music

REVIEW: Vivo Performing Arts presents ‘What Makes it Great?’ with Rob Kapilow highlights the brilliance of Broadway’s Lerner and Loewe

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

What elements contribute to a great song?

On a grand piano alongside a trio of talented singers at center stage, NPR’s popular composer, conductor, and master music analyst Rob Kapilow continues his 27th year captivating audiences with his vast musical knowledge, sense of humor, and careful analysis of what makes the best songs tick.  Every note, lyric, and rhythm is meticulously constructed to bring out the excitement and enrich the scope of the piece and Rob Kapilow shows you just how they do it.  Though music styles and genres inevitably change, Rob Kapilow may make you see your favorite songs in a whole new light.

Rob Kapilow as Vivo Performing Arts presents ‘What Makes It Great’ Credit Robert Torres

Vivo Performing Arts, formally Celebrity Series of Boston, presented What Makes it Great? with Rob Kapilow live and in person at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall in Boston, Massachusetts for one night only Saturday, January 17 at 8PM.  This semi-interactive performance ran 90 minutes and included a short question and answer session.  Click here for more information on the performance and here for a closer look at Vivo Performing Arts’ upcoming events. Click here to learn about all of Rob Kapilow’s works including his next stop in his What Makes it Great series.


Whether you are music virtuosos or a casual music listener, Kapilow consistently offers something new that in some way will change the way you hear music for the better.  Though often speaking to a large audience, Rob Kapilow is so personal, relaxed and friendly during his talks, it often feels like a one-on-one session on a baby grand piano.  He is so popular with the Vivo Performing Arts crowd, he offers at least two appearances a season tackling everything from swing to dance to classical to Broadway music revealing each song’s inherent brilliance.

Rob Kapilow, Emily Albrink and Ben Jones in Vivo Performing Arts Presents ‘What Makes it Great’ Credit Robert Torres

Featuring a few of American lyricist and librettist Alan Jay Lerner and Austrian composer Frederick Loewe’s classic Broadway songs from Camelot, My Fair Lady and Brigadoon, Kapilow uses a mix of sophistication, humor and an easy to follow delivery to explore each song’s appeal and emotional undertones through its carefully selected musical notes. 

Delving into the Golden Age of Broadway as well as Lerner and Loewe’s dynamic history, Kapilow chose a selection of lighthearted and dreamy songs as well as pivotal numbers from musicals that leads to a character’s imminent transformation.  With humor and grace, Kapilow also reveals what each song might have sounded like without its individuality and as he peels back each layer, What Makes It Great? becomes an eye-opening experience. 

Calling on a couple of Broadway love songs, Kapilow was accompanied by soprano Emily Albrink and stirring singer, actor, and musician Ben Jones.  Jones and Albrink share gorgeous harmony and lighthearted chemistry for duets Brigadoon’s Almost Like Being in Love and playful Heather on the Hill.

Rob Kapilow, Ben Jones, and Emily Albrink as Vivo Performing Arts

Touching upon Rex Harrison’s complex casting in My Fair Lady, Kapilow ties in music and lyrics which waltz together teetering on so many emotions for I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face in which Jones articulates in an animated and humorous rendition.

Rob Kapilow, Emily Albrink and Hayden Lockhart as Vivio Performing Arts presents ‘What Makes it Great’ Credit Robert Torres

In an elegant flowing dress, Albrink brimmed with excitement evident is her full and rich vibrato as she delivered an exuberant rendition of My Fair Lady’s I Could Have Danced All Night.  In a jacket, tie, and bathed in rose lighting, Jones croons, mastering the complex and emotional weight of Camelot’s stirring ballad If Ever I Should Leave You, before concluding with a bold finish. 

Rob Kapilow, Emily Albrink, and Ben Jones as Vivo Performing Arts presents ‘What Makes it Great’ Credit Robert Torres

From classic songs and American Standards such as It’s Almost like Being in Love from Brigadoon to the high-spirited I Could Have Danced All Night from  My Fair Lady to a humorous and not to be missed I Remember it Well from Gigi, Rob shows how compulsive American lyricist Lerner of the famed retail stores and poverty-raised and frugal Austrian composer Loewe poured themselves and their imaginations into their music to create some real Broadway magic.

Vivo Performing Arts, formally Celebrity Series of Boston, presented What Makes it Great? with Rob Kapilow live and in person at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall in Boston, Massachusetts for one night only Saturday, January 17 at 8PM.  Click here for more information on the performance and here for a closer look at Vivo Performing Arts’ upcoming events. Click here to learn about all of Rob Kapilow’s works including his next stop in his What Makes it Great series.

REVIEW:  Titans of discovery and the wonder of a not so ‘Silent Sky’ at Central Square Theater

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Henrietta Leavitt is so passionately devoted to the stars that she decides to build her entire life around that dream.  What unfolds is a journey much more complex than she ever anticipated.

With illuminative direction by Sarah Shin, Central Square Theater kicks off its new season with Lauren Gunderson’s Silent Sky continuing live and in person through Sunday, October 5 at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, MA.  This celestial and biographical production is a Catalyst Collaborative@MIT Production and runs approximately two hours and 15 minutes including one intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

Jenny S. Lee and Max Jackson in Lauren Gunderson’s ‘Silent Sky’ at Central Square Theater Photo by Nile Scott Studios

Lauren Gunderson’s Silent Sky boasts awe-inspiring connections about the nature of time and life’s occurrences through the cosmos.  It is inspired by the real life story of historical figure Henrietta Leavitt, portrayed with a distinct drive by Jenny S. Lee.  Leavitt is torn between two worlds and Scenic Designer Qingan Zhang effectively divides Henrietta’s life by a staircase between her warm Wisconsin home which includes populated bookcases, floral arrangements, framed family photos and a piano with Harvard University workspaces and an impressive towering refractor looming overhead to the stars.  Lighting Designer Eduardo M. Ramirez with Projection Designer Michi Zaya showcase inviting and rich landscapes include the immensity of the cosmos and the magnitude of the ocean. In multicolor frocks, flowing skirts, detailed high necklines, tailored suits and formal dress coats, Costume designer Leslie Held elegantly captures the high fashion of the early 20th century progressive era.

