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Little Shop of Horrors- Empress Theatre (from the eyes of a stage manager)

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 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...
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Beetlejuice Jr.- Empress Theatre

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  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...
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Murder to Death- Empress Theatre

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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...
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The Scarlet Pimpernel- Hopebox Theatre

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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...
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Peter and the Starcatcher- The Empress Theatre

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  Peter and the Starcatcher   is the origin story of Peter Pan that follows a lonely orphan boy and his friends as they embark on a dangerous adventure to protect a trunk of "starstuff" from the notorious pirate Black Stache. Aided by Molly, the daughter of a Starcatcher, the boy discovers the true potential of friendship and the responsibility that comes with growing up, ultimately leading to the creation of Peter Pan. The play is based on the 2004 novel Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, adapted for the stage by Rick Elice, with music written by Wayne Barker. Direction: The director for this production was Beth Bruner. Bruner took a different approach to this production, that I had never seen done before. She made it feel like a bunch of friends came together to play make believe and put on the show. (I found this idea delightful.) Durning the announcements the actors came on in their base layer and put on their costume on stage when it was their c...
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Tarzan- Empress Theatre (an actor's perspective)

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 (This review is a little different, because I am reviewing the show from the perspective of an actor.) Tarzan   is a musical based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios 1999 film of the same name, with music and lyrics by Phil Collins, and a book by David Henry Hwang. The musical follows Tarzan, who is raised by gorillas in West Africa. He meets Jane, a young English naturalist, and falls in love, unknowing that Jane's entourage plans to kill the gorillas. Direction: The director for this show and wig master is Cheryl Cripps Richardson. This show is her first time directing for a show and you wouldn't know it. I've worked with Cheryl on production teams before and I knew how skilled she was at what she does before I ever auditioned for her. She took everything that she saw that other directors did and didn't like, and made sure she never did those things. Cheryl values our time as actors and made sure we were called at times appropriate for what we were needed. She cast...
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