The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts

Last night I went to see The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the SCERA Center for the Arts and now I can say that I have seen just about every Christmas-themed show this holiday season (A Christmas Story, A Christmas Carol, White Christmas, and Elf The Musical). I had never seen this musical before and I thought it was really cute with great performances from its young cast! The Herdman kids, including Ralph (Symon Livingston), Imogene (Summer Olenik), Leroy (Tristan Bush), Claude (Jackson Seaver), Ollie (Desmond Tolman), and Gladys (Scout Olenik), have the reputation of being the worst kids in the world. Their father left them and their mother works several jobs so they are on their own most of the time and lie, swear, smoke, steal, and bully the other kids at school. The one place the other kids feel safe is at church because the Herdmans never attend. This changes when Charlie Bradley (Lewis Anderson) tells them that they serve snacks during Sunday School. The Herdmans show up looking for food on the day of auditions for the annual Christmas Pageant and Grace Bradley (Natalie Merrill), who has reluctantly taken over as director for the injured Helen Armstrong (Angela Bradford), allows them to participate. The Herdmans force the other kids to let them take the lead roles but, when they disrupt the rehearsals, Reverend Hopkins (Steve Winters) decides to cancel the pageant. Grace has a change of heart when she and her family deliver a Christmas basket from the church members to the Herdmans and she sees how much they appreciate it so the pageant goes forward. Ralph, as Joseph, and Imogene, as Mary, treat the baby Jesus with love and tenderness, Gladys, as the Angel, announces the birth with real fanfare, and Leroy, Claude, and Ollie, as the Wise Men, bring the baby Jesus real gifts of food from their Christmas basket instead of useless gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The church members are very moved by the more realistic portrayal of the Christmas story and declare it to be the best Christmas Pageant ever! I really loved the messages about acceptance, charity, and the true meaning of Christmas and the songs are a lot of fun, especially "Take My Lunch" as Charlie finally stands up to the Herdmans at school,"Problem" when Helen tells Grace that she is ruining her show, "My Mother Said" (to the tune of "Carol of the Bells") as Beth (Zoe Morris), Alice (Virginia Seaver), and Ivy (Olivia Bradford) argue over which of their mothers has the correct opinion about the way the pageant should be run, and "Die Herod Die!" when the Herdmans react with compassion to the harsh realities faced by the Holy Family. Everyone in the cast does an outstanding job, especially the young actors who play the Herdmans, but I really loved Anderson because he has a lovely voice as Charlie and Bradford because she is hilarious as the overbearing Helen. The stage is configured as a church with beautiful stained glass windows and simple set pieces for the lunchroom, the Bradley home, and the hospital are brought on and off stage by the ensemble. My favorite costumes are those worn by the kids during the pageant (the Wise Men are especially fun). This is absolutely delightful and I definitely recommend it but there are only two more opportunities to see it and tickets are going fast (go here).

Note:  This was my final show of 2025.  This year I was able to see 85 theatre productions and my favorites were the Broadway touring productions of Suffs and Life of Pi at the Eccles Theatre, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, Macbeth at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Twelve Angry Men at HCT.

A Christmas Carol at HCT 2025

I was only planning on seeing one version of A Christmas Carol this year but, when I was offered a ticket to HCT's production as a thank you for being a loyal subscriber, I couldn't pass up the opportunity and I went to a matinee yesterday afternoon. I am really happy that I ended up going because this show has been one of my favorite Christmas traditions for a long time (almost 30 years) and I thoroughly enjoyed it. One of the things I really love about this adaptation is the inclusion of music sung by an octet (Brett Myers, Cannon Hadfield, Ryan Withers, Michael Von Forell, Hanna Schneck, Corinne Brown, Luana Parkes, and April Kerr) and other characters. My favorite songs are "Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella" by Fezziwig (Mark Brocksmith) and his party guests, "Greensleeves" by Belle (Koryn Sobel), and "Wassail, Wassail" by Fred (Josh Durfey) and his party guests. I like seeing actors reprise roles year after year, such as David Weeks who has been portraying Ebenezer Scrooge for 21 years, but I also like seeing new additions to the cast, including incredibly sensitive performances from Alex DeBirk as Bob Cratchit, Adrien Swenson as Mrs. Cratchit, and Dylan Hamilton Wright as Marley's Ghost. Because I have seen this show so many times, I eagerly anticipate all of my favorite scenes and lines of dialogue (I always joke that I could stand in for any role) but this year there are some additions and changes that I found very moving. I particularly loved the expanded role of Charles Dickens (Josh Durfey) who acts as the narrator because he adds more depth to Scrooge's transformation, the dramatic entrance of the Ghost of Christmas Present (Aioleoge Lesa) with lighting effects and the use of a scrim because it is very festive, and an interaction between Fred and Bob Cratchit and his family on the streets of London shown to Scrooge by the Ghost of Christmas Present because it is so touching. Finally, I am always impressed by the elaborate sets, especially the attention to detail with the ledgers and papers in Scrooge's counting house, the opulent fabrics and furnishings in his bed chamber, the beautiful Christmas decorations for Fred's party, and all of the items on the shelves in the rag and bottle shop, and I loved seeing all of the new (and gorgeous) period costumes. It was a lovely performance and, whether you have been going for years or will be experiencing it for the first time, I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here). It runs on the Sorenson Legacy Jewel Box Stage through December 27 with best availability for the matinees.

Note:  I would also recommend Frozen which continues on the Young Living Centre Stage through February 14 (go here for tickets).

Elf The Musical at Draper Historic Theatre

When my nephew was really young he absolutely loved the movie Elf so my sister and I decided to take him and our niece to see Elf The Musical at PTC. He was really fidgety before the show and we were prepared to leave if he got too disruptive but, once it started, he was completely enthralled. It was so much fun to watch him react to what was happening on stage and it is one of my favorite memories of him when he was little. He still really loves the movie so I thought it would be fun to take him to see the musical at the Draper Historic Theatre last night. I was really impressed with their version of The Addams Family so I thought we would both enjoy this. We did not. It seems harsh to be critical of a production at a community theatre because everyone involved is doing their best but I was really disappointed since I had talked it up to my nephew after my previous experience. I actually really loved the costumes, especially the ones worn by Santa and by the elves at the North Pole in the opening number, as well as the projections used for the backdrops, particularly those for Buddy's journey from the North Pole to NYC and for Santa's sleigh lifting off from Central Park. I also really liked Sebastian Long, as Michael, because he is the best actor in the whole show and his performances of "I'd Believe In You" and "There Is a Santa Claus" with Kellie Seiler, as Emily, were the highlights for me. My favorite numbers were "Happy All The Time" and "Sparklejollytwinklejingley" because the choreography is fun but many in the ensemble are either very expressionless and mechanical or so over the top that they pull focus from the scene (more on that later). My biggest issue was with the two leads, Gabriel Velez as Buddy and Sydney Trauba as Jovie. In every production I have seen of this musical, Buddy has always been portrayed with an innocent wide-eyed wonder and exuberance that is very heartwarming. Velez is obnoxious and I really disliked all of his screaming (so did my nephew who immediately commented on it during the drive home). He is supposed to be a naive fish out of water in NYC so the six-seven reference is out of character and used for a cheap laugh.  Trauba is extremely lifeless as Jovie (I found it difficult to distinguish her from the ensemble in many numbers) and she is not a strong singer (she struggled in "Never Fall in Love (With an Elf)"). Finally, a member of the ensemble had his fly down during "The Story of Buddy" and it was really noticeable (I heard lots of laughter from the audience). There were multiple opportunities for him to discreetly deal with this wardrobe malfunction as he was only a background character in the scene but he didn't and it is too bad because it distracted from the number. Sigh! I feel like a cotton-headed ninny muggins for my response to this production but I always try to be honest and would definitely not recommend it.

