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REVIEW: No stopping this beat in Sullivan Rep’s vibrant and uplifting ‘Hairspray’

Posted on February 28, 2025 by The Sleepless Critic

If only we can all have Tracy Turnblad’s unwavering optimism and this much dancing in my own life.

‘I’ll eat some breakfast and change the world’ is just one of the confident lyrics that Nora Sullivan as tenacious Tracy declares in Good Morning Baltimore while dreaming about dancing on television in 1962 Maryland.

Nora Sullivan as Tracy in Sullivan Rep’s ‘Hairspray’ Photo by Sullivan Rep

With a glowing chandelier above, Sullivan Rep kicks off its second season fittingly lighting up an American Legion dance floor with scattered colorful platforms and an energetic groove in Hairspray, an upbeat romantic musical comedy that just might lift anyone’s spirits.

With exuberant direction and choreography by Dan Sullivan as well as creative music direction by Jenny Tsai, Sullivan Rep continues Hairspray live and in person at the American Legion in Newton, Massachusetts through Saturday, March 1. This theatre in the round production is approximately two hours with one intermission. Click here for more information and for tickets.

Featuring a large and lively cast, Hairspray has always been an upbeat production while infusing important messages about body positivity, bullying and racism boasting a hopeful and bubbly lead that believes anything is possible. What I enjoyed most about this particular production of Hairspray is its vibrancy and constant motion demonstrated while scenes unfold simultaneously on colorful platforms as dancers spin, turn and flow in DW’s vivid and elegant costumes into each changing scene. For example, Good Morning Baltimore depicts Tracy’s world with infectious rhythms and clever staging as Eve Harrison as Tracy’s best friend Penny and Tracy pour over an authentic retro television set surrounded by what they are seeing on the screen. Not only is the audience treated to the action onstage, but to Tracy and Penny’s reactions to what they are witnessing.

Jack Magan as Link Larkin and Nora Sullivan as Tracy in Sullivan Rep’s ‘Hairspray’ Photo by Sullivan Rep

Another highlight is demonstrated in Big Doll House which infuses tap and portable and intersecting bars that elevate the comedy and the chemistry between the actors and as hula hoops spin, teen rebellion takes charge as Eve Harrison, Emily Lambert as Amber Von Tussle and Sullivan sound off on their own individual microphones for Mama I’m a Big Girl Now.

Kevin Hanley as Corny Collins and cast in Sullivan Rep’s ‘Hairspray’ Photo by Sullivan Rep

Tracy dreams of performing on Baltimore’s teen dance TV show The Corny Collins Show and winning the heart of Link Larkin, a council member and heartthrob performer on the show as Tracy demonstrates in the love struck and beautifully staged I Can Hear the Bells. Sullivan exudes charm and an imaginative turn of phrase as Tracy in a jovial performance with pretty vocals that expel spontaneous and comical shrieks of teen excitement during various parts of the production. Eve Harrison as Penny and Sullivan’s Tracy share a fun loving rapport in exciting teen high jinks. Jack Magan depicts heartthrob Link with smiling eyes and a mix of openness and charisma sharing some amusing scenes with Tracy. Marell Perry is cool and collected delivering smooth and distinctive vocals as Seaweed J Stubbs, especially for the catchy number Run and Tell That. Kevin Hanley is disarming as classically handsome Corny Collins for its title track while Katie Van Clark as Velma Von Tussle and Emily Lambert as Amber Von Tussle make for an impressive egotistical, calculating, manipulative and at times a bit unhinged mother daughter team out to win. One of Lambert’s funniest moments was when she shouted, ‘What happened to the bland and spineless guy I fell in love with?’ and boasts sharp vocals in the number Cooties.

Jack Magan as Link Larkin in Sullivan Rep’s ‘Hairspray’ Photo by Sullivan Rep

Tim Lawson revels in his role as Tracy’s once aspiring designer mother Edna and Kai Chao is delightful as Tracy’s inventor father Wilbur during a sweet rendition of You’re Timeless to Me.

