NYS Music 20​16

Category: Theater Reviews

  • THE PORTAL Opens at the Minetta Lane Theatre

    Off-Broadway “modern Shamanic journey,” THE PORTAL, opened this weekend to a spiritually minded audience at The Minetta Lane Theatre. Before stepping foot inside the half-filled preview, I was informed that this groundbreaking concept incorporated elements of a live concert, choreographed dance performance, and movie all in one. THE PORTAL soundtrack is now available and I feel that the show flows even better by pre-listening to the mythological themes presented in the lyrics and compositions by Tierro Lee and Luke Comer with Charles Newman and David Sisko.

    Frontman Billy Lewis Jr., most recently credited on Fox’s “Glee,” appears on stage and sonically narrates the dreamlike adventure of Dante, through inspirational and symbolic landscapes, Alex Grey-influenced imagery and psychedelic desserts that I assume were once visited by Jim Morrison.  The audience is introduced to the voyage with songs like “Eclipse” and “Greeting,” sung by Lewis as the film, starring Dante (Christopher Soren Kelly), is projected on the large screen behind him. The eclectic mix of tribal and electronic beats, modern dance music and monstrous rock riffs are brought to life by percussionist Gilly Gonzalez and guitarist Paul Casanova who also appear on and off stage from scene to scene.

    Dante’s inner-demons appear to be haunting him in the film as actors portraying the same characters can be found roaming the theatre floor to terrorize and intrigue the audience.Fans of electronic giants like EOTO, The Disco Biscuits, and Beats Antique will appreciate the deep and transformational grooves during songs like “Trance,” “Synth” and “Space Weaver” while Jessica Aronoff and Nicole Spencer interpretively dance their way on and off the stage in between songs and themes. While there is not much live acting of any kind, there is a ritualistic Burning Man-influenced dance routine in nearly every song bringing the art forms together in a very unique fashion.

    The only way to truly understand THE PORTAL is to expect the unexpected and dive right in. Creative Director, Luke Comer, has developed a new way to present a rock opera story off-Broadway. As an audience member, each person can relate to many of the human experiences presented on screen and on stage while still enjoying live music, dance and film. Tickets can be purchased for Wednesday-Friday performances at 8PM and for Saturday performances at 5PM and 9PM.

    https://soundcloud.com/theportalnyc

  • Kinky Boots Kicks It Up at The Stanley Theatre in Utica

    “Be yourself because everyone else is taken!” is the recurring theme in this spectacular Tony award winning musical brought to the Stanley Theatre by the Broadway Theater League of Utica. Executive Director, Derek Clark, opened the show by announcing that they had the first ever “Pledge for a Purpose Gala” on opening night benefiting the LGBTQ youth and the Q Center of Utica. This community oriented event was a huge success at bringing support to a very worthy cause.

    Kinky Boots, is set in a Northampton shoe factory where young Brit Charlie Price (Adam Kaplan) inherits his fathers ailing business. His father believed that the most beautiful thing in the world was a shoe.

    kinky bootsHowever, Charlie’s father’s dream was not his dream. He had already moved to London with his girlfriend and had no intention of staying in the family business. With a loyalty to his father he returns, and a chance encounter with a drag queen named Lola (J. Harrison Ghee), this pair come up with a brilliant idea to cater to a niche market as a way to save the shoe factory he has inherited.

    Lola and her drag dancers (The Angels) wearing very exotic and glamorous costumes and insist that  these stilettos must bear the weight of a man. So, with the help of an enormously humorous dedicated cast of employees, they make boots for “women who are men.”  The only stipulation for Lola’s assistance in this endeavor, they must be RED “the color of sex and passion and danger”.  Born are the thigh-high “kinky boot”. Lola’s rendition of “Sex is in the Heel” was a soulful and sultry number that included The Angels, her “gaggle of fabulous drags.” By the end of this number, every member in the audience was ready to buy into a pair of Kinky Boots.

    Kinky BootsMemorable performances by Lauren (Tiffany Engen) and Don (Aaron Walpole), leave audience members in stitches throughout the show. Lauren’s crush on Charlie is portrayed in the hilarious “The History of Wrong Guys” and her school girl giddiness in his presence is beyond believable. Don is portrayed as a very macho man and is convinced he knows “What a Woman Wants.” It’s a great ride watching him change his tune by the end of the show.

    This Tony award winning musical based on Broadway’s own Harvey Fierstein’s book and with a score written by Cyndi Lauper is a beautiful story of acceptance, love, and tolerance. The musical definitely attempts to educate the audience on these virtues, and indeed it does! When Lola sings the moving “Hold Me in Your Heart” to her estranged father, the entire theatre broke into applause for a length of time before the show could continue.