Note:  I have now seen a really good production and a bad one at this theatre. Clearly, I need to see one more for the tie-breaker!

White Christmas at Hopebox Theatre

Last night I went to see White Christmas at Hopebox Theatre and it was really nostalgic for me because the movie was one of my mom's favorites and we would always watch it this time of year! It is very heartwarming and I had a big smile on my face the whole time! Former soldiers Bob Wallace (Justin Lee) and Phil Davis (Jeff Erickson) have become popular Broadway stars after serving in World War II. When they meet the Haynes Sisters, Betty (Katherine Tietjen) and Judy (Sidney Brown), Phil tricks Bob into following them to Vermont, where they will be performing at the Columbia Inn over the Christmas holiday, because he and Judy want Bob and Betty to get together. When they arrive, they discover that their former commanding officer, General Waverly (Roland Tietjen), owns the Columbia Inn and that he is having financial difficulties due to the lack of snow. Wallace and Davis decide to bring their show to the Columbia Inn and invite the soldiers from their company to a performance on Christmas Eve. A busybody receptionist (Donna Bell) and a precocious granddaughter (Brooklyn Head) think they should be in show business, an overwrought stage manager (Scott Ostermiller) feuds with a taciturn employee (Daniel Pittam) of the inn, and misunderstandings cause love to go awry but the show and both couples eventually come together for a finale featuring the song "White Christmas." This is full of lots of big song and dance numbers and I was so impressed with the cast because they do a wonderful job! I especially loved the spectacular tap dancing in "Happy Holiday/ Let Yourself Go" and "I Love a Piano," the hilarious choreography in "Blue Skies" as the stage manager interrupts the rehearsal multiple times, and the lovely performance from Erickson and Brown in "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing" (this was especially impressive because Brown had a major wardrobe malfunction and she didn't miss a beat even during the lifts). I also loved the number "Sisters," both when Tietjen and Brown perform it in Act I and when Lee and Erickson reprise it in Act II (they are hilarious), "Let Me Sing and I'm Happy," both when Bell belts it out in Act I and when Head steals the show with it in Act II, and "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me/ How Deep Is the Ocean?" because it is such a tender moment between Tietjen and Lee (who sing it beautifully). Of course, the big moment comes when the cast (with help from the audience) sings a stirring rendition of "White Christmas" and the falling snow (on stage and in the audience) makes it absolutely magical! The set features a large curtain, used for scenes in various nightclubs, as well as backdrops for the barn, where the show is rehearsed and performed, and the lobby of the Columbia Inn. I was impressed with how quickly various set pieces are moved on and off stage by the ensemble and I loved the winter wonderland painted on the walls surrounding the theater. Finally, the costumes are fantastic! My favorites were the iconic blue dresses (and fans) and red velvet dresses worn by the Haynes sisters during "Sisters" and "White Christmas," respectively. This show is sure to put a smile on your face but it is also an incredibly worthwhile cause because, as part of the mission of the Hopebox Theatre,  all of the proceeds of every production go to support someone in the community who is battling cancer (go here to meet Julie Newton, the recipient for this show). I highly encourage everyone to get tickets (go here) for this touching show which continues through December 27.

Noises Off at PTC

The first time I saw Noises Off, it was a production at PTC nearly twenty years ago. I have since seen it multiple times (including two productions this year at CPT and Parker Theatre) but I love it and was thrilled to see a new version at PTC last night! It is an absolutely hilarious farce featuring a play-within-a-play called Nothing On starring Dotty Otley (Linda Mugleston) as Mrs. Clackett, Gary Lejeune (Rhett Guter) as Roger Templemain, Brooke Ashton (Olivia Kaufmann) as Vicki, Frederick Fellowes (Terence Archie) as Philip Brent and the Sheikh, Belinda Blair (Sarah Marie Joyce) as Flavia Brent, and Selsdon Mowbray (David Manis) as the Burglar. Lloyd Dallas (Robert Mammana) is the director, Tim Allgood (Kilty Reidy) is the stage manager, and Poppy Norton-Taylor (Avneet Kaur Sanhu) is the assistant stage manager (there is an amusing playbill for Nothing On inside the playbill for this show). Act I takes place during a disastrous dress rehearsal (or is is the technical?) involving the wrong props, a malfunctioning set, missed cues, an actor questioning his character's motivation, an increasingly exasperated director, and a sleep-deprived stage manager. Act II takes place backstage while the show is on tour and features the deteriorating relationships between the actors which results in mayhem as they fight with each other and attempt to sabotage each other's performances. Act III takes place at the end of the run during which Dotty has a complete meltdown on stage and Frederick has an accident backstage causing the rest of the cast to improvise while Brooke performs her lines and blocking as normal. This is such a funny play and this production is one of the best I've seen because I don't think I stopped laughing! There is not a weak link in the cast because they all have brilliant comedic timing and give outstanding physical performances at a frenetic pace, especially in extended sequences involving a lost contact lens, an ax, several bouquets of flowers, a mop and bucket, a telephone cord, sardines on the ground, and several understudies for the same character going on at once. However, I was particularly impressed with Archie, because he spends a good amount of time running around with his pants around his ankles and he becomes progressively more and more injured as the play goes on, and Guter, because he hops up the stairs backstage with his feet tied together and falls down the stairs on stage spectacularly! The two-story pastel-colored set is fantastic and the sheer number of doors (which are frequently slammed very dramatically) is impressive. I also loved the large window because it allows the audience to see what is happening on stage during Act II and backstage during Act III (which adds to the chaotic humor). I had a lot of fun watching this and highly recommend it to anyone who needs a laugh (and who doesn't?) this holiday season! It runs at PTC through December 20 (with matinees on Saturdays) and tickets may be purchased here.