Lizzy Pierre Saint as Little Inez and Hanifa as Motormouth Maybelle in Sullivan Rep’s ‘Hairspray’

Whether delivering the playful and bluesy Big Blonde and Beautiful or a moving rendition of I Know Where I’ve Been, Hanifa offers passion, charisma, and stylish vocals as Motormouth Maybelle. Whether portraying a principal at the end of his proverbial rope, a wild bailiff or taking control of a TV shoot, Anthony Rinaldi manages to make each of his roles amusingly memorable.

The Dynamites of Sullivan Rep’s ‘Hairspray’ Photo by Sullivan Rep

Get up and see Hairspray continuing live and in person at the American Legion in Newton, Massachusetts through Saturday, March 1. Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW: New Ohio Theatre’s ICE Factory’s ‘Here I Fall Up’ and ‘How I Disappeared’

Posted on August 22, 2023 by The Sleepless Critic

A girl is starting to wonder if she is fall apart or is she just falling up?

Gianna Milici, Sophia Drapeau, and Lauren-Quigley in ‘Here I Fall Up’ Photo credit to Natalie Powers

Featuring chiming melodies, a girl is somehow tethered to her family’s seaside home in a way that makes her question her own sanity. Surrounded by her sisters who narrate the story, Here I Fall Up is thoughtfully directed and composed by Beth Golison and directed creatively by Annabel Heacock and Maiya Pascouche and is just under an hour. It was featured at New Ohio Theatre’s ICE Factory in NYC and was streaming through August 12. Click here for more information.

The girl, portrayed sympathetically and realistically by Sophia Drapeau, ventures into dark places that keeps the audience guessing whether the girl is actually experiencing something outside this world or is it all happening inside the girl’s head? Drapeau’s suffering throughout this production makes a real case for either and watching the girl attempt to cope with anxiety and a severe degree of agoraphobia is heartfelt, earnest, and a bit distressing to witness. The bluish and haunting shadows by Chris Voegels combined with the simple, multifunctional set by Jessie Baldinger are as imaginative as it is symbolic of a girl longing to make a connection outside the girl’s fears and vulnerabilities.

Rose Tablizo and Sophia Drapeau in ‘Here I Fall Up’ Photo credit to Natalie Powers

Here I Fall Up’s inviting, folksy, and intermittently catchy acapella harmonies from sisters and narrators Samantha Medina Chachra, Lauren Rose Quigley, and Gianna Millici combined with Rose Tablizo’s mysterious presence keeps the production a bit lighter while tackling some darker issues.

Here I Fall Up is thoughtfully directed and composed by Beth Golison and directed creatively by Annabel Heacock and Maiya Pascouche and is just under an hour. It was featured at New Ohio Theatre’s ICE Factory and was streaming through August 12. Click here for more information.

Does it matter where I put my roots down?

Identity should be not what one is, but who one is. Not the labels, but the person. That is not such an easy journey living in NYC.

Told from the perspective of six immigrant Asian individuals living in NYC, How I Disappeared is a bilingual production about grasping for acceptance in the world without assumptions or grief, but with understanding. Directed by Tianding He and produced by CHUANG Stage, it is done creatively, though not always clearly in this abstract and Avant Garde production.

How I Disappeared is just under an hour and was featured at New Ohio Theatre’s ICE Factory and was streaming through August 12. Click here for more information.

From an individual covered in overwhelming and all encompassing remnants of NYC including a liberty hat, Broadway sign, wearing a mask and carrying a suitcase subway map to the desolate and metaphorical marine characters on the NYC subway, How I Disappeared emphasizes the intimidating, overwhelming, noisy, and isolating city atmosphere.

The glassy reflections particularly stand out in this part projection by Brian Shin-Hua Ellis and part animated puppetry by Wilden Weihn production. From a Puffer fish to a whale wandering on a subway, each distinctive marine creature delivers a combination of bittersweet and relatable humor as the narrator describes each creature’s authentic capabilities and defenses. Steeped in soothing blue aquatic lighting by Will DeJianne, it seems absurd witnessing them on the subway, and yet it becomes a snapshot of humanity as the show progresses.