    The final song “Raise You Up/Just Be” had everyone on their feet singing and dancing as the entire cast belted out the lyrics JUST BE WHO YOU WANT TO BE. A long and enthusiastic standing ovation followed.

    Kinky Boots proves to be a memorable night at the theatre. It is a breathtaking event from the sets, to the elaborate costumes, upbeat songs, amazing dance routines that include cartwheels and splits, and a good blend of humor and reflection. It sends a valuable message to challenge each of us to accept others for who they are. As it makes it’s way across North America, it is definitely a must see performance.

    TOUR DATES:

    Pittsburgh, PA – Sep. 20 – Sep. 25, 2016
    Tokyo, Japan – Oct. 5 – Oct. 30, 2016
    Osaka, Japan – Nov. 2 – Nov. 6, 2016
    Worcester, MA – Nov. 29 – Dec. 4, 2016
    Waterbury, CT – Dec. 6 – Dec. 11, 2016
    Wilmington, DE – Dec. 13 – Dec. 18, 2016
    Ottawa, ON – Dec. 27 – Jan. 1, 2017
    Salt Lake City, UT – Jan. 17 – Jan. 22, 2017
    San Jose, CA – Jan. 24 – Jan. 29, 2017
    Sacramento, CA – Jan. 31 – Feb. 5, 2017
    Vancouver, BC – Feb. 7 – Feb. 12, 2017
    Edmonton, AB – Feb. 14 – Feb. 19, 2017
    Calgary, AB – Feb. 21 – Feb. 26, 2017
    Spokane, WA – Feb. 28 – Mar. 4, 2017
    Tucson, AZ – Mar. 14 – Mar. 19, 2017
    Denver, CO – Mar. 21 – Mar. 26, 2017
    Dallas, TX – Mar. 28 – Apr. 9, 2017
    Clearwater, FL – Apr. 11 – Apr. 16, 2017
    West Palm Beach, FL – Apr. 18 – Apr. 23, 2017
    Sarasota, FL – Apr. 25 – Apr. 30, 2017
    Jacksonville, FL – May 2 – May 7, 2017
    Indianapolis, IN – May 16 – May 21, 2017
    Dayton, OH – May 23 – May 28, 2017
    Richmond, VA – May 30 – Jun. 4, 2017
    Toledo, OH – Jun. 6 – Jun. 11, 2017
    Louisville, KY – Jun. 13 – Jun. 18, 2017

  • Once at Proctors Captivates with Enchanting Music and Love Story

    Think about the first time you heard your favorite band. Remember that feeling when you discovered the way that certain music changes you? Well, that’s the feeling you’ll get again after seeing Once at Proctors.

    Once is a musical like no other. You’ll be transported to Ireland – the only set is an intimate Dublin bar that transforms into a music store, a home, a bank, and a music studio just with lighting and the changing of tables and chairs. Most unique about the show is that the actors double as the orchestra, all of them singing and playing their own instruments on stage.

    It’s the story of Guy, an Irish street musician and vacuum-cleaner repairman, who is still overcoming a tough breakup. We meet him when he is ready to give up on his music career, until Girl, a Czech singer-pianist, comes along. They begin making music together and quickly change each other’s lives.

    Theatre-goers are invited to enjoy the real on-stage bar before the show, and, unlike any Broadway show I’ve seen before, most of the cast comes out about 15 minutes before the show for a jam session. From the very first note, it sets the captivating atmosphere of the evening and reminds you that this isn’t your normal Broadway show.

    once the broadway musical

    The house lights didn’t even begin to dim when Sam Cieri, who plays Guy, began the first song of the night, LEAVE. But you become so enveloped in Cieri’s unique voice and the power he puts behind the music, that you don’t even notice when the lights finally go out.

    Mackenzie Lesser-Boy, who plays Girl, makes you fall in love with her immediately with her charm and quirky personality. Her chemistry with Cieri is so strong you’ll catch yourself leaning forward in your seat waiting for a kiss between the two.

    The Oscar-winning song from the show (and movie the musical is based on), FALLING SLOWLY, is only the second song of the show with a reprise at the end. But in-between, you’ll be immersed in all of the enchanting songs like GOLD, IF YOU WANT ME, and WHEN YOUR MINDS MADE UP.

    Once isn’t a Big Broadway show. It doesn’t have big dance numbers or bright costumes. But it does have a real story with real music that will resonate with you, and not just on the drive home. It’ll stay with you when you wake up the next day and go with you into the next week, reminding you of the power of the perfect song. It gives you that feeling like you’ve just discovered the way music can change you, all over again.