A Christmas Carol at Parker Theatre 2025

Last year I saw five productions of A Christmas Carol and, honestly, it turned into a chore to get through all of them. This year I decided that I only wanted to see one so that I could really enjoy it (I also wanted to have more time to spend with my family) and I picked Parker Theatre's version because it is my favorite (it is so atmospheric and dramatic). I had the chance to see it last night and I think I made the right decision because I loved every minute of it! This tells the familiar story of how Ebenezer Scrooge (Mark Knowles) is redeemed after the ghost of his partner Jacob Marley (Stuart Mitchell) arranges for him to be visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past (Helene Parker), Present (David Hansen), and Future (Helene Parker). However, there are many original elements specific to this particular production that make it my favorite. I love that Marley is shown haunting Scrooge at their counting house and other locations before he appears to him in his bed chamber because it is so foreboding. I love that many of the characters Scrooge interacts with in the present, such as a poor child singing carols (Eloise Hohl), his nephew Fred (Truman Schipper), and his clerk Bob Cratchit (Chris Last), appear to him as if in a dream when he interacts with characters from his past, including his younger self (Tristan Curtis), his sister Fan (Samara Douros), and his employer Mr. Fezziwig (Jim Dale), respectively, to soften his heart because it gives depth and meaning to his eventual redemption. I love the romantic dance between the young Ebenezer (Spencer Hohl) and Belle (Isabelle Purdie) because it provides a sharp contrast to the later scene when she releases him from their betrothal. I also love how Scrooge learns the truth by opening his coffin in the cemetery because it is incredibly dramatic (especially when chains emerge from the coffin to claim him). The sets are much more minimal than other productions I've seen (Scrooge's counting house and bed chamber are the most elaborate) but I love the use of scrims, projections, fog, and atmospheric lighting and sound design to create an otherworldly mood. It was fun to see many in the cast reprise the same roles from previous productions and, while I loved every performance, I was most impressed by Knowles, because his gradual transformation from the bitter old miser at the beginning of the show to the more lighthearted character we see at the end is brilliantly conveyed through facial expressions and body language, and by Hansen, because I found his sudden change from a jolly spirit who brings the joy of the season to Scrooge to one who accuses him of ignoring his fellow man to be absolutely devastating (especially since his delivery is very quiet). Seeing A Christmas Carol has always been an important tradition for me and I am so glad that I picked this production to celebrate the season this year! I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here) for one of the performances on Fridays and Saturdays (or on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday during the final week) through December 24.

'Twas the Night Before at the Eccles

I really enjoyed the Cirque du Soleil shows that I have seen (Mystere and Love in Las Vegas) so I was excited to see their first ever Christmas show, 'Twas the Night Before, last night at the Eccles Theatre. As expected, it is a dazzling spectacle that is sure to give you a big dose of Christmas cheer! Isabella (Elodie Sanna) and her Father (William Borges) always read "A Visit From Saint Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore together but this year she feels that she has outgrown the tradition and even rejects the bicycle he gives her as a present. Then a winter storm separates them and they are transported by mischievous elves into a magical world inspired by the poem and brought to life by whimsical aerialists, jugglers, and acrobats. They are eventually reunited by Santa Claus (Chris Aguirre Aceituno) and his reindeer with a new sense of joy and wonder for the holiday. The stage features a glittering backdrop of tinsel and lights with a large ramp (which I thought would be used more) connecting an upper level to the main level. The show also includes really fun remixes of traditional Christmas songs (my favorite was "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" performed by a cello during an aerial routine) with choreography that is perfectly in sync with the beat. The performances are nothing short of amazing and there were multiple times when I wondered how the cast members were able to execute such impressive stunts (the audience broke out into spontaneous applause in the middle of almost every number). The highlight for me was when a group, including Shih-Rong Huang, Yi-Fang Chen, Yu-Hui Teng, and Shih-Wei Huang, toss illuminated diabolos, or spinning tops on wires, across the stage and into the audience because it looks so cool (I have no idea how they were able to catch them on the wires). I also loved seeing an aerialist (Victoria Baudry-McPherson) spin on a rotating hotel cart, a group of reindeer (Aaron Blomme, Esteban Masco, David Tanner, Lucas Costa De Souza, Mohamed Conte, Changzheng Xu, and Shane William Minerich) jump and perform somersaults through impossibly high rings, and Isabella balance on a moving bicycle. This show is not quite as immersive as the ones I have seen in Las Vegas (which are performed in the round) but it is a lot of fun and it is perfect for families during this holiday season. It runs at the Eccles Theatre through December 14 with multiple shows on Saturdays and Sundays (go here for tickets).

Pride and Prejudice at CPT

Last night I went with both of my sisters to see Pride and Prejudice on the second stage at CPT and we absolutely loved it! The novel by Jane Austen is one of my all-time favorites and I love this particular adaptation by Melissa Leilani Larson so I was already looking forward to it and this production exceeded my expectations! When Mr. Bingley (Austinn Le), a single man in possession of a fortune, lets Netherfield Hall, Mrs. Bennett (Marinda Maxfield) immediately sets her sights on him as a possible husband for one of her five daughters. Bingley falls in love with the beautiful Jane (Kassandra Torres) but her sister Elizabeth (Elizabeth Moulton) takes an immediate dislike to his friend Mr. Darcy (Garrett Stephenson) because he is so aloof and disdainful. Elizabeth must overcome her prejudice and Mr. Darcy must overcome his pride for them to realize that they belong together. One of the things I love most about the novel is that the characters are so well delineated and everyone in the cast is incredibly well-suited to their role. I especially enjoyed how uptight Rylan Benson is as Mary (her facial expressions are hilarious), how overwrought Maxfield is as Mrs. Bennett, how smitten Le is as Bingley, and how imperious Hazel Rowe is as Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Moulton and Stephenson have tremendous chemistry (which is interesting because Stephenson is usually in the THS cast), especially in the proposal scene when they are sparring back and forth because it is very emotionally charged and during their kiss at the end because it is definitely swoon-worthy. However, Tyler Roberts steals the show as Mr. Collins and I don't think I stopped laughing during the scene when he dances with Elizabeth at the Netherfield Ball. This adaptation is so good because, while it doesn't include everything from the novel, it captures its essence without sacrificing key moments and the use of letters between characters to advance the narrative is particularly effective. I love how the letters are staged in this show because the sender pantomimes what is happening as the recipient reads it aloud (this is especially well done with the letter Mr. Darcy sends Elizabeth after the proposal). The Regency costumes are beautiful (I loved all of the embellished fabrics and trims used in the gowns) and the way the characters add layers to differentiate their looks for different events is very clever. Finally, the set is incredible with lots of elaborate details. It includes a fireplace flanked by book shelves with a spiral staircase leading to a balcony on one side and marble pillars with large windows in between and a nook with a piano forte on the other. Large screens behind the set and on either side of the thrust stage show images that change to denote the various locations (I especially loved the ones used for Pemberley) and period furniture pieces are reconfigured for different scenes. I had so much fun seeing this with my sisters (who are also big fans of Jane Austen) and I would highly recommend it but, unfortunately, the entire run is sold out (with good reason). 