Max Jackson in Lauren Gunderson’s ‘Silent Sky’ at Central Square Theater Photo by Nile Scott Studios

One does not need to be familiar with astronomy to appreciate Silent Sky, but astronomy enthusiasts may have a more thorough understanding of some of the production’s finer scientific details.  Delivered with a combination of humor and analysis, Silent Sky explores a broad number of subjects including love, family, the women’s movement, societal expectations, life’s unexpected shifts and what it truly takes for a breakthrough. 

Kandyce Whittingham and Jenny S Lee in Lauren Gunderson’s ‘Silent Sky’ at Central Square Theater Photo by Nile Scott Studios

Silent Sky is fascinating, but its scientific and factual focus at times curtails some of its emotional depth.  Jenny S. Lee as determined Henrietta and Kandyce Whittingham as Henrietta’s devoted and forthright sister Margaret share a heartwarming bond and Whittingham is often maternal towards Henrietta as she relentlessly pursues her dreams.  It also has a unique element of music and dance delivered by Whittingham’s eloquent musical versatility that turns up in significant and unexpected places.

Max Jackson and Jenny S. Lee in Lauren Gunderson’s ‘Silent Sky’ at Central Square Theater Photo by Nile Scott Studios

Max Jackson as dubious Peter Shaw shares jittery and charming chemistry with Lee and it is captivating to see Henrietta not only rise to challenge Peter’s intellectual prowess but Peter’s approach as a bundle of nervous energy to Lee’s direct and sensible delivery.   Lee Mikeska Gardner brings excellent bravado and frequent frank comical moments as Williamina Fleming and Erica Cruz Hernández is bold yet nurturing as American astronomer activist Annie Cannon.  Alongside Lee’s Henrietta, they form a dynamite and fiercely loyal trio ahead of their time and prove that when great minds come together, the sky’s the limit.

Lee Mikeska Gardner, Jenny S. Lee and Erica Cruz Hernández in Lauren Gunderson’s ‘Silent Sky’ at Central Square Theater Photo by Nile Scott Studios

An educational and unconventional work exploring the pursuit of discovery, Lauren Gunderson’s Silent Sky is not without its twists and turns as Henrietta Leavitt is one to root for as she relentlessly embarks on an inspirational journey to be remembered in the pursuit of light.

With illuminative direction by Sarah Shin, Central Square Theatre kicks off its new season with Lauren Gunderson’s Silent Sky continuing live and in person through Sunday, October 5 at Central Square Theatre in Cambridge, MA.  This celestial and biographical production is a Catalyst Collaborative@MIT Production and runs approximately two hours and 15 minutes including one intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

Know before you go: fun facts and behind the scenes interview at ‘Cirque du Soleil: OVO’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Insects can be elegant and extraordinary…and it all starts with an egg.

The Foreigner (Blue Fly) with a mysterious OVO (Egg). Photo credit Vlad Lorenzo courtesy of Cirque Du Soleil: OVO

Cirque du Soleil: OVO continues live and in person at the Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts through Sunday, July 28 before continuing in at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island August 1 through 4 and then at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire August 8 through 11.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

The costumes
The Laced Fly
The Red Spider

Going behind the scenes at Cirque du Soleil: OVO, some intriguing facts were unveiled about how this tremendous production comes together.  From the preparation to the performers which includes two Olympians to Liz Vandal’s kaleidoscopic costumes from Montreal, this unique production is brought to life in distinctive venues all over the world.  The following are some amazing facts from Senior Publicist Janie Mallet of OVO:

The Cricket and the Jewel Beetle
  • Cirque du Soleil is celebrating its 40th anniversary!  OVO’s cast and crew is a multi-cultural group that has been traveling around the world since 2009.  A quick paced touring production, OVO has spent fifteen years on the road changing city or country every single week.  The show did break during the pandemic before returning in 2022 with a revamped production featuring new acts and new music.
  • ‘Ovo’ is Portuguese for ‘egg’.  The production starts when The Foreigner arrives at this new colony of insects with an egg on his back.  The show explores how we interact with one another and learn to accept and celebrate our differences.  There is a love story, curiosities, and a bit of a confrontation in a world likened to a Brazilian rainforest.
  • Not only does the production travel with a full gym backstage, but with a full time coach, access to nutritionists, two performance therapists, doctors and an artistic team of 100 people with 52 performing onstage.
  • The artists and athletes do their own cardio, strength training, and flexibility before attending meetings and trainings for the show.  The performers expend so much energy and do not follow a diet.  They eat what is best for them at their own discretion, but if they want to work on a specialized thing, they have three chefs and a catering team on hand.
  • The production has a lot of moving parts and the size and how the trucks are packed for the tours are different, especially if they fly across the ocean.  Everything is meticulously labeled and the teams need to be ready to adapt to any last minute changes.
  • The production has over 1000 costumes.  These costumes are built for the function of each performer and there are four full time technicians on tour to take care of the costumes.  All the costumes require some training in order to wear them comfortably.  The clowns have larger costumes while the crickets’ costumes are light and contain a lot of stretch for performing flips and jumps.  The aerial acts also have lighter costumes as they fly from one platform to the next.   
  • The production has six washers and three dryers that travel with them all over the world.  Delicate costumes and wardrobes are dried with the fans and 60 loads of laundry are completed prior to each performance.
The shoes
Washers and Dryers

Gary portrays Master Flipo, the chief of the insect colony.  Alongside Canadian poles artist acrobat David, they deliver some insight into their history in the circus, their favorite insects, and anticipating OVO’s opening night in Boston.  In real life, Gary is from Austria and lives in Spain. 

