Valentine's Day is upon us, and lovers everywhere are looking for the perfect date night. A show is a great addition to any night out, and with so many to choose from, there's a good fit for every couple. Cozy up next to each other and get ready to laugh, cry, and marvel at a live spectacle of your choice. Are you into dramatic plays or lighthearted musicals? Dance or acrobatics? Classic stories or quirky tales? Take your pick from this list and make this Valentine's Day one to remember. (1) Ma... [Read more]

There is no question that Thanksgiving is all about the feast. What could be better than a roast turkey accompanied by stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce and followed by an irresponsible amount of pie? But between loaded forkfuls of green bean casserole or pumpkin cheesecake, you might notice that there are other things going on. At TL, we always have our eyes on the best in live entertainment, and Thanksgiving has a lot to offer in the way of music, sports, and theatre. Music Now, ... [Read more]

(1) You get to have fun in rehearsals. Rehearsal can be really fun, but after a while, it can wear on you. There are often a lot of late nights, especially during "Hell Week" (or Tech week, the week before opening). And ask any actor how many times they've said "I can't; I have rehearsal." (2) You get to show off. Performing for a live audience is an incredibly energizing experience, but beware of stage fright. Some tricks: don't look any audience member directly in the face; pretend you're stil... [Read more]

As the new Broadway season starts picking up speed, all of the empty houses are steadily being filled by a variety of shows: musicals and plays, new shows and revivals, and even concerts and comedy. Take your pick (or picks) from this list of shows that are bringing new life to the Great White Way. NEW MUSICALS Scandalous: Broadway leading lady Carolee Carmello (Parade, Mamma Mia!) portrays Aimee Semple McPherson, the most famous person you've never heard of. In a story that could be ripped fro... [Read more]

Millions of people fondly remember the hit 1990 film Ghost, which starred Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, and Tony Goldwyn. Now, the classic story has been updated and adapted as a stage musical that captures all of the drama, emotion, and magic live on stage. I was fortunate to be able to see Ghost on Broadway, and it was definitely a night to remember. The most novel and innovative aspect of Ghost is its use of special effects. Through a combination of artful lighting, clever stag... [Read more]

(1) Real men love Broadway. When Randy gets the inside scoop on why men everywhere are taking their wives to see musicals (it's called subtext), he becomes a superfan, and Sharon is so pleased with his newfound appreciation for theatre that she repays him. Handsomely. | Episode #220: Broadway Bro Down (Season 15, Episode 11) (2) Before Glee, show choirs saved the world, not just FOX's ratings. The South Park kids are on their way to Costa Rica to help save the environment. While Kyle struggles ... [Read more]

Deemed one of the best and most beloved musicals of all time, Les Miserables is a show whose reputation precedes it. Over the years, my exposure to it has been colored by its reputation of theatrical eminence. I remember reverently singing "Do You Hear the People Sing?" in high school chorus; then, Susan Boyle shot to fame for her rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" on Britain's Got Talent (she now has a musical based on her own life, also titled I Dreamed a Dream); the signature ballad was later f... [Read more]

The creepy, kooky Addams Family musical recently haunted my local performing arts center, and, having missed the show's run on Broadway, I was excited to get the chance to see it. Now, I must preface this review with the fact that this show has had somewhat of a dark cloud floating over it (pun intended), and not merely for the subject matter. From its original pre-Broadway Chicago production through its Broadway run, The Addams Family has suffered the heavy disparagement of many critics. The po... [Read more]

New York's MCC Theater has attracted a lot of attention lately for taking on a project that many have considered ill-advised. They are staging an off-Broadway revival of the musical Carrie, based on Stephen King's novel of the same name. The original 1988 production of the show remains to this day one of the most famous flops in Broadway history; it was expensive to produce, and when it opened, critics descended on it like rabid wolves. Though the performances of Linzi Hately and the great Betty... [Read more]

On one of my recent pilgrimages to NYC, I saw the new Broadway production of Godspell. This revival (the first on Broadway) represents the show's 40th anniversary. Because of the popularity of the original production, the release of the film version shortly thereafter, and the show's thriving life in schools and community theatres, many people bring their previous experiences with the show to bear when seeing this incarnation. But, like many other young people, I had never seen Godspell before, ... [Read more]