Note: You can still see CPT's production of A Christmas Story on the main stage through December 16 (go here for tickets).

Frozen at HCT

I have been looking forward to Frozen at HCT ever since the 2025 season was announced over a year ago! I finally had the chance to see it at a matinee yesterday and it is absolutely amazing (I think it is better than the Broadway touring production). Much like the movie, the musical begins with a young Elsa (Penny Hodson) and a young Anna (Bentley Nuila) building a snowman together. When Elsa accidentally freezes Anna with her mysterious powers, King Agnarr (Brock Dalgleish) and Queen Iduna (Breearna Mandla) tell her that she must hide herself away from Anna and the rest of Arendelle. However, after the King and Queen are lost at sea, Elsa (Jessica Hudson) must open the doors of the castle once again for her coronation. She loses control of herself, with devastating consequences, when Anna (Kelly Coombs) requests permission to marry Hans of the Southern Isles (Jon Rose) and then flees Arendelle. Anna follows her, hoping to save Arendelle from the endless winter, and is aided by Kristoff (Ethan Kelso), an ice harvester, Sven (Brae Anderson), his reindeer, and Olaf (BJ Whimpey), the snowman built by Elsa and Anna as young girls. Elsa fears that she is a monster but it is her ability to love that ultimately saves Anna and Arendelle. I loved Hudson's performance because Elsa's songs, "Dangerous to Dream," "Let It Go," and "Monster," are my favorites from the show and she sings them with so much emotion! Coombs is a perfect Anna and her versions of "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?," "For the First Time in Forever," "Love Is an Open Door' (with Rose), "What Do You Know About Love?, (with Kelso), and "I Can't Lose You," (with Hudson) have an appealing wide-eyed innocence and an amusing awkwardness that is so much fun to watch. The rest of the cast is also outstanding but I especially enjoyed Tanner Sumens as the Duke of Weselton and Ryland Despain as Oaken because they are both hilarious! The audience, which was filled with lots of children, loved Wimpey as Olaf and they cheered and laughed out loud at everything he did! I loved all of the special effects used in "Let It Go," particularly the dangling LED lights which look like falling snow, the projections that are synchronized to Elsa's movements, and the quick costume change (the two little girls sitting next to me were amazed by this). I also loved the staging of "Fixer Upper," because the puppets for Pabbie (portrayed by Ben Fonoimoana Tutor) and Bulda (portrayed by Janzell Luika Kim Tutor) are so cool and the choreography for the Hidden Folk is a lot of fun, and of "Colder By the Minute," because the way that Anna is frozen and then thawed is so clever. Speaking of puppets, the one for Sven is incredible! Most of the costumes, especially for Elsa, Anna, and the residents of Arendelle, are informed by the movie and are beautiful (I loved the embroidery).  Finally, the set pieces are pretty spectacular!  My favorites include the maypole used during the summer festival, the gates of the castle, the castle chapel used during the coronation, the bridge at the foot of the North Mountain, the vignettes used in Olaf's song "In Summer," and, of course, Elsa's ice palace (I loved the icicles that come up from the pit and down from the rafters). I can't say enough about this wonderful production and I highly recommend getting tickets for the whole family this holiday season (go here). It runs on the Young Living Centre Stage through January 31 with best availabilty for weekday matinees.

A Christmas Story at CPT

I think the musical A Christmas Story is really fun and the new production at CPT, which I was able to see last night, is so good it deserves a major award! It is one month to Christmas and Ralphie Parker (Sam Akerlow) desperately wants an official Red Ryder carbine action 200-shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time. However, his Mother (Lindsey Stephens), his teacher Miss Shields (Abigail June Mathews), and even Santa Claus (Micah Young) all tell him that he will shoot his eye out despite all of his elaborate schemes to convince them. What I love most about this show is that all of the iconic scenes from the movie (which I love) are brought to life on stage, including when Randy (Danny Gallagher) eats like a piggy, when Schwartz (Atticus Bronson) triple dog dares Flick (Jack Stephens) to stick his tongue to the flag pole, when the Old Man (Andy Leger) wins a major award, when Ralphie says the F-dash-dash-dash world while helping the Old Man change a tire, when Ralphie gets into a fight with Scut Farkus (John Nelson Wakley), when Ralphie gets a bunny costume from Aunt Clara, and when one of the Bumpus Hounds (played by Annie, making her stage debut) eats the turkey. I looked forward to all of these scenes and I often found myself mouthing all of the dialogue as it was spoken (I watch the movie several times every year). What I loved most about this specific production is the incredible talent of the young cast! Akerlow is a very endearing Ralphie and I loved his heartfelt performances of "It All Comes Down to Christmas," "Red Ryder Carbine-Action BB Gun," "Ralphie to the Rescue," and "Before the Old Man Comes Home." The kids in the ensemble are also outstanding, especially with the choreography in "It All Comes Down to Christmas (Reprise)," "When You're a Wimp," "Ralphie to the Rescue," "Sticky Situation," "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out" (I loved seeing the kids tap dance!), "Up On Santa's Lap," and "Somewhere Over Indiana" because they are so energetic. I particularly enjoyed Luciana Foster (the youngest member of the ensemble) because she is in character the whole time (her facial expressions are absolutely hilarious) and her tap dancing is incredible! The adults in the cast also do a great job and I really liked Rick Murdock, who narrates the show as radio personality Jean Shepherd, Mathews, who does a great job with the tap dancing in "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out," and Leger, who gives a spirited performance in "A Major Award" (I loved the kick-line with the lamps) and ad-libs a steady stream of made up expletives (my favorite was Fahrvergnugen).  Finally, this production features one of the best, and most elaborate, sets I've ever seen for this show (including the Broadway touring production and the one at PTC). I was really impressed by the Parker house, which features three large set pieces that rotate to show different views, and the Santa display at Higbee's Department Store, which includes a large slide. I had a huge smile on my face during the entire show and I recommend getting a ticket (go here) for a big dose of Christmas cheer! It runs on the Mountain America Main Stage through December 16.