The production does have lighter moments of dancing including catchy and original live music by John Tsung and Siyi Chen as well as its fair share of silliness with underlying messages of perseverance in the face of fears, doubt, and judgment. Staying true to oneself and anything is possible.

How I Disappeared is just under an hour and was featured at New Ohio Theatre’s ICE Factory and was streaming through August 12. Click here for more information.

A beloved, annual musical tradition, Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston presents ‘ChristmasTime’

Posted on November 25, 2017 by The Sleepless Critic

Photo courtesy of Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston

The Nativity Photo courtesy of Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston

Raggedy Ann Photo courtesy of Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston

Carolers Photo courtesy of Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston

Teddy Bears Ballet Photo courtesy of Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston

Adorned in brightly lit snowflakes, sparkling, emerald Christmas trees and wreaths around the Robinson Theatre stage and festively lined with wooden embroidered angels, Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston brings back their masterful, musical theatrical production of ChristmasTime for two weekends from Friday, December 2 through Sunday, December 10. Click here for more information.

With an enormous cast of nearly 200 consisting of adults and children from Massachusetts representing two dozen regional towns, ChristmasTime is a musical revue accompanied by a live orchestra. The sets and costumes are adorned with festive flair and audiences will witness classic family favorites come to life such as ‘Teddy Bears Ballet’ Radio City Music Hall’s ‘The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,’ and ‘The Living Nativity’ as well as captivating dance performances. The show blossoms into a sweet dedication to the Christmas season.

This annual celebration has a strong following, so purchase tickets now. Each show will be held at Reagle Music Theatre, 617 Lexington Street in Waltham, Massachusetts on Saturdays and Sundays December 2, 3, 9, and 10 at noon and 4 p.m. One Friday evening performance will be held on December 8 at 7 p.m.

‘Night Fever: An Evening of the Bee Gees’ January 14 Photo courtesy of Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston will kick off the New Year with Night Fever: An Evening With the Bee Gees for one day only on Sunday, January 14 at 2 p.m. Click here for more information and tickets or call 781-891-5600. Tickets are also available at the theatre box office and Reagle gift cards make a great present for the holidays. Make Christmastime a family holiday tradition. Follow Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston on Twitter and Facebook for all their upcoming events.

The Academy of the Company Theatre Teen Conservatory presents the dark comedy, ‘Heathers the Musical’

Posted on June 27, 2017 by The Sleepless Critic

What does it take to be popular? Long before Glinda sang about it in the hit musical, Wicked, or queen bee Regina George and the Plastics ruled the school in the satirical teen comedy film, Mean Girls, the Heathers dominated Westerberg High in the dark cult comedy film, Heathers. Heathers takes a bitingly funny and satirical look at teen life and all the drama that comes with it. Directed by Steve Shannon with musical direction by Melissa Carubia with the Academy of the Company Theatre’s summer workshop program, The Academy of the Company Theatre Teen Conservatory proudly presents Heathers the Musical (High School Edition) on Thursday, July 13 and Friday, July 14 at The Company Theatre, 30 Accord Park Drive in Norwell, Massachusetts at 7 p.m. This show contains mature themes. Click here for tickets and here for more information on the Academy of the Company Theatre.

Heathers the Musical is based on the 1988 film adaptation that stars Winona Ryder, Shannen Doherty, and Christian Slater. A television adaptation is also currently in development. Taking a look at the ruthless side of high school, clever Veronica Sawyer finds her way into the Heathers, Westerberg High’s ultimate, cruel clique, just as she encounters mysterious new boy at school, J.D. In a wild scheme, Veronica plans to show the world life is so much more than popularity.

