Musicals

I’ve seen more than 200 unique musicals live–not counting duplicates and not counting ones watched on television. But there are still lots I haven’t seen and look forward to again being able to see once the pandemic has passed. (The LSJ stopped running reviews in March of 2019.)

Princess Di–Gone but still Kicking paints a divisive portrait of the late royal, The Chicago Reader, July 19, 2023

Flint Rep brilliantly intertwines hope and struggle with intimate ‘Ragtime’, Encore Michigan, June 15, 2023

Unleashed Moms: MotherFreakingHood! celebrates the sisterhood of parenting, The Chicago Reader, May 18, 2023

Jagged Little Pill Thrills with raw energy and strong message, Encore Michigan, Feb, 3, 2023

Some Favorite Things: Marriott’s The Sound of Music enchants, The Chicago Reader, April 28, 2022

A fresh Evita: Drury Lane’s revival offers plenty to admire, The Chicago Reader, February 16, 2022

Legally Blonde, OnStage Blog, Metropolis Performing Arts Center, Chicago, Oct. 21, 2021

Songs for a New World, OnStage Blog, Farmer’s Alley, Kalamazoo, Oct. 17, 2021

Blue Man Group, OnStage Blog, Briar Street Theatre, Chicago, Sept. 7, 2021

Mamma Mia, OnStage Blog, Music Theater Works, Chicago, Aug.25, 2021

Just Too Big, OnStage Blog, Mason Street Warehouse, August 17, 2021

SpongeBob the Musical, The Barn, Augusta, MI, Aug. 8, 2021

Songs for a New World, Flint Rep, July 29, 2021

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, OnStage Blog, Tibbits Opera House, July 21, 2021

The Fantasticks, OnStage Blog, Tibbits Opera House, July 14, 2021

Review: “9 to 5” The Barn Theatre, OnStage Blog, The Barn Theatre, July 10, 2021

Best of Broadway Revue, OnStage Blog, Tibbits Opera House, June 22, 2021

A New Brain, OnStage Blog, Theatre NOVA and The Ringwald Theatre, June 12, 2021

My Fair Lady, Encore Michigan, National Tour/Wharton Center, March 1, 2020

Into the Woods, Encore Michigan, Flint Rep, Dec. 10, 2019

Aladdin, Encore Michigan, National Tour/Wharton Center, Dec. 9, 2019

Les Miserables, Encore Michigan, National Tour/Wharton Center, Nov. 15, 2019

Camelot, Encore Michigan, Farmer’s Alley, Oct. 7, 2019

Come From Away, Encore Michigan, National Tour/Wharton Center, Sept. 13, 2019

Oklahoma, Lansing State Journal, MSU Theater, Feb. 20, 2019

Anastasia, Lansing State Journal, National Tour/Wharton Center, Jan. 17, 2019

  • Come From Away is a deeply participatory show even though it never asks audience members to sing along or join them physically on stage. Rather, we participate emotionally and in the journey of memory. We participate in the hope and in the belief that there are good people in the world and that most people are good people.

    Come From Away

Avenue Q, Encore Michigan, Farmer’s Alley, July 24, 2019

Big, Encore Michigan, Augusta Barn, July 18, 2019

Sweeney Todd, Encore Michigan, Augusta Barn, July 5, 2019

In the Heights, Encore Michigan, Mason Street Warehouse, June 25, 2019

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Encore Michigan, Augusta Barn, June 20, 2019

Murder for Two, Encore Michigan, Hope Summer Rep, June 14, 2019

Fun Home, Encore Michigan, Farmer’s Alley, June 11, 2019

Songs about Stuff: The Music of Wally Pleasant, Encore Michigan, Flint Rep, June 2, 2019 (original musical)

Hamilton, Encore Michigan, National Tour/Wharton, May 19, 2019

  • In a show where tissues are often necessary, Miranda knows how to conduct the emotional beats, and Peter Matthew Smith fulfills his role as comic relief in creating a King George that is a delight to watch whether he is being the abusive, stalkerish boyfriend or the gobsmacked ex.

    Hamilton

Riddle of the Trilobites, Encore Michigan, Flint Rep, March 3, 2019 (original musical)

The Last Five Years, Encore Michigan, Tipping Point Theatre, Jan. 28, 2019

Assassins, Encore Michigan, Flint Rep, Nov. 12, 2018

Disaster, Encore Michigan, Augusta Barn, Aug. 30, 2018

Bullets Over Broadway, Encore Michigan, Augusta Barn, Aug. 17, 2018

Bonnie & Clyde, Encore Michigan, Augusta Barn, July 6y, 2018

The Wiz, Encore Michigan, Hope Summer Rep, June 25, 2018

Hairspray, Encore Michigan, Augusta Barn, June 22, 2018

Liberace!, Encore Michigan, Farmer’s Alley, May 2, 2018

The Geranium on the Windsill Just Died, but You Teacher Went Right On, Encore Michigan, Flint Rep, April 27, 2018 (world premiere)

Daddy Long Legs, Encore Michigan, DIO, April 8, 2018

  • Throughout the show, the painted strokes of the director, Steve DeBruyne, are present in subtle and lovely ways. While there are no dances to choreograph, there are moments where the characters move in unison, each caught up in her or his own world. The blocking is tight even while making full use of their space. Small moves help tell the story and each are well-directed.

    Daddy Long Legs

On Your Feet, Encore Michigan, National Tour/Wharton, Feb. 14, 2018

Finding Neverland, Encore Michigan, National Tour/Wharton, Dec. 14, 2017

Honky Tonk Angels, Encore Michigan, Farmer’s Alley, Dec. 3, 2017

An American in Paris, Encore Michigan, National Tour/Wharton, Nov. 16, 2017

The Bodyguard, Encore Michigan, National Tour/Wharton, Oct. 23, 2017

Gypsy, Encore Michigan, Farmer’s Alley, Oct. 8, 2017

The Vegas Rat Pack, Encore Michigan, Augusta Barn, Sept. 7, 2017

It Shoulda Been You, Encore Michigan, Mason Street Warehouse, Aug. 24, 2017

Rent, Encore Michigan, Augusta Barn, Aug. 24, 2017

Footloose, Encore Michigan, Tibbits Opera House, July 31, 2017

Queen: We Will Rock You, Encore Michigan, Augusta Barn, July 14, 2017

Schoolhouse Rock Live, Encore Michigan, Hope Summer Rep, June 26, 2017

Cabaret, Encore Michigan, National Tour/Wharton, Feb. 23, 2017

Willy Wonka, Encore Michigan, Flint Youth Theatre, Dec. 5, 2016

The Full Monty, Encore Michigan, Encore Musical Theatre, Oct. 2, 2016

Something Rotten, Encore Michigan, National Tour/Wharton, March 15, 2016