Suffs at the Eccles

Last night I went to see the Broadway touring production of Suffs at the Eccles Theatre and I really loved it (both the story, involving fictionalized versions of historical characters, and the music, featuring stirring anthems, reminded me a lot of Hamilton). It focuses on the women's suffrage movement beginning in 1913 until the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920 from the perspectives of Carrie Chapman Catt (Marya Grandy), who leads the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and advocates for a conservative and respectful approach to make women's suffrage palatable to President Woodrow Wilson (Jenny Ashman), and Alice Paul (Maya Keleher), who eventually forms the National Woman's Party (NWP) and pushes for direct action to force Wilson to support them. There is also a parallel story involving a rift between Ida B. Wells (Danyel Fulton), a prominent Black journalist and activist who openly criticizes Paul for compromising on suffrage for Black women, and Mary Church Terrell (Trisha Jeffrey), a Black teacher and activist who thinks working with Paul will eventually help their cause. Along with the infighting and disagreements between the women, this also explores the sacrifices they make and the mistreatment they suffer while working for the vote. I found the story to be incredibly compelling and I loved seeing depictions of real historical events such as the women's march on Washington the day before Wilson's inauguration, the suffragists standing silently in protest at the gates of the White House, the hunger strikes by the suffragists in prison, and the dramatic ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment by a single vote. The music is absolutely incredible and there were several moments when I wanted to stand up and cheer! My favorite songs were "Wait My Turn" as Ida expresses her anger at being excluded from the march, "The March (We Demand Equality)" as the women show their determination to be heard (this reminded me so much of "My Shot" from Hamilton and it gave me goosebumps), "Worth It" as Alice thinks about the challenges of defying societal norms, "This Girl" as Carrie describes the generational differences between her and Alice, "The Young Are at the Gates" as the women silently protest outside the White House, "Fire & Tea" as Carrie and the NAWSA have tea with President Wilson while Alice and the NWP burn him in effigy, and "Keep Marching" as the women continue their fight for equality. The performances are outstanding and filled with passion, the costumes are beautiful and do much to differentiate between the different generations, and the minimal sets keep the action moving. I loved everything about this powerful show and I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here). It runs at the Eccles Theatre through November 16 with matinees on Saturday and Sunday.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at The Ruth

I won a golden ticket and got to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at The Ruth last night.  It is absolutely magical and I enjoyed it a lot more than I was expecting to (I think it is so much better than the Broadway touring production).  Willy Wonka (Thomas Wood), the world's greatest chocolatier, laments that making chocolate has become bitter for him and he wants to find someone to take over his factory.  Charlie Bucket (Porter McCormick) is an imaginative boy who loves chocolate but, because his family is desperately poor, he can only afford one chocolate bar a year on his birthday.  After Wonka meets Charlie, he decides to invite five children who find a golden ticket hidden in one of his chocolate bars to tour his mysterious factory and soon four children from around the world, Augustus Gloop (Hudson Lee), Veruca Salt (Lucy White), Violet Beauregarde (Mak Milord), and Mike Teavee (Liam Kaufman), find them.  Charlie dreams of finding a ticket and Grandpa Joe (Mark Pulham), Grandma Josephine (Karen Shield), Grandpa George (Joel Applegate), and Grandma Georgina (Bonnie Whitlock) encourage him but his mother (Kimberly R. Muhlestein) warns him not to get his hopes up.  When Charlie doesn't find one in his birthday chocolate bar, Wonka contrives to give him another one with the last golden ticket inside.  The children join Wonka in the world of pure imagination but four of them give in to their negative impulses.  The greedy Augustus falls into a chocolate waterfall after being warned not to drink from it, the attention seeking Violet blows up into a giant blueberry after she wants to be the first to try an experimental piece of gum, the spoiled Veruca is pulled apart by the squirrels who sort the nuts after demanding one for herself, and the screen addicted Mike is shrunk inside a TV after abusing WonkaVision.  Charlie gives in to his imagination and sneaks a look at Wonka's designs but this convinces Wonka to take him on the Great Glass Elevator and give him his factory.  One of the things I disliked about the Broadway version is that the second act gets bogged down with all of the projections and technical wizardry so I was impressed to see The Ruth replicate the same magic with innovative sound and light cues and practical effects (the way they have Violet blow up into a giant blueberry is very clever).  I loved all of the performances, especially the adorable McCormick as Charlie (his wide-eyed exuberance in "Willy Wonka! Willy Wonka!" is delightful) and the charismatic Wood as Wonka (his versions of "Pure Imagination" and "The View From Here" are lovely but I laughed out loud at his comedic delivery and hilarious facial expressions).  I was also quite moved by Muhlestein's performance of "If Your Father Were Here" and Kaufman's physical performance in the invisible corridor is brilliant.  The sets are really fun, particularly the bed full of grandparents in Charlie's crooked house and the glass elevator in Wonka's factory, and so are the costumes (the Oompa Loompas are depicted with elaborate costumes and synchronized movements so, in my opinion, their portrayal is not as problematic as in some other versions).  This show will never be a favorite (I still think most of the songs are pretty unmemorable) but The Ruth's production is fantastic and I definitely recommend getting a ticket (go here).  It runs at the Smith Grand Theatre through December 31 (there is a special New Year's Eve performance with refreshments and a midnight countdown).

Murdered to Death at the Empress Theatre

I am a huge fan of Agatha Christie (I made a goal of reading all of her books one summer when I was a teenager) so I had a great time at the Empress Theatre's production of Murdered to Death last night because it is a hilarious spoof of the popular British author's murder mysteries. It features a 1930s setting in the drawing room of an isolated English country manor owned by a wealthy dowager and a cast of eccentric characters who all seem to have a motive for the murder that inevitably happens.  I absolutely loved being able to recognize all of the stereotypical characters and formulaic plot devices that I have come to love from all of Christie's whodunits and I don't think I stopped laughing all night. The aforementioned wealthy dowager is Mildred Bagshot (Diana Sorensen) and the suspects in her murder include her quintessentially stuffy butler Bunting (J.D. Robison), her young niece (and heir to her fortune) Dorothy Foxton (Addy Coates), and her guests for the weekend including the blustering Colonel Craddock (Scott Sorensen), his long-suffering wife Margaret (Catherine Bohman), French painter Pierre Marceau (Carina Dillon), and socialite Elizabeth Hartley-Trumpington (Cathryn Guzzwell). On hand to help solve the murder is the busybody spinster Miss Maple (Chalese Craig), the bumbling Inspector Pratt (Paul Gibbs), and his put-upon assistant Constable Thompkins (Jiji Dillon). Hijinks ensue, including another murder right under everyone's noses, until the mystery is inadvertently solved after multiple twists and turns! The physical comedy and witty dialogue are very entertaining and you really have to pay attention to get all of the references (I was the only one in the audience who laughed at a quick allusion to Hercule Poirot). The entire cast does a fantastic job with all of the chaos but my favorite performance was that of Gibbs because his committed physicality and lightning-fast delivery of all of Pratt's malapropisms steal the show (when he uses nasturtiums instead of aspersions I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe). I also loved his interactions with the exasperated Dillon, particularly a running bit where he calls her Thompson instead of Thompkins (one of the funniest moments in the show is when he gets it right). Finally, I loved the set (one of the most elaborate I've seen at the Empress) with period furnishings that do much to evoke the time and place and two doors opposite each other which add to the mayhem as characters make quick entrances and exists. This is the perfect show for a fun night out and I definitely recommend getting a ticket for one of the remaining performances next weekend (go here).