    When: Now – May 15
    Where: Proctors Theatre, 432 State Street Schenectady NY
    Tickets: $20-$80 on proctors.org

  • Proctors and Capital Rep Announce 2016-17 Series in Grand Fashion

    When is a theater announcement more than just an announcement? When Proctors and Capital Repertory Theatre get together and present their 2016-17 KeyBank Subscription Series to the public in grand fashion.

    This was more than just a presentation of 13 musicals, it was an event and a spectacle featuring performances from some of the shows that will grace stages in Albany and Schenectady in the coming year.

    Presenting the lineups for each venue in a mock debate, Proctors CEO Philip Morris and theREP’s Producing Artistic Director Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill kept the audience laughing and cheering as they rolled out the Broadway shows that will come to the Capital Region for the first time, some on their first national tours. John Gray and Kydia Kulbida from WTEN offered commentary from the stage left upper box and kept the show flowing in between each well received announcement.

    Proctors’ 2016 schedule includes the four-time Tony Award winning production An American in Paris, which will be seen for the first time outside of New York and Paris in October 2016. Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage arrives in November 2016, followed by The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which tells the tale of an autistic boy accused of a crime and his struggle to communicate his innocence, also in November 2016.

    The first national tour of musical comedy Something Rotten! makes its way to Proctors in January 2017, followed by the Broadway blockbuster Wicked in March. The beloved story The Sound of Music is next in April 2017, while Roundabout Theatre Company brings Cabaret to Proctors in May 2017.

    Among the most anticipated shows, which also received the largest applause, was Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, coming to Proctors in April 2017 for a limited engagement. Sara Sheperd performed two selections from the musical, “Will Your Still Love me Tomorrow” and “(You Make me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” to great fanfare.

    Capital Repertory Theatre will offer a combination of classics, musical biographies and world premieres, including A Night with Janis Joplin, Outside Mullingar, NEXT ACT 5! New Play Summit, Camelot, Reluctant Wingman and An Iliad. By the end, when the stage was festooned with red, white and blue balloons, there was no question that Proctors and Capital Rep will bring a phenomenal lineup of musical theater to The Capital Region well into 2017.

  • Deaf West’s “Spring Awakening” Revival Breaks the Mold for Broadway Shows

    The Spring Awakening revival on Broadway is really a revolution. It’s changing the way we should be looking at Broadway shows.

    Spring Awakening is based on a controversial 1891-banned play written German author Frank Wedekind. His work led to the original groundbreaking musical that opened on Broadway in 2006.

    The musical focuses on the lives of three teenagers in 1891 Germany while they are trying to figure out where they belong in the world as they move into adulthood. But trust me, this isn’t your Breakfast Club-type of teen-angst show. This goes much deeper. Touching upon still-controversial topics like teen sex and pregnancy, abortion, suicide, masturbation and homosexuality.

    The revival includes the barbaric 1880 resolution passed in schools in the United States and Europe, where sign language was no longer taught and Deaf students had to learn lip reading and speech mimicking. Those who could not learn in such a way were deemed failures.

    All 22 Deaf and hearing actors on stage in Spring Awakening use American Sign Language. The Deaf actors each had their own ‘voice’ on stage with them, acting as their character’s conscience.

    The voices for the two main characters were perfectly chosen. For Wendla, Deaf actress Sandra Mae Frank and Voice actress Katie Boeck were flawless together. Boeck’s soft and innocent soprano helped to portray Wendla’s innocence. For Moritz, Deaf Actor Daniel Durant and voice actor Alex Boniello were also a superb pair. Boniello’s sad, angry, and powerful voice brought back memories of John Gallagher Jr. – who originated the role on Broadway.

    The only disappointing moment for me was during ‘The Dark I Know Well.” Voice of Martha, Katherine Gallagher, fell short as she attempted to bring her own edge to the song, taking away from the lyrics.

    There were moments throughout the show where sign language or voice interpretation could not be used, so the words were projected on the wall of the set, using different fonts for each character. Those moments were the most incredible throughout the show, comparable only to the times when the Deaf actors spoke or yelled.

    There is no doubt that this show was meant to be portrayed with the inclusion of sign language. The addition of Deaf history and the extra symbolism that teens often feel like they aren’t heard by society, made the experience that much more special.

    You will leave feeling invigorated; you will have a rush of emotions. You will also wonder – why aren’t there more Deaf West revivals out on Broadway?

    Spring Awakening is a limited engagement on Broadway – closing on January 24.