Performances for the Academy of the Company Theatre’s Teen Conservatory of Heathers the Musical (High School Edition) take place at the Company Theatre, 30 Accord Park Drive in Norwell, Massachusetts on July 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. Click here for tickets or call the box office at 781-871-2787. Click here for more on the Company Theatre and its extensive upcoming productions like Disney’s The Little Mermaid and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Amanda Pekoe of NYC’s The Pekoe Group, shares her Tony Awards predictions and sheer love of theatre

Posted on June 4, 2017 by The Sleepless Critic

LCT Young Angels Party Corey Gosselin, Ryan Meitzler, Jessica Ferreira, Jenny Dorso, Briana Lynch, Mara Roberts, and Amanda Pekoe Photo courtesy of Amanda Pekoe/The Pekoe Group

Christopher Lueck and Amanda Pekoe at the Obie Awards 2017 Photo courtesy of Amanda Pekoe/The Pekoe Group

League of Professional Women Big Mingle Briana Lynch, Jenny Dorso, Maria Mangiameli, and Amanda Pekoe Photo courtesy of Amanda Pekoe/The Pekoe Group

‘In and Of Itself’ Opening Night Jessica Ferreira, Jenny Dorso, Amanda Pekoe, and Christopher Lueck Photo courtesy of Amanda Pekoe/The Pekoe Group

The 71st annual Tony Awards, hosted by Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Tony award-winning actor and singer Kevin Spacey, are coming up on Sunday, June 11 and will be broadcast live at Radio City Music Hall in NYC and on CBS at 8 p.m. It is always an honor to speak to Amanda Pekoe, founder of NYC’s The Pekoe Group, about her thriving business and her sheer love for all things theatre.

Each year, Amanda offers her Tony predictions for theatre’s biggest night! Click here for more on the nominees and here for further information on the Pekoe Group.

Another shot of Amanda Pekoe, Christopher Lueck, and the Pekoe Group at the Tony Awards/Photo courtesy of Amanda Pekoe/The Pekoe Group

Sleepless Critic: It’s a very exciting time for The Pekoe Group and your team. The Pekoe Group recently celebrated its eighth anniversary. How are you feeling about year eight?

Amanda Pekoe: I’m really excited about our team and the high level of work we are doing. Our digital department has expanded and we’re seeing huge ticket sales results from our digital campaigns. We also won an award this year for the poster design for the Off-Broadway musical, The View UpStairs.

SC: Congratulations! It’s an especially busy time leading up to the Tonys every year. Please tell me how the Tonys impact your business.

AP: Awards season is such a busy and magical time of year. I love when shows and artists are recognized for their tremendous work and talent. This year is particularly exciting because there are so many new musicals and different points of view being expressed in the writing on stage. I’m very grateful to continue to be a part of the social conversation.

SC: The 71st annual Tony Awards, hosted by award-winning actor and singer Kevin Spacey, will be held on Sunday, June 11. This is a special year as the Tony Awards is returning to its traditional venue, Radio City Music Hall. It was at the Beacon Theatre last year. It must be nice that it has returned to its roots.

AP: I am looking forward to it being back at Radio City Music Hall. It’s such a large and beautiful venue, and so many people get to actually be in the theatre for the awards.

SC: Kevin Spacey is a wonderful and unexpected choice to host. He is not only an award-winning actor, but has proven to be a song and dance man many times over. It is surprising that this is his first time hosting.

AP: I think Kevin Spacey will have a great time hosting the Tony Awards. I’ve never met him in person but I think he’s so talented. I love him in House of Cards!

SC: It is wonderful to have an insider at the Tony Awards each year and you’ve been predicting the winners for about five years now. Groundhog Day the Musical, Come from Away, Dear Evan Hansen, and Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 are the nominees for Best Musical. What nominated show do you think stands out to win this year?

AP: All four of these shows are so terrific and so terrifically different from one another. It’s been such a well-rounded season of new musicals and they all offer something very special. I think Come from Away and Dear Evan Hansen are neck-in-neck, but I’m rooting for Dear Evan Hansen. I think the music is incredible and the story is extremely relatable for anyone who has ever felt like they’ve been on the outside looking in and not being seen. I know I sometimes do.

SC: Best Play nominees include Indecent, A Doll’s House Part 2, Oslo, and Sweat. Which ones do you think will prevail?

AP: The plays are tough because they are all so good. Sweat is a Pulitzer-Prize winner! Of all the shows, I think my favorite would have to be Oslo. I thought it was one of the most well-written plays I have watched this season and the topic was fascinating. The play’s rhythm moved so well and featured tremendous performances.

