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Category Archives: Backstage Review

Things That Sting and Bite

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It’s that time of year again. No I’m not talking about the holidays. I’m talking about Wasatch Theatre Company’s Page-to-Stage Festival, currently in its eleventh year. If you are unfamiliar with this wonderful annual event, I’ll bring you up to speed. The name really says it all: Page-to-Stage. Every year WTC invites local playwrights to participate in various writing workshops and staged readings for the purpose of developing and honing their craft. An invitation is also extended to the public to submit their work for the chance to have it reviewed, and God willing, selected for production. Continue reading →

Sunshine on a cloudy day

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Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys is a look at the end of a career for a performer and what it means to him and his family. Willie (Ron Frederickson) has lived in denial about the end of his career ever since his partner, Al (Andrew Maizner), walked off their act decades before the play starts. Willie is bitter toward Al and his decision, but CBS wants to include them in a “History of Comedy” retrospective and reunite them for a single sketch. Willie refuses, but his nephew (and agent), Ben (Jeremy W. Chase), persuades him to go along with it. Al arrives and the results are hilarious as two stubborn old actors try to work together despite decades of bitterness. Continue reading →

The Demon Barber of (Midvale) Main Street

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Well, as you are most likely already aware, it’s that special time of year again. When summer has said farewell and autumn has arrived. When the leaves are changing color, a chill has settled in the air, and things start to go bump in the night. It is almost time for All Hallows Eve, and our local theatre scene is, as always, quite aware. Two groups are performing Shakespeare’s otherworldly tragedy Macbeth. One company I noticed is advertising Dracula Versus Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. And over at the Midvale Main Street Theatre, owner and director Tammy Ross is presenting the popular musical thriller Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Continue reading →

A Comedy of Shakespearean Proportions

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What do you get when you take selections and characters from the works of William Shakepeare, 8 talented actors, the events of recent years (which, honestly, were fairly Shakespearean when you think about it), and a theatre company whose mission is to create unique and socially conscious theatre? You get Plan-B’s Lady Macbeth. Continue reading →

Macbeth – a big crazy fun-fest!

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Things you should not expect when you see Grassroots Shakespeare Company’s production of Macbeth: printed programs, silence in the theater, gasps of fear, and utter reverence for the Bard’s words.

Things you should expect: to be chilly, to hear some great music, and to have a riotously good time. Continue reading →

Sleepy Hallow Haunts the Stage in Centerville

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My love of theater began with musicals and while I have a much wider appreciation for all theater, a good old-fashioned musical still warms my heart. Sleepy Hollow is just that, a good old-fashioned musical. I have to admit, coming into this, I haven’t seen the Disney version of this show and really have no reference for the story line. My greatest surprise was to find that this show is home grown, written and directed by Jim Christian with music from Tom Edward Clark. It originally premiered with Weber State University in 2009 and went on to win the National Musical Theater and Playwriting Award from the Kennedy Center. And now, we get the distinct pleasure to experience this production at CenterPoint. Continue reading →

You may have missed the Parade….

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Parade with Spotlight Theater Company has already closed but was an amazing production that should be acknowledged. Even if you missed the Parade, keep an eye out for what Spotlight does next, it will be worth your time. Continue reading →

Knight for a Day – Little Show, Big Heart

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When I saw that Draper Historic Theatre was doing an original play about princesses and knights, I must admit, I suppressed an eye roll. I was certain that would mean I was in for an evening of poorly executed slapstick, corny puns, and a thinly veiled moral delivered by an overacting heroine. But Knight for Day is none of these things. Draper’s debut of the original, family friendly play by Paul and Patrick Gibbs is charming, delightful and full of heart. While the performance I saw had its share of flaws, the show’s solid cast, witty dialogue and feel good message left me enchanted and uplifted. Continue reading →

2 Wives, 1 Man and a Ride Down Mount Morgan….

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“Do you hate me?” our lead asks at the end of this production. He is met with the response “I don’t know. I have to think about it.” The Ride Down Mount Morgan at Westminster College certainly made me think about it and a lot of others things. I’m not sure why I expected a comedy or farce walking into this show, but was surprised with a very thought provoking and engaging evening. The show does an excellent job of not choosing sides, rather tells a story and lets the audience arrive at their own opinion. And from the reactions of my theater going partners, that opinion can vary greatly. Continue reading →

Next to Normal Electrifies

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Next to Normal at Pioneer Theatre was a stunning production that captured the raw, emotional depth of this extremely difficult musical with ease. The show was stacked with a powerhouse cast who gracefully navigated the ups and downs of the score to create an electrifying performance that left the theatre ringing. Continue reading →

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