Dillon Giles and Isabel Prado in Cocoa Village Playhouse’s ‘West Side Story.’ Photo (detail) by Megan Abbott Photography. By PAM HARBAUGH From the first downbeat in the splendid overture to “West Side Story,” you know you are in for a treat with Cocoa Village Playhouse’ marvelously sung, beautifully staged and exquisitely...
Review: ‘The Explorers Club’ at Mad Cow Theatre
(L to R) Simon Needham, Heather Leonardi and Eric G. Pinder in Mad Cow Theatre’s ‘The Explorers Club.’ Photo by Tom Hurst. By PAM HARBAUGH For witty new comedy well done, you don’t get any better than Mad Cow Theatre’s exhilarating production of “The Explorers Club” — from scrumptious visual design...
Review: ‘It Runs in the Family’ at MCT
By PAM HARBAUGH A London hospital turns into a place for madcap antics in Ray Cooney’s farce “It Runs in the Family,” currently reaping laughs at Melbourne Civic Theatre. The ever-accelerating action in this farce revolves around Dr. David Mortimore (Gordon Ringer) as he is about to deliver an important speech...
Review: ‘The Color Purple: The Musical’ at the Henegar Center
Shari Milia’n and Precious Evans in ‘The Color Purple’ at Henegar Center. Photo by Dana Niemeier. By PAM HARBAUGH Theater is a temple and the spirit is being served on the stage and in the audience at the Henegar Center for the Arts, where a passionate, full-voiced production of “The Color...
Review: Disney’s ‘Mary Poppins: the Musical’ at Titusville Playhouse
Jeffrey Gauvin, Melissa Whitworth and Emma Budsberg in Titusville Playhouse’s ‘Mary Poppins: The Musical.’ Photo by Doug Lebo. By PAM HARBAUGH Childlike magic woven into a tender story combine into one of the most endearing productions you will see this season — Titusville Playhouse’s “Mary Poppins: The Musical.” Yes, TPI scored...
Review: ‘Crazy for You’ at Riverside Theatre
Photo of Riverside Theatre’s “Crazy for You” by Benjamin Hager. By PAM HARBAUGH The wild joy of terrific Tony Award winning choreography and big production numbers will leave you beaming at Riverside Theatre’s thoroughly entertaining, professional production of “Crazy for You.” This delightful musical, called the “New Gershwin Musical,” is a...
Review: Cocoa Village Playhouse’s ‘Twelve Angry Men’
This photo of Cocoa Village Playhouse’s ‘Twelve Angry Men’ was taken by Jonathan Goforth. By PAM HARBAUGH It may be 60 years old, but the thematic under pinnings of “Twelve Angry Men” are as relevant today as they were in the 1950s. They come out loud and clear in Cocoa Village...
Review: Mad Cow Theatre’s ‘James Joyce’s The Dead’
From Mad Cow Theatre’s “James Joyces’ The Dead” — Blake Aburn as Michael, Nicholas Wuehrmann as Gabriel Conroy, Karel Wright as Aunt Kate Morkan, Patti McGuire as Aunt Julia Morkan, musicians Jacquelyn Cunningham, Lindsey Gradwohl, and Philip King with Rachel Jones as Rita in background. Detail of photo by Tom Hurst...
Review: ‘A Christmas Story: The Musical’ at Titusville Playhouse
By PAM HARBAUGH Yesterday’s innocence rings out loud and tickles the funny bone in Titusville Playhouse’s endearing and entertaining production of “A Christmas Story: The Musical.” Based on the 1983 movie, “A Christmas Story” (itself based on Jean Shepherd’s semi-autobiographical novel In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash), this musical...
Review: Cocoa Village Playhouse ‘Shrek: The Musical’
James Spiva, Felander Stevenson and Ashley Willsey in “Shrek: The Musical” at Cocoa Village Playhouse. Photo by Jonathan Goforth. By PAM HARBAUGH Fun, tenderness, courage and redemption are tickling the ribs of all ages in Cocoa Village Playhouse’s most excellent production of “Shrek: The Musical.” And, yes, this is for everyone,...