Note:  The Empress Theatre very graciously provided me with tickets so I was able to bring my sister with me. It was her first visit to this theatre and she absolutely loved the show (she even correctly guessed the murderer during intermission).

Dear Evan Hansen at PTC

I was so excited to finally see PTC's version of Dear Evan Hansen last night because it is one of my favorite musicals. I've seen the Broadway touring production several times (in Las Vegas and SLC) and I think this definitely rivals it. Evan Hansen (Kyle Dalsimer) suffers from anxiety and he feels insignificant and all alone. His single mother Heidi (Donna Vivino) means well but she is largely absent with her own daunting responsibilities. His one friend, Jared (Larry Saperstein), is only nice to him because their mothers are friends and he is too shy and self-conscious to talk to Zoe (Elyse Bell), the girl he likes. His therapist encourages him to write letters to himself about why each day will be good to build his confidence but, when he does, a deeply troubled fellow student named Connor (Jordan Briggs) intercepts it from the printer because it mentions his sister Zoe. When Connor takes his own life, his parents Cynthia (Marika Aubrey) and Larry (Andrew Samonsky) find the letter and, assuming it to be a suicide note written by Connor to Evan, they reach out to him. To comfort Connor's parents, Evan pretends that they were friends but this falsehood eventually spirals out of control, particularly when Alana (Khadija E. Sankoh), another lonely girl at school, wants to do something to keep Connor's memory alive. When the truth is finally revealed, Evan realizes that he was never really alone. This message is incredibly powerful and, even though some find the narrative problematic because it is set in motion by a lie, I think it highlights the fact that many people, especially young people, feel so alone that they are willing to do anything to form a meaningful connection. As a former teacher, I liked seeing lots of teens in the audience (and hearing their enthusiastic response to every song) because this message is so important for them. This production differs in several ways from the Broadway one but it is no less impactful. Dalsimer is probably the weakest Evan I have seen in terms of his vocal performance (he struggles a little bit with the high notes and is often very tentative at the beginnings of songs) but he is the strongest with his characterization. He embodies Evan's anxiety and awkwardness extremely well and I found his versions of "Waving Through a Window," "For Forever," and "You Will Be Found" to be very moving as a result (the women sitting behind me cried all through the latter song and expressed their fear about what would happen when he got found out during the intermission). I also found his performance of "Words Fail" to be the most emotional one I've seen because his pain is palpable. I really liked what Briggs did with his interpretation of Connor. All of the Connors that I have seen have been very loud and volatile but I liked that Briggs is much more restrained because it makes Connor seem more like Evan (and more believable that they might have been friends). I also really liked Bell's performance of "Requiem," because she really emphasizes Zoe's anger and confusion when Evan's version of her brother doesn't ring true for her, and Samonsky's version of "To Break in a Glove," because you can feel his regret about not having the time for Connor (I loved the choice to have Connor on stage for this song). One of the things I love most about the Broadway production is its clever staging which incorporates the depiction of social media on large panels that move around very minimal set pieces (I think this emphasizes the isolation the characters feel even though they seem to be more connected than ever). PTC's version has a much more elaborate multi-level set and I was a bit concerned when the characters were shown communicating with physical versions of phones and laptops. However, the large panel that descends to show the online response during "You Will Be Found" and its reprise is very dramatic and, therefore, highly effective. I loved this production and think it is a "must see" show for everyone, especially young people, but there are only three performances left (go here for tickets) so act quickly.

Note:  I enjoyed seeing Adam Moore, one of my favorite local actors, as part of the Virtual Community.

Something Rotten at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse

Last night I went to the Terrace Plaza Playhouse for my fourth production of Something Rotten this year (it is safe to say that I love this show). As with most community theatres, some productions at the Playhouse are better than others but I would definitely put this one among the best! It is fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Nick and Nigel Bottom (Brock Harris and Bryson Warner, respectively) are playwrights in Renaissance England who are tired of being outshined by William Shakespeare (Nick Balaich). Nick is desperate for a big hit because his patron Lady Clapham (Kassie Winkler) is withdrawing her support, Shylock (Glen Merrell) the moneylender is demanding that his loan be repaid, his wife Bea (Whitney Cahoon) is pregnant, and his brother has fallen in love with the daughter (Julia Green) of a Puritan (Nathan Fawcett) who wants to shut down his theatre for debauchery, so he contacts the soothsayer Thomas Nostradamus (Kaltin Kirby) to see what will be popular in the future. Nostradamus suggests writing a play with singing and dancing. Things go awry, however, when Nick asks Nostradamus to look into the future again to see what Shakespeare's most popular play will be and, instead of Hamlet, Nostradamus sees omelette (so close!). Nick tries to produce Omelette The Musical while Shakespeare, who is suffering from writer's block, tries to steal his own play back! All's well that ends well when Nigel reminds Nick to be true to himself. There are over 60 different musicals referenced in the hilarious numbers "A Musical" and "Make an Omelette" and it is always so much fun when I recognize a new show or line of dialogue. In this production I noticed a line from Ragtime for the first time in "Make an Omelette." I also love all of the allusions to Shakespeare and I was the only one in the audience who laughed when Shakespeare promises that he won't make the judge Falstaff appear foolish in one of his plays. Everyone in the cast is outstanding but I especially loved Balaich (my favorite character in the show is Shakespeare because he is portrayed as a rock star) for his over the top performances in "Will Power" and "Hard to Be The Bard," Cahoon for her spirited rendition of "Right Hand Man," and Kirby for the physicality of all of his antics while trying to see the future and in "A Musical." I also loved the gender swap from a lord to a lady with Winkler as Clapham because it is so funny to see Nick's former patron swoon over Shakespeare. The choreography (especially the tap dancing), costumes, sets, and projections are some of the best I've seen from this theatre and I was very impressed with all of the effort that went into such a great production of one of my favorite shows! Huzzah to everyone involved! It runs Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays through November 15 and you definitely want to get a ticket (go here).