SC: Denis Arndt for Heisenberg, Chris Cooper for A Doll’s House Part 2, Corey Hawkins for John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation, Kevin Kline for Present Laughter, and Jefferson Mays for Oslo are all up for Best Actor in a Play. Cate Blanchett for The Present, Sally Field for The Glass Menagerie, and Jennifer Ehle for Oslo, Laura Linney for Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes, and Laurie Metcalf for A Doll’s House Part 2 are up for Best Actress in a Play. Who do you think are the big standouts?

AP: These actors and actresses are all so great in these roles. My personal favorites have been from the great and hilarious show, Present Laughter‘s Kevin Kline and Jefferson Mays in Oslo. As for the actresses, Laurie Metcalf in A Doll’s House Part 2 and Jennifer Ehle in Oslo.

SC: The nominees for Best Actor in a Musical are Christian Borle for Falsettos, Josh Groban for Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Andy Karl for Groundhog Day the Musical, Ben Platt for Dear Evan Hansen, and David Hyde Pierce for Hello, Dolly! Best actress nominees in a musical include Denee Benton for Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Christine Ebersole for War Paint, Patti Lupone for War Paint, Eva Noblezada for Miss Saigon, and Bette Midler for Hello, Dolly! Patti Lupone and Bette Midler in the same category! Who do you think will win?

AP: I’m in love with Ben Platt in Dear Evan Hansen. At every performance, he barely leaves the stage and sings his heart out. As for the actresses, it’s really hard for me to say. Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole are forces of nature in War Paint and Bette Midler, well, there are no words. These are three greatest of the greatest performers all gracing the Broadway stage in the same season and how awesome is that! I think Denee Benton and Eva Noblezada are both so talented and very strong singers. This really is a tossup. The category features some of the most gifted actresses and all of their performances are stunning. I wish they could all win together.

SC: What is The Pekoe Group’s specialty and what goals do you have for The Pekoe Group’s future? I’ve noticed you often offer marketing advice to those who follow you on social media.

AP: Our specialty is working with experienced producers, finding new audiences, and new ways to talk to traditional audiences. Click here to check out our blog for marketing tips and pointers.

Besides our work, Christopher Lueck and I have been co-teaching a marketing class for CUNY Baruch College’s Masters Program in Arts Administration and that’s been really fulfilling.

Looking ahead, we hope to connect even more new audiences to theatre productions they’ll love.

SC: What is the best or easiest way a business can contact the Pekoe Group?

AP: Reach out to us on facebook or twitter: @ThePekoeGroup

REVIEW: Hingham Civic Music Theatre’s compelling musical, ‘Oklahoma’ a stompin’ good time

Posted on April 27, 2017 by The Sleepless Critic

From the first few angelic notes from one of Oklahoma’s most popular songs, Oh What a Beautiful Morning sung a capella by Jack Cappadona as charismatic Curly, it is easy to see that Hingham Civic Music Theatre’s (HCMT) spring musical is something special. Celebrating its 75^th anniversary, Hingham Civic Music Theatre’s Oklahoma! combines elegant costuming, an impressive, distinctive cast, and an interactive set that makes the audience settle into its own home on the range. With its wealth of historical references weaved into Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic soundtrack capturing the spirit of the time, it is no wonder that Oklahoma! won the Pulitzer Prize for musical composition in 1944 and remains relevant today. Hingham Civic Music Theatre delivers the show’s joyous zest for life, comedy, and, make no mistake, dark moments with zing and suspense.

HCMT Oklahoma Peddler and the Territory Boys

Michael Andre as Ali Hakim and the cast of ‘Oklahoma’ Photo courtesy of Eileen McIntyre/HCMT

Directed by Nathan Fogg and musically directed by Sandee Brayton with choreography by Tara Morrison, Hingham Civic Music Theatre offers two remaining performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical, Oklahoma! on Saturday, April 29 and a Sunday matinee on April 30 at the Sanborn Auditorium in Hingham, Massachusetts. Click here for more information and for tickets. Tickets are also available at the door.