From L to R: David and Gary of OVO

Gary:  When I was 12, I decided I wanted to be a clown.  I told my mom and never lost this dream.  I ended up in a mime and circus school and then started to work in the circus before I joined Cirque de Soleil.  They said, ‘We like your stupid face’ in 1992.  I moved and did a show in Las Vegas and then back to Europe and then I’ve been here almost 7 years. 

David:  I started in the circus quite late at the age of 20.  Usually acrobats start at a much younger age with gymnastics but at 20, I started from nothing.  I saw a circus show and said that I want to do that and found out there were circus schools.  I didn’t know they existed in Quebec City so I trained really hard for two years to get in because I found out that there are people all over the world who are trying to enter these professional schools.  You need to already be good at something to get in and then somehow I got in.  I did my three years of circus school for like 40 hours a week of training.  Ever since, I’ve been in the circus and working with different circuses.  I’ve been with OVO since the re-launch in 2022 with new artists and music.  I’m part of the new acts. 

We are very excited about the show and don’t know how the public is going to react yet, but we’re all feeling super rested because we just came back from three weeks of tour break from home.  We’re very happy to be in Boston with the beautiful summer weather.  We’ve met Bostonians on the street and they seem very nice.

Gary:  Especially for us clowns it is very interesting in Boston to find out where they laugh and where they don’t laugh.  We have to adjust the timing and are already having butterflies. 

David:  We toured with the show everywhere in the world.  Depending on the different cultures, finding out how the audience will react is always our biggest concern.

Gary:  What I anticipate sharing with the audience the most is always taking people onstage.  Sometimes I have to improvise which I love and it challenges me.  Generally, the whole show is a big festival of happiness.  I don’t have favorites.

David:  I am excited about my act just because in the living arts and in the circus there is always a bit of modification.  It is never one stable show.  It is thousands of versions of the show, even though it’s the same show for the public.  For us, it has little changes and our act has new music, so we work on it frequently and make little changes in the choreography.  It’s going to be fresh, new and exciting. 

Gary:  I love the jeweled beetle so I love my colors. 

Gary as Jeweled Beetle Master Flipo Photo credit Vlad Lorenzo courtesy of Cirque du Soleil: OVO

David:  It’s a very beautiful insect.

Gary:  But at the same time, I love the ladybug. 

The Foreigner and The Ladybug Photo credit Pat Beaudry and courtesy of Cirque Du Soleil: OVO

David:  I really like the laced fly.  The lace fly is the hair extension act and I think her costume is just brilliant and so colorful.  It’s a beautiful act.

Gary:  I like the crickets for the costumes.  How they have an engineered costume where I always think, ‘How is it possible to move in that?’

The Crickets Wall Act Photo credit Vlad Lorenzo and courtesy of Cirque Du Soleil: OVO

David:  Shout out to the Red Queen.

The Red Queen with cast of ‘Cirque Du Soleil: OVO’ Photo courtesy of Cirque Du Soleil: OVO

Gary:  …and the clowns and the musicians. 

David:  OVO is really about inclusion.  It’s about accepting our differences and celebrating the whole of the colony, even the cockroaches.  They are all our friends.  It’s sort of hard to choose one specific insect because they are all amazing.

David:  The show takes years to train, but for this particular show, usually the creation of a Cirque de Soleil show is a few months.  Like six months maybe and because the acrobats have been thinking about the show for a year or two, the physical preparation to get to this level takes years and years of training.  Then we adapt the skills we have to the specific number and choreography that we need for the show, but it’s not like I train physically for years to be an insect.  I train physically to be a circus acrobat and artist and then transfer the skills in a few months. 

Gary:  It’s the same thing with us…the clowns.  We are being cast for that because our profile fits in it.  The clown has his own profile for performing and stupidity.  So I was cast because I am stupid and smart. 

David:  (laughs) Maybe that is also why I was cast.

Gary:  (laughs) Bingo!

The insects of ‘Cirque du Soleil: OVO’ Photo courtesy of Cirque du Soleil OVO

Cirque de Soleil: OVO continues live and in person at the Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts through Sunday, July 28 before continuing in at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island August 1 through 4 and then at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire August 8 through 11.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW: Defying destiny in Fresh Ink Theatre Company’s ‘Orpheus and the Overworld’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

It’s Orpheus and Eurydice with a twist and doesn’t stop there.  What hasn’t changed is that a portion of this classic mythological tale still hangs on a song or two.

Written by Dante Gonzales with creative direction by Shira Helena Gitlin, Fresh Ink Theatre Company presented Orpheus and the Overworld live and in person at Boston Center for the Arts in Boston, Massachusetts through Saturday, May 11.  This gender bending and semi-interactive production was approximately two hours including a 10 min intermission and was not limited to the stage.  Click here for more information.