The Woman in Black at Parker Theatre

Seeing Parker Theatre's production of The Woman in Black last year was one of the most frightening theatrical experiences I have ever had (at one point I was so scared I nearly jumped out of my seat and there were multiple times when members of the audience screamed out loud). I was, therefore, excited (terrified?) when I learned that they were bringing this show back for a limited run just in time for Halloween! I saw it last night and, while I was more prepared for when the woman in black suddenly appeared in the aisle next to me, I was still quite unnerved by the whole experience. In other words, I loved it! Arthur Kipps (Michael Hohl) is still traumatized by an encounter with an apparition that he had many years ago while settling the estate of Alice Drablow at Eel Marsh House on an isolated island that is only accessible by a causeway at low tide. He believes that he can rid himself of the nightmares that plague him by telling the story publicly on stage so he hires an Actor (Ben Lowell) to help him. The Actor convinces him that it would be better to act out the story rather than recite it from a manuscript so they begin rehearsing in a Victorian theatre using minimal props, realistic sound cues, and imaginative light design. The Actor portrays a younger version of Kipps and Kipps plays all of the other characters and narrates the play. The action on stage depicts Kipps attending Drablow's funeral, traveling to her house in an old-fashioned pony and trap, working alone in the eerie house, and witnessing unsettling events including the appearance of a strange figure dressed in black. They stop in between scenes to discuss their performances and, during one such break, Kipps promises a surprise. The Actor interprets this to mean that Kipps hired the actress who suddenly appeared on stage with them. The action concludes when young Kipps discovers the identity of the mysterious figure and when the Actor makes a startling realization about the actress portraying her. This is a very clever adaptation of the Gothic novel by Susan Hill because it uses imaginative stagecraft to tell the story. I particularly loved the smoke effects when Kipps is trapped in fog on the causeway, the light from a single torch when he gets lost in the marsh, as well as the shadows on a scrim and the creaking of a rocking chair when he discovers a room that seems to be haunted (people in the audience screamed during all three of these scenes) because the suggestion of something is often much more effective than the thing itself (especially the woman in black because she only appears a few times but I thought I saw her in every shadow). Both actors are outstanding! Lowell's performance really adds to the unease because his terror is palpable and Hohl seamlessly inhabits all of his characters with just the addition of an article of clothing or prop. In my opinion, this is the perfect show to see for Halloween (go here for tickets) but act quickly because it is a limited run with only nine more performances through Nov. 1.

The Addams Family at Draper Historic Theatre

I haven't been to the Draper Historic Theatre since I went with my cousins Emily and Julie to see Once Upon a Mattress in 2009! I returned last night for a production of The Addams Family because is it even October if you don't see this show? I had so much fun (even though I thought it started at 7:30 instead of 7:00 and barely made it after having to park two blocks away). The Addams family is not like other families because they are all obsessed with death and the macabre and rely on their dead ancestors to help them through life. Complications ensue when Wednesday (Olivia Lane) falls in love with Lucas Beineke (Elijah Carillo), a normal Midwestern boy, and wants to introduce his uptight parents, Mal (Jonathan Saul) and Alice (Ayssa Powers), to her father Gomez (Brett Lyman), her mother Morticia (Beth Weber), her brother Pugsley (Kai Sanders), her uncle Fester (Keith Nielson), her Grandma (Laura Shipp), and her family's manservant Lurch (Cameron Hess). She arranges a dinner and begs her family for one normal night but, of course, things go wrong when a mishap involving a poisonous potion occurs during a game of Full Disclosure. It is up to Uncle Fester, with the help of the ancestors, to convince everyone that love is the answer! The cast is fantastic because everyone is perfectly suited to their role! Lyman and Weber have some hilarious interactions with each other and I especially loved their version of "Tango de Amor" because Weber is at least a foot taller than Lyman so their lifts and dips are highly amusing! Lane has both the look (I love that she sports Wednesday's signature braids) and the voice for this iconic character and her renditions of "Pulled" and "Crazier Than You" are really powerful and were the highlights of the show for me. Sanders is adorable as Pugsley (he sings "What If" with a lot of emotion) and Hess is an absolute hoot as Lurch (he is so perfect for the role that he doesn't even wear platform shoes). I also really enjoyed Carillo (he reminded me of the actor George MacKay) because he is endearingly awkward. The choreography is a lot of fun and I liked how the ancestors are integrated, especially in "When You're an Addams," "One Normal Night," "But Love," "Secrets," "Full Disclosure," "Just Around the Corner," and "The Moon and Me" (another highlight of the show). I was really impressed with the costumes and I don't know which I liked more: Gomez's burgundy velvet smoking jacket, Morticia's slinky black lace gown, or Wednesday's black jumper and white blouse. The costumes for the ancestors are also quite elaborate with lots of quirky details to enhance the characterization (I loved the hoop skirt for Marie Antoinette). Finally, the set is minimal but very effective. The stage is configured as a spooky graveyard in the woods with simple pieces brought on stage (my favorites were Gomez's collection of Medieval torture devices) and projections for various rooms in the Addams mansion. I recommend this as a fun show to see with the whole family for Halloween (go here for tickets). It runs on various days through Oct. 30.

Note: I will definitely be back for their production of Elf The Musical because is it even December if you don't see this show?

The Scarlet Pimpernel at Hopebox Theatre

One of my favorite novels when I was a teenager was The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (I also loved the movie starring Jane Seymour and Anthony Andrews) so I am obviously a big fan of the stage adaptation. Last night I got to see it at the Hopebox Theatre and I was very impressed by the elaborate production. English aristocrat Percy Blakeney (Ricky Dowse) disguises himself as the Scarlet Pimpernel and recruits a band of followers to save his counterparts in France from the sinister Chauvelin (Dugan Brunker) and the guillotine during the French Revolution. He keeps his identity secret from his new wife Marguerite St. Just (Chrissy Andreasen), a Parisian actress, because he believes that she is helping Chauvelin, her former lover. He is also keeping his identity a secret from the Prince of Wales (Roger Brunker) by pretending to be a foppish nincompoop. His journeys to France are fraught with danger but he must make his most daring rescue when Marguerite is arrested trying to save her brother Armand (Porter Beesley). All three of the leads are fantastic and I loved their voices. Dowse is really entertaining as Percy and I laughed out loud at all of his dandified antics, especially his rendition of "The Creation of Man," but he is also very stirring in his performance of "Into the Fire" (my favorite song in the show) and quite affecting in "She Was There." Brunker is one of the best Chauvelins I've seen because his versions of "Falcon in the Dive" and "Where's the Girl" are incredibly passionate and his exasperation with Percy is a lot of fun. Andreasen is a lovely Marguerite and she sings "Storybook," "When I Look at You," and "I'll Forget You" beautifully and with a lot of emotion. The three of them also harmonize really well together in "The Riddle." The staging of the big musical numbers on such a small stage is extremely clever, especially "Into the Fire" because the boat used by the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel to travel from England to France appears suddenly from the rafters and the wings (I loved that Percy's boat is renamed Rachel's Resolve in honor of Rachel Rounds, the Wall of Hope recipient for this production, because it is such a touching detail), and the choreography is incredibly dynamic, particularly the integration of props (I loved the butterfly net and the cricket bat) in "Into the Fire" and "The Creation of Man" as well as the intricate patterns created by the dancers in "Ouilles Gavotte." This is a small community theatre but they really went all out with the costumes and set. Marguerite's gowns are gorgeous but the outfits worn by the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel take "frou frou" to the next level! The backdrop consists of marble archways and various set pieces for Marguerite's carousel at the Comédie-Française, Percy's study, the garden at the Bakeney estate, a prison, and the guillotine appear on stage by way of a turntable featuring a scarlet pimpernel. The guillotine is especially dramatic and a shadow effect used to show the drop of the blade is very effective. I had so much fun watching this show and I highly encourage everyone to get a ticket because, not only will you be entertained, you will be supporting a very worthwhile cause! It runs Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (with a Saturday matinee) through Nov. 1. Tickets may be purchased here but act quickly because most shows are either sold out or have limited availability (although there is a possibility that more shows will be added).