Based on Lynn Riggs’ play, Green Grow the Lilacs, an interactive, colorful, and rustic set rewinds the clock to the Oklahoma Indian Territory at the turn of the century, equipped with softly flickering lanterns, vintage photos, bales of hay, colorful blossoms, lush greenery, and interactive props hanging on the walls. In this particular production, the lighting is its own character, effectively setting the mood from a soft, rising sun to a nightmarish hue.

The splendid costumes, by Kathryn Ridder, are meticulously-detailed from gold embroidered shirts, brightly-colored satin costumes to delicate, richly-designed dresses with thick bows and petticoats. Whether it is a cow scarf adorning an outfit or a carefully matched wicker hat, those details wonderfully capture the authenticity of the time.

Ruggedly dressed in suede chaps over khaki pants with a button down shirt and cowboy boots, Jack Cappadona portrays Curly McLain with an imaginative streak and a confident and at times, a mischievous smile. Whether engaging C.J. Hawes as Laurey in a whimsical carriage ride during the playful song, The Surrey with the Fringe on the Top or musing about life in Oh What a Beautiful Morning, with silvery vocals, Jack slides right into the role as Curly with a natural charm. With curly red hair and green striped overalls, C.J. Hawes portrays sassy, levelheaded Laurey with great comedic timing and sardonic wit. Jack as Curly and C.J. as Laurey are enchanting together and their soaring vocals make beautiful harmony.

Jack Cappadona as Curly and C.J. Hawes as Laurey Photo courtesy of Eileen McIntyre/HCMT

With thick curly hair, bright eyes, and a deep drawl, Rylan Vachon portrays Will as fun loving, somewhat hotheaded, and spontaneous. Will’s rendition of the song, Kansas City, has never been more fun with lively vocals and slick choreography as The Territory Boys stomp, slide, and perform various stunts. The entire cast captures the distinct spirit of Oklahoma! in all its stomping, sweeping joy.

Rylan Vachon as Will Parker and Jess Phaneuf as Ado Annie Photo courtesy of HCMT

Jess Phaneuf as Ado Annie brings a wild-eyed vivaciousness to the role. She seems to know how to take command of any room she is in one way or another with a wink and a grin. Her interaction with any cast member is fascinating and her comic timing is infallible. Her chemistry with both Will and Michael Andre as bewildered peddler Ali Hakim, have their own distinct charm. Michael Andre as Ali Hakim does a great job of balancing a dynamic character with comedy and cleverness.

Jess Phaneuf as Ado Annie and Michael Andree as Ali Hakim Photo courtesy of Eileen McIntyre/HCMT

Athan Mantalos portrays disheveled, hired hand Jud with a slow burn and deep, compelling, operatic- sounding baritone. Athan masters this role in the quiet moments, adding tension and making his character that much more mysterious. His scenes with Curly are especially powerful and their vocals have seamless harmony.

Athan Matalos as Jud Fry and Jack Cappadona as Curly Photo Courtesy of Eileen McIntyre/HCMT

With spectacles and a high collared dress, Kate Fitzpatrick brings sensibility and a bit of sarcasm to the role of Aunt Eller, who is much wiser than she lets on. Emily Gouillart as Gertie Cummings is a great deal of awkward fun with an unmistakable laugh.

Hingham Civic Music Theatre’s Oklahoma! offers its share of romance, comedy, and plenty of uproarious moments, but dark moments as well. Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote their second musical, Carousel, shortly after Oklahoma’s success and both shows share some of the same themes. Hingham Civic Music Theatre delicately weaves in the themes of loneliness, temptation, and violence effectively, balancing this timeless tale.

Hingham Civic Music Theatre offers two remaining performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical, Oklahoma! on Saturday, April 29 and a Sunday matinee on April 30 at the Sanborn Auditorium in Hingham, Massachusetts. Click here for more information and for tickets. Tickets are also available at the door. Be sure to follow Hingham Civic Music Theatre on Facebook and click here to learn how to support HCMT’s upcoming productions.