The cast of ‘Orpheus and the Overworld’ Photo by Erin Solomon

Though still not a fan of mythology, feeling pretty fortunate to have recently reviewed Hadestown in Boston which is a musical retelling of the classic mythological tale of Orpheus and Eurydice before reviewing Orpheus and the Overworld.  Like Hadestown, Orpheus and the Overworld has appeal beyond what fans of mythology would appreciate. Through Orpheus and Eurydice’s tale in Hadestown hung on a song, Orpheus and the Overworld’s story is a more complicated expansion with a few more key players in the mix. Both productions suggest that retelling the tale offers hope that maybe this time the ending might change even if the gods are still in charge.

Some of the highlights of Meg Lynch’s dynamic set design includes a club-inspired heart shaped glowing sign, sparkling couch overlay, a disco ball as well as colorful florals in a cheerful rural setting while Z Weber’s haunting sound design illuminates both the peerless joy and the powerful dread within this unpredictable retelling.

Matthew Suchecki as Apollo, Kulfi Jann as Hades, and Rebekah Brunson as Artemis in ‘Orpheus and the Overworld’ Photo by Erin Solomon

Decked out in sparkling bangle bracelets and red velvet Greek robed flair with imposing combat boots which highlights a portion of Mikayla Reid’s edgy Greek and dynamic costumes, Kulfi Jann depicts Hades, the god of the underworld and reigns over Club Olympus.  Joining Hades is Lucy Bertolet as Cora mixing the drinks and Matthew Suchecki’s Apollo mixing the tunes as Rebekah Brunson’s Artemis looks on.  This is a new age Hades and this is a new age club, but the snarky banter, gossip, commentary and quips between the gods and their occasional interaction and interference with the retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice have its own amusing moments. 

Isabel Ginsberg as Eurydice and Elijah Brown as Orpheus in ‘Orpheus and the Overworld’ Photo by Erin Solomon

In Hadestown, Orpheus pursued her, but a few things have changed in this retelling.  Isabel Ginsberg’s Eurydice is the pursuer though there is love between them.  Hailing from California, Eurydice is more of a free spirit and determined to have what she wants though the odds are stacked against her.  Elijah Brown’s Orpheus is hesitant, a loner, introspective and perhaps not that into Eurydice because Orpheus is weighed down by not only discovering music, but searching for belonging and identity.  Ginsberg and Brown both have compelling vocals and make some beautiful acapella music together.  However, love is not the foremost thing on Orpheus’s mind. 

Much of this show explores the search for one’s true self, but two who are pretty certain of themselves are Junn as Hades and Brunson as Artemis.  The goddess of wild animals, hunt, chastity and the moon, Brunson delivers a bold, daring and self assured performance delivering quite the fiery warning to Brown’s Orpheus that goes to show that Artemis should not be underestimated.  Junn partially narrates and navigates this tale and is properly threatening and powerful.  Beautiful sun god Apollo amiably  portrayed by Suchecki and Bertolet as brilliant jack of all trades Cora have a sweet camaraderie as they  search for their true selves which takes them to the most unexpected places.

From L to R Lucy Bertolet as Cora, Elijah Brown as Orpheus, and Matthew Suchecki as Apollo in ‘Orpheus and the Overworld’ Photo by Erin Solomon

Though it seems an inconsistent choice to weave science into an enchanted mythological tale, Orpheus and the Overworld extends its world far beyond this classic tale to become its own journey of self discovery while wrestling with one’s past.  Orpheus and the Overworld’s contemporary themes offer some insight into growing into oneself and the struggle to defy one’s destiny to land somewhere beyond your control and find peace in whatever lies ahead…even if you’re a god.

With creative direction by Shira Helena Gitlin, Fresh Ink Theatre Company presented Orpheus and the Overworld live and in person at Boston Center for the Arts through Saturday, May 11.  The gender bending and semi-interactive production show was approximately two hours including a 10 min intermission and was not limited to the stage.  Click here for more information.

REVIEW: The Sudbury Savoyards presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s playfully witty farcical opera, ‘Princess Ida’

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Will it be love or war?

This is the question posed by King Hildebrand, grandly portrayed by Matt Tragert, as his kingdom anxiously awaits the arrival of Maria Bozich as fiercely independent Princess Ida. 

Conductor Stephanie Beatrice with orchestra Photo by Sue Flint

With book by W.S. Gilbert, perceptive direction by Rebecca Graber, and compelling music by Arthur Sullivan conducted and musically directed by Stephanie Beatrice, The Sudbury Savoyards presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s timely farcical and romantic opera Princess Ida or Castle Adamant at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School in Sudbury, Massachusetts live and in person through Saturday, March 2.  The show is two and half hours plus one 15 minute intermission and presented in three acts.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

Maria Bozich as Princess Ida and Women of Castle Adamant in ‘Princess Ida’ Photo by Chris Pollari

Though the production takes place during the Middle Ages, costume designers Sue Flint and Donna Roessler infuse contemporary flair to medieval garb in colorful plaids, pinstripes, wool, silks, and converse sneakers.  A few modern props by Nancy Powers include Michael González as Hilarion cradling a sacred wedding box and a humorous moment when a jolly popcorn box and streamers lightheartedly fly overhead.  It lends to the innate playfulness of the production even as Gama’s sons adorn nearly identical letterman sweaters marked with their first initial to form G A S.  Gama’s sons include Matthew Garber as Guron, Blair Eig as Arac, and Santo Mammon as Scynthius who form quite the sibling trio and get into various predicaments along the way.

