Taub & Woolery’s Musical Updates Shakespeare’s Rom-Com by Patricia L. Morin & Barry David Horwitz In Director Bill English’s Tiffany-bejeweled Forest of Arden, trees glow with stained glass beauty, while lovers experiment with gender-swap. Arden is a sacred “in-between” place where old ways of loving get revalued, and unexpected affections blossom. “As You Like…
Taylor & Jones’ Musical Echoes Mahalia Jackson’s Spirituality by Barry David Horwitz In “HALIE! The Mahalia Jackson Musical,” co-writers Wendy E. Taylor and Darryl V. Jones dramatize the life of Mahalia Jackson, the most gifted Gospel singer of all time. She influenced all the music around her: Blues, Rock n’Roll, Pop—they all incorporate Jackson’s…
Emma Rice’s Spectacular Brontë Reaches New Heights by Lynne Stevens Everything about the first act of Emma Rice’s “Wuthering Heights” is physical and passionate and dark as a Grimm’s fairy tale. As the story unfolds, actors playing the Yorkshire Moors, ominously sing: “What you sow, you will reap.” Costume Designer Vicki Mortimer dresses the…
Jennifer Lee’s Book & the Lopezes’ Music Forge New Love by George Maguire Adapted from the highest grossing animated film of all time, “Frozen” the musical has landed hook, line, and Swarovski-worthy crystalline sets at the Orpheum Theater. Recipient of numerous Oscar, Grammy, and Tony awards for its creators, “Frozen” is a sheer delight…