Some Like It Hot at the Eccles

The 2025-2026 Broadway at the Eccles season began with a tap dancing extravaganza! I was really excited to see Some Like It Hot last night because I love the movie but had never seen the stage adaptation before. The musical follows the basic plot of the movie but it leans more heavily into the theme of identity and being true to yourself and I really liked it. During the Prohibition era in Chicago, two struggling musicians, Joe (Matt Loehr) and Jerry (Tavis Kordell), accidentally witness a mob hit by their boss Spats Colombo (Devon Goffman). In order to flee from the city without being caught, they are forced to disguise themselves as women, Josephine and Daphne, in order to join an all-female band, led by Sweet Sue (Dequina Moore), traveling to San Diego. Complications ensue when Joe disguises himself as an Austrian screenwriter to pursue the singer Sugar Kane (Leandra Ellis-Gaston), when the eccentric millionaire Osgood Fielding III (Edward Juvier) pursues Daphne, and when Spats eventually finds them. It turns out that Joe must discard Josephine and Kip von der Plotz and Jerry must embrace Daphne for them to find success and happiness. The choreography in this show is amazing! I am always impressed by tap dancing and I absolutely loved the dazzling performances in the dynamic high-energy numbers "You Can't Have Me (If You Don't Have Him)," "I'm California Bound," "Take It Up a Step," "Zee Bap," "Some Like It Hot," "Let's Be Bad" (the synchronization in this blew me away), "Dance the World Away," and "Baby, Let's Get Good." However, the number that impressed me the most is "Tip Tap Trouble" because the entire cast is involved in an epic chase sequence while tap dancing through constantly moving doors in the Hotel del Coronado. The precision and timing required for the complicated staging of this number is impressive, to say the least, and it is executed to perfection! Loehr and Kordell are outstanding dancers, especially when they dance in heels, and the ensemble is one of the best I've seen. This production features two powerhouse voices because both Moore and Ellis-Gaston just about blow the roof off the Eccles Theatre in "What Are You Thirsty For?" and "Ride Out the Storm," respectively. There are some really poignant moments, especially when Sugar sings about wanting to be a star in "At the Old Majestic Nickel Matinee" and when Osgood tells Daphne to just be herself in "Fly, Mariposa, Fly," but, like the movie, this show is really funny with lots of witty one-liners. I especially loved a running bit about how old Josephine looks but I laughed out loud at just about everything Osgood says and does (Juvier's hilarious performance is definitely one of the highlights). Finally, the Art Deco inspired sets and the glamorous costumes are a lot of fun. I had a blast watching this Tony Award-winning show and highly recommend getting a ticket (go here) for one of the five remaining performances.

Note: I have been sitting next to the same group of people ever since the Eccles Theatre opened (they have pretty much adopted me). This season they decided to give up one of their seats and my friend Angela was able to buy it. I had so much fun watching this show with her so I am really looking forward to the rest of the season.

Peter and the Starcatcher at the Empress Theatre

I think Peter and the Starcatcher is the perfect production for a small community theatre like the Empress because the show uses imagination to tell the backstory of Peter Pan so the set is usually very minimal and the actors pantomime much of the action and use ordinary objects as props like children do while playing make-believe. I saw the Empress Theatre's version last night and I absolutely love what they did with it because it is, well, very imaginative! Lord Aster (Brad A. Goodman), a "starcatcher," travels with a trunk of "starstuff" on a fast ship called The Wasp in order to destroy it before the pirate Back Stache (Alexander Richardson) and his first mate Smee (Gwen Jonsson) can steal it. His daughter Molly (Camille Bassett), an apprentice "starcatcher," is placed on a slower ship, The Neverland, with another trunk as a decoy and meets three orphan boys, including an unnamed boy (Koda Smith), while on board. When Molly discovers that the trunks have been switched, she convinces the orphans to help her complete her father's task. However, Black Stache also discovers the switch and attacks The Neverland which leads to a confrontation on an island, populated by hostile natives and enchanted by the "starstuff," during which Black Stache is transformed into the villain Captain Hook and the boy is transformed into the hero Peter Pan. I was impressed with some really clever staging and choreography, especially when cast members locate their costumes on stage and become their characters in front of the audience, when Black Stache attacks The Neverland with the Jolly Roger flag and uses it in a duel with the Union Jack, and when the crocodile appears from the balcony (with two red lights as eyes and strings of white bunting as teeth). I also loved all of the ingenious props (the model ships in bottles representing The Wasp and The Neverland and the hairbrush used as a microphone are so fun) and costumes (I laughed out loud at the iridescent fans used as mermaid tails and the woven placements worn by the natives). Everyone in the cast, many of whom play multiple roles, brings a childlike sense of wonder to their characters, especially Smith because he is incredibly vulnerable as Peter, Jonsson because she is so hilariously befuddled as Smee, and Zack Anderson because he (this role is always played by a man to great comedic effect) is very silly as Molly's nanny Mrs. Bumbrake. My favorite character in this show is Black Stache and Richardson definitely did not disappoint with his petulant facial expressions and over the top physicality, particularly in the scene when he loses his hand. I love this show (I think it is because, like Peter Pan, I never grew up) and I love this production because, more than any other version I've seen, it really does feel like a group of people who are using their imaginations to tell a story! I definitely recommend getting a ticket (go here) during its run through October 11.