Blair Eig as Arac, Matt Garber as Guron, Santo Mammone as Scynthius, and Matt Tragert as King Hildebrand in ‘Princess Ida’ Photo by Sue Flint

Princess Ida or Castle Adament delves into the story of two kingdoms bound together by a royal marriage and a vow from twenty years ago.  Brad Amidon as proud and amiable curmudgeon King Gama must reunite his daughter Princess Ida to Michael González as Prince Hilarion or there will be consequences.   In a blue suit and hat, Amidon’s sneers and mischievous snickers are a highlight as King Gama secretly delights in grumbling about everything demonstrated in If You’ll Give me Your Attention. Tenor Michael González lends warmhearted and soaring vocals to depict earnest Prince Hilarion.  González, David Smyth as Florian, and Thai Johnson as Cyril form another comic trio as they embark on a wild journey where women rule punctuated by the catchy Gently Gently and later Johnson creating an amusing scenario for Would You Know the Kind of Maid.

Brad Amidon as King Gama in ‘Princess Ida’ Photo by Chris Pollari
Sara DeLong as Lady Blanche Photo by Sue Flint

Adorned in a lilac suit and boasting a powerful and shimmering vibrato, Maria Bozich leads several strong female characters with a driven and commanding presence as Princess Ida who expresses ideas of her own making a grand entrance with the mighty O Goddess Wise.  In a striking detailed suit, Soprano Sara DeLong charismatically expresses her own plans as calculating and poised Lady Blanche with Come Mighty Must.  Her daughter Melissa, portrayed by Sara Mitnik, proves a worthy conspirator and shines with the cast for Death to the Invader.   Soprano Danielle Shevchenko is an apt Lady Psyche and Shevchenko is memorable with González, Smythe, Johnson, and Mitnik for The Women of the Wisest Wit.

David Smyth as Florian, Michael Gonzalez as Hilarion, and Thai Johnson as Cyril Photo by Sue Flint

Boasting strong vocals and witty banter, Princess Ida or Castle Adamant takes a spirited look at gender roles and the royal monarchy.  There are points within this opera where one may have to suspend one’s disbelief to make room for the absurd and this is a lighthearted production that it is humorous enough to do so.  When watching the production, the program is an invaluable resource in understanding scattered era terminology and following the plot.

Women of Castle Adamant in ‘Princess Ida’ Photo by Chris Pollari

With book by W.S. Gilbert and compelling music by Arthur Sullivan conducted and musically directed by Stephanie Beatrice, The Sudbury Savoyards presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s timely farcical and romantic opera Princess Ida or Castle Adamant at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School in Sudbury, Massachusetts live and in person through Saturday, March 2.  The show is two and half hours plus one 15 minute intermission and presented in three acts. Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW:  Fueled by a mesmerizing soundtrack, witness The Huntington and SpeakEasy Stage Company’s quietly stirring ‘The Band’s Visit’

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Imagine longing for a phone call from a loved one or the act of just mustering up enough courage to speak to a girl.  Imagine welcoming a group of strangers to your table and into your private home for the night because they are in need of a place to stay.  Think about that kind of selflessness and hospitality freely given without a second thought.  These seemingly small acts of kindness make a big impact in The Band’s Visit.

Cast of The Band’s Visit; Photo by T Charles Erickson

Directed warmly by Paul Daigneault with mesmerizing music direction by Jose Delgado, The Huntington with SpeakEasy Stage Company presents The Band’s Visit by Itamar Moses through December 17.  The show is 90 minutes with no intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

The Band’s Visit made its Broadway debut in 2017 with Tony Shaloub as Tewfiq and went on to win multiple Tony Awards.  Much of this acclaimed show hinges on its eclectic and spellbinding music soundtrack which ties the band and the locals together, particularly essential when they are feeling misunderstood.  This multi-talented onstage band certainly can jam especially for the numbers Soraya and Haj-Butras and receives some additional hidden accompaniment which is delightedly revealed in an unexpected way.

Cast of The Band’s Visit; Photo by T Charles Erickson

Set in 1996 in a small Israeli town located in the middle of the Negrev Desert where nothing unusual ever seems to happen, the townsfolk are dazzled by a traveling and stranded Egyptian band wearing distinguished powder blue uniforms by Miranda Kau Giurleu.  The Band’s Visit is an unconventional and unassuming musical that quietly and most assuredly will open hearts and minds to the little things in life that are sometimes overlooked.

The Band’s Visit unveils heartache and hope in such a remote land that the locals may sometimes feel forgotten.  Many aspects of Jimmy Stubbs and Wilson Chin’s nostalgic scenic design fondly rewinds the clock using iconic pieces of nostalgia while also evoking the isolated nature of the town which includes a towering lamp post, a phone booth richly and authentically detailed with fingerprints and grime on its plastic cover, and a deserted blue street with yellow stripes.  One of the most memorable scenes recreates a retro roller skating rink equipped with multicolored lights, disco ball and DJ. 

Jennifer Apple, Brian Thomas Abraham; Photo by T Charles Erickson

This production delivers many surprises and this intriguing cast is no exception.  Brian Thomas Abraham wonderfully portrays modest orchestra leader Tewfiq.  Abraham’s reserved Tewfiq expresses his art with charisma, but offstage, he is a man of few words.  Guarded and mysterious, Abraham shares fascinating chemistry with Jennifer Apple, a natural as feisty divorcee Dina especially for the beguiling numbers Omar Sharif and Something Different.  Stunning in a gorgeous red flowing burgundy frock, Apple captures Dina’s resilience and yearning for happiness beyond what this small town can offer but something is holding her back.  Apple’s bright smile and intensity is particularly notable in a scene stealing incident slicing watermelon in It is What it Is.

