson as the assistant director. This duo made sure that the production was reminiscent to the film. They put together a production team that was able to make audiences relate it to the film it's based off of. Savage threw in some surprise effects that I didn't know could be possible at the Empress. T...

Murder to Death   takes place in a 1930s English manor filled with eccentric guests, suspicious secrets, and one hilariously inept detective! Murdered to Death is a delightful spoof of the traditional whodunit, brimming with witty banter, outrageous characters, and laugh-out-loud twists. The script is written by Peter Gordon. Direction: The director for this production was Stephanie Johnson. She made sure to assemble a production team that worked well together. Johnson had a clear vision, and made sure to let her team know what she wanted. All parts of the show flowed together because of her clear direction. She made sure that from whatever side you were on you could see some of the action of the show. Johnson made sure to play to all comedic moments and had the audience laughing throughout the night. Performances:  This show would not have been able to be as fun as it was without the cast being able to play off of each other. I am going to highlight a few of my favorite perfo...

The Scarlet Pimpernel   tells the story of the French Revolution, where the English baronet Sir Percy Blakeney, under the guise of a foppish dandy, leads a secret league to rescue French aristocrats from the guillotine as the enigmatic "Scarlet Pimpernel." The show has  music by Frank Wildhorn and lyrics & book by Nan Knighton. It is based on the 1905 novel of the same name by Baroness Orczy. The show is set in England and France during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution. Direction:  The show was directed by Becca Rhodes and Spencer Bawden. The two of them tackled a difficult show and made it look effortless. They put together a cast of strong singers, dancers, and actors. The set they designed and painted helped tell the story in a clear way. They came up with some ingenious uses of the stage that helped tell the story in a way I had never seen done before. The two of them assembled a powerhouse of a production team that helped make their vision for the sto...