LEHIGH VALLEY STAGE An initiative of Crowded Kitchen Players since 2012
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Civic's "The Laramie Project" profoundly moving

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Written by: Kathy Lauer-Williams
Category: Play Reviews
Published: 17 September 2023
Hits: 857

"The Laramie Project" approaches a horrific hate crime by examining the many people who lived in the very ordinary town in which it happened. At Civics Theatre514, this at times excruciatingly painful, at times surprisingly funny play, is always profoundly moving under the deft direction of Williams Sanders and Rae Labadie. "The Laramie Project" is at Civics Theatre 514, 514 N. 19th St., Allentown through through Sept. 24.

The play centers around the brutal 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man who was robbed, beaten, tied to a fence and left to die near Laramie, Wyoming.

Read more: Civic's "The Laramie Project" profoundly moving

"Clue: The Musical" wacky and colorful fun, at Pines Dinner Theatre

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Written by: Kathy Lauer-Williams
Category: Play Reviews
Published: 14 September 2023
Hits: 2781

For anyone who ever played the board game "Clue," the show on stage at Pines Dinner Theatre through Oct. 22. is a playful walk down memory lane. "Clue: The Musical" literally brings the classic game to wacky and colorful life on stage.

The iconic characters from the Hasbro game are all there and each one is more outrageous than the last one, adding to the playful fun, as they skulk around the stage with hilariously oversized weapons and clad in over-the-top Crayola-colored outfits.

Its a funny and engaging concept that works, and the talented cast give their all to each of their crazy roles.

Read more: "Clue: The Musical" wacky and colorful fun, at Pines Dinner Theatre

At NCC Summer Music Theatre, in one crazy night, romance blooms with "All Shook Up"

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Written by: Pamela McLean-Wallace
Category: Play Reviews
Published: 25 July 2023
Hits: 803

At the end of the first act of "All Shook Up" the musical currently running at Northampton Community College's Summer Theatre, the woman sitting next to me made a comment as she saw me taking notes.

I told her I was writing a review, and she said "Well, I want to let you know, I love it!"

Apparently, the audience at the Sunday matinee performance agreed with her!

"All Shook Up", a musical Elvis blast from the past and like the movie "Footloose", brings song, dance and love into a 1950s community that has been repressed by their conservative mayor sincerely played by Shannon Felletter with her quiet but lovesick Sheriff, Josh Crowley.

Read more: At NCC Summer Music Theatre, in one crazy night, romance blooms with "All Shook Up"

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival stages fresh, comedic “Sense and Sensibility”

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Written by: Kathy Lauer-Williams
Category: Play Reviews
Published: 23 July 2023
Hits: 801

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival has staged a deliciously comedic take on Jane Austins "Sense and Sensibility" through Aug. 5 on the Main Stage at Labuda As Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, Center Valley.Austens story of sisters who are put out of their house and left penniless after their father dies, feels fresh and assured as directed by Jessica Bedford.

Sarah Gliko plays the sensible oldest sister Elinor with a quiet self-assurednes. Glikos Elinor is strong but hides her emotions behind her oh-so-practical demeanor. Meanwhile, Arianna Daniels middle sister Marianne is tempestuous and impulsive, with a giddy lack of decorum, contrasting her older sister.

Read more: Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival stages fresh, comedic “Sense and Sensibility”

Pennsylvania Playhouse’s “Kinky Boots” delightfully extravagant

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Written by: Kathy Lauer-Williams
Category: Play Reviews
Published: 22 July 2023
Hits: 724

Pennsylvania Playhouses "Kinky Boots" is delightfully extravagant in its area premiere at the Bethlehem theater through Aug. 6.

The high energy production is buoyed by outstanding performances by its leads.

As drag queen Lola, Andrew Stewart is fabulous. Stewarts Lola has it all, attitude, sass, hot dance moves (even a cartwheel), a good voice and looks amazing in a sequin dress and stilettos. Not only that but Stewart makes this diva heartbreakingly human, demonstrating true method acting when tears fell during the moving ""Im Not My Fathers Son," sung in duet with Joemichael Lucianos extremely likable Charlie Price.

Read more: Pennsylvania Playhouse’s “Kinky Boots” delightfully extravagant

More Articles …

  1. At Pa Shakespeare Festival, Ebony Pullum brilliantly recreates Billy Holiday in “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill”
  2. Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's "The Tempest" joyfully magical
  3. Pines' "The Wedding Singer" crazy nostalgic ride
  4. "Allies" debates cultural identity, at Between the Lines Studio Theatre
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PLAY REVIEWS

  • "Allies" debates cultural identity, at Between the Lines Studio Theatre
  • "Clue: The Musical" wacky and colorful fun, at Pines Dinner Theatre

AUDITIONS

  • Auditions for "An Explosion by the Ballyseedy Woods", third part of CKP's Irish trilogy
  • AUDITIONS for "THE WATCHERS" A chilling new play for a chilling new world

UPCOMING SHOWS

  • At The Ice House, "Black Angel – A Staged Reading by Francine Gold" --- a special one-night showcase of Act 1 of Black Angel — a powerful new play, presented by Basement Poetry
  • Celebrate Halloween with Crowded Kitchen Players’ entertaining new murder mystery “Death by Lullaby” at The Ice House, in October