Marianna Bassham, Andrew Mayer, Robert Saoud, James Rana, Jared Troilo; Photo by T Charles Erickson

Mariana Bassham, who has a history of impactful roles including a starring role in SpeakEasy Stage’s People Places and Things from 2022, is impressive alongside Jared Troilo as Iris, Itzik’s long suffering and resentful wife.  Even in an uplifting scene involving household instruments, Bassham’s vacant expression and fatigue is the picture of indifference and discontented heartache as she stares into the abyss of a life unfulfilled.  Troilo’s Itzik is warm and helplessly optimistic despite his family’s circumstances.  Troilo has a powerful voice which is understated for this particular performance for a quietly tender Itzik’s Lullaby. 

Noah Kieserman, Mac Ritchey, Jared Troilo; Photo by T Charles Erickson

The Band’s Visit also offers a mix of lighthearted comedic moments.   Jesse Garlick shines as awkward and bewildered Papi for the zany number Papi Hears the Ocean as Josephine Moshiri Elwood as self effacing Julia looks on.  Kareem Elsamadicy is much more than meets the eye as Haled in the smooth and lovely rendition of Haled’s Song about Love.  Emily Qualmann as Anna and Fady Demian as Zelgar make an entertaining pair of partiers and Noah Kieserman delivers gorgeous vocals with the cast for the enthralling number, Answer Me.

Cast of The Band’s Visit; Photo by T Charles Erickson

Directed warmly by Paul Daigneault with mesmerizing music direction by Jose Delgado, The Huntington with SpeakEasy Stage presents The Band’s Visit by Itamar Moses through December 17.  The show is 90 minutes with no intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW: Fitz and the Tantrums groovily beat the heat and a storm at Indian Ranch

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No one can make people forget an unforgiving and sweltering heat quite like indie pop neo soul band Fitz and the Tantrums.  Though the day called for storms, nothing was going to stop their positive vibes until after these multi-platinum artists finished their set.  Their performance was politics-free, but no less personal and full of encouragement with a repertoire of groovy and upbeat sounds that make even those determined not to dance in this heat, bob and sway, get up and get down.

Fitz of Fitz and the Tantrums Photo credit Adam Klein

Fitz and the Tantrums appeared at Indian Ranch in Webster, MA on July 29 and it was one stop on a national tour that continues through October 1…so far.  Click here for more information on upcoming Indian Ranch performances and click here for more information on Fitz and the Tantrums latest national tour.

Indian Ranch is an outdoor concert venue and more which features a lakeside view and beach.  A portion of the seats do have a cover for rain and the shows are mostly rain or shine.   The VIP pre-concert experience that day started at 11:30 am and featured barbeque with a choice of hamburgers, hotdogs, or veggie burgers, baked beans, corn, salads, and an array of desserts.  Fitz and the Tantrums took the stage at 1:30pm for an almost 2 hour set including an encore.

Noelle from Fitz and the Tantrums Photo credit Adam Klein

Fitz and the Tantrums took the stage for a feel good set featuring an array of hit tunes and some songs off their new album, Let Yourself Free.   Despite the heat, the group remained dedicated to their unique and classy style in dark pants and converse sneakers as the band heated up with horn –infused rhythms and flashing, multi-colored lights.

Most of the songs were infectious, lighthearted, and boasted wild rhythms.  The enthusiastic band made the best of the heat as they encouraged the audience to dance and sing-along.  A few of the highlights included a tune that lead singer Michael Fitzgerald or ‘Fitz’ wrote for his wife, Silver Platter.  It’s a breezy, flirty and snappy single off their new album as he exclaimed, ‘Gimme-gimme that love-that love-that love.’  They also revved the audience up with the inspirational number, 123456 as the audience sang along, ‘Count it out! Shout it out!’

Noelle and Fitz from Fitz and the Tantrums Photo credit Adam Klein

Featuring an amazing saxophone solo by James King and Noelle Scaggs’s rhythmic tambourine, Fitz and the Tantrums grooved to Out of my League’s reverberating synth rhythms before delving into the knock down, get up workday struggle with Living for the Weekend.

Fitz and the Tantrums at Indian Ranch Photo credit Adam Klein

Fitz and the Tantrums kept the party going with their brief, but endlessly catchy title track, Let Yourself Free, the story of a dream with AHHHH! and didn’t leave out their biggest hits such as The Walker to the crowd’s delight.

Fitz and the Tantrums appeared at Indian Ranch in Webster, MA on July 29 and it was one stop on a national tour that continues through October 1…so far.  Click here for more information on upcoming Indian Ranch performances and click here for more information on Fitz and the Tantrums latest national tour.

REVIEW:   Company One’s ‘The Boy Who Kissed the Sky’ a heartfelt tale that rocks the cosmos

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Music lifts, transports, comforts, brings people together, and provides its own therapy to the happy and the hurt.  Though the Boy, depicted with earnest and imaginative optimism by Errol Service Jr., is not aware of it yet, a force much bigger than him is going to lead the way to his destiny. 

Errol Service Jr. in ‘The Boy Who Kissed the Sky’ Photo by Erin-Crowley

Directed inventively by Summer L Williams with funky musical direction by David Freeman Coleman, joyfully choreographed by Victoria Lynn Awkward and loosely based on legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix’s life, Company One presents Idris Goodwin’s celestial and groovy The Boy Who Kissed the Sky live and in person at the Strand Theatre in Dorchester, Massachusetts and now streaming through Saturday, August 12.  This far out production is 70 minutes with no intermission and pay what you can tickets are available.  Part of what makes Company One’s The Boy Who Kissed the Sky special is its commitment to the community and social change by partnering with a number of community organizations including Project Bread, Zumix, and Boston Music Project through this production.  Click here for more information and tickets.

Adriana Alvarez, Errol Service Jr. and Martinez Napoleon in ‘The Boy Who Kissed the Sky’ Photo by Erin Crowley

In many ways, musician Jimi Hendrix was deemed ahead of his time.  Part biography, part musical and part fantastic trip through time, the cosmos, and through hardship, The Boy Who Kissed the Sky envisions possibly how Hendrix got there.  It is noteworthy that Service’s boy is never referred to as Hendrix and can be translated into any dreamer’s potential.

 This production boasts a wealth of various projections by Rasean Davonte Johnson including traffic and misty rain as well as kinetic water colored special effects and cosmic imagery.  Through all of the pizzazz and psychedelic special effects lies an inspirational tale built for any dreamer attempting to overcome challenging circumstances.  Set in Jimi Hendrix’s hometown of Seattle, Washington, It also delivers a strong message about the value of hard work, keeping an eye on the prize, and believing in one’s boundless potential.

The cast of ‘The Boy Who Kissed The Sky’ Photo by Erin Crowley

The Boy Who Kissed the Sky’s energetic cast is lead by Errol Service Jr. referred to only as The Boy.  Much of the cast plays more than one role.   Service’s Boy is amiable, sympathetic, imaginative and inquisitive as he waits for his mother, depicted warmly by Yasmeen Dunkin.  Cedric Lilly is enigmatic and forthright as the boy’s veteran father, Mel and Keira “Kee” Prusmack delivers a humorous yet kindhearted performance as Mrs. Newton, the boy’s nosy neighbor.

L-R Martinez Napoleon and Errol-Service Jr. in ‘The Boy Who Kissed the Sky’ Photo by Erin Crowley

However, grooving through time and space backed by some of Hendrix’s music history and influences is Martinez Napoleon who soars as J. Sonic.  With excellent vocals, mystical charisma, and an easy rapport with Service Jr, Napoleon sweeps through the production with a smooth yet caring demeanor as Martinez attempts to demonstrate that the boy, using a broom as a guitar, is more powerful than the boy ever thought possible.

The cast of ‘The Boy Who Kissed The Sky’ Photo by Erin Crowley

Backed by Eugene H Russell IV and Divinity Roxx’s uplifting rock n roll and blues-inspired score especially for numbers A Feeling Without A Name and Way Back,  The Boy Who Kissed the Sky is a musical celebration elevated by Jimi Hendrix’s iconic fashion sense and Danielle Dominique Sumi’s dramatic and galactic 60s-inspired costume design.  An epic and renowned onstage band trio jams high above the production’s stage alongside a gigantic moon and Wooden Kiwi Productions constructed the rock n roll set equipped with giant wooden amplifiers and stereo speakers under Danielle DeLaFuente’s scenic vision.

Idris Goodwin’s ‘The Boy Who Kissed the Sky’ is appropriate for all ages and a wonderful production to anyone could use a little inspiration.

Directed inventively by Summer L Williams with funky musical direction by David Freeman Coleman, joyfully choreographed by Victoria Lynn Awkward, and loosely based on legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix’s life, Company One presents Idris Goodwin’s celestial and groovy The Boy Who Kissed the Sky live and in person at the Strand Theatre in Dorchester, Massachusetts and now streaming through Saturday, August 12.  This far out production is 70 minutes with no intermission and pay what you can tickets are available.  Click here for more information and tickets.

REVIEW:  ‘Zebra 2.0’ at New Ohio’s ICE Factory boasts an unconventional meet cute with fascinating zip

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

One is nicknamed Zebra and another knows everything there is to know about Zebras….except how Zebras feel.

Zebra 2.0 is technological ice breaker and a breakthrough unlike any other.  An interesting meet cute for the modern age, AnomalousCo, Wistaria Project, and Romanian Cultural Institute’s sci-fi rom com Zebra 2.0 was presented at New Ohio Theatre’s ICE Factory in NYC and is now streaming through August 12.  The show runs for 1 hour and 30 minutes.  Click here for more information and how to stream the film.

Alina Mihailevschi and Tim Craig in ‘Zebra 2.0’ Photographer: Jarrett Robertson

A computer and a woman meet in a lab.  She calls it Al and Al nicknames her Zebra 2.0.  As Al coordinates a line of numbers, inquisitive Zina, energetically depicted by Alina Mihailevschi, realizes that Al, portrayed with intellectual charm by Tim Craig, have much more in common than either of them realized.  Zebras are only the beginning.

Zebra 2.0 has an enchanting way of delving into various topics such as the environment, biology, science, books, music, immigration, standardized tests, employment, and the nature of being human in a clever and fascinating manner.  Though Zina only chance meets Al as she cleans up a laboratory, her friendly and candid conversations with Al spark some compelling results.  Written by Saviana Stanescu and directed by Jeremy Goren, Zebra 2.0 combines method and sentiment into a sweet, intense, and astute production with resounding messages about humanity.  Tim Craig is impressive, gradually molding Al into a charismatic and sympathetic character and Mihailevschi epitomizes lonely, zealous, friendly, rebellious, and imaginative Zina who longs for knowledge and dreams of a better life.

Tim Craig and Alina Mihailevschi in ‘Zebra 2.0’ Photographer: Jarrett Robertson

John Jannone, Michi Zaya,  and Amy Liou’s luminous projection and  video, Duncan Davies’s incredible multicolor lighting and Ras Badejo’s epic music and sound combine to make Al into a dazzling, fervent, and a powerful entity that blurs fantasy and reality inside a pristine, windowless, and futuristic space by Xinan Helen Ran.  These special effects display some of the most exciting scenes in the production only second to Craig and Mihailevschi’s humorous and engaging chemistry that just might deliver greater meaning than anything Al can calculate.

Alina Mihailevschi and Tim Craig in ‘Zebra 2.0’ Photographer: Jarrett Robertson

Written ambitiously by Saviana Stanescu with elevated direction by Jeremy Goren, AnomalousCo, Wisteria Project, and Romanian Cultural Institute’s sci-fi rom com Zebra 2.0 was presented at ICE Factory in NYC and is now streaming through August 12.  The show runs for 1 hour and 30 minutes.  Click here for more information and how to stream the film.

REVIEW:  Umbrella Stage Company unveils riveting musical, ‘The Color Purple’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

How does one find faith when everything falls apart?

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, The Color Purple is a powerful and thought provoking historical drama that examines life’s true meaning, redemption, transformation, and the search for faith and love when all seems lost.

With stirring direction by BW Gonzalez, Nathanael Wilkerson’s lively music direction, and instinctively choreographed by Najee A. Brown, Umbrella Stage Company continues the Tony award-winning musical, The Color Purple by Marsha Norman through Sunday, June 4 live and in person at the Umbrella Arts Center in Concord, MA.  The show has two acts with one intermission and contains some mature themes.  Some package shows also offer walking tours.  Click here for more information and tickets.

Shy’Kira Allen as Celie and cast Photo by Jim Sabitus

Umbrella Stage Company could not have chosen a better time to bring this particular musical to the stage this year.  The Color Purple celebrated the 40th anniversary of the acclaimed novel last year and the 1985 film directed by Steven Spielberg featured an all star cast including Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and Oprah Winfrey.  It garnered several Oscar nominations including Best Picture. This December, a musical film adaptation of The Color Purple will premiere featuring a multitalented cast including Taraji P. Henson, Halle Bailey, Fantasia Barrino, and H.E.R.

Having never read the book or seen the film, The Color Purple was an eye opening experience.  It holds turmoil, peril, and cruelty, but it is also an extraordinary tale of miracles, transformation, humor, and unyielding hope exclaimed by a mesmerizing cast of powerful voices each with their own challenges to overcome.  Walker’s dynamic characters possess a wealth of depth and complexity that deliver some astonishing twists and turns.  The Color Purple features a powerful and Grammy award-winning score that infuses gospel, ragtime, jazz, and blues. The uplifting Our Prayer is gripping right from the start and the tapestry of moving numbers that follow makes the musical all the more enthralling.

‘Our Prayer’ from The Color Purple Photo by Jim Sabitus

SeifAllah Salotto-Crisobal’s impactful lighting design meticulously sets the tone in creative and multicolored pastels transforming Janie E. Howland’s modest wooden set equipped with whips and a silver barrel.  Covering a 40 year range, costume designer Danielle Dominigue Sumi navigates various eras with finesse including culturally appropriate attire from muted to kaleidoscopic colors.

Shy’Kira Allen as Celie and Kayla Leacock as Nettie Photo by Jim Sabitus

In 1909 rural Georgia, Celie at 14 is about to give birth.  She finds solace in her buoyant and discerning sister Nettie in a beautiful depiction by Kayla Leacock.  Their genuine camaraderie is sheer joy to witness as Celie navigates her own unmerited suffering.  Nettie is one of many spiritually strong and often challenged women surrounding inquisitive, naïve, obedient, and shy Celie depicted remarkably by Shy’kira Allen, that teach her about resilience and fortitude.  Kai Clifton is a powerful force as daring Sofia with a trailblazing attitude and demeanor rare of a woman in the early 1900’s as demonstrated in a sage and commanding rendition of Hell No!  Crystin Gilmore holds her own power as captivating and liberated performer Shug Avery who breezes into Georgia on a whim bringing excitement, scandal, and humor to the town as demonstrated in an alluring rendition of Push the Button.  However, Gilmore truly shines in quieter moments with her tender rendition of Too Beautiful for Words as well as the show’s heartfelt title track.

Crystin Gilmore as Shug Avery and cast Photo by Jim Sabitus

Shy’Kira Allen rises to the challenge as complicated Celie and though Allen has many memorable scenes with the cast, her most powerful scenes are the ones she must stand on her own such as in Lily of the Field, Dear God, and a brilliant rendition of I’m Here.  Brian Demar Jones is impressive and deceptively charismatic as short sighted and egocentric Mister while Jordan Aaron Hall is likable as compassionate yet impressionable Harpo.  Rural Georgia is an area not without its gossip and keeping the mood light in the midst of the show’s most difficult moments are the humorous and ever knowing Church Ladies, their clever vocal styling slick for Shug Avery Coming to Town and Uh Oh.

Kai Clifton as Sofia and cast Photo by Jim Sabitus

Umbrella Stage Company delivers Alice Walker’s message with such collective fervor, make time to witness this Color Purple. 

Umbrella Stage Company continues the Tony award-winning musical, The Color Purple though Sunday, June 4 live and in person at the Umbrella Arts Center in Concord, MA.  The show has two acts with one intermission and contains some mature themes.  Click here for more information and tickets.